Personality Disorders

Personality consists of enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself that are exhibited across numerous social and personal contexts. A personality disorder is diagnosed when personality traits are so inflexible and maladaptive across a wide range of situations that they cause significant distress and impairment of social, occupational, and role functioning. The thinking, displays of emotion, impulsivity, and interpersonal behavior of the individual must deviate markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture in order to qualify as a personality disorder.

DSM-5 includes 10 personality disorders grouped into three clusters based upon descriptive similarities:

Cluster A characteristics – Individuals may appear odd and eccentric

•Paranoid

•Schizoid

•Schizotypal

Cluster B characteristics – Individuals often appear dramatic, emotional, or erratic

•Antisocial

•Borderline

•Histrionic

•Narcissistic

Cluster C characteristics – Individuals often appear anxious or fearful

•Avoidant

•Dependent

•Obsessive-compulsive

Prevalence of Personality Disorders

The prevalence of personality disorders provides approximations about how common each of the personality disorders are in various populations and geographical locations. Prevalence rates are important in understanding and researching effective treatment options.

The percent of the population with a personality disorder is 10–13% of the universal population
It is estimated that 9% of adults in the United States have at least one personality disorder
Personality disorders are diagnosed in 40–60% of psychiatric patients, rendering them the most common of all psychiatric diagnoses
Traumatic childhood experiences, including abuse and neglect, have been recognized as risk factors that may elevate the chances that an individual may develop a personality disorder.
Studies estimate that between 65–90% of people treated for a substance use disorder have at least one personality disorder.

Resource:

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