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Personality Disorders

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Personality disorders are chronic mental disorders. People with these disorders have behaviors that make it hard for them to function in society. Affected people usually do not learn from mistakes and do not adapt well to changes in their lives. These disorders usually start before or during the teenage years.

What is going on in the body?

Most people can live fairly normal lives with mild disorders. But when stress increases, symptoms often increase and begin to interfere with the person's ability to function.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

The exact cause of personality disorders is unknown. Some theories include:

biological causes, such as genetic defects, or head injury

social causes, or learned responses

psychological causes, such as poor parent-child relationships

Symptoms & Signs

What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?

Each personality disorder has different symptoms. People with these disorders have long-standing troubles in their relationships. Problems at work are also common. There are many different personality disorders, including these:

paranoid -- affected people think others are out to get them

schizoid -- affected people are "loners" and prefer to be alone

schizotypal -- affected people have very strange thoughts and beliefs

histrionic -- affected people are very emotional and dramatic

narcissistic -- affected people are very self-centered and think they are better than others

antisocial -- affected people lack a conscience, take advantage of others, and refuse to obey the laws of society

borderline -- affected people have unstable relationships and a poor self-image

avoidant -- affected people feel inferior to others and fear rejection

dependent -- affected people rely too much on others, often staying in abusive relationships because they fear being alone

obsessive-compulsive -- affected people are more concerned with the rules than the goal of an activity

passive-aggressive -- affected people are aggressive in a passive way, such as being late on purpose

Diagnosis & Tests

How is the condition diagnosed?

The diagnosis is made on the basis of a person's symptoms and behaviors. The specific disorder is diagnosed when the person's symptoms match the traits for that disorder.

Prevention & Expectations

What can be done to prevent the condition?

There are no known ways to prevent these disorders. It is known that having a solid, loving home life is important for healthy personality development.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

People with these disorders tend to have life-long problems in relationships and at work.

What are the risks to others?

Since these disorders are not contagious, there are no risks to others.

Treatment & Monitoring

What are the treatments for the condition?

Personality disorders are hard to treat. Treatments that focus on increasing social and coping skills tend to be helpful. Medications may be used to reduce anxiety and depression. Family and group psychotherapy may also be helpful.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

All medications can have side effects. The side effects depend on which medications are used.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

People with these disorders often do not follow the treatment plan. No cure is available, so treatment does not stop unless the affected person wants it to.

How is the condition monitored?

These disorders are usually permanent and affected people need to be monitored for life.

Attribution

Author:Gail Hendrickson, RN, BS
Date Written:
Editor:Duff, Ellen, BA
Edit Date:06/16/00
Reviewer:Adam Brochert, MD
Date Reviewed:05/02/01

Sources

Professional Guide to Diseases, 6th Ed., Springhouse Publishers, 1998

Personality Disorders, Mental Health Net, 2000 personalitydisorders.mentalhelp.net

Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition, R Berkow, 1997