Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders

Introduction

Personality disorders, grouped together under the umbrella of psychiatric conditions, are long-term or chronic behavioral patterns that are contrary to cultural expectations and cause serious problems within relationships and work. Numerous genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in the development of personality disorders (Pubmed Health, 2010).

Some personality disorders begin as early as adolescence and influence the behavior, perception, and relationships of those affected, causing distress. These personality disorders may cause continual distress throughout a person's life. For instance, a patient with the avoidant personality disorder may be too afraid of criticism and judgment, thus avoiding social scenarios. To encapsulate the concept of personality behaviors, personality disorders have unbending, inflexible patterns of thought and behavior.

Personality disorders are also associated with long-term, lingering problems which inherently lead to unhappiness and disability in an individual's life. The American Psychiatric Association, there are eleven personality disorders that are prevalent across the United States. These include antisocial personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorders not specified (NOS) otherwise (Wood, 2010). These disorders are further categorized into clusters and axes as per standards of psychology and psychiatry.

Discussion

Symptoms of Personality Disorders

A strict criterion underlines the identification of personality disorder syndromes as the concept suffers from over-inclusiveness. Minimum requirements for the identification of a personality disorder comprise primarily of a symptom that the individual initiates consciously or initiation that professionals consider were a cause of unconscious factors. Other criteria include the symptoms that are appetitive in nature or symptoms that are disruptive for others, the individual, or both. The disruptive behavior causes concern and the need for examination. The critical premise for disruptive behavior is determining abnormality or deviance in behavior that breaches limits of tolerance for the individual with a personality disorder or those around him (Adshead & Jacob, 2009).

Personality Disorders Overview

Antisocial

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is an Axis II personality disorder which is typically associated with crime and deviance. Main characteristics of the antisocial personality disorder include a violation of the rights of others and a general disregard for society. Symptoms usually become prominent during adolescence or early childhood and evolve into adulthood, becoming more severe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antisocial behavior displays unconcern for feelings of others, a persistently irresponsible attitude, and demeaning outlook of societal norms. Antisocial individuals also have little tolerance and ability to maintain long-lasting relationships. Their tolerance is markedly low, as is their threshold for discharging aggression and violence. After such displays, it is unlikely that they will experience guilt. They frequently play the blame-game and displace their guilt onto others or justify their behavior by pointing out the evils of society. These individuals show signs of irritability which is consistent. As a personality disorder, the antisocial personality disorder may be a part of psychopathic or sociopathic personality disorders. People with antisocial personality disorders often grow up in fractured families where ...