Personality disorders

A personality disorder is a long-lasting pattern of thinking, feeling and acting that is very different from what most people around you expect. The pattern is rigid. It causes real distress and makes work, friendships and family life harder.^1,2

It is not a character flaw, and it is not a sign of a "bad" person. These patterns usually take root in the teen years or early adult life, and can be linked to hard childhood experiences.^1,3 The good news is that people can get better, and for the best-studied type, borderline personality disorder, most people do.⁶ This page gives the big picture and links to each topic.

What is a personality disorder?

Everyone has a personality: the usual way you think, feel and deal with other people. A personality disorder is diagnosed when that usual way is stiff and hard to change, causes serious trouble in many parts of life, and lasts over time.^1,2 A person with one may not see the pattern clearly at first. Others may feel the strain before they do.²

A mental health professional makes the diagnosis after careful talks about a person's history. We explain how in getting diagnosed.²

The three clusters

Doctors group the 10 types into three clusters, based on shared features.¹ The labels describe patterns of behavior. They do not describe a person's worth.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is not the same as OCD. They are different conditions.¹ Read what each type looks like in other personality disorders.

How common are they?

The American Psychiatric Association estimates that about 9% of U.S. adults, roughly 1 in 11, have at least one personality disorder. A person can have more than one.²

For borderline personality disorder, NAMI reports about 1.4% of U.S. adults, or roughly 1 in 70. Nearly 75% of people diagnosed are women. Newer research suggests men may be affected about as often but are often given a different diagnosis, such as PTSD or depression.⁵

Borderline personality disorder

BPD is a condition in which feelings are very strong, last a long time, and are hard to settle. This can bring fear of being left, stormy relationships, an unsteady sense of who you are, and acting on impulse.^3,5 Some people hurt themselves. People with BPD also have a much higher rate of self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behavior than most people.³ That is a reason to get help early, not a reason for despair.

The outlook is better than many people think. One long study followed 290 people treated in a hospital for BPD for 16 years. Depending on how long improvement had to last, between about 78 and 99 in 100 no longer met the criteria for BPD. About 40 to 60 in 100 also had good work and social lives. Some symptoms did return for some people (10 to 36 in 100), so ongoing support matters.⁶

Learn more on borderline personality disorder.

What causes personality disorders?

No one knows the full cause. Genes and early life both seem to play a part. Having a close relative with the same condition raises risk. So can childhood abuse, neglect, trauma or very unstable relationships.^1,3,5 None of these guarantees a person will develop a personality disorder, and some people develop one without them.³

Read more on causes and risk factors.

Is treatment possible?

Yes. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is the main treatment for personality disorders.^1,2 For BPD, several therapies have been tested:

Never stop or change a medicine on your own. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before changing anything.

BPD often comes with other conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, substance use, eating disorders and ADHD. Treating these too is part of good care.³

Personality disorders in later life

Many people with a personality disorder reach their later years. Symptoms may ease with time for some people, as the BPD study above suggests.⁶ Loss, illness and big life changes in later years can be hard for anyone, and they can be especially hard when feelings already run strong.

A big, new change in a person's personality after age 60 is a different matter. It should be checked by a doctor, because it can signal a medical cause. Read more in personality disorders and personality change in later life.

Supporting someone you love

Living with someone who has strong feelings and a fragile sense of self can be tiring. You can stay kind and calm and still hold clear limits. Learning about the condition helps, and families who join an education program often feel less strain.⁸ Read supporting someone with a personality disorder, when a family member is in a mental health crisis and caregiver burnout.

All personality disorder topics

• Borderline personality disorder
• Other personality disorders
• Causes and risk factors
• Getting diagnosed
• Treatment for personality disorders
• Supporting someone with a personality disorder
• Personality disorders and personality change in later life

In this section

When to get help

See your doctor or a mental health professional if feelings, relationships or impulses keep causing serious trouble, or if a pattern keeps hurting you or the people close to you. A primary care doctor is a good first step. You can also try our mental health check-in.

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.