What is personality disorder
Personality disorders are defined as significant deviations from normal personality traits that result in a consistent pattern of abnormal behavior reflecting the patient’s personal life style and interpersonal relationships. This pattern deviates significantly from the specific cultural background and general cognitive style (especially in the treatment of people), significantly affects their social and occupational functioning, and causes maladaptation to the social environment, for which the patient feels distressed and has become clinically significant. Although there is no intellectual impairment, maladaptive behavior patterns are difficult to correct, and only a minority of patients improve to a greater extent in adulthood.
It usually begins in childhood or adolescence and continues to develop over time into adulthood or throughout life. If the personality deviation from normal is caused by physical diseases (such as encephalopathy, traumatic brain injury, chronic alcoholism, etc.) or secondary to various mental disorders, it should be called personality change.
Diagnostic criteria for personality disorders
[Symptom Criteria] The individual’s internal experience and behavioral characteristics (not limited to the psychotic episode) in general deviate significantly from the expected and accepted range of their culture, and such deviation is extensive, stable and long-term, and at least 1 of the following.
(1) Abnormal deviations in cognition (the way in which people and things are perceived, and interpreted, and thus attitudes and images of self and others are formed);
(2) abnormal deviations in affect (range, intensity, and appropriate emotional arousal and response);
(3) abnormal deviations in the control of impulses and in the satisfaction of personal needs;
(4) abnormal deviations in interpersonal relationships.
Severity Criteria】Abnormal deviation of specific behavioral patterns that cause distress or social maladjustment to the patient or others (e.g., family members).
Criteria for disease duration】Beginning in childhood or adolescence, now 18 years old or older, and has lasted at least 2 years.
Exclusion criteria] Abnormal deviation of personality traits is not a manifestation or consequence of somatic diseases or mental disorders.
The causes of personality disorder formation are complex, and a large amount of research data and clinical practice indicate that biological, psychological, and social environmental factors can have an impact on the formation of personality. At present, it is generally believed that personality disorders are formed on the basis of congenital defects in the brain and suffer from the influence of environmental harmful factors (especially psycho-social factors). Biological factors are one of the reasons for the formation of personality disorders, but probably not the main one.
Personality disorders can be divided into the following types according to their manifestations.
Violent personality disorder
Schizotypal personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder
Aggressive personality disorder
Avoidant personality disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Once an individual’s personality is formed, it often has a certain stability, and it is not easy to change it. However, through strengthening self-regulation and various treatments (including environmental adaptability training, employment and behavior guidance, interpersonal relationship adjustment, etc.), personality disorders can be corrected to some extent.