‘whether it is a last effort or a first step, it is the determined life that lives’
©Lives for Living 2011
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Counselling, Psychotherapy & Hypnotherapy
Private Practice, Bolton, Greater Manchester
Lives for Living
What is a personality disorder?
' Personality Disorder is a controversial diagnosis, covering a wide range of different attitudes and behaviours and affecting an estimated 10% of the general population. The term is generally used to describe behaviours that do not fit into any other obvious diagnostic category, but where the person nevertheless has difficulty coping with life and where that behaviour persistently causes distress to themselves or others. Common problems include having difficulty in sustaining relationships and interpreting social cues. At present there is no consensus as to its causes or treatment.
As the name implies a 'personality' disorder is about problems arising from a persons character. In effect who they are and how they behave are at odds with commonly held social and emotional expectations of what is regarded as normal. What is regarded as normal, of course varies from culture to culture and the diagnosis has to be made within the context of the rules, obligations and social expectations held within a particular community. For example, behaviours valued in a battleground are not seen as appropriate during peace time.
There are various different types of personality disorders but all of them share the following features:
- Most often the first signs of a personality disorder appear in late childhood or adolescence and continue during adulthood.
- Personality disorders in children or adolescence are sometimes described as conduct disorders. However most conduct disorders in children do not necessarily lead to personality disorders in adults.
- Someone with a personality disorder holds attitudes and behaves in ways that can cause considerable problems for themselves and others. For example the way they perceive the world; the way they think; the way they relate to other people; the way they do or don't get upset.
- People diagnosed with personality disorder may be inflexible in that they may have a narrow range of attitudes, behaviours and coping mechanisms
- These ways of behaving are long standing
Other key points:
- Most people diagnosed with a personality disorder fit the criteria for at least two different types of personality disorder
- Most people diagnosed with a personality disorder are not dangerous
- Dangerousness is most often but not exclusively associated with anti-
social or psychopathic disorder - People diagnosed as borderline or paranoid personality disorder may be at higher risk of self harm and/or suicide than other people
People with personality disorders have multiple needs and vulnerabilities
Causes of personality disorders
To date there has been very little research into the causes of personality disorders. It is generally assumed that there are a number of possible causes including problems in early childhood such as abuse, inadequate parenting, neglect and trauma. Neurological and genetic factors such as brain damage or low levels of serotonin may also play a part.
If you have a personality disorder you may also have other mental health problems,
such as depression, anxiety, panic disorders, eating disorders, deliberate self-
It can be very difficult to diagnose personality disorders because of other mental
health problems, which often hide the personality disorder. It is also possible to
misdiagnose someone as having a personality disorder if they have a syndrome with
similar symptoms e.g. post-