Antisocial personality is a type of chronic mental condition in which a person’s ways of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional and destructive. Someone with antisocial personality disorder will typically be manipulative, reckless and not care for other people’s feelings. People with antisocial personality disorder typically have no regard for right and wrong and often disregard the rights, wishes and feelings of others.

Symptoms

• Have difficulty sustaining long-term relationships
• Not be able to control their anger
• Break the law repeatedly
• Not show guilt or remorse
• Often be angry or arrogant
• Being irritable and aggressive
• Disregard the safety of self and others

People with antisocial personality disorder typically have no regard for right and wrong and often disregard the rights, wishes and feelings of others. Someone with antisocial personality disorder will typically have an antisocial or alcoholic parent, and will have grown up with harsh, inconsistent parenting.

This behaviour becomes most extreme and challenging during the late teens and early 20s, and may improve by the time the person reaches their 40s. It is very difficult to treat. A mental health provider can question individuals who are over 18 years about past and current behaviors. This will help detect signs and symptoms that could support a diagnosis of ASPD. The main treatment is psychotherapy, which involves talking to a trained therapist about feelings that the person has about themself and other people, particularly family and those close to them.

Borderline Personality is a mental disorder.  It is a serious emotional condition, typically with a tendency towards unstable and turbulent emotions, heightened anger, feelings of emptiness, and fears of being left alone. This disorder occurs in most by early adulthood.

The main feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and emotions. People with borderline personality disorder are also usually very impulsive.

Symptoms include:

• Persistent impulsiveness
• Deep feelings of insecurity
• Confused, contradictory feelings
• Anxiety or mood disorders
• Causing deliberate pain by cutting, burning or hitting oneself
• Binge eating or starving; abusing alcohol and other drugs

The exact causes of BPD remain unknown, although the roles of both environmental and biological factors are thought to play a role in people who develop this illness.

It is diagnosed by mental health professionals following a comprehensive psychiatric interview that may include talking with a person’s previous clinicians, reviews of prior records, a medical evaluation, and when appropriate, interviews with friends and family.

The most effective treatment usually involves a combination of, psychological therapy, medication and support. Psychological therapies that have been found to be effective in the treatment of BPD are Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). During IPT, a person learns new and effective ways to relate to significant people in their lives. DBT helps people learn to handle their emotions better and re-learn the way they typically respond to situations and other people.

Dependent personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people depend too much on others to meet their emotional and physical needs.  This personality disorder is a long-term (chronic) condition in which people depend on others to meet their emotional and physical needs, with only a minority achieving normal levels of independence. Individuals with Dependent Personality Disorder are often characterized by pessimism and self-doubt, tend to belittle their abilities and assets, and may constantly refer to themselves as “stupid.”

Symptoms 

• Inability to make decisions, even everyday decisions like what to wear, without the advice and reassurance of others.
• Feelings of helplessness when alone
• An inability to disagree with others
• Avoidance of disagreeing with others for fear of losing support or approval.
• Inability to start projects or tasks because of a lack of self-confidence.
• Oversensitivity to criticism.
• Urgently seeks another relationshipas a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
• Willingness to tolerate mistreatment and abuse from others.
• Having problems expressing disagreements with others

Like most personality disorders, dependent personality disorder typically will decrease in intensity with age, with many people experiencing few of the most extreme symptoms by the time they are in the 40s or 50s.

Talk therapy is considered to be the most effective treatment. The aim is to help people with this condition make more independent choices in life. Medicines may help treat other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression that occur along with this disorder. This type of therapy helps individuals develop new ways of thinking, behaving, and communicating.

Narcissistic personality is a personality disorder in which a person is excessively preoccupied with personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity, mentally unable to see the destructive damage they are causing to themselves and to others in the process. People with this disorder often believe they are of primary importance in everybody’s life or to anyone they meet.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder involves arrogant behavior, a lack of empathy for other people, and a need for admiration-all of which must be consistently evident at work and in relationships. People who are narcissistic are frequently described as cocky, self-centered, manipulative, and demanding. People with narcissistic personality disorder are not interested in the feelings of others – they lack empathy; they are unable to feel or appreciate feelings which are not their own. When you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may come across as conceited, boastful or pretentious. You often monopolize conversations. You may be little or look down on people you perceive as inferior. You may have a sense of entitlement. And when you don’t receive the special treatment to which you feel entitled, you may become very impatient or angry.

Many people with narcissistic personality disorder don’t seek out treatment. A diagnosis for narcissistic personality disorder is made by a mental health professional comparing your symptoms and life history with those listed here. They will make a determination whether your symptoms meet the criteria necessary for a personality disorder diagnosis.

Treatment of narcissistic personality disorder typically involves long-term psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience in treating this kind of personality disorder. Medications may also be prescribed to help with specific troubling and debilitating symptoms.

Paranoid personality is a mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of distrust and suspicion of others. Individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder are generally difficult to get along with and often have problems with close relationships. They lack trust in others, they have an excessive need to be self-sufficient and a strong sense of autonomy.

Symptoms of paranoid personality

• Doubt the commitment, loyalty, or trustworthiness of others
• Are generally cold and distant in their relationships with others, and might become controlling and jealous
• Concern that other people have hidden motives
• Expectation that they will be exploited (used) by others
• Inability to work together with others
• Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others

Paranoid personality disorder is more prevalent in males than females. Like most personality disorders, paranoid personality disorder typically will decrease in intensity with age, with many people experiencing few of the most extreme symptoms by the time they are in the 40s or 50s.

Treatment

People with Paranoid personality often do not seek treatment on their own because they do not see themselves as having a problem. The distrust of others felt by people with PPD also poses a challenge for health care professionals because trust is an important factor of psychotherapy (a form of counseling). As a result, many people with paranoid personality do not follow their treatment plan. When treatment is sought, psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for PPD. Treatment likely will focus on increasing general coping skills, as well as on improving social interaction, communication, and self-esteem.

Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, a tendency towards a solitary lifestyle, secretiveness, emotional coldness, and apathy. It affects more males than females. If you have schizoid personality disorder, you may be seen as a loner, and you may lack the desire or skill to form close personal relationships.

Symptoms

• Prefer being alone and usually choose solitary activities
• Prize independence and have few close friendships
• Feel confused about how to respond to normal social cues and generally have little to say
• Feel little if any desire for sexual relationships
• Feel unable to experience pleasure
• Come off as dull, indifferent or emotionally cold
• Feel unmotivated and tend to underperform at school or work

The disorder manifests itself by early adulthood through social and emotional detachments that prevent people from having close relationships. People with it are able to function in everyday life, but will not develop meaningful relationships with others.

Many people with schizoid personality disorder don’t seek out treatment. A diagnosis for schizoid personality disorder is made by a mental health professional comparing your symptoms and life history. They will make a determination whether your symptoms meet the criteria necessary for a personality disorder diagnosis.

Treatment of schizoid personality disorder typically involves long-term psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience in treating this kind of personality disorder. Medications may also be prescribed to help with specific troubling and debilitating symptoms.

Symptoms

• Being a loner and lacking close friends outside of the immediate family
• Discomfort in social situations
• Peculiar, eccentric or unusual thinking, beliefs or behavior
• Dressing in peculiar ways
• Belief in special powers, such as telepathy
• Behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar
• Suspicious or paranoid ideas, hypersensitivity, and constant doubts about the loyalty and fidelity of others
• Flat emotions, or limited or inappropriate emotional responses
• Excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments about self

Schizotypal personality disorder typically is diagnosed in early adulthood and likely to endure, though symptoms may improve with age. Medications and therapy also may help. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, may help people with schizotypal personality disorder begin to trust others by building a trusting relationship with a therapist. Psychotherapy may include, for example, learning specific social skills and behaviors (behavior therapy) or identifying and changing distorted thought patterns (cognitive therapy). Treatment can be more effective when family members are involved (family therapy). Seeking professional counseling as a group may help reduce fighting or emotional distance and improve trust in the home.