Diagnosis

Personality disorders are “personality characteristics, gone awry.”  When personality traits become inflexible and maladaptive, and/or when they cause significant problems in one’s social life or career, they have transformed into a personality disorder. The three clusters of personality disorders, according to the DSM-IV, are 1) paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal (odd or eccentric behavior); 2) histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline (dramatic, overemotional, and erratic behavior); and 3) avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive (highly anxious and fearful emotions).

Personality Disorders are………

Borderline Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Depressive Personality Disorder

Passive Aggressive Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Treatment

Recommended treatment varies. Long-term psychotherapy is successful for some individuals with the diagnosis of personality disorder.  Individual therapy works better for some types, and group therapy, for others. The only medications recommended for use would be to treat other conditions, such as MAOIs or SSRIs for depression.