Personality disorders are a group of psychiatric disorder in which several traits that form personality of the individual, become abnormal over a long-term period leading to abnormal behaviors, difficulty in maintaining normal relationships and problems at the workplace or in social settings. These traits are in fact abnormal versions of the characteristics that form behavior. Traits develop only after the late adolescent stage and continue throughout life.Based on the characteristics of personality disorders, it is classified into 3 types, namely cluster A, cluster B and cluster C.
Psychological evaluation and history plays a major role during evaluation of the patient’s condition. Personality disorders may go on throughout life, and may not be completely cured with treatment. Both environmental and genetic factors play a major role in the development of the disorder. The distressing symptoms have to be relieved by short-term use of medications and the behavior and thinking patterns should be altered using psychotherapy. For milder versions of the disease, the outcome of personality disorder is favorable.
These individuals may be able to lead a relatively normal life.Personality disorders are a group of psychiatric disorders in which several traits that form personality of the individual, become abnormal over a long-term period leading to abnormal behaviors, difficulty in maintaining normal relationships and problems at the workplace or in social settings (Ballas, 2006). Environmental factors and hereditary play an important role in developing the traits of personality (Mayo, 2006). Individuals suffering from personality disorders are unable to function in a normal manner in social interactions and have difficult in relationships with others or at their workplace.About 15 % of the people in the US suffer from some form of personality disorder (Mayo, 2006).
In personality disorders, the patterns of thinking, feelings, interpersonal behavior, etc, may become inflexible and cause a lot of problems with functioning. There are several personality disorders, and for convenience, they are classified into 3 groups or cluster namely, Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C. Cluster A are a group of personality disorders in which the individual behaves in an odd and eccentric manner. Such individuals usually stay emotionally isolated and socially restricted.It includes paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder and schizotypal personality disorder. In the Cluster B group of disorders, the individual behaves in a dramatic or emotional manner (frequently impulsively).
It includes histrionic personality, narcissistic personality and antisocial personality and borderline personality. In the Cluster C group of disorders, the conditions include avoidant personality, dependent personality, and obsessive-compulsive personality. The individual develops anxiety and fear.The other personality disorders include passive-aggressive personality, Cyclothymic Personality, and Depressive Personality (Merck, 2006). Each individual perceives and reacts to events in the environment in different ways. Some people tend to cope with stress better, whereas others may become aggressive.
Individuals having certain problems in their life may seek comfort in a close one, whereas others may try to solve the problem by themselves. Some individuals may have a positive attitude and try to reduce the problem by themselves. However, some may worsen the situation.Individuals with a personality disorder, react in a rather abnormal manner to problems and stressful events in life. They try to break relationships with family members, peers, friends and colleagues. People, who develop personality disorder later in life, show likelihood as early as childhood.
These characteristics tend to worsen over adolescence and young adulthood (Merck, 2006). The condition may vary in severity from mild to moderate and is frequently very difficult to manage by the physicians (Ballas, 2006). In rare circumstances, is the disorder severe (Merck, 2006).People with personality disorder perceive and react to events in the environment in a rather abnormal manner.
It may be very difficult to treat an individual with a personality disorder, as he/she would not consider that the bad relationships that exist with others are as a cause of their abnormal personality trait and not characteristics of other people. They frequently feel that the problems in life are caused by people or means that are beyond their control. Usually, a close family member, a friend or a coworker may bring in the individual to the healthcare professional for treatment of the problem.Usually, the common problem is exuberant reaction of the individual to common life-stressors or the development of several symptoms such as depression, anxiety or substance use. However, no personality disorder can be treated completely.
The behavior of the individual may be controlled on a short-term basis (with medications) and on a long-term basis (with psychotherapy) (Mayo, 2006). The exact cause for personality disorder may not be understood clearly. However, several factors including hereditary and environmental play a major role in the development and the progression of the disorder.Usually, personality disorder does not develop in association with another medical condition. A general medical condition and substance abuse may worsen the symptoms of personality disorder (Reus, 2004).
Individuals having neurological, endocrinal or certain medical conditions are at a high risk of developing a personality disorder. Individuals having a tumor in the brain may develop changes in personality and motivational levels (Reus, 2004). Individuals suffering from personality disorders have a lot of problems in life. They may pick up substance abuse or alcohol abuse.
They may also cause problems with the opposite sex, have irresponsible sexual behavior or may develop an STD. They are also able to get into problems with the law due to their sexual misconduct. They may turn against the discipline and values of the society. Some individuals with personality disorders may become detached from other and the society and become over-emotional. Others may become irresponsible and abusive, irrespective of the style of parenting. Individuals with personality disorders are not able to tolerate stress.
They may experience a crisis situation or may emotionally breakdown due to the excessive stress. Some individuals are also at the risk of developing a mental disorder such as depression, psychosis, anxiety, etc. It has been studied that individual with a personality disorder do not understand that the way in which they react to stress is life may be abnormal and as a result of a psychiatric problem. They may feel that their mental condition is normal and the problems that exist in life are abnormal.
This convinces them not to go ahead with treatment especially drug therapy.They seem to be the most reluctant and hesitating to take any drug terminate. However, it is found that psychotherapy and counseling may have positive outcomes in such individuals compared to drug treatment. The physician and other healthcare professionals are in poor relationships with the individual. They would refuse treatment and would even go to the extent of blaming the physician for their problems in life (Merck, 2006). There are several personality disorders, and the symptoms may vary depending on the individual condition.
Individuals with paranoid personality disorder do not trust others and become very suspicious of others behavior. It frequently develops in individual from families having certain psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and delusional disorders. This strongly suggests that a genetic link is inevitable (Ballas, 2006). These individuals feel that others are going to harm them in some way or another, and usually feel that other people may be hostile even though no evidence exists.
They may justify their suspicions with others, but the family members and friends often feel that their suspicions are unreasonable and excessive.Other people frequently tend to avoid such people which even make their problem far more worse. They may be rejected by the society and the family members (Merck, 2006). Although such individuals are highly efficient in performing work, they may work in isolation with others. Generally, during interactions with other people, such individuals are cold and tend not to open up (Merck, 2006). The other symptoms that may develop in this condition include feeling others are abusing, misusing or abusing them, having a poor self-image, detachment, inability to work as a group, etc.
On the whole, an individuals functioning with paranoid personality disorder severely affected. Sometimes, the individual is at the risk of performing violent acts (Ballas, 2006). Individuals with schizoid personality disorder tend to behave indifferently to others during the entire lifetime, and also remain in social isolation. They are also introverted and withdrawn.
They fear becoming close and sharing emotions or thoughts with others. These individuals frequently daydream and fantasize in others to cope with their condition. They are also socially isolated (Merck, 2006).Schizoid personality disorder is frequently related with schizophrenia. The incidences of this condition are rather unknown.
Unlike schizophrenia, several symptoms such as hallucinations, psychosis and delusions are usually absent. The individuals may also stay away from close relatives and family members. As the conditions are rare, very little research is conducted on the manner in which different treatment techniques would work. Generally no definite form of treatment is available to treat this condition. The outcome of the condition is also poor (Ballas, 2006).
Schizotypal personality disorder is a condition in which the individual experiences problems in developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. Besides, there are also problems with the thought patterns, behaviors and appearance. As the condition more fervently occurs in relatives, a genetic link is suggested. The history of schizophrenia in the family may worsen the risk of developing schizotypal personality disorder. Individuals with Schizotypal personality disorder have odd feeling and attitudes towards others. However, the hallucinations and psychosis are usually absent.
Frequently, the healthcare professional may fail to differentiate between Schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia. Individual with Schizotypal personality disorder develop a lot of fears and are also constantly preoccupied with certain thoughts such as being followed by the governmental agencies. They may have belief in witchcraft and superstitions. The individual may also find it difficult to maintain relationships at home, workplace or in social settings. The symptoms and signs that may also develop include abnormal speech, poor social skills, odd appearance, fantasies, etc.
A significant portion of those who suffer from Schizotypal personality disorder develop a depressive disorder (Ballas, 2006). Sometimes, individuals suffering from Schizotypal personality disorder may also develop paranoid personality disorder (Ballas, 2006). Individuals suffering from schizophrenia may develop Schizotypal personality disorder during the early stages (Merck, 2006). Antisocial personality disorder is a mental disorder in which the affected individual tends to violate and abuse the rights of others.This disorder was previously known as psychopathic or sociopath personality (Ballas, 2006). They frequently have problems with the law.
These individuals frequently become criminals and are on the run from the law-enforcing agencies. Studies have demonstrated that individuals with antisocial personality behavior may develop this condition due to a genetic link and due to traumatic events in childhood such as child abuse and sexual abuse (Ballas, 2006). Men are more frequently affected with this disorder than women.Studies have demonstrated that certain individuals who have a parent who is an alcoholic or an antisocial element is at a high risk of developing the disorder (Ballas, 2006).
Amongst inmates, the disorder is very high. The likelihood of developing this disorder may be seen during the childhood stage itself. These individuals develop certain abnormal tastes such as setting fire to objects and killing animals. They frequently lie, steal, destroy and end up with quarreling or physically fighting with others. They do not feel guilty for their acts (Ballas, 2006).They do not consider the safety of others.
They get angry and aggressive very easily, but usually cover it in appropriate situations with wit and charm. They tend to flatter and emotionally blackmail others in order to achieve their objectives which are mainly personal gratification or a materialistic gain (Merck, 2006). They may also end up in substance abuse and committing sexual crime. Usually, individuals with antisocial personality behavior have to be forced into treatment. Very rarely such individuals would come for medical help on their own (Ballas, 2006).
The symptoms of antisocial personality disorder tend to be active during adolescence, young adulthood, and the middle aged group. As they are absolutely dishonest and try to gain from others in a criminal fashion, they are not in good relationships with others. They may not be able to follow the normal stressors of life and get frustrated very easily (Ballas, 2006). Individuals with antisocial personality disorder are at a very high risk of developing drug abuse, alcoholism, criminal activities, imprisonment, etc.They may move from one area to another in search of jobs and a staying place, and would soon have to shift to another place as they would lose their reputation.
These individuals may tend to abuse children and also develop STD’s. With age, the symptoms of antisocial personality behavior tend to reduce (Merck, 2006). Borderline personality disorder is a condition in which the individual develops traumatic interpersonal relationships with others, and may also have impulsive actions, abnormal moods and defective behaviors (Ballas, 2006). It is a severe form of a mental disorder.The emotions of individuals suffering from borderline personality disorder are defective (NIMH, 2006).
About 2 % of the adult population in the US is affected with Borderline personality disorder (NIMH, 2006). Fatalities are also high with this disorder as the individual develops suicidal tendencies. Some individuals need hospitalization in order to treat the disorder. These individuals tend to get angry and harm themselves rather than others. The symptoms such as anxiety bouts, usually last for a few hours or up to a day (NIMH, 2006).Individuals suffering from borderline PD develop certain abnormalities in cognition and alterations of the self-image which could result in alterations to the long-terms goals of life (NIMH, 2006).
These individuals are often misunderstood or ill-treated by the society. The affected individual may not like the family and the loved ones after developing the disorder. They may also be very sensitive to rejection by the family members (NIMH, 2006). Compared to those suffering from antisocial personality disorder, these individuals have greater defects in their thinking process.
Compared to the individuals suffering from histrionic personality disorder, these individuals have greater confusion about their identity and their role and get more aggressive at times. They also get impulsive very easily. The disorder more frequently occurs in early adulthood and the middle age group. Very rarely does it extent into the old age group (Merck, 2006).
The exact cause of Borderline personality disorder is still not understood clearly. However, child abuse, child neglect, sexual abuse, family problems, etc, play a major role in the development of the disorder (Ballas, 2006).As the individual is very impulsive and develop self-destructive tendencies, physical bodily harm, substance abuse, alcoholism, etc are very common in these individuals. Borderline personality disorder tends to occur more often in women compared to men. On the whole, individuals with borderline personality disorder cannot maintain a normal relationship with others (Ballas, 2006).
Their relationships are either good or bad, and often swing between these two extremes. Besides, their self-image is either good or bad and may swing from one to another.Some of these individual may indulge in binge eating, drinking, stealing or gambling. They cannot remain isolated and tend to get bored very easily.
Self-mutilation marks may be seen on various parts of their bodies. They may also develop several mental problems such as depression and suicidal tendencies (Ballas, 2006). Medications seem to be beneficial for borderline personality disorder only for a short-term period in order to relieve the symptoms of depression, anxiety and mood changes. Psychotherapy seems to be very effective in treating borderline personality disorder.
Group therapy is very effective in reducing the self-destructive behavior. A new form of psychotherapy known as ‘dialectical therapy’ seems to be very efficient in treating borderline personality disorders. Mood stabilizers are also required to improve the altered mood. When the pattern of thinking is abnormal, antipsychotic drugs may be required (NIMH, 2006). Some individuals with borderline personality disorder are at the risk of developing hallucinations, psychosis and paranoia. Borderline personality disorder is one of the most common personality disorders which is treated in mental clinics.
