Understanding Personality Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

1. Personality Disorders Psychological disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning.

2. BASIC FACTS • Approx. 15% of U.S. adults meet criteria for one or more PDs • Up to 30% of people who require mental health services have at least one PD • No cure for PDs, but therapy and some forms of medication can aid with symptoms • Combination of heredity and life experiences appear to play a role in most PDs

3. RISK FACTORS • More women than men develop Borderline PD • More men than women develop Antisocial PD & Obsessive-Compulsive PD • Other risk factors: • History of child abuse (verbal, physical, sexual) • Family history of Schizophrenia • Family history of Personality Disorders • Childhood head injury • Unstable, chaotic family life

4. RISK FACTORS (cont’d) • Individuals with PDs have greater risk of the following: • Social Isolation • Suicide • Substance Abuse • Depression, Anxiety, & Eating Disorders • Self-destructive Behavior • Violence & Homicide • Incarceration

5. Paranoid Personality Disorder • Distrust / suspicion of others that they have bad intentions or motives • Suspects (w/o sufficient evidence) that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him/her • Reluctant to confide in others due to fear that information will be used against him/her • Persistently holds grudges • Has recurrent suspicions regarding fidelity of their spouse or partner

6. Antisocial Personality Disorder • Pattern of disregardfor and violation of others’ rights • Failure to conform to lawful behaviors • Deceitfulness (i.e. repeated lying, manipulation) • Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead • Irritability & aggressiveness • Reckless disregard for self or others • Consistent irresponsibility • Lack of remorse

7. Borderline Personality Disorder • characterized by mood instability and poor self-image People with this disorder are prone to constant mood swings and bouts of anger.

8. Borderline Personality Disorder • Take their anger out on themselves, causing themselves injury • Suicidal threats and actions are not uncommon They are quick to anger when their expectations are not met.

9. Histrionic Personality Disorder • constant attention seekers • They need to be center of attention • often interrupts others to dominate conversation.

10. Histrionic Personality Disorder • Dress provocatively • Exaggerate illnesses “Everyone Loves Me”

11. Narcissistic Personality Disorder • characterized by self-centeredness Exaggerate their achievements, expecting others to recognize them as being superior

12. Narcissistic Personality Disorder • Picking about friends • Not everyone is worthy of being their friend • Uninterested in the feelings of others and may take advantage of them.

13. Schizoid Personality Disorder • Desire social isolation • Avoid relationships • Do not show much emotion • Prefer to be alone • Do not wish for popularity.

14. Schizoid Personality Disorder • Tend to seek jobs that require little social contact • Social skills are weak • Do not show need for attention/acceptance • Seen as humorless and distant • Often are termed "loners."

15. Schizotypal Personality Disorder • Need for social isolation • Odd behavior and thinking • Believed that schizotypal personality disorder is a mild form of schizophrenia

16. Dependent personality disorder • Psychological dependence on other people. • Experiences difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others

17. Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder • General psychological inflexibility • Strict conformity to rules and procedures • Perfectionism, excessive orderliness • People with OCPD tend to stress perfectionism above all else • Can feel anxious when they think things aren't "right"