Source: # What is true: personality disorders involve…? *From the book – Chapter 11: Mood, Psychotic and Personality Conditions* ## The right answer Enduring patterns of thinking and behaving that cause distress ## Personality conditions A personality disorder involves long-standing, inflexible patterns that deviate markedly from cultural expectations; cause distress or impairment; are stable and of long duration; and are not better explained by another mental disorder, substance use, or medical condition. Diagnosis is usually made in adulthood. #### Cluster A (odd or eccentric) - Paranoid: pervasive distrust and suspiciousness. - Schizoid: detachment from social relationships; limited emotional expression. - Schizotypal: discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, eccentric behaviour. #### Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, or erratic) - Antisocial: disregard for and violation of others' rights; deceitfulness, impulsivity, lack of remorse (often linked to conduct disorder in childhood). - Borderline (BPD): instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions; impulsivity; intense fear of abandonment; self-harm in some people. - Histrionic: excessive emotionality and attention-seeking. - Narcissistic: grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy. #### Cluster C (anxious or fearful) - Avoidant: social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to criticism. - Dependent: excessive need to be taken care of; submissive and clinging; fear of separation. - Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD): preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control (different from OCD). Personality disorders exist on a spectrum; not everyone fits neatly into one category. Many people improve over time, especially with therapy (for example, DBT for BPD). Labels should be used carefully to avoid stigma; focus is on understanding patterns and supporting change. [Read the full chapter – Chapter 11: Mood, Psychotic and Personality Conditions](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/chapter/11/) ## Stories from real life - [Eight Days Without Sleep](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/eight-days-without-sleep-43/) – Vikram, twenty-eight, an advertising executive in Delhi, has not slept properly for a week. He feels brilliant. He talks fast, makes big plans to start three… - [The Voices in Shanta’s Son](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/the-voices-in-shantas-son-44/) – Shanta lives in a village in Odisha. Her son Mohan, twenty-two, was a quiet, hard-working student. Over the past months he has become suspicious, saying neighbours… - [Zoe at Two in the Morning](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/zoe-at-two-in-the-morning-45/) – Zoe, twenty-three, lives in Bristol. Her friendships burn bright and then collapse. When her closest friend takes longer to reply, Zoe is sure she is being… - [Coming Home, Slowly](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/coming-home-slowly-46/) – Sanjay, thirty-one, spent two months in hospital in Bengaluru for schizophrenia. Now he is home with his parents. He is calmer, but he is also slow,… ## Shloks - [Bhagavad Gita 5.18](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/shloka/bhagavad-gita-5-18-21/) – The wise see the same in a learned humble person, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and one who cooks a dog. More on this topic: [Emotions, anger and mood swings – understanding your feelings](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/topic/emotions/) ## More questions - [What does Bhagavad Gita 5.18 mean for the mind? (Chapter 11)](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/meaning-bhagavad-gita-5-18-2/) - [Eight Days Without Sleep – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/story-eight-days-without-sleep/) - [The Voices in Shanta's Son – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/story-the-voices-in-shanta-s-son/) - [Zoe at Two in the Morning – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/story-zoe-at-two-in-the-morning/) - [Coming Home, Slowly – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/story-coming-home-slowly/) - [Mr Hassan Prefers the Edge of the Room – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/story-mr-hassan-prefers-the-edge-of-the-room/) - [What can we learn from the story “Vikram, Age 23”?](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/story-vikram-age-23/) - [Why these conditions need careful understanding?](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/why-these-conditions-need-careful-understanding/) - [Understanding mood disorders beyond depression – mood, psychotic and personality conditions](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/understanding-mood-disorders-beyond-depression-mood-psychotic-and-personality-co/) - [Bipolar disorder – mood disorders beyond depression](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/bipolar-disorder-mood-disorders-beyond-depression/) - [How to stop overthinking and worrying](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/how-to-stop-overthinking/) - [How to control anger](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/how-to-control-anger/) [myadvisorfriend@gmail.com](mailto:myadvisorfriend@gmail.com) · [Contact](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/contact/) · [About](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/about/) · [Privacy](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/privacy/) · [Disclaimer](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/disclaimer/) --- *Psychology for Everyone – A Mental Well Being Series* by Satish Zope · free to read · Contact: [myadvisorfriend@gmail.com](mailto:myadvisorfriend@gmail.com) · [About](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/about/) · [Privacy](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/privacy/) · [Disclaimer](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/disclaimer/)