- Personality is defined as patterns of traits and behaviors
that characterize an individual. Personality organizes traits, coping styles,
and ways of interacting in social situations for a person. Usually, Personality
development follows the expectations and demands of society.
- Personality
Disorders occur when an individual persistently has maladaptive ways of
perceiving, thinking, and relating to the world. An individual’s
inner experience and behavior must consistently deviate from the expectations
and demands of his/her society or culture. Personality traits must be maladaptive
and inflexible, and also create significant functional impairment or subjective
distress to be considered disordered.
- Personality Disorders typically appear
in adolescence or early adulthood.
- It is estimated that 15 percent of the
general population suffers from a Personality Disorder (Armand Nicholi
Jr., M.D., The New Harvard Guide to Psychiatry, 1988).
- When diagnosing
a Personality Disorder, caution must be used. Many symptoms of these disorders
are also symptomatic of other Mental Illnesses. Personality Disorders are
diagnosed only when the symptoms appear before early adulthood, are typical
of the individual’s long-term functioning, and do not occur
exclusively during an episode of another illness.
Symptoms
- An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that
deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture.
This pattern is demonstrated in two (or more) of the following areas:
- Cognition – the way a person perceives and interprets him/herself,
other people, and events
- Affectivity – the range, intensity, liability, and appropriateness
of emotional response
- Interpersonal functioning – the way a person
interacts and responds to other people
- Impulse control – a person’s
ability to control a desired response or behavior
- The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across
a broad range of personal and social situations.
- The enduring pattern leads
to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational,
or other important areas of functioning.
- The pattern is stable and of long
duration, and its onset can be traced back at least to adolescence or
early adulthood.
Cause
- Possible causes of Personality Disorders include biological/genetic factors
or dysfunction in early development and learning. Currently, the cause of
Personality Disorders is very speculative.
Treatment
- The treatment of Personality Disorders varies depending on the specific
disorder. Professionals suggest a combination of psychotherapy and medication
for most of the disorders.
Types
The following are specific types of Personality Disorders
and descriptions taken directly from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV, 1994).
- Paranoid Personality
Disorder is a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness such that others’ motives
are interpreted as malevolent.
- Schizoid Personality Disorder is a pattern
of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional
expression.
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a pattern of acute discomfort
in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities
of behavior.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder is a pattern of disregard
for, and violation of, the rights of others.
- Borderline Personality Disorder
is a pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image,
affects, and marked impulsivity.
- Histrionic Personality Disorder is a pattern
of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking.
- Narcissistic Personality
Disorder is a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of
empathy.
- Avoidant Personality Disorder is a pattern of social inhibition,
feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
- Dependent
Personality Disorder is a pattern of submissive and clinging behavior
related to an excessive need to be taken care of.
- Obsessive-Compulsive
Personality Disorder is a pattern of preoccupation with orderliness,
perfectionism, and control.
- Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
is a category provided for two situations:
(1) The individual’s personality pattern
meets the general criteria for a Personality Disorder and traits of several
different Personality Disorders are present, but the criteria for any specific
Personality Disorder are not met; or
(2) The individual’s personality
pattern meets the general criteria for a Personality Disorder, but the
individual is considered to have a Personality Disorder that is not included
in the classification (e.g., Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder).
If you or someone you know would like more information
on mental illness or wish to request an educational presentation, please
contact:
NAMI IOWA (Alliance for the Mentally Ill
of Iowa)
5911 Meredith Drive Suite E
Des Moines IA 50322-1903
Phone: (515) 254-0417 or (800) 417-0417 IOWA ONLY
Fax: (515) 254-1103
Email: info@namiiowa.com
