Skip to main content

Personality Disorders

Moshe S. Torem, MD Reviewed 06/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Personality disorders (PDs) are a group of conditions, with onset at or before adolescence, characterized by enduring patterns of maladaptive and dysfunctional behavior that deviates...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Comprehensive interview and mental status examination

  • Screen to rule out alcohol and drug abuse.

  • Interview of relatives and friends is helpful in establishing an enduring pattern of beh...

TREATMENT

Psychotherapy with family involvement is the foundation of treatment. No specific drugs are indicated to treat PDs; some medications can reduce the intensity, frequency, and dysfunctional na...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Continue outpatient treatment, potentially long term. 

Patient Monitoring

  • Regular physical exercise (e.g., 30 to 60 min/day, helps with stress and improving the ADL...

REFERENCES

1
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
2
Ma G,...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Angstman KB, Rasmussen NH. Personality disorders: review and clinical application in daily practice. Am Fam Physician.  2011;84(11):1253–1260. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

  • Bat...

CODES

ICD10

  • F60.9 Personality disorder, unspecified

  • F60.0 Paranoid personality disorder

  • F60.1 Schizoid personality disorder

  • F60.2 Antisocial personality disorder

  • F60.89 Other specific personality disorders

  • ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • PDs are enduring patterns of behavior throughout one’s lifetime and are not readily responsive to brief treatments.

  • In spite of the initial lack of self-awareness and accepting responsi...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×