Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by persistent, inflexible, and maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating to others. These patterns typically develop in adolescence or early adulthood and remain stable over time. They cause significant distress to the individual or impair functioning across social, occupational, or other important areas. The behaviors and inner experiences markedly deviate from the expectations of the individual’s culture, affecting at least two of the following areas:
- Cognition (ways of perceiving and interpreting self, others, and events)
- Affectivity (range, intensity, and appropriateness of emotional responses)
- Interpersonal functioning
- Impulse control
Personality disorders are commonly categorized into three clusters based on descriptive similarities:
Cluster A: These disorders are characterized by social withdrawal, distorted thinking, and unusual behavior. Individuals often appear odd, aloof, or suspicious.
- Paranoid Personality Disorder
Characterized by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others. Individuals often believe others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving them, even without evidence. They may bear grudges, interpret benign remarks as hostile, and are reluctant to confide in others. - Schizoid Personality Disorder
Marked by detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression. These individuals often prefer solitary activities, show little interest in social interactions, and appear emotionally cold or indifferent. - Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Features acute discomfort in close relationships, along with cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentric behaviors. Individuals may have odd beliefs or magical thinking, unusual speech patterns, and paranoid ideation. They may desire social relationships but struggle due to their eccentricity and anxiety.
Cluster B: This cluster involves intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, and unstable interpersonal relationships.
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Defined by instability in mood, self-image, and interpersonal relationships. Individuals may exhibit intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that last a few hours to days. They often fear abandonment, engage in impulsive behaviors (e.g., substance abuse, self-injury), and experience chronic feelings of emptiness. - Antisocial Personality Disorder
Characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Common traits include deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, aggression, and lack of remorse for actions. Often associated with criminal behavior and conduct disorder in youth. - Histrionic Personality Disorder
Involves excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Individuals often feel uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention, may use physical appearance to draw attention, and display rapidly shifting and shallow emotions. - Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Characterized by grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. Individuals may exaggerate achievements, expect special treatment, and take advantage of others to achieve their own goals.
Cluster C: These disorders involve pervasive anxiety and fearfulness, often leading to avoidance and dependency in interpersonal relationships.
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
Features social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism. Individuals may avoid occupational and social activities due to fears of rejection or embarrassment, despite a desire for closeness. - Dependent Personality Disorder
Marked by an excessive need to be cared for, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. Individuals may struggle to make everyday decisions without reassurance and tolerate poor treatment to maintain support and approval. - Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
Characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility and efficiency. These individuals may be excessively devoted to work, reluctant to delegate tasks, and overly rigid in morals and values. [Note: OCPD is distinct from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)]
Worried that you / your loved one may be suffering from Psychotic Disorder?
- Chronic interpersonal problems
- Rigid, maladaptive patterns of thinking and behaving
- Emotional dysregulation
- Identity disturbances
- Intense fear of rejection or abandonment (especially in Cluster B)
Services, we provide that can help you:
- Psychoeducation
- Psychometric Assessment
- Pharmacotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
