Personality Disorder Specialists Florence KY

Personality is a combination of thoughts and behaviors that are unique to each individual.  It is the way everyone views the world and yourself. In general, individuals with personality disorders have different perceptions of life and thought processes. Within each individual's culture there are norms in which they are expected to follow. Individuals with personality disorders deter from these cultural norms and expectations. In most cases, individuals do not even realize that they are behaving differently than others around them. Usually individual's perspective in their thinking process and actions are normal. 

A personality disorder, as defined in the DSM-IV-TR (2000), is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescent or early adulthood, is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment. Within the DSM-IV-TR (2000) there are ten recognized personality disorders, they are grouped into three clusters (A, B and C). The personality disorder must result in distress or impairment in areas of functioning such as school, home life, or occupational. Personality disorders are not limited to one area of a person's life but can be pervasive throughout (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The clusters are as follows with main characteristics of each (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Emedicine, 2010)

Cluster A (odd or eccentric)

• Paranoid Personality Disorder - distrust, suspiciousness
• Schizoid Personality Disorder - detached, aloof, solitary
• Schizotypal Personality Disorder - discomfort in close relationships, odd or magical thinking, odd behavior, unusual perceptual experiences

Cluster B (dramatic, emotional)

• Antisocial Personality Disorder -repeated unlawful behavior, lack of remorse, deceitfulness
• Borderline Personality Disorder - unstable sense of self and relationships with others, impulsivity
• Histrionic Personality Disorder - excessive emotionality and attention seeking behavior
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder - grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy

Cluster C (anxious, fearful)

• Avoidant Personality Disorder - fear of rejection, shyness, feelings of inadequacy
• Dependent Personality Disorder - submissive, clinging behavior, fear of separation
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - orderliness, perfectionism, inflexibility, rigidity

What Causes Personality Disorders?

Causes of personality disorders are thought to occur when the individual is younger.  Research indicates that individual's personalities are shaped during their youth and is shaped through two main factors: genetics and environment. It is thought that if something is altered in a mentally unhealthy way, that that the individual's mind is ill-equipped and a personality disorder can be created. The way this happens is that individuals are thought to have a geneti...

Diagnosing mental health disorders is not quite as clear-cut as diagnosing a physical problem, such as diabetes or cancer. Many symptoms of mental illnesses overlap and can fluctuate from day to day, or week to week. Unfortunately, this means physicians frequently diagnose patients incorrectly, prolonging the start of appropriate and effective treatment. This problem often occurs with two common mental health conditions: bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Bipolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorder have fluctuations in mood, energy, and activity that vary along a continuum anchored at each end by depression and mania (hyperactivity, euphoria). The periodic episodes of mania distinguish bipolar disorder from general depression. Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability between ages 15 and 44. It often coexists with other mental health disorders, such as substance abuse, panic disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In between mood episodes, those who suffer from bipolar disorder are capable of functioning at a relatively normal level.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is primarily an inability to regulate emotions. Sufferers experience pervasive mood instability, excessive or impulsive behavior, and unstable relationships. Borderline personality disorder accounts for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations, and individuals with BPD are at higher risk for suicide. Many BPD sufferers have a history of abuse, neglect, and separation.

What are the Differences?

Eighty-five percent of those with BPD also meet the criteria for other mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder. However, there are a few important differences.

• People with BPD do not experience periods of mania, which are the hallmark of bipolar disorder.
• Bipolar mood swings alternate between depression and mania with periods of relative stability in between. Mood episodes can last for days or weeks. In contrast, people with BPD exhibit short, intense bouts of anger and anxiety.
• Individuals with BPD suffer from pervasive feelings of chronic emptiness, abandonment, and fear. They tend to feel they are bad or unworthy, and often complain they are unfairly misunderstood or treated.

Treatment Options

The first line of treatment for people with bipolar disorder is medication, which physicians may augment with psychotherapy. In contrast, psychotherapy is the primary treatment for borderline personality disorder. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, a type of psychotherapy that's specific to borderline personality disorder, is generally effective.

It's important to recognize these differences. In a 2008 study, one in four mental health patients were not initially diagnosed correctly. These misdiagnoses lead to higher rates of psychiatric hospitalization and medical costs.

Sources:

National Institute of Mental Health. "What is bipolar disorder?" Web. 15 April 2009.