Understanding Personality Disorders
What is a personality disorder?
Broadly speaking, personality disorders are characterised by persistent patterns of thoughts and behaviour that deviate significantly from cultural expectations. These can manifest in cognitive, emotional or social abnormalities.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders recognises ten personality disorders, grouped into three clusters.
Cluster A: ‘odd’ or eccentric
Paranoid Personality Disorder
- distrust and suspicion of others’ motives
- searching for unintended hidden meanings
- expecting disloyalty and exploitation
Schizoid Personality Disorder
- solitary, aloof, detached from others
- avoiding physical contact and close relationships
- rarely experiencing or expressing strong emotions
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
- excessive social discomfort
- odd beliefs, speech or behaviour
- unusual perceptual experiences
- belief that external events are related to them
Cluster B: dramatic, emotional, erratic
Antisocial Personality Disorder
- ignoring or infringing upon the rights of others
- pattern of lying, criminality, stealing, violence, arson, vandalism, aggression
- persistent by age 15, now at least 18 years old
Borderline Personality Disorder
- unstable but intense relationships
- chronic feelings of boredom, emptiness, anger, suicidality
- impulsive and unstable mood
- excessive fear of abandonment
Histrionic Personality Disorder
- inappropriately sexually seductive
- excessively concerned with physical attraction
- exaggerated, theatrical or rapidly shifting emotions
- excessive need for attention, praise or approval
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- inflated sense of self-importance or entitlement
- excessively envious or exploitative of others
- preoccupation with limitless success, power, beauty, brilliance or romantic love
- belief that problems are unique and only understood by special people
Cluster C: anxious, fearful
Avoidant Personality Disorder
- easily hurt by real or perceived criticism
- excessive fear of embarrassment, judgement or being disliked
- avoiding social or occupational situations
- highly inflexible routine
Dependent Personality Disorder
- lacking initiative and personal responsibility
- agreeing with others or doing undesirable things to gain approval
- reliant upon others to make decisions
- uncomfortable being alone, afraid of abandonment
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
- perfectionism or indecision hinders task performance or completion
- excessively concerned with rules, details, etc
- strong desire for control and order
- ungenerous with time and resources
What causes personality disorders?
The basic model of the causes of personality disorders suggests that a genetic predisposition combined with aversive life events may contribute to the development of a personality disorder. Such events most commonly involve disrupted attachment to primary carers, including trauma, neglect, abandonment or deprivation.
How are personality disorders treated?
Treatment varies depending upon the personality disorder and the specifics of its presentation and severity. Psychological treatments include evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). Pharmacological treatments also exist, which target behaviour traits associated with neurochemical abnormalities.
Personality disorders are all highly complex and difficult to diagnose and treat for a number of reasons. Firstly, some of these criteria are behaviours and others are traits. Some of the traits are much harder to identify or assess than the behaviours. Additionally, many traits and behaviours of personality disorders are commonly found to varying degrees in people without personality disorders.
Cluster A personality disorders are particularly difficult to treat. Some traits associated with these disorders tend to benefit people, who are therefore resistant to treatment or accepting that there is an issue. Cluster B disorders tend to cause significant problems socially, so can be more easily identified as an issue. Cluster C disorders often have the least severe outcomes and the best post-treatment outlook.
How Seed Psychology can help you
Several of the skilled and psychologists at Seed Psychology are highly experienced at helping people with personality disorders. Family members and friends of people with personality disorders may also find psychological support beneficial. We can help you manage and reduce the impact of personality disorders, to restore your wellbeing and quality of life.
Contact us now to make an appointment.
