This post describes the results of an empirical study I did on the personality disorders when I was working in A. T. Beck’s lab back in 2002. We presented it as a poster at the APA convention that ...

The exact cause of personality disorders is unclear. However, genetics, neurological differences, and environmental factors may contribute to the development of these complex mental health conditions.

Diagnosing personality disorders in children is controversial due to natural developmental shifts in mood and behavior. When maladaptive traits remain pervasive and persistent, however, a personality ...

Personality traits are defined by patterns in how you think, behave, and react to situations. For someone without a personality disorder, your responses are consistent and stable over time. For ...

Comorbidity is when a person has more than one health condition at once. Researchers investigating the comorbidity of personality disorders have found people with certain disorders may have other ...

A personality disorder is a mental disorder that’s caused by an unhealthy pattern of thought and behavior. People with personality disorders often struggle to interact with the world. Their disorder ...

Masochistic tendencies—excessive self-defeating behavior, a constant need to please others, and the reflexive denial of positive regard—are not formally recognized as a personality disorder. But some ...

Despite a few similar symptoms, bipolar disorder is not a type of personality disorder. However, it may be misdiagnosed as one, or you can have both. Bipolar disorder is considered a type of mood ...

Mary Pembleton comes from a background in nursing, yoga and behavioral psychology. A resident of Appalachia, she enjoys hiking, trail running and outdoor adventuring with her kids. As a writer, her ...

Symptoms of ASPD can start in childhood and may include manipulative and reckless behaviors. ASPD often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, which makes it harder to treat. Up to 31% of ...

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a mental health condition characterized by excessively dramatic and attention-seeking behaviors. People with HPD have an intense need for attention and often ...