A personality disorder is a type
of mental disorder in which you have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking,
functioning and behaving. A person with a personality disorder has trouble
perceiving and relating to situations and to people. This causes significant
problems and limitations in relationships, social encounters, work and school.
Personality disorders usually
begin in the teenage years or early adulthood. There are many types of
personality disorders. Some types may become less obvious throughout middle
age.
Cluster A personality disorders
are characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior. They include paranoid
personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder and schizotypal personality
disorder.
Cluster B personality disorders
are characterized by dramatic, overly emotional or unpredictable thinking or
behavior. They include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality
disorder, histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic personality
disorder. It's not necessary to exhibit all the signs and symptoms listed for a
disorder to be diagnosed.
Personality is the combination of
thoughts, emotions and behaviors that makes you unique. It's the way you view,
understand and relate to the outside world, as well as how you see yourself.
Personality forms during childhood, shaped through an interaction of two
factors:
•
Your genes. Certain personality traits may be passed on to you by your
parents through inherited genes. These traits are sometimes called your
temperament.
•
Your environment. This involves the surroundings you grew up in, events that
occurred, and relationships with family members and others
Personality disorders are thought
to be caused by a combination of these genetic and environmental influences.
Your genes may make you vulnerable to developing a personality disorder, and a
life situation may trigger the actual development.