Personality+Disorders


 * Personality Disorders **



 **//Personality Disorders//** can be described as having a difficulty dealing with reality and everyday life. People ten d to lose focus and become confused with what’s real and what’s not. While it isn’t clear as to what causes personality disorders, researchers believe it starts at childhood and is carried throughout someone’s adult life. We will discuss a few different types of disorders, their symptoms and treatments.

//**Antisocial disorder**// is defined as a great disregard for the rights of others. Antisocial individuals are usually extremely manipulative and exploit others in many different ways (Blais et al., 2008). The causes of this disorder are unknown but most individuals that are antisocial usually were physically or emotionally abused in their childhood. Fire setting and cruelty to animals are usually linked to the development of this personality disorder (Blais et al., 2008). The symptoms of this disorder are individuals who are extremely charming, manipulative, consecutive liars, lacks feeling guilty when doing wrong, and the disregard for personal safety and the safety of others (Blais et al., 2008). Can antisocial disorder be cured? Research has showed that there are many different effective ways to cure this disorder by showing the individual that only negative consequences can come from the behavior will usually be the best way to succeed in treating the disorder (Long MD, 1995-2011).

//**Narcissistic disorder**// is a condition when an individual has an enlarged sense of self-importance and extreme preoccupation with themselves (Blais et al., 2008). A narcissistic individual is usually obsessed with power, fame, admiration, and prestige. The cause of this disorder is unknown but most Narcissistic individuals were usually emotional abused in childhood, had unreliable care giving by parents, overly praised by good looks from peers, and an extremely sensitive personality (Blais et al., 2008). The symptoms of this disorder are individuals who react to criticism with rage, have excessive feelings of self importance, wants to gain control and power, extremely selfish and the need for constant attention. Psychotherapy is one of the most effective therapies because it allows the individual to express their emotions and its also may help the individual relate to people in a more positive way.

//**Dependent disorder**// is a condition in which an individual has an extreme need to depend on another person to meet their physical and emotional needs (Chakraburtty MD, 2009). Individuals with this disorder usually spend all of their efforts trying to please someone and also play the clingy, needy, and passive role. Overprotective parenting and biological factors can cause the development of this behavior (Chakraburtty MD, 2009). The symptoms of dependent disorder are individuals who have the inability to make decisions, afraid to be alone, extremely helpless, overly sensitive, and able to tolerate mistreatment from others (Blais et al., 2008). Psychotherapy and medication are effective ways to treat this disorder. The goal of therapy is to help the individual cope with being alone and independent. Medication is used to help the individual relax and cope with anxiety and depression.

**//Borderline Disorder//** is a disorder that revolves around negative self image, fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, inconsistent moods and a severely impulsive nature. Patients who suffer from BPD are known to be clingy and emotionally dependent, and are known to push others away, for fear of chasing them away, before desperately seeking to get them back (Heffner, 2004, para. 3). Since this often times leads people to abandon those with BPD, this further reinforces the logical fallacies that the person really is unloved and worthless (Heffner, 2004, para. 4). It is commonly accepted that BPD, like most personality disorders, is a long lasting disorder that is most likely to appear at childhood or, at the latest, late adolescence. However, the negative consequences of such symptoms may not show up until young adulthood. Many of those afflicted with BPD have a history of unstable relationships and may also have a history of sexual abuse, family violence, and/or neglect in their childhood (Heffner, 2004, paras. 1-2). Treatment must be long term and intensive, due to the disorder itself being long term and intensive. Insight oriented therapy has shown promise, but a cognitive behavioral therapy, where the thoughts and actions of the individual are monitored by the therapist and by the patient, with specific behaviors are kept record of and a plan is made to reduce said behaviors, is shown to be the most commonly used treatment (Heffner, 2004, para. 5).

**//Avoidant personality//** disorder can be described as a mental condition where people are introverted and shy. They tend to feel rejected and are sensitive when it comes to their feelings. According to Pub Med (Pub Med, 2010, Para. 2) there is about 1% of the population who lives with an avoidant personality disorder including both men and woman. Signs and symptoms’ include lack of connecting with other people, wanting to be alone than with other individuals, their moods can be unappealing to others and avoiding jobs that allow them interactions with others (Pub Med, 2010, Para 4). Avoidant personality disorders can be treated with antidepressant medications which helps them feel less rejected and sensitive to others (Pub Med, 2010, Para 5).

**// Schizoid personality disorder //** is a condition where people think and act in an abnormal fashion. They tend to isolate themselves from others, not knowing how to control their behavior or that they are different so they have difficulty forming work or personal relationships ( Blais et el., 2010). Symptoms of this personality disorder include not having close relationships, difficulty relating to others, they show little emotion, organize their lives around not having contact with a lot of people and they stay close to their relatives so they may never marry or start family lives of their own (Chakraburtty,2009, Para 4). While it isn’t clear as to the causes of Schizoid personality disorder, researchers believe having a lack of emotion and affection as a child can contribute to this disorder (Chakraburtty,2009, Para 6). Treatments for this disorder can include psychotherapy that helps build certain skills a person needs to feel comfortable in the outside world (Chakraburtty,2009, Para 9).

//**Obsessive compulsive personality disorder**// affects millions of people each year (Koran L.M,et el.,2007).This disorder can be described as an anxiety disorder affecting a person’s ability to function properly without having to repeat certain tasks many times. While there may not be a definite cause of this disorder it is certain that family history or a child’s environment can be leading factors. Types of OCD include repetitive checking such as spinning locks, and checking doors. Another type is repeating tasks like washing hands several times a day, cleaning things over and over or arranging items (Koran L.M, et el., 2007). Treatment for OCD includes behavioral therapy and medications to help lessen the anxiety one feels.

Shorona Koodie, Latara Hunt & Eric Mann