Living with a personality disorder can feel isolating, especially when your self-perception doesn’t align with how others see you. At Crownview Psychiatric Institute in San Diego, we offer specialized personality disorder treatment that addresses the complex patterns affecting your relationships and daily life. Our experienced team provides evidence-based therapies to help you manage emotions, build healthier connections, and find stability.

Contact Us Today

What Are Personality Disorders?

The DSM-5 and the Merck Manuals define personality disorders as mental health conditions involving long-lasting patterns of thinking, perceiving, and relating that cause significant distress and impair functioning. While symptoms may gradually decrease over time, mental health experts agree that these disorders rarely improve without professional treatment.

Personality disorders often co-occur with conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders, which makes accurate diagnosis and treatment more complex. At Crownview, we specialize in treating these complex conditions and have extensive experience with co-occurring disorders.

Types of Personality Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Volume 5 (DSM-5) indicates there are ten identifiable types of personality disorders that fall into three distinct clusters. Disorders in each cluster are separate and distinct but share some common elements.

Cluster A: Eccentric Behaviors

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid personality disorder is defined/identified by the presence of a constant distrust/suspicion of others, and the persistent assumption that other people have negative, dangerous, or hostile intentions.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid personality disorder is defined/identified consistent detachment from other people, lack of interest/investment in social relationships, and rare expressions of emotion.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder is defined/identified by a reduced ability to form meaningful interpersonal relationships, distorted patterns of perception and thought, and behavior other people consider atypical. People with this type of personality behavior often believe they have magical powers, or believe events – local, national, or worldwide – revolve around them.

Cluster B: Dramatic/Erratic

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is defined/identified by a persistent disregard for the impact of their behavior on the rights or feelings of other people. People with this type of personality disorder often lie, deceive, break laws, manipulate, and engage in impulsive, harmful behavior with no remorse or regret whatsoever about the impact of their behavior.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder is defined/identified by a consistent pattern of instability in personal relationships, a rapidly and easily changing concept of self, extreme mood swings, and heightened/elevated fear of being rejected or abandoned by others.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is defined/identified by excessive emotionality, consistent and repeated attention-seeking, and dramatic behavior in common circumstances.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is defined/identified by the constant and pervasive need to be admired by other people, an elevated opinion of their own self-worth and importance, and an absence of the ability to feel compassion for or empathize with the experience of other people.

Cluster C: Anxious/Fearful

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder is defined/identified by avoidance of contact with other people caused by a fear of rejection, criticism, or embarrassment.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorder is defined/identified by the need to be taken care of by other people, which can cause atypically submissive and dependent behavior.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is defined/identified by preoccupation with control and a focus on perfectionism and orderliness that impairs the ability to participate in/complete typical daily tasks.

Contact Us Today

Impact of Untreated Personality Disorders

Without appropriate treatment, personality disorders can escalate until symptoms make daily life unstable for you and your loved ones. Untreated personality disorders may lead to:

  • Difficult relationships with family
  • Inability to make friends
  • Suicidality
  • Co-occurring mental health disorders
  • Disordered use of alcohol and/or substances
  • Difficulty finding and keeping a job
  • Difficulty in school/academics
  • Serious financial problems
  • Homelessness
  • Social isolation
  • Health/medical problems

This is why professional help and support are essential.

Our clinicians understand how personality disorders disrupt relationships and daily functioning. Early intervention is key, and we’re here to guide you toward stability and healthier connections. Through evidence-based care, you can learn to manage symptoms and reclaim balance in your life.

Crownview’s Approach to Personality Disorder Treatment in San Diego

We offer comprehensive treatment for personality disorders tailored to your specific diagnosis. Since each disorder is unique, we use only evidence-based modalities proven effective for your condition, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for borderline personality disorder. Prioritizing evidence-based care helps reduce symptom distress, decrease disruptive behaviors, and rebuild harmony in your relationships.

Once we understand your goals, strengths, and challenges, we design a personalized treatment plan that may include:

Psychotherapy:

  • Individual Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Acceptance & commitment therapy

Medication:

  • Selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • Mood stabilizers
  • Second generation antipsychotics
  • Antidepressants

Education:

  • The science behind BPD and BPD treatment
  • Nutrition for health and wellness
  • Relationship dynamics/family dynamics
  • Communication/conflict resolution
  • Anger management

Adjunct Therapies:

  • Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) therapy
  • IV vitamins
  • GeneSight® testing

Education:

  • Music therapy
  • Wellness groups
  • Meditation and breathwork
  • Yoga
  • Mindfulness
  • Singing bowls

Healing Through Connection and Community

At Crownview, we create a welcoming environment that promotes healing for those with complex mental health disorders. With innovative treatments and compassionate clinicians, we help you start on the path to recovery. We’re committed to building a supportive community ideal for healing and growth.

Finding the Right Level of Care for Your Personality Disorder

The level of care you need depends on several factors. In collaboration with your Crownview treatment team, you’ll identify the following:

  1. The intensity of your symptoms.
  2. The frequency and duration of your symptoms.
  3. The level of disruption they cause in your daily life.

These factors, along with your treatment history, will help determine whether intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), or residential inpatient treatment is right for you. If symptoms are severe and outpatient therapy hasn’t provided relief, a more immersive level of care may be needed.

When the symptoms of a personality disorder impair your relationships and make daily life unmanageable, then spending time in immersive, residential inpatient treatment, away from the stress and pressure of daily life may the best way to find balance and get back on track.

At Crownview Psychiatric Institute, we’ll meet you where you are, help you develop the skills you need to manage your symptoms, and empower you to reach your destination: living a full and productive life on your own terms.

Areas We Serve in San Diego County

Located in Oceanside, our anxiety treatment services are accessible to residents throughout North County San Diego and surrounding areas. We welcome clients from:

  • Oceanside
  • Carlsbad
  • Vista
  • Encinitas
  • Solana Beach
  • Del Mar
  • San Marcos
  • Escondido
  • La Jolla
  • All of San Diego County
  • Orange County

Our Oceanside location provides convenient access via Interstate 5 and public transit connections. We can help coordinate transportation for clients traveling from outside the immediate area.

Start Treatment for Personality Disorders

Don’t let a personality disorder continue to disrupt your relationships and daily life. At Crownview Psychiatric Institute, our compassionate team offers specialized personality disorder treatment to help you build stability, manage emotions, and create healthier connections. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help you or a loved one start the path to healing.

Healing is a phone call away!

FAQs About Personality Disorder Treatment in San Diego

How is personality disorder treatment different from other treatments?

Personality disorder treatment uses specialized approaches like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to address emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Unlike treatment for depression or anxiety alone, it focuses on long-standing patterns of thinking and behavior that affect identity and relationships.

Does insurance cover personality disorder treatment?

Many insurance plans cover personality disorder treatment when medically necessary. Our admissions team can verify your benefits and explain coverage, including out-of-pocket costs.

How long does treatment typically take?

Treatment duration varies based on the specific disorder, symptom severity, and individual progress. Some clients benefit from several weeks of intensive care followed by step-down programs, while others need longer-term support. We’ll discuss realistic timelines during your assessment.

Can family members participate in treatment?

Yes, family involvement is often beneficial for personality disorder treatment. We offer family therapy sessions and educational workshops to help loved ones understand the disorder and provide effective support. Involvement level is tailored to your needs and preferences.

What makes Crownview's approach different?

We specialize in complex mental health disorders and offer evidence-based modalities specific to each personality disorder type. Our comprehensive approach combines specialized psychotherapy like DBT, medication management, adjunct therapies, and a supportive community environment, including treatment for co-occurring disorders.