Personality disorders are characterized by pervasive and inflexible patterns of inner experience and outward behavior that significantly affect a person's ability to function in every-day activities. A person's work, family, and social life can all be affected by the symptoms. Personality disorders affect nearly 15% of the population.

Types of Personality Disorders and Their Symptoms

There are many different personality disorders, each with their own set of unique symptoms. Some of the more common personality disorders and their symptoms include:

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-standing and complex pattern of feelings of inadequacy, social inhibition, and extreme sensitivity to what other people think about them. It typically manifests itself by early adulthood.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects along with marked impulsivity. Borderline personality disorder is the most common personality disorder and occurs in about 2% of the population. It usually presents itself by early adulthood and is present in a variety of settings (e.g., not just at work or home).

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attempts to get attention in strange and unusual ways. Histrionic personality disorder is present in about 2% to 3% of the general population and is more common among women.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity in fantasy or behavior, an extreme need for admiration, and a marked lack of empathy. Less than 1% of the population suffer from this disorder.

Causes

Personality disorders have as many causes as there are people who suffer from them. The disorders may be caused by a combination of a person's parental upbringing, their personality and social development, as well as genetic and biological factors. While the exact causes are not yet known, it is understood that the disorder most often manifests during increased times of stress and interpersonal difficulties in the person's life. There is a common misconception that people with personality disorders are weak or should be able to "snap out of it." It's important to understand that those who suffer from these disorders are not consciously holding themselves back from correcting their behavior.

Treatment

Mental health professionals were once pessimistic about treating personality disorders since they are, by definition, an integral part of what defines the individual and their self-perceptions. Now, there is growing evidence that some types of psychotherapy can be especially effective.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is the most commonly used. Behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy are also used treating personality disorders.

Medications are usually only used to treat other accompanying disorders or specific symptoms the person may have, such as depression, psychotic symptoms, or anxious symptoms.