What Are Personality Disorders in the DSM-5?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Personality Disorders?TypesSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Are Personality Disorders?

Types

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatment

Coping

Close

Personality disorders include 10 diagnosable psychiatric conditions that are recognized and described in the fifth and most recent version of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5).

The DSM-5 organizes personality disorders into three groups, or clusters, based on shared key features.

Cluster A

Cluster A personality disorders include:

Cluster B

Cluster B personality disorders include:

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Cluster C

Cluster C personality disorders include:

What Are Cluster C Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders tend to appear in adolescence or early adulthood, continue over many years, and can cause a great deal of distress. They can potentially cause enormous conflict with other people, impacting relationships, social situations, and life goals. People with personality disorders often don’t recognize that they have problems and are often confusing and frustrating to people around them (including clinicians).

Certain symptoms of personality disorders can fall into two categories: self-identity and interpersonal functioning.

Self-identity problems include:

Interpersonal problems include:

According to the DMS-5, a person must meet the following criteria to be diagnosed with a personality disorder:

Differential Diagnosis

Before a clinician can diagnose a personality disorder, they must make adifferential diagnosisto rule out other disorders or medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms.

A differential diagnosis is very important but can be difficult since personality disorders also commonlyco-occur with other mental illnesses. A person who meets the criteria for one personality disorder will often also meet criteria for one or more additional personality disorders.

An Overview of Mixed Personality Disorder

Personality disorders don’t discriminate. Roughly 10% of the general population and up to half of psychiatric patients in clinical settings have a personality disorder.

Although experts are yet to fully understand the causes of personality disorders, they believe that both genetic and environmental factors play a role.

Roughly 50% of personality disorders are attributed to genetic factors and family history.Genetic vulnerabilities may make people more susceptible to these conditions, while experiences and other environmental factors may act as a trigger in the development of a personality disorder.

There is also a significant association between a history of childhood trauma as well as verbal abuse. One study found that children who experience verbal abuse were three times more likely to have borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive or paranoid personality disorders in adulthood.

High reactivity in children, including sensitivity to light, noise, texture, and other stimuli, has also been linked to certain personality disorders.

In general, the goal of personality disorder treatment includes the following:

Psychotherapy

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lists several types of psychotherapy that may be useful in the treatment of personality disorders:

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Medication

Medication can be useful to treat associated or co-morbid depression or anxiety. Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare provider may prescribe one or more of the following:

Learning how to cope with a personality disorder is key to functioning at your best. In addition to seeking professional support, it’s important to reach out to a supportive friend or family member who can help when you are struggling with strong emotions. If you don’t have someone in mind that is supportive and you are in a crisis,call a helpline.

How to Cope With a Personality Disorder

For Loved Ones

If you have a loved one with a personality disorder, you may also find it helpful to talk to a mental health professional. A professional can help you learn coping skills and how to set boundaries and practice self-care strategies. Group therapy and support groups may also be helpful resources of support and information.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merck Manual.Overview of Personality Disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: Results from the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545.Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Mental Health.Borderline Personality Disorder.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merck Manual.Overview of Personality Disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: Results from the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545.Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Mental Health.Borderline Personality Disorder.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Merck Manual.Overview of Personality Disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: Results from the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545.Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.

Merck Manual.Overview of Personality Disorders.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.

Grant BF, Chou SP, Goldstein RB, et al.Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: Results from the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(4):533-545.

Johnson JG, Cohen P, Smailes EM, Skodol AE, Brown J, Oldham JM.Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755

American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?.

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Psychotherapy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline Personality Disorder.

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