Personality, defined psychologically, is the set of enduring behavioral and mental traits that distinguish individual humans. Hence, personality disorders are defined by experiences and behaviors that deviate from social norms and expectations. Those diagnosed with a personality disorder may experience difficulties in cognition, emotiveness, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control. For psychiatric patients, the prevalence of personality disorders is estimated between 40 and 60%.[6][7][8] The behavior patterns of personality disorders are typically recognized by adolescence, the beginning of adulthood or sometimes even childhood and often have a pervasive negative impact on the quality of life.[1][9][10]
Treatment for personality disorders is primarily psychotherapeutic. Evidence-based psychotherapies for personality disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy especially for borderline personality disorder.[11][12] A variety of psychoanalytic approaches are also used.[13] Personality disorders are associated with considerable stigma in popular and clinical discourse alike.[14] Despite various methodological schemas designed to categorize personality disorders, many issues occur with classifying a personality disorder because the theory and diagnosis of such disorders occur within prevailing cultural expectations; thus, their validity is contested by some experts on the basis of inevitable subjectivity. They argue that the theory and diagnosis of personality disorders are based strictly on social, or even sociopolitical and economic considerations.[15]
^Ekselius L (2 October 2018). "Personality disorder: a disease in disguise". Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences. 123 (4): 194–204. doi:10.1080/03009734.2018.1526235.
^Kliem S, Kröger C, Kosfelder J (December 2010). "Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: a meta-analysis using mixed-effects modeling". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 78 (6): 936–951. doi:10.1037/a0021015. PMID21114345.
^Budge SL, Moore JT, Del Re AC, Wampold BE, Baardseth TP, Nienhuis JB (December 2013). "The effectiveness of evidence-based treatments for personality disorders when comparing treatment-as-usual and bona fide treatments". Clinical Psychology Review. 33 (8): 1057–1066. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.08.003. PMID24060812.