Personality disorders are grouped into 3 clusters: A, B and C. Show
Cluster A personality disordersHaving a cluster A personality disorder means that you find it difficult to relate to other people. You might be viewed by others as odd or eccentric. Paranoid personality disorderYou may feel very suspicious of others and feel unable to trust them and confide in them, without any reason. You may believe people are lying or being nasty to you when this isnt’ true. You may feel easily rejected. Your psychiatrist should rule out schizophrenia, psychosis, and mood disorders if you have been diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder. Schizoid personality disorderYou may feel uninterested in forming social relationships and prefer to be alone. You might feel that having close relationships would interfere with your life. Other people may view you as being cold and distant. Schizotypal personality disorderWith schizotypal personality disorder you will find making close relationships very difficult. Others may find your behaviour and reactions to emotions inappropriate or eccentric. You may feel anxious around those who do not share your beliefs. Cluster B personality disordersCluster B personality disorders are grouped based on those who find it difficult to control their emotions. You might be viewed as unpredictable by others. Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)With antisocial personality disorder you may be impulsive, reckless and not think about how your actions affect others. You may do things that other would not in order to get what you want. You may be easily frustrated, aggressive or prone to violence. Others may perceive you as acting selfishly and without guilt. Borderline personality disorder (BPD)If you are living with BPD you may experience strong emotions, mood swings and feelings you find difficult to cope with. You may feel distressed and anxious a lot of the time. You may have problems with your identity and how you view yourself. This can affect your relationships with others. BPD is also sometimes known as ‘emotionally unstable personality disorder’. Histrionic personality disorderIf you are diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder you may like being the centre of attention and feel uncomfortable about being ignored. This can cause you to behave in a way that appears over-dramatic or over-emotional. Narcissistic personality disorder With narcissistic personality disorder you have a high sense of self-importance. You may act like this to cover low self-esteem. You might act selfishly to gain success and take advantage of other people. Cluster C personality disordersPeople with cluster C personality disorders have strong feelings of fear or anxiety. They might appear withdrawn to other people. Dependent personality disorderIf you have dependent personality disorder, you may allow other people to take responsibility for parts of your life. You may not have much self-confidence or be unable to do things alone. You may find that you put your own needs after the needs of others. You may feel hopeless or fear being alone. Avoidant personality disorderIf you have avoidant personality disorder, you may have a fear of being judged negatively. This can cause you to feel uncomfortable in social situations. You might not like criticism, worry a lot and have low self-esteem. You may want affection, but worry that you will be rejected. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorderWith obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, you may feel anxious if things are disorganised, unplanned or not exactly right. You may have exceptionally high standards for yourself and others. You may be very cautious and think about the small details. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is different to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD describes behaviour as opposed to a personality. Personality is the synthesis of behaviours, cognitions and emotions that makes each person unique. Despite this uniqueness, both “healthy” personality and personality disorder have defined patterns. Although our personalities allow others to predict and anticipate our responses to situations, a person with a “healthy” personality demonstrates a range of coping responses and styles when placed in a stressful situation. A
disordered personality does not have this kind of adaptability and flexibility. The lack of adaptability and the limited repertoire of coping responses can result in distress for the person and for those around him or her. Currently, there are 10 personality disorders recognized in psychiatry. Borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder are the most frequently diagnosed personality disorders. The 10 personality disorders are
grouped into three clusters according to shared characteristics. Each personality disorder has its own signs and symptoms, but there are similarities within each of the three clusters: Cluster A: paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders. These are characterized by feeling paranoid, distrustful and suspicious. Cluster B: impulsive personality disorders, such as borderline, narcissistic, histrionic and antisocial personality
disorders. These are characterized by having difficulty controlling emotions, fears, desires and anger. Cluster C: anxious personality disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive, dependent and avoidant personality disorders. These are characterized by experiencing compulsions and anxiety. People with personality disorders are at increased risk for self-harming behaviours and suicide. They may also have more difficulty getting along with others than do people without personality disorders. Causes & Risk FactorsThe causes of personality disorders are not known, but research has begun to explore such potential factors as genetics, childhood trauma, verbal abuse, high reactivity/oversensitivity and peer influences. Diagnosis & TreatmentPersonality disorders are considered to be among the most difficult mental health disorders to treat. However, some therapies have proven to be quite effective. For example, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is the most researched psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder. This form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) traces the person’s emotional upheaval to a combination of temperament and an invalidating environment. DBT emphasizes validating and accepting the person’s experience while focusing on change. Researchers are hopeful that treatments for BPD will lead to advances in treating the other nine personality disorders. There is no evidence yet that CBT is an effective therapy for personality disorders other than BPD. Related Programs and Services
Additional Resources
Which personality disorder is the most commonly diagnosed?BPD is currently the most commonly diagnosed personality disorder. You can read more about it on our pages on borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Which category of personality disorders contains the ones that are most commonly diagnosed?According to a major study, the most prevalent personality disorder is obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. The second most common is narcissistic personality disorder, followed by borderline personality disorder.
What cluster of personality disorders is most common?Borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder are the most frequently diagnosed personality disorders.
What are the 2 most common personality disorders?Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder are the most frequently diagnosed personality disorders.
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