Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are long-term patterns of thoughts and behaviors that cause serious problems with relationships and work. People with personality disorders have difficulty dealing with everyday stresses and problems. They often have stormy relationships with other people. The exact cause of personality disorders is unknown. However, genes and childhood experiences may play a role.

Symptoms vary widely depending on the specific type of personality disorder. Treatment usually includes talk therapy and sometimes medicine.

Personality Disorder on Wikipedia

'''Personality disorders''' form a class of mental illness that are characterized by long-lasting rigid patterns of thought and behaviour. Because of the inflexibility and pervasiveness of these patterns, they can cause serious problems and impairment of functioning for the persons who are afflicted with these disorders. Personality disorders are seen by the American Psychiatric Association as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it. These patterns are inflexible and pervasive across many situations. The onset of the pattern can be traced back at least to the beginning of adulthood. To be diagnosed as a personality disorder, a behavioural pattern must cause significant distress or impairment in personal, social, and/or occupational situations.

DSM criteria

Personality disorders are represented on Axis II of the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM-IV (see also: DSM cautionary statement).

General diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder

To make a diagnosis of a personality disorder, these criteria must be satisfied in addition to the specific criteria listed under the individually named personality disorders. A. An enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture. This pattern is manifested in two (or more) of the following areas: :# cognition (perception and interpretation of self, others and events) :# affectivity (the range, intensity, lability, and appropriateness of emotional response) :# interpersonal functioning :# impulse control B. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations. C. The enduring pattern leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. D. The pattern ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Disordered Thoughts - Hank Shiffman's personal photo gallery with pictures of Jess Harnell, Tress MacNeille and Rob Paulsen.

The Awakenings Project - Non-profit arts organization, assisting persons with mental illness to develop artistic abilities through all forms of art, raising public awareness of the creativity and contributions of people with psychiatric disorders.

Morning Come Quickly - Novel about a psychologist who wades with trauma survivors, many with multiple personalities, also known as dissociative identity disorder.

Overcoming Depression and Manic Depression - Paul Wider's help and advice for people living with bipolar disorder, written from personal experience.

Lost in the Mirror - Richard Moskovitz M.D. An inside look at borderline personality disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder Recovery Workbook - Developed by fellow BPD sufferers who have recovered.

Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited - A series of books and e-books about the Narcissistic Personality Disorder and relationships with abusive narcissists.

The Narcissism Book of Quotes - Download a free e-book written by the members of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder community about abuse in relationships with psychopaths and narcissists.

Silent Screams, Distant Dreams - Book about the Narcissistic personality Disorder and other abusive relationships.

Narcissism - True Nature of Reality - Book for individuals who are suffering depression and anxiety due to the isolation caused by the Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

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