Cluster A Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders

• Personality disorders are a group of 10 mental health conditions that involve long-lasting, disruptive patterns of thinking, behavior, mood, and relating to others.
• These patterns cause a person significant distress and/or impair their ability to function.

Classification of Personality Disorders

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) organizes the 10 types of personality disorders into three main clusters (categories):
  • Cluster A: unusual and eccentric thinking or behaviors
  • Cluster B: dramatic and erratic behaviors
  • Cluster C: severe anxiety and fear

Cluster A Personality Disorders

• Paranoid personality disorder: characterized by relentless mistrust and suspicion of others without adequate reason
• Schizoid personality disorder: marked by detachment from and general disinterest in interpersonal relationships
• Schizotypal personality disorder: characterized by intense discomfort with and limited need for close relationships, with distorted views of reality and unusual behaviors

Cluster B Personality Disorders

• Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD): characterized by lack of respect toward others, disregard for socially accepted norms or rules, and lack of empathy
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD): marked by difficulty with emotional regulation, resulting in low self-esteem, mood swings, impulsive behaviors, and relationship difficulties
• Histrionic personality disorder: marked by intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image
• Narcissistic personality disorder: characterized by perceived superiority, grandiosity, excessive need for praise and admiration, and lack of empathy

Cluster C Personality Disorders

• Avoidant personality disorder: characterized by chronic feelings of inadequacy, high sensitivity to being negatively judged, and avoidance of social interaction
• Dependent personality disorder: marked by a constant and excessive need to be cared for by someone else, submissiveness, and a need for constant reassurance
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD): characterized by a consistent and extreme need for orderliness, perfectionism, and control

Causes of Personality Disorders

• Brain changes: research suggests subtle brain differences in people with certain personality disorders
• Childhood trauma: linked to the development of personality disorders, particularly borderline and antisocial personality disorders
• Verbal abuse: linked to the development of personality disorders, particularly borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, and paranoid personality disorders
• Cultural factors: may play a role in the development of personality disorders, with varying rates of personality disorders between different countries

Symptoms of Personality Disorders

• Problems with identity and a sense of self
• Difficulty with emotional regulation
• Impulsive behaviors
• Distorted perceptions of reality
• Abnormal behaviors
• Distress across various aspects of life, including work, relationships, and social functioning

Epidemiology of Personality Disorders

• Approximately 9% of adults in the U.S. have a personality disorder
• About 6% of the global population has a personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder are the most frequently diagnosed personality disorders
• Personality disorders are among the least understood mental health conditions, and scientists are still trying to figure out the cause of them.

Overview of Personality Disorders

• Personality disorders are a group of 10 mental health conditions that involve long-lasting, disruptive patterns of thinking, behavior, mood, and relating to others.
• These patterns cause a person significant distress and/or impair their ability to function.

Characteristics of Personality Disorders

• People with personality disorders often don't realize their thoughts and behaviors are problematic.
• Personality disorders may cause distorted perceptions of reality, abnormal behaviors, and distress across various aspects of life.
• There are 10 types of personality disorders, each with different characteristics and symptoms.

Types of Personality Disorders

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) organizes the 10 types of personality disorders into three main clusters (categories).

Treatment and Management of Personality Disorders

• Psychotherapy can help decrease unhealthy and socially undesirable behavior and modify personality traits that are causing difficulties.
• Different types of psychotherapy are effective for different personality disorders (e.g., dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for borderline personality disorder and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for histrionic personality disorder).
• Treatment can help decrease the disruption to the person's life, family, and friendships.

Prevention and Prognosis

• There is no known way to prevent personality disorders.
• The overall prognosis for personality disorders is poor, as people often don't seek proper medical attention.
• Untreated personality disorders may result in poor relationships, occupational difficulties, impaired social functioning, and elevated rates of unemployment, divorce, domestic abuse, substance use, homelessness, and crime.

Inpatient Treatment Centers

• Residential treatment centers can offer acute or long-term treatment programs, depending on the type and severity of the personality disorder.
• Patients with borderline personality disorder often utilize inpatient treatment programs due to their inability to control and regulate their emotions and behaviors.
• Luxury treatment centers offer more amenities and focus on physical and emotional well-being.

Outpatient Treatment Programs

• Outpatient treatment is recommended for people who don't display disruptive and violent behavior due to their condition.
• Outpatient care and treatment are similar to those provided in inpatient settings, but patients are required to come for recommended sessions for therapies and medications.

Diagnosis and Tests

• Healthcare providers base the diagnosis of a specific personality disorder on criteria provided in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
• Mental health professionals often ask broad, general questions to shed light on past history, relationships, previous work history, reality testing, and impulse control.
• Personality disorders are generally under-diagnosed because providers sometimes focus on symptoms of anxiety or depression, which are more common in the general population.