Personality and Addictive Disorders

The definition of personality disorder is as follows, "an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has on onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable overtime, and leads to distress or impairment" ( www.psychologyinfo.com). The grouping of personality disorders includes many different disorders that vary greatly in form as well as severity. There are 10 distinct disorders, plus an additional personality disorder of Not Otherwise Specified (N.O.S.). The DSM-I V has three separate clusters (clusters A, B, C) of personality disorders. Cluster A includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. Cluster B includes histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline personality disorders. Cluster C includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Personality disorders may be the most misdiagnosed of any category of disorders. The diagnostic criteria for personality disorders are not as sharply defined as other categories; therefore the criterion may be difficult to follow in practice. Another reason for difficult diagnosis is that the "clinician must exercise more judgment in making the diagnosis..." (Butcher, Mineka, & Hooley, 2007). Society's perception of people with a personality disorder is rather poor. People with this disorder often impose themselves on others throughout society. Since people with personality disorders have rigid and inflexible patterns of behavior they are difficult to treat. These people believe that they do not to change and have a difficult time either forming or maintaining a relationship with a therapist. Since no cure is present, therapy and medications are the best option.