Personality disorders are serious mental health disorders that cause significant problems for those with the disorder as well as those closely associated with the person. Personality disorders share some common characteristics including a pattern of behavior and inner experience that markedly deviates from the norms of the person's culture.

The dysfuntional pattern is manifested in at least two of these areas:

• Affect (appropriateness, intensity, and range of emotions)
• Cognition (how the patient perceives and interprets self, others and events)
• Poor impulse control
• Interpersonal functioning

1. The pattern is fixed and affects many personal and social situations.
2. The symptoms cause clinically important impairment in work, social or personal functioning.
3. The pattern generally begins in adolescence or early adulthood.
4. The symptoms are not due to a medical condition or substance use.

The most common types of Personality Disorders are:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Dependent Personality Disorder

Definitions are based on the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Forth Edition.

If you or someone you care about suffers from a personality disorder, you should seek professional help.

Additionally, you may also want to check out our Forums or Blog Site to see how others are dealing similar issues.