Personality Disorder Treatment in Fort Lauderdale

Personality disorders that fall within cluster A include:

• Schizoid personality disorder
• Paranoid personality disorder
• Schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster A personality disorders symptoms include:

• Flat emotions or a limited range of emotions
• Hesitancy to trust or confide in others
• Difficulty taking pleasure in many activities
• Unable to pick up on social cues
• Strange perceptual experiences
• The belief that events or incidents have hidden messages

Cluster B personality disorders include:

• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder

Cluster B personality disorders symptoms include:

• Disregard for personal safety or the safety of others
• Intense and unstable relationships
• Rapidly changing emotions
• Exaggeration of talents or abilities
• Extreme fear of abandonment
• Impulsive and irresponsible behavior

Cluster C personality disorders include:

• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
• Avoidant personality disorder
• Dependent personality disorder

Cluster C personality disorders symptoms include:

• Extreme sensitivity to rejection or criticism
• Lack of self-confidence
• Inflexible values, morals, or ethics
• Distressing or dysfunctional levels of perfectionism
• Fear of ridicule or embarrassment
• Fear of disappointing others and difficulty disagreeing with others

The exact causes of personality disorders are not known. Research suggests that the development of these issues may be the result of combined genetics and environmental factors. Certain personality disorders are more likely to occur among people who:

• Have immediate family members with personality disorders or other mental health issues
• Were subjected to mental, physical, or sexual abuse during their formative years
• Have experienced extreme trauma
• Have variations in the structure or overall chemistry of their brains

In addition to potential genetic or environmental causes, certain risk factors may make a person more predisposed to developing a personality disorder. For instance, people with stable, loving families during their early childhood years are less likely to develop personality disorders than those who were raised in abusive, unstable, or chaotic households. Personality disorders are also more common among people who’ve been diagnosed with child conduct disorders.

There are over 10 personality disorders that are currently recognized. Each has its own unique range of causes, risk factors, symptoms, and effective treatment options. However, general signs and symptoms of personality disorders include:

• Being unable to relate to others
• Frequent social and relationship problems
• Lack of concern for others
• Manipulative behaviors
• Extreme sensitivity to criticism
• Suicidal thoughts and suicidal tendencies

When personality disorders are suspected, doctors often start performing a comprehensive medical exam and a full psychological evaluation. These assessments help rule out other factors that may be causing a person’s symptoms.

Each personality disorder has its own diagnostic criteria as defined by the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5). To limit the likelihood of both misdiagnosis and mistreatment, it is often necessary for patients to have a minimum number of core symptoms for a disorder, and to have these symptoms for an extended period of time. 

In some instances, medication can be safely and effectively used to limit the symptoms of a personality disorder. This is especially true in instances in which personality disorders are believed to be caused by variations in a person’s brain chemistry, brain functioning, or brain structure. However, the best treatment plans for nearly all mental health issues are multi-pronged and include one or more options in psychotherapy.

At Agape Treatment Center, we offer multiple options in behavioral therapy. This includes dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for treating personality disorders. We also stress the importance of good general self-care and ongoing stress management.

The symptoms of many personality disorders may gradually decrease as a person gets older, and can abate entirely as a person enters their 40s. The ongoing monitoring and management of personality disorders is recommended for limiting relapse risks and other mental health challenges.