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Personality Disorder


APSARA KATUWAL DANGOL


In our life time, we can see many people who have an unhealthy way of perceiving things, behaving and functioning. Sometimes, though we do good to them, we can only hear a negative response. A person might be very suspicious in nature or examine every time. They might have personality disorders which we are unaware about.

Personality disorders are " enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself " that "are exhibited in a wide range of important social and personal context," and "are inflexible and maladaptive, and cause either significant functional impairment or subjective distress" (DSM-IV, p.630). Simply, these behavior patterns impair social functioning. In three clusters, personality disorders are divided.

Personality disorder is an enduring and inflexible pattern of long duration that leads to significant distress or impairment and is not due to use of substance or another medical condition(DSM-5).

Cluster A (odd and eccentric)

 1.Paranoid Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • distrust of others,
  • constant suspicion,
  • searching hidden meanings in everything,
  • assuming hostile intentions,
  • quickly challenging loyalties of friends, beloved ones,
  • usually blaming others.


2. Schizoid Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • avoiding a relationship,
  • prefer to be alone,
  • usually introvert,
  • prefer to do a job where social contact is less.


3.Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • usually, have odd behavior and thinking,
  • have unconventional belief.


Cluster B (Dramatic, Emotional, Erratic)
1. Antisocial Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • lack of conscience
  • prone to criminal behavior
  • usually, take advantages of others,
  • usually, lie, steal and hurt.


2. Borderline Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • poor self-image,
  • mood instability,
  • prone to mood swings,
  • showing anger immediately,
  • usually, hurt or injure own self due to anger,
  • suicidal threats.


3. Histrionic Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • seeking attention constantly,
  • need to be the center of attention,
  • dominating others during conversation,
  • dressing provocatively,
  • exaggerating illness,


4. Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • usually, self-centeredness,
  • acting superior,
  • choosy about making friends of their level,
  • uninterested in other's feelings,
  • may take advantage of others,


Cluster C (Anxious or Fearful)
1. Avoidant Personality Disorder

Characters:

  • usually, have fear to conversate,
  • avoiding social interaction,
  • fear of being humiliated,
  • extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation.


2. Dependent Personality Disorder

Characters

  • dependent on others,
  • difficulty making decisions,
  • need an excessive amount of advice,
  • usually, need assurance from others,


3. Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Characters

  • inflexibility in most of the things,
  • need perfections,
  • feel anxious if things go wrong,
  • rigid conformity to rules and procedures,
  • excessive orderliness.

Causes of Personality Disorder
There is no still actual cause of personality disorder. But the general causes which can't be neglected are:

  • genetics,
  • how we brought up,
  • family dynamics, cultures and issues,
  • friends circle,
  • abusing,
  • bullying,
  • humiliating,
  • lack of training in social skills,


Even small acts can create personality disorder.

Diagnosis
A physical examination is must be to be sure if a person has some health problems or not. After that, some psychiatric evaluations are made to understand thoughts, behavior, and functioning of a person through an interview with the client, and their friends and family members with permission. The symptoms are compared to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) for diagnostic criteria. The diagnosis helps family members to understand why the client is behaving oddly.

Treatment 
After the proper diagnosis, treatment is processed. According to the personality disorder types, treatment is conducted. for the general or mild disorder, primary consultation with doctor or psychiatrist is enough but for severe psychotherapy (talk therapy) can help. Even medication is prescribed like Antidepressants, mood stabilizer, antianxiety medications, antipsychotic medications. If it so severe, client/patient has to be immediately admitted to hospital.


About Writer

Apsara Katuwal Dangol, is writer, educator, and psychosocial counselor. She writes articles which covers topics related to general and developmental psychology. She teaches to MA Clinical Psychology students as Developmental Psychology Mentor at Tri-Chandra College, and General Psychology at Shubhashree College of Management.







References:

Personality Disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_disorder

Personality Disorder
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/home/ovc-20247654

Personality Disorder
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/personality-disorders







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