Personality traits are long-lasting, repeated patterns of thinking and behavior. These traits are considered typical variations in personality as long as they don’t interfere with daily functioning or work.
A personality disorder is diagnosed when personality traits become excessive or maladaptive and lead to significant impairment in interpersonal relationships or occupational functioning.
Personality disorders are typically ego-syntonic, meaning the person usually doesn’t see their behavior or traits as a problem.
There’s no definitive cure for personality disorders, but symptoms and functioning can often be improved with psychotherapy. Other psychiatric conditions (such as depression or OCD) may occur alongside a personality disorder and should be treated as appropriate.
| Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Paranoid | Excessive distrust and suspiciousness of others, excessive jealousy, interprets others actions as threatening, demeaning, exploitative; cynical view of the world |
| Schizotypal | Excessive beliefs without frank delusions, cognitive and perceptual disturbances, impaired social interactions; eccentric, magical thinking and odd beliefs |
| Schizoid | Restricted affect, voluntary detachment from social interactions; do not yearn for social interaction; like to stay alone and aloof |
| Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Borderline | Insecurities about self, chronic feelings of emptiness, instability of interpersonal relationships, volatile emotions, self harming behavior, suicidal risk, hypersensitivity to rejection, commonly use splitting as a defense mechanism |
| Narcissistic | Self-centered, need for admiration, lack of empathy, arrogant and exploitative, grandiosity in speech and behavior, sense of entitlement |
| Histrionic | Excessive emotionality and attention seeking behavior, overly concerned about appearance, “drama queen”, dramatic speech and behavior |
| Antisocial | Lack of empathy, does not respect law or other person’s rights, lack of remorse, criminality, impulsivity, sociopath. Must be >18 year old to diagnose, as similar behavior before 18 years of age will be categorized as “conduct disorder” |
| Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Avoidant | Feelings of inadequacy, low self esteem, rejection hypersensitivity, socially inhibited although they want to have close interpersonal relationships |
| Dependent | Extreme difficulty making own decisions, submissiveness, feelings of inadequacy, avoidance of confrontation |
| Obsessive-compulsive | Preoccupied with details and rules, excessive organization, perfectionism and control |
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