If you have a personality disorder, we understand how difficult life can be. You know – or you’re learning – that your view of who you are and what you do doesn’t always match what your friends, family, and loved ones reflect back to you about identity and behavior. This disconnect can cause significant problems in almost all areas of your life, including relationships, school, work, and your ability to successfully navigate common social situations.

We know how to help.

We’ll work with you to help you understand the underlying causes of your behavior and why it has a negative impact on others. We’ll provide tools and techniques to manage difficult emotions, moderate maladaptive coping mechanisms, and help you rediscover balance and stability in your life. Overall, our goal is to reduce the amount of acute distress you experience on a daily basis in order to allow you to live a full and productive life.

What are Personality Disorders?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) and the Merck Manuals provides this overall definition of personality disorders:

“Personality disorders are mental health conditions that involve long-lasting, pervasive patterns of thinking, perceiving, reacting, and relating that cause the person significant distress and/or impair the person’s ability to function.”

In some cases, the severity of symptoms gradually decreases over time. However, mental health experts agree that personality disorders rarely improve or enter full remission without professional treatment and the expert support of skilled, experienced clinicians.

Personality disorders also commonly co-occur with mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, alcohol/substance use disorder, and eating disorders, which complicates both diagnosis and treatment.

We specialize in treating complex mental health disorders such as personality disorders and have experience treating personality disorders that co-occur with other mental and/or behavioral 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 and separate and distinct but share some common elements.

Cluster A: Eccentric Behaviors

Paranoid Personality Disorder

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

Defined/identified consistent detachment from other people, lack of interest/investment in social relationships, and rare expressions of emotion.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

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

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

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

Defined/identified by excessive emotionality, consistent and repeated attention-seeking, and dramatic behavior in common circumstances.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

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

Defined/identified by avoidance of contact with other people, cause by a fear of rejection, criticism, or embarrassment.

Dependent Personality Disorder

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

Defined/identified by preoccupation with control and a focus on perfectionism and orderliness that impairs the ability to participate in/complete typical daily tasks.

Impact of Untreated Borderline Personality Disorder

Untreated personality disorders can escalate until symptoms make daily life unstable and unpredictable for you, your friends, and your loved ones. Without professional support, negative consequences may include:

  • 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

That’s professional help and support essential.

Our clinicians understand a personality disorder affects your ability to form stable, fulfilling, relationships, and find balance in daily life. We also understand the value of early diagnosis and treatment. We know you want treatment that moves you toward a stable life and consistent, comforting relationships.

With time, effort, and an evidence-based treatment plan, you can find that path forward.

At Crownview, you can learn to manage your symptoms and reduce the disruption they cause. You can start your healing journey today.

Personality Disorder Treatment: Therapeutic Approaches at Crownview

At Crownview Psychiatric Institute, comprehensive care for personality disorders includes a combination of medication, therapy, family/peer support, adjunct services, and psychoeducation.

Since each subtype of personality disorder is unique, your treatment plan will include only evidence-based modalities proven effective for that specific diagnosis.

Our treatment approach can help reduce the level of distress your symptoms cause, decrease disruptive behavior, and help you rediscover balance and harmony in family and personal relationships.

Once we understand who you are, and we learn about your goals, strengths, and challenge areas, we design a treatment plan to meet your individual needs. Your plan will include a customized combination of the following therapeutic techniques and approaches:

Psychotherapy:

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
  • Relationships dynamics/family dynamics
  • Communication/conflict resolution
  • Anger management

Adjunct Therapies:

Education:

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

Compassion, Community, and Connection: Core Components of Healing

We specialize in creating a welcoming, friendly environment that promotes healing for patients with complex mental health disorders. With innovative treatments and empathetic, skilled, and compassionate clinicians, we can start you on the path to recovery. We’re committed to building a supportive, nurturing community ideal for healing and growth.

But how do you know what level of care you need?

Intensive Outpatient (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Inpatient Residential Treatment: How to Decide

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 – as well as your treatment history and practical logistical considerations – will help you decide on the appropriate level of care. For instance, if your symptoms are intense and disruptive, and you’ve tried outpatient therapy, or intensive outpatient therapy, you may need to step up to a more immersive level of care, such as partial hospitalization treatment or inpatient residential treatment.

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.

Learn More Today

To learn more about our programs and services, or to learn more details about we can help you or a loved one, please contact us today.

Healing is a phone call away.