Personality Disorder - what is it?

According to the Merck Manual, personality disorders are pervasive, enduring patterns of perceiving, reacting, and relating that cause significant distress or functional impairment. In other words, the personality traits (the way a person thinks, reacts, and relates to others) of those with personality disorders, are more pronounced, rigid and maladaptive so they are unable to maintain healthy relationships.

How does a personality disorder develop and when?

Personality disorders are generally caused by a combination of environment and genetics. Typically, signs of a personality disorder are first noticed around late adolescence or early adulthood.

What are the different types of personality disorders?

There are 10 different types of personality disorders and most clinicians break them down into 3 clusters.

Cluster A (weird) contains paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders

* Cluster B (wild) contains antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders

Cluster C (worried) contains avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders

* Most of the personality disorders of abusers which we will be discussing in ABM are Cluster B personality disorders.

Cluster B Personality Disorders explained:

All cluster B disorders have a genetic relationship with substance abuse disorders as well as mood disorders like depression and bipolar.

• Antisocial Personality Disorder:

  • manipulative, disregard moral values, little empathy, poor impulse control - do not accept responsibility for their actions

• Borderline Personality Disorder:

  • unstable moods, intense joy to intense rage, very dramatic and black and white; terrified of abandonment

• Histrionic Personality Disorder:

  • attention-seeking, excessive emotionality; manipulate a situation to draw attention to themselves. superficial relationships with lots of acquaintances but few good friends

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD):

  • grandiose self-image; expect to be treated with special attention; other people should cater to them; underneath the mask of self-confidence, vulnerable fragility; lack empathy and oblivious to others feelings - only involved in situations that advance their agenda

Helpful video explaining the four types of Cluster B personality disorders is found here.

* More commonly found in situations of relationship abuse are persons with Narcissistic Personality Disorder