The World Health Organization describe personality disorders as “deeply ingrained and enduring behavior patterns, manifesting themselves as inflexible responses to a broad range of personal and social situations’; they represent ‘either extreme or significant deviations from the way the average individual in a given culture perceives, thinks, feels, and particularly relates to others’ and are ‘developmental conditions, which appear in childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood.” The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) list ten standalone personality disorders and based on similar characteristics, each personality disorder is grouped into one of three categories (cluster A, cluster B, and cluster C). According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) cluster A personality disorders are characterized by eccentric, odd thinking, or behavior; cluster B personality disorders are characterized by overly emotional, dramatic, or unpredictable thinking or behavior; and cluster C personality disorders are characterized by fearful, anxious thinking or behavior. An estimated 9% of U.S. adults have at least one personality disorder.
Untreated personality disorders can adversely affect every facet of an individual’s life (e.g., occupationally, professionally, personally, etc.). For example, it can be very difficult for an individual with an untreated personality disorder to maintain steady employment. Participating in some type of formal treatment is required to minimize the effects a personality disorder can have on one’s professional life. The first step in the treatment process is to obtain an accurate diagnosis from a qualified mental healthcare provider. According to the Mayo Clinic, a personality disorder diagnosis will be determined by a physical exam, a psychiatric evaluation, and diagnostic criteria provided in the DSM-5. The diagnosis of a personality disorder, according to the DSM-5 and explicitly outlined by the Mayo Clinic generally include “long-term marked deviation from cultural expectations that lead to significant distress or impairment” in a minimum of two of the following areas:
- The way you perceive and interpret yourself, other people, and events.
- The appropriateness of your emotional responses.
- How well you function when dealing with other people and in relationships.
- Whether you can control your impulses.
It is possible for a person to present with symptoms associated with more than one personality disorder. There are a variety of mental health treatment options, and the path of recovery will not be the same for everyone. An individual struggling with a personality disorder will benefit most from a customized treatment plan. For some, integrating a combination of one or more psychotherapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy (IPT), and more, along with medication into one’s treatment plan may provide optimum chances for a successful outcome. Treatment plans may also include refining one’s daily habits (e.g., practicing mindfulness techniques, exercising regularly, developing healthy sleeping habits, eating nutritiously, etc.) to further improve one’s overall health and wellbeing. While some mental health conditions are curable, meaning after medical treatment, the person no longer has that condition, personality disorders are chronic mental health conditions. The purpose of treatment for personality disorders is not to reverse a diagnosis, rather treatment aims to help an individual learn to manage its symptoms, decrease distressing emotions and behaviors, reduce harmful actions, and meaningfully improve his or her ability to function in all aspects of his or her life.
Treatment In Calabasas
Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
