Personality Disorders
Personality disorders can affect people in a variety of ways. While some people can have a normal personality and still function normally, others can have a difficult time interacting with others. The following article will discuss a few of the different personality disorders that people can have.
Antisocial personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is a mental disorder in which an individual lacks empathy and disregards the rights of others. It is a disorder that affects millions of people.
Symptoms of antisocial personality disorder include deceitfulness, conning, impulsivity, and a failure to conform to social norms. The condition can lead to abuse of others or illegal activities.
While no one knows for sure what causes this disorder, it is thought to be genetic. Childhood abuse and traumatic experiences can increase the risk of developing ASPD. However, the condition can be managed.
Among persons with APD, divorce is common, and many have a history of legal problems. They may also be financially irresponsible and not pay their bills. They also may have substance abuse issues. Psychiatric treatment is sometimes recommended to help individuals with this disorder cope.
Treatment for antisocial personality disorder is difficult. Often, the patient is reluctant to seek help. In some cases, patients become physically aggressive or verbally ill-tempered.
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by intense and unpredictable mood swings. It also involves impulsive behavior and unstable interpersonal relationships. BPD is a mental illness that requires long-term treatment and support.
The symptoms of borderline personality disorder vary from person to person. Some of the more common symptoms include intense impulsivity, unstable self-image, and difficulty controlling anger. They may also include thoughts of suicide.
In most cases, medicines can help reduce some symptoms, but the primary treatment for borderline personality disorder is talk therapy. The goals of talk therapy are to change core beliefs and to learn alternative ways to cope with stress.
Dialectical behavioral therapy focuses on interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance. Cognitive behavioral therapy also helps people with BPD identify and change their core beliefs. This treatment may help people with BPD decrease their self-harming behaviors.
Many patients with BPD report having suffered traumatic experiences during childhood. Childhood traumatic experiences have been shown to increase the risk of developing borderline personality disorder.
Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a form of mental illness. It affects the way people think, feel, and behave. Narcissism is often associated with other mental illnesses, including depression, drug addiction, and anorexia nervosa.
People with narcissistic personality disorder have an exaggerated sense of importance and entitlement. They are self-absorbed, lack empathy, and have no problem with taking advantage of others. They may experience anxiety and a strong need for attention. Despite these negative traits, many narcissists have high self-esteem.
Narcissism is a personality disorder that affects both men and women. However, it's more common in males. The condition can be treated with drugs and therapy.
One of the main symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder is a deep fear of being rejected. Narcissists also tend to be jealous of other people's success. In order to protect themselves, narcissists try to minimize the positive things about other people, or deny their mistakes.
Narcissists have an extremely high need for external praise, and may fantasize about unlimited power and beauty. Although narcissism is a disorder, it can be treated. Drugs and talk therapy can help narcissists deal with their emotions and change their behaviors.
Schizophrenia
Schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia share many symptoms, but the treatment for each differs. Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness characterized by disorganized thinking and delusions. It requires the presence of two symptoms for a diagnosis.
Symptoms of schizotypy and schizophrenia include:
Psychosis (a mental state in which the subject believes that something is happening or will happen). Delusions may be referential, persecutory, and bizarre. They may be based on ordinary life experiences, or they could be a result of a person's loss of control over his or her mind.
Schizophrenia patients have abnormalities in the pulvinar, a part of the brain's circuitry. This is thought to play a role in the formation of bizarre delusions. The pulvinar is a way station that links diverse brain regions.
In schizotypy, the pulvinar is reduced in volume. It has close connections with the temporal lobe structures.
Studies have found that people with schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia share common spectrum-related risk factors. However, schizophrenia and schizotypy may also have a genetic component. A number of candidate genes are linked to these conditions.
