Personality Disorders: Symptoms and Diagnosis

Please see our separate note on Treatment, Mental Disorders and Basic Science for important caveats on the role and definition of diagnostic criteria.

Layperson's Introduction

Chances are, you're dealing with an individual with a personality disorder somewhere in your life. It might be your spouse, your parent, your co-worker...even your child. In "Personality Disorders: The Controllers, Abusers, Manipulators, and Users in Relationships", consulting clinical psychologist Dr Joseph M Carver, PhD, puts the reality in plain English; more than just a list of diagnostic criteria, this explanation describes what it's really like to be dealing with a personality disorder. It includes helpful tips for victims.

What are the Specific Personality Disorders?

The ICD categorizes specific personality disorders (as distinct from 'mixed and other personality disorders' and other 'disorders of adult personality and behaviour') under the following main headings:

• Anankastic Personality Disorder (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder)
• Antisocial Personality Disorder (Dissocial Personality Disorder)
• Avoidant Personality Disorder (Anxious Personality Disorder)
• Borderline Personality Disorder (Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder)
• Dependent Personality Disorder
• Histrionic Personality Disorder
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Paranoid Personality Disorder
• Schizoid Personality Disorder

The set of common diagnostic guidelines which apply to all personality disorders under the ICD-10 classification system is provided separately. This section also features an additional NIMH article on borderline personality disorder.

Personality Disorders Foundation

This site also preserves a selection of material from the former non-profit organization the Personality Disorders Foundation; and additional material is included in our extensive annotated research bibliography, which is now housed at its own dedicated site, CounsellingBooks.com.