Personality disorder
A personality disorder (PD) or character disorder is a type of disorder where a person thinks, feels and behaves differently from how society expects them to. Where these traits would be flexible in most people, these traits are rigid and unworkable in someone with a personality disorder and create lasting patterns and often lasting problems. These thoughts, feelings and behaviours can cause problems for the person, and for other people around them. In the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries, personality disorders are classed as a kind of mental disorder and are treated by medical professionals. About ten percent of adults have PDs.[1] They are often caused by child abuse and trauma.[2]
Types
[change | change source]In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a book about mental illness written by the American Psychiatric Association, there are ten personality disorders. They are split into three "clusters" or groups.[3]
Cluster A
[change | change source]Cluster A is the odd or eccentric group of personality disorders. They have similarities with schizophrenia. [4] They are:
- Paranoid personality disorder: These people do not trust others. They believe that others are trying to ruin their life.
- Schizoid personality disorder: These people like to stay alone. They do not enjoy most things and do not show much emotion.
- Schizotypal personality disorder: These people have weird beliefs and are very afraid of other people.
Cluster B
[change | change source]Cluster B is the dramatic or emotional group of personality disorders. They are:
- Antisocial personality disorder: These people tend to bully others. They do not care about people or the law. Around three percent of men and one percent of women have ASPD.
- Borderline personality disorder: These people have unstable relationships, self-image and moods. They are very impulsive. Around one percent of men and three percent of women have BPD.
- Histrionic personality disorder: These people are very emotional and need to be the center of attention. They are flirtatious and seductive. Around one percent of men and four percent of women have HPD.
- Narcissistic personality disorder: These people think that they are better than other people. They boast about themselves and need other people to look up to them. They use other people to achieve their goals. Around one percent of people have NPD.
All Cluster B disorders are comorbid with each other. There are things that are in more than one PD. For example, selfishness and lack of empathy are major parts of ASPD and NPD. Needing to be admired is a major part of HPD and NPD.
Cluster C
[change | change source]Cluster C is the anxious or fearful group of personality disorders. They are:
- Avoidant personality disorder: These people avoid close relationships because they feel worse than other people. They have a high amount of social anxiety and feel terrible when criticized.
- Dependent personality disorder: These people seek the affection of other people. They often cannot make decisions on their own.
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: These people do not relax. They are often very busy.
ICD
[change | change source]The World Health Organization has a different way of describing personality disorders. It makes use of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
The specific personality disorders are: paranoid, schizoid, dissocial, emotionally unstable (borderline type and impulsive type), histrionic, anankastic, anxious (avoidant) and dependent in the current version.[5] The current version is the ICD-10.
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ Lenzenweger, Mark F. (2008-09-01). "Epidemiology of Personality Disorders". Psychiatric Clinics of North America. Recent Research in Personality Disorders. 31 (3): 395–403. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2008.03.003. ISSN 0193-953X. PMID 18638642.
- ↑ Cohen, Patricia; Brown, Jocelyn; Smailes, Elizabeth (December 2001). "Child abuse and neglect and the development of mental disorders in the general population". Development and Psychopathology. 13 (4): 981–999. doi:10.1017/S0954579401004126. ISSN 1469-2198. PMID 11771917. S2CID 24036702.
- ↑ Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-5. Arlington, VA : American Psychiatric Association. 2013. ISBN 978-0-89042-554-1.
- ↑ Esterberg, Michelle L.; Goulding, Sandra M.; Walker, Elaine F. (2010-12-01). "A Personality Disorders: Schizotypal, Schizoid and Paranoid Personality Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence". Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 32 (4): 515–528. doi:10.1007/s10862-010-9183-8. ISSN 0882-2689. PMC 2992453. PMID 21116455.
- ↑ "ICD-10 Version:2010". icd.who.int. Retrieved 2021-01-22.