Personality Disorder Symptoms

When a person displays odd, unusual, abnormal and eccentric behavior; exhibits erratic emotions and thoughts, constantly and for a long duration of time, he is said to suffer from one of the many types of personality disorders. Let us have a look at the symptoms of personality disorder in detail.

Personality Disorder
The onset of personality disorder symptoms is either in adolescence or youth. But in rare cases, these symptoms can also be observed in childhood. The following are the common personality disorder symptoms:

• Aggression
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Deceitfulness and Mistrust
• Impulsive behavior
• Anxiety

Personality disorder is a collective term that can be further classified into different types of personality disorders. Any of the above symptoms of a personality disorder are observed in the different types of personality disorders. Let us have a look at the types of personality disorders and their symptoms in detail.

Antisocial Personality Disorder
People with antisocial personality disorder (APD) tend to show violent behavior, devoid of remorse or guilt. They display anti-social behavior including lack of concern or disregard towards others. Such people are also termed as 'psychopaths' or 'sociopaths'. Disturbed childhood and socio-environmental factors are greatly responsible for the development of antisocial personality disorder.

Symptoms

• Aggression, committing crimes
• Violence, threatening and self-destructive behavior
• Irresponsibility and disregard for rules, regulations and norms
• Lack of empathy
• Difficulty in controlling impulses and anger

Avoidant Personality Disorder
People with avoidant personality disorder (AvPD), also known as anxious personality disorder, have extremely low self-esteem. They are also immensely sensitive towards rejection and criticism. A painful childhood experience is the leading cause of avoidant personality disorder.

Symptoms

• Hypersensitive to criticism, rejection and negative evaluation
• Social isolation, avoiding socialization completely
• Extremely self-conscious, self-critical, self-loathing
• An inferiority complex, inadequacy about self
• Loneliness, shyness and timidity

Borderline Personality Disorder
People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have great difficulty in controlling their emotions and therefore, there is a display of erratic moods and behavior that leads to instability in relationships. In many cases, suicidal tendency is also observed. A painful childhood or turbulent relationships in the past, often lead to the onset of borderline personality disorder.

Symptoms

• Abrupt shifts in mood, recklessness, anxiety
• Avoid being alone for fear of rejection and loneliness
• Unstable self-image and relationships
• Impulsive behavior, eating disorders
• Self-mutilation, threats, suicidal attempts

Dependent Personality Disorder
As the name itself suggests, people with dependent personality disorder are overtly and completely reliant on others for support and decision-making. They are mentally and emotionally dependent on others. They have a constant desire of being accepted and being taken care of as they have a low self-image and consider themselves helpless.

Symptoms

• Extremely dependent on others even for mundane things
• Constantly in need of reassurance, advice, support
• Avoid disagreements fearing disapproval, rejection and isolation
• Overly submissive and tolerant
• Lack of initiative in any venture, work or project

Histrionic Personality Disorder
People with histrionic personality disorder (HPD) constantly seek attention by exhibiting histrionic behavior or gestures. They always love to be the center of attraction. This disorder is more commonly observed in women than men.

Symptoms

• Overly conscious about themselves and their appearance
• Constantly wish approval and attention
• Extremely emotional and unstable
• Fear of rejection and loneliness
• Melodramatic, sexually provocative, display of shallow emotions

Narcissistic Personality Disorder
People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) show signs opposite to that of avoidant personality disorder. They hold a very high self-image and have a superiority complex. Overvaluation and admiration by parents or society during childhood, is considered to be the most prominent cause of narcissistic personality disorder.

Symptoms

• Feeling of self-importance
• Self-centered and self-obsessed
• Constantly crave appreciation and admiration
• Imaginary fantasies about wealth, power and success
• Haughtiness, arrogance, lack of empathy

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) have an abnormal obsession for order and perfection in their work and life. The most prominent symptom of this disorder is that the people have a rigid pattern of lifestyle, work and thoughts; and they are completely inflexible.

Symptoms

• Over-perfectionist
• Conscientious
• Cannot tolerate untidiness, sloppiness
• Workaholics, miserly
• Unbending, stubborn and incapable of change

(One must not confuse obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These two are completely distinct terms)

Paranoid Personality Disorder
People with paranoid personality disorder are suspicious to such an extent that they can never trust others and hence, lead an isolated life. Due to this attitude, they even face difficulties in maintaining any kind of personal or professional relationships.

Symptoms

• Suspicious, distrustful, jealous and secretive
• Constantly in fear of being watched or harmed
• Cannot confide in anyone
• Angry for imaginary reasons
• Emotionally cold and isolated

Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is characterized by tendency of being reclusive and secretive. People with this disorder also lack desire for close or sexual relationships. They create an impression of living in a fantasy world.

Symptoms

• Extremely inexpressive
• Aloof, detached, lonely
• Indifferent towards others
• Lack of reaction for both, negative as well as positive evaluation by others
• Prefer having a solitary life

Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Prominent schizotypal personality disorder symptoms include displays of extremely unusual and bizarre behavior. The symptoms of this disorder are similar to that of schizoid personality disorder.

Symptoms

• Cannot maintain any relationships
• Eccentric and odd behavior and appearance
• Ideas of reference or delusions
• Lack of reaction towards anything
• Indifference towards others

Multiple Personality Disorder
Multiple personality disorder, or the dissociative identity disorder (DID), is commonly known as split personality. The personality of people suffering from this disorder is dissociated or split into two or more personalities. These different personalities are completely distinct and the traits tend to surface unpredictably. There can be several possibilities and causes for the development of this disorder.

Symptoms

• Sudden, distinct mood changes
• Hallucinations, depersonalization
• Display of unreasonable anger
• Amnesia, depression, anxiety
• Loss of memory, imaginary phobias

Personality Disorder Test
People have distinct personalities and therefore, tend to display different behavior patterns in different situations. However, one needs to consult a doctor if strong symptoms of a personality disorder are observed, and are found to severely affect an individual's life, work and relationships. There are tests to determine whether a person is suffering from a personality disorder. One must remember that personality disorders can be treated.

If you observe that any of your close or loved ones show personality disorder symptoms, do not hesitate to have an open discussion with them about it, as their mental health is sacrosanct. It is difficult to convince a person to undertake a personality disorder test, but you should try your best to help them overcome the disorder. With advanced tests and techniques, it is possible to overcome a personality disorder.