Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionTypesSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Types
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Personality disorders include 10 diagnosable psychiatric conditions that are recognized and described in the most recent, fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5).
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It is estimated that about 8% of the world’s population suffers from a personality disorder.
What Are Personality Disorders?
Personality is the way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that makes each person different from other people. An individual’s personality typically stays the same over time.
Apersonality disorderis a way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that:
The DSM-5 organizes personality disorders into three groups, or clusters, based on shared key features and symptoms. Some people may have signs and symptoms of multiplepersonality disorder types.
Cluster A
Cluster A personality disorders include:
Cluster B
Cluster B personality disorders include:
Cluster C
Cluster C personality disorders include:
Seek HelpIf you or a loved one are struggling with a personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Seek Help
If you or a loved one are struggling with a personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
If you or a loved one are struggling with a personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of personality disorder and can range from mild to severe. All personality disorders affect how someone thinks, feels, and behaves. These symptoms can potentially cause huge conflicts with other people, impacting relationships, social situations, and life goals.
People with personality disorders often don’t recognize that they have problems and can be confusing and frustrating to people around them.
Symptoms of personality disorders can fall into one of two categories: self-identity and interpersonal functioning.
Self-identity problems include:
Interpersonal problems include:
Overall, there are no clear distinctions among disorders in terms of sex, socioeconomic class, and race. However, in antisocial personality disorder, men can outnumber women 6:1.In borderline personality disorder, women outnumber men 3:1 (but only in clinical settings, not in the general population).
According to the DSM-5, a person must meet the following criteria to be diagnosed with a personality disorder:
Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose personality disorders, the doctor might use various diagnostic tests—such as X-rays and blood tests—to rule out physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.
A correct diagnosis is very important but can be difficult to get since personality disorders also commonly co-occur with other mental illnesses.
A person who meets the criteria for one personality disorder will often also meet the criteria for one or more additional personality disorders.
Personality disorders are among the least understood and recognized mental disorders. It is thought that a combination of genetic factors and life experiences—particularly adverse childhood experiences—contribute to personality disorder development.
In addition to biological factors, personality disorders might develop as a way of coping with a troubling developmental environment. There is also a significant association between a history of childhood trauma as well as verbal abuse.
One study found that children who experience verbal abuse are three times more likely to have borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, or paranoid personality disorders in adulthood.
High reactivity in children has also been linked to certain personality disorders, including sensitivity to:
Compared to mood disorders such asclinical depressionorbipolar disorder, there are relatively few studies on how to effectively treat personality disorders.However, there is an increasing number of evidence-based treatments that are being found effective for personality disorders.
In general, the goal of personality disorder treatment includes the following:
Psychotherapy
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lists several types of psychotherapy that may be useful in the treatment of personality disorders:
Medication
Typically, personality disorders are not very responsive to drugs, although some medications can effectively target associated or comorbid depression or anxiety (conditions existing along with personality disorder). Depending on someone’s symptoms, a healthcare provider may prescribe one or more of the following:
ComplicationsPeople with untreated personality disorders are at risk for substance use disorder, violent or self-destructive behavior, and even suicide.One research study found a 20-fold increase in suicide risk for patients with personality disorder versus no recorded psychiatric disorder, and a four-fold increase versus all other psychiatric illnesses combined.
Complications
People with untreated personality disorders are at risk for substance use disorder, violent or self-destructive behavior, and even suicide.One research study found a 20-fold increase in suicide risk for patients with personality disorder versus no recorded psychiatric disorder, and a four-fold increase versus all other psychiatric illnesses combined.
Learning how to cope with a personality disorder is key to feeling well. In addition to seeking professional support, it’s important to reach out to a supportive friend or family member who can help when you are struggling with strong emotions. If there is no one to reach out to, call a helpline.
11 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.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders: types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment.Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703Skodol AE, Bender DS.Why are women diagnosed borderline more than men?Psychiatr Q. 2003 Winter;74(4):349-60. doi: 10.1023/a:1026087410516.Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: results from the wave 2 national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545. doi:10.4088/jcp.v69n0404Holder S.Mental disorders: personality disorders.FP Essent. 2020;495:11-16.Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755Bateman AW, Gunderson J, Mulder R.Treatment of personality disorder.The Lancet. 2015;385(9969):735-743. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61394-5National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Part 1: the connection between substance use disorders and mental illness.Doyle M, While D, Mok PL, et al.Suicide risk in primary care patients diagnosed with a personality disorder: a nested case control study.BMC Fam Pract. 2016;17:106. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0479-y
11 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.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders: types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment.Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703Skodol AE, Bender DS.Why are women diagnosed borderline more than men?Psychiatr Q. 2003 Winter;74(4):349-60. doi: 10.1023/a:1026087410516.Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: results from the wave 2 national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545. doi:10.4088/jcp.v69n0404Holder S.Mental disorders: personality disorders.FP Essent. 2020;495:11-16.Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755Bateman AW, Gunderson J, Mulder R.Treatment of personality disorder.The Lancet. 2015;385(9969):735-743. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61394-5National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Part 1: the connection between substance use disorders and mental illness.Doyle M, While D, Mok PL, et al.Suicide risk in primary care patients diagnosed with a personality disorder: a nested case control study.BMC Fam Pract. 2016;17:106. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0479-y
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.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders: types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment.Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703Skodol AE, Bender DS.Why are women diagnosed borderline more than men?Psychiatr Q. 2003 Winter;74(4):349-60. doi: 10.1023/a:1026087410516.Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: results from the wave 2 national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545. doi:10.4088/jcp.v69n0404Holder S.Mental disorders: personality disorders.FP Essent. 2020;495:11-16.Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755Bateman AW, Gunderson J, Mulder R.Treatment of personality disorder.The Lancet. 2015;385(9969):735-743. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61394-5National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Part 1: the connection between substance use disorders and mental illness.Doyle M, While D, Mok PL, et al.Suicide risk in primary care patients diagnosed with a personality disorder: a nested case control study.BMC Fam Pract. 2016;17:106. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0479-y
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders: types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment.
Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703
Skodol AE, Bender DS.Why are women diagnosed borderline more than men?Psychiatr Q. 2003 Winter;74(4):349-60. doi: 10.1023/a:1026087410516.
Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: results from the wave 2 national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545. doi:10.4088/jcp.v69n0404
Holder S.Mental disorders: personality disorders.FP Essent. 2020;495:11-16.
Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755
Bateman AW, Gunderson J, Mulder R.Treatment of personality disorder.The Lancet. 2015;385(9969):735-743. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61394-5
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Part 1: the connection between substance use disorders and mental illness.
Doyle M, While D, Mok PL, et al.Suicide risk in primary care patients diagnosed with a personality disorder: a nested case control study.BMC Fam Pract. 2016;17:106. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0479-y
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