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A personality disorder is a chronic mental condition characterized by behaviors that prevent the person who has the disorder from functioning well in society. Affected people usually do not learn from mistakes and do not adapt well to changes in their lives. These disorders usually start before or during the teenage years.

What is going on in the body?

Most people can live fairly normal lives with mild disorders. But when stress increases, symptoms often increase and begin to interfere with the person's ability to function.

What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?

Each personality disorder has different symptoms. People with these disorders have long-standing troubles in their relationships and jobs. The many different personality disorders include:

• paranoid -- affected people think others are out to get them
• schizoid -- affected people are "loners" and prefer to be alone
• schizotypal -- affected people have very strange thoughts and beliefs
• histrionic -- affected people are very emotional and dramatic
• narcissistic -- affected people are very self-centered and think they are better than others
• antisocial -- affected people lack a conscience, take advantage of others, and refuse to obey the laws of society
• borderline -- affected people have unstable relationships, lots of anger, and a poor self-image
• avoidant -- affected people feel inferior to others and fear rejection
• dependent -- affected people rely too much on others, often staying in abusive relationships because they fear being alone
• obsessive-compulsive -- affected people are more concerned with the rules than the goal of an activity
• passive-aggressive -- affected people are aggressive in a passive way, such as being late on purpose

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

• biological causes, such as genetic defects, or head injury
• social causes, or learned responses
• psychological causes, such as poor parent-child relationships

What can be done to prevent the condition?

There are no known ways to prevent these disorders. It is known that having a solid, loving home life is important for healthy personality development.

How is the condition diagnosed?

The diagnosis is made on the basis of a person's symptoms and behaviors. The specific disorder is diagnosed when the person's symptoms match the traits for that disorder.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

People with these disorders tend to have life-long problems in relationships and at work.

What are the risks to others?

Since these disorders are not contagious, there are no risks to others.

What are the treatments for the condition?

Personality disorders are difficult to treat. Treatments that focus on increasing social and coping skills can be helpful. Medications may be used to reduce anxiety and depression but do not cure the disorder. Family and group psychotherapy may also be helpful if the person will agree to attend.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Each type of medication has a different set of side effects.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

People with these disorders often do not follow the treatment plan. No cure is available, so treatment does not stop unless the affected person wants it to.

How is the condition monitored?

These disorders are usually permanent and affected people need to be monitored for life, although treatment can often improve symptoms to a manageable level.