The following guide is for informational purposes only and not intended to diagnose or give medical advice.
What are Personality Disorders?
Personality disorders usually begin in the teenage years or early adulthood. A person with a personality disorder has a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. They have trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people.
(Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20354463)
Types of Personality Disorders
Cluster A personality disorders
Paranoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
Schizotypal personality disorder
Cluster B personality disorders
Antisocial personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Histrionic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
Cluster C personality disorders
Avoidant personality disorder
Dependent personality disorder
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
(Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20354463)
Paranoid Personality Disorder Symptoms
People with this disorder:
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder
(Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9784-paranoid-personality-disorder; Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizoid-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354414; WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/schizotypal-personality-disorder; Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/antisocial-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353928; Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20370237; Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9743-histrionic-personality-disorder; Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662; Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9761-avoidant-personality-disorder; Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/dependent-personality-disorder; Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder#symptoms)
Psychotherapy
During psychotherapy with a mental health professional, people can learn about their condition and talk about moods, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. They can learn to cope with stress and manage the disorder.
Psychotherapy may be provided in individual sessions, group therapy, or sessions that include family or even friends. There are several types of psychotherapy — a mental health professional can determine which one is best for each person.
Social Skills Training
During this training they can use the insight and knowledge they gain to learn healthy ways to manage their symptoms and reduce behaviors that interfere with functioning and relationships.
Schema Therapy
Schema therapy is a newer type of therapy that combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, attachment theory, and emotion-focused therapy, among others. In schema therapy, you’ll work with a therapist to uncover and understand your schemas, sometimes called early maladaptive schemas. Schema therapy aims to teach you how to ensure your emotional needs are met in a healthy way that doesn’t cause distress.
Family Therapy
Provides support and education to families dealing with a family member who has a personality disorder.
Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)
Mentalizing, or the ability to focus on and differentiate between your own emotional state of mind and that of others, and understand how one’s mental state influences behavior, is a normal cognitive function that is limited in those with some personality disorders. Enhancement of mentalization and improved emotional regulation are at the core of MBT treatment.
Medications
There are no medications specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat personality disorders. However, several types of psychiatric medications may help with various personality disorder symptoms.
(Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354468; Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/schema-therapy-2)
For a comprehensive list of McFarlin books about personality disorders consult our library catalog. Some ebooks may require you sign into the library system before viewing; you will be automatically prompted if a login is necessary.
For a comprehensive list of McFarlin databases consult our A-Z Database List. Databases may require you sign into the library system before viewing; you will be automatically prompted if a login is necessary.
You may want to get help for any mental health issue if it lasts for a long period of time or begins to interfere with your ability to function, such as eat, study, and have fun. TU has counselors who would love to help you with your mental health.
This site provides information about and contact information for TU's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
If you are having a mental health crisis, the following sites provide help:
Call or text 988 - Oklahoma's statewide mental health lifeline