Symptoms of personality disorders

The symptoms of all personality disorders are long-lasting if not permanent, and play a major role in most or all aspects of someone's life.

This is said to be because personality is such an ‘ingrained’ part of who we are.

To be diagnosed with a personality disorder in one of the categories, a psychiatrist will look for the following criteria:

Symptoms are seen in at least two of the following areas

  • Thoughts ways of looking at the world thinking about self or others, and interacting
  • Emotions appropriateness, intensity, and range of emotional functioning
  • Interpersonal functioning relationships and interpersonal skills
  • Impulse Control impulsivity and recklessness

It is estimated that 35-55% of people with substance misuse problems also have symptoms of a personality disorder with the most prevalent being antisocial personality disorder.

Symptoms and indications of a personality disorder can include:

Aggression
Substance misuse
Dependence on others
Deceitfulness
Disregard for others
Lack of emotion and remorse Hypersensitivity to criticism
Anxiety
Depression
Seeking approval for others

Combinations of such symptoms can be used to direct which type of personality disorder is present.

It is also important that any psychosis present should be treated appropriately before a diagnosis of personality disorder is considered.

Behaviour in childhood

If someone has functioned well during childhood and adolescence, it is unlikely that a diagnosis of personality disorder would be appropriate.

This is because a strong link has been found with conduct disorder (antisocial behaviour) in childhood, and later development of a personality disorder, so if there has been good functioning in childhood it may be the case that mental illness and not personality disorder is the correct diagnosis.