Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCluster A Personality DisordersCluster B Personality DisordersCluster C Personality DisordersOther DSM-5 Personality Disorders
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cluster A Personality Disorders
Cluster B Personality Disorders
Cluster C Personality Disorders
Other DSM-5 Personality Disorders
This article discusses 10 personality disorders, according to theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5). They are grouped within one of three clusters, and the disorders within each cluster share similar characteristics.
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The personality disorders that fall under this category share not only similar symptoms but similar genetic and environmental risk factors as well.The prevalence of this cluster of personality disorders is estimated to be 2% to 5%.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
The characteristics ofparanoid personality disorder (PPD)include paranoia, relentless mistrust, and suspicion of others without adequate reason to be suspicious. People are often unable to form close relationships and often project their feelings of paranoia as anger.
A person is diagnosed with PPD if they have more than four of the following:
PPD affects 2.3% of the general U.S. population.
What Are Paranoid Delusions?
Schizoid Personality Disorder
People withschizoid personality disorder (ScPD)have a lifelong pattern of indifference toward others and social isolation. Those with ScPD do not have paranoia or hallucinations (cognitive or perceptual disturbances) likepeople with schizophreniado.
A diagnosis of ScPD is made if more than four of the following are present:
The prevalence of schizoid personality disorder is 3.1% to 4.9% in the general U.S. population.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
People withschizotypal personality disorderprefer to keep their distance from others and are uncomfortable being in relationships. They sometimes have odd speech or behavior, and they have an odd or limited range of emotions. It typically begins early in adulthood.
Schizotypal personality disorder is in the middle of a spectrum of related disorders, with schizoid personality disorder on the milder end and schizophrenia on the more severe end. It is unclear why some develop more severe forms of the disorder.
A diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder is made if a person has more than five of the following:
It is estimated that about 3.3% of the U.S. population has this personality disorder.
Classification of personality disorders is challenging and has evolved over time.Some PD trait distributions have been found to be quite unlike what is presented in the DSM-5, and many people with personality disorders often fit into more than one diagnosis.
The prevalence of this cluster of personality disorders has been estimated to vary between 1% and 6%.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
People withantisocial personality disorder (ASPD)have a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others without any remorse. This behavior may cause problems in relationships or at work.
Violent or aggressive acts involving or targeting others (such as setting fires and animal cruelty) without a sense of regret or guilt are often warning signs of ASPD.
Behaviors characteristic of ASPD must have been evidenced as conduct disorder or a phase before the age of 15, but are recognized as part of ASPD if they continue until the age of 18.
A person is diagnosed with ASPD if they have three or more of the following:
ASPD affects less than 1% of the general U.S. population.
Borderline Personality Disorder
A diagnosis of BPD is made if five or more of the following are present:
The prevalence of BPD is estimated to be 1.6% in the general U.S. population but may be much higher in certain settings.
How Borderline Personality Disorder Is Diagnosed
Histrionic Personality Disorder
People withhistrionic personality disorder (HPD)act in a very emotional and dramatic way that draws attention to themselves.People with this disorder may be high-functioning and successful at work and in relationships.
A diagnosis of HPD is made if five or more of the following are present:
The prevalence of HPD ranges from less than 1% to 3%.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
People withnarcissistic personality disorder (NPD)have an excessive sense of self-importance, an extreme preoccupation with themselves, and a lack of empathy for others.
People diagnosed with NPD also have significant physical and mental health comorbidities, including substance abuse, mood, and anxiety disorders.
A diagnosis of NPD is made if five or more of the following are present:
NPD affects 1% of the general U.S. population.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
A person is diagnosed with AVPD if they have four or more of the following:
AVPD is suggested to occur at a prevalence of about 2.4% of the general U.S. population.
Dependent Personality Disorder
People withdependent personality disorder (DPD)often feel helpless, submissive, and incapable of taking care of themselves. They may have trouble making simple decisions and often depend on others too much for their physical and emotional needs.
A diagnosis of DPD is made if five or more of the following are present:
DPD affects 0.6% of the general U.S. population.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Black-or-white thinking is common in people with OCPD: There is no acceptance of gray areas and anything left to chance.
A person is diagnosed with OCPD if they have four or more of the following:
The prevalence of OCD among U.S. adults is estimated to be 2.3%.
Three personality patterns don’t meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for the 10 recognized personality disorders:
What Are Personality Disorders?
A Word From VerywellLiving with a personality disorder involves both recognizing and working through your unique differences, while also navigating a world that often falls short of understanding and accommodating these differences.—ELLE MARKMAN, PSYD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Living with a personality disorder involves both recognizing and working through your unique differences, while also navigating a world that often falls short of understanding and accommodating these differences.—ELLE MARKMAN, PSYD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Living with a personality disorder involves both recognizing and working through your unique differences, while also navigating a world that often falls short of understanding and accommodating these differences.
—ELLE MARKMAN, PSYD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
People with personality disorders show patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, and interacting that deviate from cultural expectations and cause significant distress and difficulty functioning. These behaviors often disrupt their personal, professional, and social lives.
If you have the traits of any one or more of the above personality disorders or are experiencing changes to your usual sense of self and behavior patterns, talk with an experienced mental health professional for an assessment.
With the right treatment, you can manage symptoms and cope better with a personality disorder.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Personality disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.Harvard University.National Comorbidity Survey Replication Part II.Angstman KB, Rasmussen NH.Personality disorders: review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician.Harvard Health Publishing.Schizotypal personality disorder.Mulder R, Tyrer P.Diagnosis and classification of personality disorders: novel approaches.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2019 Jan;32(1):27-31. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000461.Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164. doi:10.1080/08964289.2017.1301875Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull. 2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366aNational Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Personality disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.Harvard University.National Comorbidity Survey Replication Part II.Angstman KB, Rasmussen NH.Personality disorders: review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician.Harvard Health Publishing.Schizotypal personality disorder.Mulder R, Tyrer P.Diagnosis and classification of personality disorders: novel approaches.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2019 Jan;32(1):27-31. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000461.Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164. doi:10.1080/08964289.2017.1301875Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull. 2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366aNational Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Personality disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.Harvard University.National Comorbidity Survey Replication Part II.Angstman KB, Rasmussen NH.Personality disorders: review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician.Harvard Health Publishing.Schizotypal personality disorder.Mulder R, Tyrer P.Diagnosis and classification of personality disorders: novel approaches.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2019 Jan;32(1):27-31. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000461.Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164. doi:10.1080/08964289.2017.1301875Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull. 2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366aNational Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Personality disorders.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
Harvard University.National Comorbidity Survey Replication Part II.
Angstman KB, Rasmussen NH.Personality disorders: review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician.
Harvard Health Publishing.Schizotypal personality disorder.
Mulder R, Tyrer P.Diagnosis and classification of personality disorders: novel approaches.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2019 Jan;32(1):27-31. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000461.
Kacel EL, Ennis N, Pereira DB.Narcissistic personality disorder in clinical health psychology practice: case studies of comorbid psychological distress and life-limiting illness.Behav Med. 2017;43(3):156-164. doi:10.1080/08964289.2017.1301875
Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull. 2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366a
National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
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