Personality Disorders

Personality disorders represent a category of mental health disorders characterized by enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that markedly deviate from the expectations of an individual's culture. These patterns are pervasive, inflexible, and lead to significant distress or functional impairment. Typically, patterns of cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, and impulse control are affected. These behaviors and experiences are stable over time and have an onset that can typically be traced back to adolescence or early adulthood.

Diagnostically, the DSM-5 outlines several specific types of personality disorders, which are grouped into three clusters based on similar characteristics. Cluster A includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders, often marked by odd or eccentric behaviors. Cluster B encompasses antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders, characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, or unpredictable thinking or behavior. Cluster C comprises avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, where anxious and fearful behavior or thinking is prevalent. The exact cause of personality disorders is unknown, but a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors play a role in their development. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, and in some cases, medication may be used to manage specific symptoms or concurrent mental health issues.