Down the rabbit hole - Psychology Facts

➤ Symptoms/Diagnosis ➤

Symptoms

Personality disorders tend to appear in adolescence or early adulthood, continue over many years, and can cause a great deal of distress. They can potentially cause enormous conflict with other people, impacting relationships, social situations, and life goals. People with personality disorders often don't recognize that they have problems and are often confusing and frustrating to people around them (including clinicians).

Certain symptoms of personality disorders can fall into two categories: self-identity and interpersonal functioning.

Self-identity problems include:

Unstable self-imageInconsistencies in values, goals, and appearance

Interpersonal problems include:

Being insensitive to others (unable to empathize)Difficulty knowing boundaries between themselves and othersInconsistent, detached, overemotional, abusive, or irresponsible styles of relating

Diagnosis

According to the DMS-5, a person must meet the following criteria to be diagnosed with a personality disorder: 

Chronic and pervasive patterns of behavior that affect social functioning, work, school, and close relationshipsSymptoms that affect two or more of the following four areas: thoughts, emotions, interpersonal functioning, impulse controlOnset of patterns of behavior that can be traced back to adolescence or early adulthoodPatterns of behaviors that cannot be explained by any other mental disorders, substance use, or medical conditions

Differential Diagnosis

Before a clinician can diagnose a personality disorder, they must make a to rule out other disorders or medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms.

A differential diagnosis is very important but can be difficult since personality disorders also commonly . A person who meets the criteria for one personality disorder will often also meet criteria for one or more additional personality disorders. 

One study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, found that about 85% of people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) also meet diagnostic criteria for at least one other personality or mood disorder.