
Personality Disorders

A personality disorder is a deep-rooted, fixed, and dysfunctional pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving that interferes with an individual's ability to maintain healthy relationships in personal, social, or work-related situations. A personality disorder typically starts to become apparent during late adolescence or early adulthood.
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There are 10 formally recognized personality disorders that fall into three clusters; typically there is overlap between the disorders:
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Cluster A is characterized by odd or eccentric thinking or behavior. This cluster includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders; people with these disorders demonstrate the following behaviors:
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Paranoid Personality Disorder: distrustful and suspicious; belief that others are out to get them; socially detached or isolated; argumentative
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Schizoid Personality Disorder: disinterest in others; tend to be loners; limited emotional expression.
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Schizotypal Personality Disorder: odd or bizarre behavior or ideas; anxiety in social situations
Cluster B is characterized by appearing emotional, dramatic, and unpredictable. This cluster includes borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders; people with these disorders demonstrate the following behaviors:
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Borderline Personality Disorder: intense emotional reactions; impulsivity; stormy relationships; highly changeable moods
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Histrionic Personality Disorder: attention seeking; overly dramatic; suggestible
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Narcissistic Personality Disorder: lack of empathy for others; excessive need for admiration; grandiose sense of self-importance; sense of entitlement
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Antisocial Personality Disorder: manipulative and deceitful behavior; complete disregard for others
Cluster C is characterized by appearing anxious or fearful. This cluster includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders; people with these disorders demonstrate the following behaviors:
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Avoidant Personality Disorder: sensitivity to rejection; shy or inhibited around others; easily hurt
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Dependent Personality Disorder: difficulty being alone; fear of abandonment; overly reliant on others; submissive behavior
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Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: rigid adherence to rules; excessive need for orderliness and control (with no room for flexibility), perfectionism