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Types of Personality Disorders

a woman struggles to manage the symptoms of a personality disorder

An individual’s personality is the way of behaving, thinking, and feeling that makes them different from others. Your environment, experiences, and inherited characteristics influence your personality, which typically remains the same throughout your life. It is normal for people to have different personalities. However, if someone’s behavior, thinking, and feeling diverge from societal and cultural expectations, it can be classified as a personality disorder. For someone to be diagnosed with a personality disorder, it must also cause lasting distress or problems functioning. When someone has a personality disorder, it can impact how they respond emotionally, relate to others, control their behavior, and think of themselves and others.

If left untreated, personality disorders can significantly impact an individual’s life. While there is no cure, there are various treatments and therapies that can be effective in helping people manage their personality disorders. At Evoke Wellness Ohio, we provide a personality disorder treatment program where patients receive education about their disorder and support as they develop skills to control it better. Call 866.430.9267 to learn more.

Understanding Personality Disorder Clusters

So, what are the different types of personality disorders? There are three personality disorder clusters—Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C. They are grouped by the specific symptoms they have in common. Cluster A involves unusual and eccentric behaviors or ways of thinking. Cluster B personality disorders typically involve erratic and dramatic behaviors. People with these types of personality disorders are often impulsive and display intense and unstable emotions. Cluster C disorders are characterized by fear and anxiety.

What Are the Different Types of Personality Disorders?

The following are the ten types of personality disorders grouped by cluster.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

  • Paranoid personality disorder – Individuals have paranoia where they have relentless mistrust and are suspicious of others without a logical reason. They often believe others are trying to harm or demean them.
  • Schizoid personality disorder – This is characterized by a regular pattern of disinterest and detachment from interpersonal relationships. Individuals with this disorder display limited emotions when interacting with others.
  • Schizotypal personality disorder – This condition is marked by discomfort with and lack of desire for close relationships. People’s relationships may be strained by distorted views of reality and unusual behaviors.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

  • Antisocial personality disorder – Individuals with this disorder display a lack of respect for others and disregard social norms. They refuse to take accountability for their actions and may ignore the negative consequences of their behavior.
  • Borderline personality disorder – When someone has this disorder, they have a challenging time managing their emotions. Because of this, they often experience mood swings, low self-esteem, impulsivity, and trouble in relationships.
  • Histrionic personality disorder – People with this condition have intense emotions and a distorted self-image. They do not have a true feeling of self-worth, and their self-esteem greatly depends on others’ approval.
  • Narcissistic personality disorder – Individuals with this disorder exhibit a pattern of perceived superiority, an excessive need for praise and admiration, and a lack of empathy.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

  • Avoidant personality disorder – Individuals with this condition are highly-sensitive to being negatively judged by others and battle feelings of inadequacy. They tend to avoid social interaction because they fear rejection, even though they may like interacting with others.
  • Dependent personality disorder – This disorder involves a constant and excessive need to have someone else care for you. People with this condition require reassurance, trouble making decisions, and fear separation.
  • Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder – This condition is marked by an extreme need for orderliness, perfectionism, and control, which interferes with completing a task.

A personality disorder must be diagnosed by a mental health professional. For those living with one of these conditions, a treatment program can help you find the right combination of medications and therapy to improve your quality of life.

Learn About Personality Disorder Treatment at Evoke Wellness Ohio

Personality disorder symptoms can be managed with proper support, treatment, and sometimes medication. To learn more about treatment options for the different types of personality disorders, contact Evoke Wellness Ohio at 866.430.9267. You can also fill out our online form and let us get back to you.