BehaveNet^® Clinical Capsule™:

Personality Disorder (APA DSM-IV & DSM-IV-TR Axis II)

Everyone has a personality with character traits such as stinginess, generosity, arrogance and independence. But when these traits are rigid and self-defeating, they may interfere with functioning and even lead to psychiatric symptoms. Personality traits are formed by early adulthood, persist throughout life and affect every aspect of day to day behavior. Individuals with personality disorders often blame others for their problems.

Although professionals identify distinct personality disorders (anti-social, borderline, schizotypal, et al), some personality disordered individuals may not fit in a particular category and yet may clearly deserve this label.

Although classified as mental disorders they may be classified separately and distinguished from the Axis I Clinical Syndromes for some purposes.

General diagnostic criteria for a Personality Disorder
(cautionary statement)

A. An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture. This pattern is manifested in two (or more) of the following areas:

(1) cognition (i.e., ways of perceiving and interpreting self, other people, and events)
(2) affectivity (i.e., the range, intensity, lability, and appropriateness of emotional response)
(3) interpersonal functioning
(4) impulse control

B. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations.

C. The enduring pattern leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. The pattern is stable and of long duration and its onset can be traced back at least to adolescence or early adulthood.

E. The enduring pattern is not better accounted for as a manifestation or consequence of another mental disorder.

F. The enduring pattern is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., head trauma).

Also: character disorder, characterological

DSM-IV-TR personality disorders:

Cluster A: Paranoid | Schizoid | Schizotypal
Cluster B: Antisocial | Borderline | Histrionic | Narcissistic
Cluster C: Avoidant | Dependent | Obsessive-Compulsive

Other personality disorders: depressive | passive-aggressive | self-defeating

Books and Other Media:
Follow the hypertext link to purchase items.

Bramson, Robert M: Coping With Difficult People Primarily a practical guide for the workplace this book may be useful to anyone challenged by the personality style of someone with whom you want to get along.
Derksen, Jan Personality Disorders - Clinical and Social Perspectives - Assessment and Treatment Based on DSM IV and ICD 10 Paperback 1995
Groundhog Day (1993) DVD | VHS Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell
Livesley, W. John (Editor) The DSM-IV Personality Disorders (Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders) Hardcover 1995
Millon, Theodore & Davis, Roger Dale Disorders of Personality - DSM-IV and Beyond Paperback 1995
Pfohl, Bruce, et al Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality - SIDP-IV Paperback 1997
Sperry, Len Handbook of Diagnosis and Treatment of the DSM-IV Personality Disorders Hardcover 1995
Stone, Alan A. & Stone, Sue The Abnormal Personality Through Literature Paperback

BehaveNet® Clinical Capsule™:

Personality Disorder (APA DSM-IV & DSM-IV-TR Axis II)

General diagnostic criteria for a Personality Disorder (cautionary statement)

BehaveNet^® Clinical Capsule™:

General diagnostic criteria for a Personality Disorder
(cautionary statement)