Personality Disorder - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Home Remedies

Introduction

Apersonality disorder is a mental disorder in which a patient has a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning, and behaving. Hence, the person faces difficulty in daily life. Some people may not even realize that they have a personality disorder as their behavior seems normal to them. These types of disorders usually affect teenagers and by middle age, it may reduce.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Personality Disorder?

The personality disorders are classified into three groups depending upon similar characteristics and symptoms. The following are the clusters and respective signs and symptoms.

1. Cluster A Personality Disorders:

These include odd, eccentric thinking or behavior. Also, paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder may be seen.

a) Paranoid personality disorder

• The person faces distrust.

• May have unreasonable fear that others might use the information against them.

• May hold grudges.

• Suspicion on a partner that is recurrent and unjustified.

b) Schizoid personality disorder

• A person loses interest in social or personal relationships.

• Less emotional expression.

• Little or no interest in sex.

c) Schizotypal personality disorder

• Specific thinking, beliefs, speech, or behavior.

• May have odd perceptual experiences.

• Emotional problems

• Indifferent and suspicious.

• May have "Magical thinking" that they can influence people.

2. Cluster B Personality Disorders:

This cluster involves dramatic, overly emotional, or unpredictable thinking or behavior. They comprise of antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.

a) Antisocial personality disorder

• Insensitive.

• Continuous lying, stealing, using aliases, conning others.

• Aggressive.

• Irresponsible.

b) Borderline personality disorder

• Behavior that is impulsive and risky.

• Intense relationships that can be unstable.

• Mood swings.

• Suicidal thoughts.

• Feeling of emptiness.

• Stress.

c) Histrionic personality disorder

• Seeks attention constantly.

• Too emotional.

• Easily gets influenced.

• Rapid change of emotions.

• Too much into appearance.

d) Narcissistic personality disorder

• Thinks himself or herself to be special and important.

• Fantasies related to power, success, and attractiveness.

• Exaggerates about achievements.

• Expects admiration and praise.

• Arrogant.

• Expectations are unreasonable.

• May envy others or think that others envy them.

3. Cluster C Personality Disorders

These types of disorders include anxious, fearful thinking or behavior. They comprise of avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

a) Avoidant personality disorder

• Excessively sensitive to rejection.

• Feels inadequate.

• Socially less interactive.

• Extremely shy.

b) Dependent personality disorder

• Excessively dependent on others.

• Submissive or clingy behavior toward others.

• Lacks self-confidence.

• Has difficulty in starting or performing projects on own.

• Fears disapproval.

c) Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

• Wants excessive perfectionism.

• Wants to control everything.

• Difficulty in discarding worthless or useless objects.

• Rigid.

• Stubborn.

It has to be understood that obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is different from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder.

How Can It Be Diagnosed?

When you visit your physician, questions will be asked regarding your personal and medical history along with signs and symptoms being faced by you. After that, the following will be done:

• Physical Examination. As your psychiatric problems can be related to an underlying physical disorder. Further evaluation may involve laboratory tests and a screening test to check for alcohol and drugs.

• Psychiatric Evaluation. This can be done in the form of a questionnaire or details from friends and family.

• Diagnostic Criteria Included in the DSM-5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which was published by the American Psychiatric Association may be used to categorize your disorder.

How Can It Be Treated?

The treatment is decided based on the type of personality disorder, the severity, and the patient’s life situation. Often, a multidisciplinary approach is required to take care of the psychiatric, medical, and general health. The treatment can go on for months and years.

The following are the team members who are associated with managing a personality disorder:

• Psychiatrist.

• Psychiatric nurse.

• A psychologist or other therapist.

• Social worker.

• Pharmacist.

If the symptoms faced by the patient are mild, only a primary specialist like a psychiatrist is enough to take care of your condition. The heart of the management lies in psychotherapy which is also known as talk therapy.

a) Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy with a qualified mental health professional helps in recognizing the condition and also, about the moods, thoughts, and various behaviors. Also, it helps to learn ways to manage stress and personality disorder.

Psychotherapy can be provided in various ways like individual sessions, group therapy, or sessions consisting of family and friends. Also, social skills training can be taught to you.

b) Medications

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not yet proven any specific medication to treat personality disorders. However, certain medications can help in managing the symptoms due to personality disorders like the following:

• Antidepressants.

• Mood stabilizers.

• Antipsychotic medications which are also known as neuroleptics.

• Anti-anxiety medications.

When the condition gets severe, hospitalization may be required.

Can Lifestyle Modification and Home Remedies Help?

Following lifestyle modifications and home remedies can help in managing the personality disorder when done along with other management techniques as mentioned above:

• Actively participate in psychotherapy sessions.

• Properly take your medications.

• Understand and learn about the condition you are suffering from.

• Stay active physically.

• Avoid the consumption of drugs and alcohol.

• Regularly visit your physician or specialist.

Conclusion

Personality disorder can affect both mental and physical health and thus, affect the overall quality of life. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to get a better prognosis. Consultation with a specialist has now become easy with the help of online medical platforms. Therefore, ask your queries to a specialist to get more details on the same.