Overview of personality disorders

[Merna]

Personality disorders are long-lasting, pervasive patterns of thinking, perceiving, reacting, and relating that cause the person significant distress and/or impair the persons ability to function.

There are 10 types of personality disorders, and each has characteristic problems with self-image and patterns of response to others and to stressful events.
Symptoms are different depending on the type of personality disorder, but in general, people have difficulty relating to others and handling stress and/or have a self-image that varies depending on the situation and that differs from how others perceive them.
Doctors consider diagnosing a personality disorder when people persistently view themselves or others in ways that differ from reality or when they continue to act in ways that routinely have negative consequences.
Drugs usually do not change personality disorders but may help lessen distressing symptoms.
Psychotherapy may help people become aware of their role in creating their problems and help them change their socially undesirable behavior.

Personality traits