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Medically Reviewed by
Dr. Thompson
Last updated: August 2, 2025
What Are Personality Disorders?
Personality disorders are mental disorders characterized by enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate significantly from cultural expectations. These patterns are pervasive across personal and social situations, typically beginning by early adulthood, and cause distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.
It’s crucial to understand that personality disorders are not character flaws, moral failings, or conscious choices.
They represent deeply ingrained patterns that often develop as adaptive responses to early life experiences, trauma, or neurobiological factors. These patterns may have served a protective function at one time but become problematic when they persist in situations where they’re no longer helpful.
At Arbor Wellness, we approach personality disorders with compassion, understanding, and evidence-based treatment methods. We recognize that behind every diagnosis is a unique individual with their own story, strengths, and capacity for growth and healing.
Personality Disorder Clusters (A, B, C) Overview
Mental health professionals organize personality disorders into three main clusters based on similar characteristics and symptoms from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition – commonly referred to as the DSM-5.
Understanding these clusters can help individuals and families better comprehend the nature of different personality disorders.
Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior. Individuals with these disorders often appear suspicious, detached, or unusual in their interactions with others.
- Paranoid Personality Disorder involves pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, with individuals interpreting benign actions as malicious or threatening.
- Schizoid Personality Disorder is characterized by detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression in interpersonal settings.
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder involves acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentric behavior patterns.
Cluster B disorders involve dramatic, overly emotional, or unpredictable thinking and behavior. These disorders often create significant interpersonal difficulties and emotional turbulence.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, often involving deceitfulness, impulsivity, and lack of remorse.
- Borderline Personality Disorder involves instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with marked impulsivity and fear of abandonment.
- Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior across various contexts.
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder involves grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy for others.
Cluster C disorders are characterized by anxious, fearful thinking and behavior. Individuals with these disorders often struggle with anxiety, fear of criticism, and avoidance of social situations.
- Avoidant Personality Disorder involves social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
- Dependent Personality Disorder is characterized by excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder involves preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility and efficiency.
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Common Characteristics and Patterns of Personality Disorders
While each personality disorder has unique features, there are several common characteristics that tend to appear across different disorders:
Pervasive Patterns
Personality disorders involve consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that occur across multiple situations and relationships, not just isolated incidents or specific contexts.
Early Onset
These patterns typically begin by early adulthood and often have roots in childhood experiences, though they may not be formally diagnosed until later in life.
Stability Over Time
Personality disorder patterns tend to be stable and enduring, though they can change with appropriate treatment and personal growth.
Functional Impairment
The patterns cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Ego-Syntonic Nature
Often, individuals with personality disorders may not initially recognize their patterns as problematic because they feel consistent with their sense of self.
Interpersonal Difficulties
Most personality disorders involve challenges in relationships, whether through avoidance, instability, exploitation, or other problematic patterns.
Signs and Symptoms of Personality Disorders
Personality disorders manifest through various symptoms that affect thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. While specific symptoms vary by disorder, common warning signs include:
Trauma Disorders
Trauma disorders develop following exposure to or witnessing traumatic events such as accidents, violence, natural disasters, or other life-threatening situations.
These conditions affect how the brain processes and responds to memories and stress.
Emotional Symptoms
- Intense, unstable emotions or emotional numbness
- Difficulty regulating emotional responses
- Chronic feelings of emptiness or inadequacy
- Extreme fear of abandonment or rejection
- Persistent anger, irritability, or hostility
- Mood swings that seem disproportionate to circumstances
Interpersonal Symptoms
- Unstable, intense relationships that alternate between extremes
- Difficulty maintaining long-term relationships
- Social isolation or avoidance of interpersonal contact
- Exploitation or manipulation of others
- Excessive need for attention or admiration
- Difficulty trusting others or excessive suspiciousness
Behavioral Symptoms
- Impulsive behaviors that may be self-damaging
- Self-harm or suicidal behaviors
- Substance abuse as a coping mechanism
- Reckless or dangerous activities
- Compulsive behaviors or rituals
- Aggressive or violent outbursts
Cognitive Symptoms
- Distorted thinking patterns or beliefs about self and others
- Paranoid ideation or suspicious thoughts
- Dissociative experiences during times of stress
- Difficulty with identity or sense of self
- Perfectionist thinking or all-or-nothing mentality
- Problems with attention and concentration
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Personality disorders are highly treatable conditions, though treatment often requires specialized approaches and commitment to the therapeutic process. At Arbor Wellness, we offer comprehensive personality disorder treatment options tailored to each individual’s specific needs and circumstances.
Evidence Based Therapies
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is considered the gold standard treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder and is increasingly used for other personality disorders. DBT teaches practical skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals identify and change problematic thought patterns and behaviors. CBT is particularly effective for personality disorders when adapted to address the specific challenges and patterns associated with each condition.
Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)
Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) focuses on improving the ability to understand the mental states underlying behavior in oneself and others. This approach is especially helpful for individuals with borderline and other Cluster B personality disorders.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy explores how past experiences influence current patterns and relationships. This approach can be particularly helpful for understanding the origins of personality disorder patterns.
Medication Management
While there are no specific medications approved for personality disorders themselves, psychiatric medications can be helpful for managing co-occurring symptoms:
- Mood stabilizers for emotional instability and impulsivity
- Antidepressants for depression, anxiety, and some impulsive behaviors
- Antipsychotics for severe symptoms like paranoid thinking or dissociation
- Anti-anxiety medications for acute anxiety symptoms (typically short-term use)
For individuals with severe personality disorders that significantly impair functioning or create safety concerns, residential treatment may be necessary. Our residential program provides:
- Intensive individual and group therapy
- 24/7 psychiatric and nursing support
- Structured daily activities and life skills training
- Family therapy and support services
- Crisis intervention and safety planning
- Comprehensive discharge planning and aftercare coordination
Personality disorders frequently co-occur with other mental health conditions, which can complicate diagnosis and treatment.
Common co-occurring conditions include:
Mood Disorders: Depression and bipolar disorder commonly co-occur with personality disorders, particularly Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders.
Anxiety Disorders: Various anxiety disorders often accompany personality disorders, especially Cluster C disorders like Avoidant Personality Disorder.
Substance Use Disorders: Many individuals with personality disorders struggle with alcohol or drug abuse as a way to cope with emotional pain and interpersonal difficulties.
Eating Disorders: There’s a significant overlap between personality disorders and eating disorders, particularly with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviors: Individuals with certain personality disorders, especially Borderline Personality Disorder, have higher rates of self-harm and suicide attempts.
Trauma-Related Disorders: Many personality disorders, particularly Borderline Personality Disorder, have strong connections to trauma and may co-occur with PTSD.
Effective treatment must address all co-occurring conditions simultaneously to achieve the best outcomes.
Recovery and Management for Personality Disorders
Recovery from personality disorders is absolutely possible, though it often requires time, commitment, and specialized treatment.
Recovery doesn’t necessarily mean complete elimination of all symptoms, but rather learning to manage symptoms effectively and building a fulfilling, functional life.
Key Elements of Recovery
Biological factors include genetics, with family history being a significant risk factor, as well as brain chemistry imbalances and hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause.
Developing Self-Awareness
Understanding your patterns, triggers, and responses is the foundation of change. This awareness often develops gradually through therapy and mindful attention to your experiences.
Learning Coping Skills
Acquiring practical tools for managing intense emotions, interpersonal conflicts, and stress is crucial for long-term stability.
Building Healthy Relationships
Learning to form and maintain stable, supportive relationships is often a central goal of treatment
Creating Structure and Routine
Many individuals with personality disorders benefit from structured daily routines that provide stability and predictability.
Practicing Self-Compassion
Learning to treat yourself with kindness and understanding rather than harsh self-criticism is essential for healing.
Continuing Treatment
Many people benefit from ongoing therapy or periodic “booster” sessions even after initial treatment goals are achieved.
Learn More About Personality DIsorders
Discover more about recognizing, understanding, and managing personality disorders:
What is Petulant BPD? Understanding This Borderline Personality Disorder Subtype
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Can Narcissistic Personality Disorder Be Treated?
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a complex, oft-misunderstood mental health condition. Common questions about...
Read MoreStill have questions?
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Supporting Loved Ones with Personality Disorders
Having a loved one with a personality disorder can be challenging, but there are ways to provide support while maintaining your own well-being:
Educate Yourself
Learn about the specific personality disorder and its symptoms to better understand your loved one’s experiences.
Set Healthy Boundaries
It’s important to maintain boundaries that protect your own mental health while still offering support.
Avoid Taking Things Personally
Remember that the behaviors associated with personality disorders are symptoms of a mental health condition, not personal attacks.
Encourage Treatment
Support your loved one in seeking and maintaining professional treatment.
Practice Self-Care
Taking care of your own physical and emotional needs is crucial when supporting someone with a personality disorder.
Consider Family Therapy
Family or couples therapy can help improve communication and relationships.
Connecting with others who have similar experiences can provide valuable support and coping strategies.
You Are Not Alone.
You Deserve To Get Help.
Arbor Wellness is an industry leader in mental health treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual.
Call us today, we’re available 24/7.
Insurance Can Help Cover the Cost of Treatment
We work with most major health insurance plans—including those with out-of-network benefits—to help make detox and recovery more affordable.
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