Condition : Personality disorders

Condition Personality disorders

What are personality disorders?

If you have a personality disorder, you think, feel, behave, or relate to others very differently from the average person. It usually starts when you’re a teenager or young adult and, unlike in other mental illnesses, the symptoms remain stable over time, sometimes improving in later adult years.

It is common for someone with a personality disorder to have other mental health problems, such as depression. Drug addiction is another feature often seen in people with a personality disorder.

Before 2022, personality disorders were diagnosed as types, such as borderline (also known as emotionally unstable) or antisocial, but many mental health professionals are now moving to a diagnosis based on categories (mild, moderate, or severe) and traits.

Symptoms of a personality disorder may include:

disturbed ways of thinking, such as being distrustful of others without a clear reason
impulsive or consistently irresponsible behaviour
criminal behaviour, such as stealing or being aggressive and violent
problems controlling or displaying your emotions
relationship problems
lack of empathy (understanding of others’ feelings) and remorse
having a distorted opinion of yourself

These symptoms are not part of an ‘episode’ as in other mental illnesses

Some people, including healthcare professionals, may still refer to the 10 personality disorder types, which are:

antisocial personality disorder – being impulsive, manipulative, deceitful, and irresponsible, and not caring about other people’s feelings, sometimes leading to law breaking
avoidant personality disorder – having extremely poor self-esteem and an intense fear of rejection that leads to social anxiety
borderline personality disorder (BPD) (also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD)) – having distorted thinking, impulsive behaviour, and intense but unstable relationships with others
dependant personality disorder – relying on others to meet personal needs and make everyday and important life choices, and being submissive or overly attached to certain people
histrionic personality disorder – having a great desire to be noticed (often with a distorted self-image), leading to dramatic, attention-seeking behaviours
narcissistic personality disorder – having extreme feelings of self-importance that lead to behaviours designed to gain admiration, attention, or approval from other, alongside being unable to understand other people’s feelings
obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) – having an intense need for order, control, and perfection, often leading to an inability to compromise, being overly critical, and being obsessed with rules, lists, and schedules
paranoid personality disorder – being distrustful and suspicious of others without a good reason
schizoid personality disorder – being uninterested in forming relationships and finding it difficult to express emotions
schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) – having unusual thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours, and finding it uncomfortable to develop and maintain close relationships, often showing distrust of others

What causes personality disorders?

It's not clear exactly what causes personality disorders, but they're thought to result from a combination of the genes a person inherits and early environmental influences (for example, distressing childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect).