Everyone has personality traits that characterise them. These are the usual ways that a person thinks and behaves, which make each of us unique. Personality traits become a personality disorder when the pattern of thinking and behaviour is extreme, inflexible and maladaptive. They may cause major disruption to a person’s life and are usually associated with significant distress to the self or others.

1. What is
a personality disorder ?

2. What is a personality What are the main types
disorder? of personality disorder?
Everyone has personality traits that There is a wide range of personality
characterise them. These are the usual disorders. All of them involve a pervasive
ways that a person thinks and behaves, pattern of behaviour, which means that the
which make each of us unique. characteristic behaviours and thoughts are
evident in almost all aspects of a person’s
Personality traits become a personality
life.
disorder when the pattern of thinking
and behaviour is extreme, inflexible There are three clusters of personality
and maladaptive. They may cause disorders: odd or eccentric disorders;
major disruption to a person’s life and dramatic, emotional or erratic disorders;
are usually associated with significant and anxious or fearful disorders. Specific
distress to the self or others. disorders are as follows:
Personality disorders begin in childhood Paranoid personality disorder is a
and persist throughout adulthood. pervasive distrust and suspiciousness
of others, such that their motives are
The prevalence of personality disorders
interpreted as malevolent.
is not firmly established and varies
for the different disorders. Borderline Schizoid personality disorder is a
personality disorder is experienced by pervasive pattern of detachment from
about one in 100 people. social relationships and a restricted range
of expression of emotions in interpersonal
While personality can be difficult to
settings.
change, with early and appropriate
treatment and support, people with Schizotypal personality disorder is a
personality disorders can live full and pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal
productive lives. deficits marked by acute discomfort with
reduced capacity for close relationships. It is
also characterised by distortions of thinking
and perception and eccentric behaviour.
Antisocial personality disorder is a
pervasive pattern of disregard for and
violation of the rights of others.

3. Histrionic personality disorder People with borderline personality
is a pervasive pattern of excessive disorder are likely to have:
emotion and attention seeking.
• Wide mood swings.
Narcissistic personality disorder is
• Inappropriate anger or difficulty
a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in
controlling anger.
fantasy or actual behaviour), need for
admiration, and lack of empathy. • Chronic feelings of emptiness.
Avoidant personality disorder • Recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures
is a pervasive pattern of social or threats, or self-harming behaviour.
inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, • Impulsive and self-destructive
and hypersensitivity to negative behaviour.
evaluation.
• A pattern of unstable relationships.
Dependent personality disorder
is a pervasive and excessive need • Persistent unstable self-image or
to be taken care of, which leads to sense of self.
submissive and clinging behaviour and • Fear of abandonment.
fears of separation.
• Periods of paranoia and loss of
Obsessive-compulsive personality contact with reality.
disorder is a pervasive pattern of
preoccupation with orderliness, Co-occurring mental health
perfectionism, and mental and problems
interpersonal control, at the expense
of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. Personality disorders often co-occur
with other mental illnesses. For more
Borderline personality disorder is
information on mental illness, read the
a pervasive pattern of instability of
brochure What is mental illness? and the
interpersonal relationships, self-image,
other brochures in this series.
moods, and control over impulses.
Harmful alcohol and other drug use
Understanding borderline personality
often co-occurs with personality
disorder is particularly important
disorders, particularly borderline
because it can be misdiagnosed as
personality disorder. This makes
another mental illness, particularly a
treatment more complex, and
mood disorder.
effectively managing alcohol and other
drug use is important.

4. What causes What causes borderline
personality disorder?
personality
It is well established that the
disorders? tendency to develop borderline
personality disorder runs in families.
Personality disorders develop in
This is similar to a predisposition to
childhood and the thoughts and
other illnesses, such as diabetes and
behaviours become increasingly
heart disease.
ingrained in adulthood.
There is some evidence that
Some personality disorders are
borderline personality disorder may
more common in men (ie antisocial
be related to a chemical imbalance in
personality disorder) and others
the brain.
are more common in women (ie
borderline personality disorder). Childhood abuse, neglect, and
child separation from caregivers or
Many people with a personality
loved ones are believed to be major
disorder do not seek help until
contributing factors, particularly
after years of distress, if at all. This
sustained and severe abuse.
contributes to our lack of knowledge
about their causes and development. Women are more likely to develop
borderline personality disorder than
Different causes appear to be
men.
associated with the different types
of personality disorders. However,
like most mental illnesses, the causes
appear to be a complex combination
of genetic factors, biochemical
factors, and individual, family and
environmental factors.

5. What treatment is It teaches people how to manage
their emotions, and re-learn ways to
available? react to people and situations.
An important aim of treatment for
The range of treatments for
people with borderline personality
personality disorders is growing. The
disorder is managing self-harm and
type of treatment depends on the
suicidal behaviour. DBT has been
type of personality disorder.
shown to be effective in bringing
Many personality disorders are related suicidal behaviours under control.
to other mental illnesses, although the
While our understanding of the
behaviour is usually more enduring
effective treatment of personality
and chronic. For example, obsessive
disorders is still growing, the earlier
compulsive personality disorder
treatment is sought the more
is related to obsessive compulsive
effective it is likely to be.
disorder, schizoid personality disorder
to schizophrenia, and avoidant The family and friends of people with
personality disorder to social phobia. a personality disorder can often feel
Consequently, some similar treatment confused and distressed. Support
approaches may be used. and education, as well as better
community understanding, are an
For borderline personality disorder,
important part of treatment.
psychological therapies are the main
treatment approach. Dialectical
behaviour therapy (DBT) is a form
of cognitive behavioural therapy
that targets mood instability and
impulsivity.

6. Where to go for help About this brochure
• Your general practitioner. This brochure is part of a series on
mental illness funded by the Australian
• Your community health centre.
Government under the National Mental
• Your community mental health Health Strategy.
centre.
Other brochures in this series include:
For information on services, check the
• What is mental illness?
Community Help and Welfare Services
and 24-hour emergency numbers in • What is an anxiety disorder?
your local telephone directory.
• What is bipolar mood disorder?
For immediate counselling assistance,
• What is a depressive disorder?
contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Lifeline
can also supply you with contacts, • What is an eating disorder?
further information and help. • What is schizophrenia?
More information is available at: Free copies of all brochures are available
www.mifa.org.au from Mental Health and Workforce
Division of the Australian Government
www.sane.org
Department of Health and Ageing:
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Tel 1800 066 247
Fax 1800 634 400
www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth
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