Measures to treat personality disorders

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Personality disorder is one of the mind disorders. often co-occurs with other mental illnesses such as substance abuse disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. It is estimated that 10-13% of the world's population suffers from some form of personality disorder. Treatment of personality disorders requires a multifactorial contribution, including psychotherapeutic approaches.

1. What is a personality disorder?

Personality is an important factor in determining who we are as individuals. It involves a unique blend of traits including attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, and moods, and how we display these traits in our relationships with others and the world around us. Some characteristics of an individual's personality are hereditary, shaped by life events and experiences. Personality disorders can form if certain personality traits become too rigid and inflexible.
People with personality disorders think and act differently from what society considers normal. A person's inflexibility can cause problems, affecting many aspects of life, including social and work functioning. People with personality disorders generally also have poor behavioral skills and difficulty forming healthy relationships.
Unlike people with anxiety disorders who are self-aware of their problem but cannot control it, people with personality disorders are generally not aware of their problems and do not believe they have anything to control. Because they do not believe they have a disorder, people with personality disorders often do not actively seek treatment. Therefore, the treatment of personality disorders is often difficult and delayed.
Most forms of personality disorders begin during the teen years, when personality develops and matures. As a result, almost everyone diagnosed with a personality disorder is over the age of 18.
Some personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder and dramatic personality disorder are more common in women. Other personality disorders such as antisocial personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are more common in men. Many inmates also have diagnosable personality disorders.

2. What causes personality disorder?

Personality disorder is one of the least understood and recognized mental disorders. Both genetics and environmental factors are believed to play a role in the development of personality disorders. Some forms of personality disorder appear to be related to a family history of mental illness. For example, people with antisocial personality disorder often have multiple family members with the disorder, and a family history of depression may be a risk factor for borderline personality disorder. gender or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Although research on personality disorders is limited. Currently, there is no research that can show that a person is born with a personality disorder. As with many mental disorders, the tendency to develop personality disorders may be genetic, not the disorder itself. Personality disorders arise when something interferes with the development of a healthy personality.
Personality disorders can develop as a way of dealing with an unreasonably stressful or troublesome situation. For example, a person who was abused or abandoned as a child may develop a personality disorder as a way of coping with the pain, fears, and anxieties that exist in their surroundings. A person doesn't suddenly "get" a personality disorder, but it comes on gradually.

3. How are personality disorders diagnosed?

Before talking about personality disorder treatment, we need to know how personality disorder is diagnosed. It is important to understand the difference between a true personality and a personality disorder. A person who is shy or likes to spend time alone does not necessarily have an avoidant or schizophrenic personality disorder. The difference between personality and personality disorder can often be determined by assessing a person's personality functioning in certain areas, including:
Work Relationships Feelings/emotions Identity Perception of Reality Behavioral and impulse control If symptoms are present, the physician will initiate the assessment by taking a complete history and physical examination. Although no laboratory test is capable of diagnosing personality disorders specifically, your doctor may use various diagnostic tests such as X-rays and blood tests to rule out a real illness. may be the cause of the observed symptoms.
If the doctor finds no physical cause, he or she may refer the patient to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Psychologists use interview and assessment tools specifically designed to assess a person for a personality disorder. The therapist then identifies the illness if the person's symptoms point to a personality disorder as outlined in the DSM-5.

4. Measures to treat personality disorders

The best treatment for each person depends on the specific type of personality disorder, its severity, and their life circumstances. Often, a team approach is needed to ensure that all psychiatric, medical, and social needs are met. Because personality disorders are long-standing, treatment may take months or years.
Treatment of personality disorders is a complex work that requires the coordination of a team of doctors and specialists from many fields, including:
Psychologists Psychologists or therapists Psychiatric nurses Pharmacists Social care workers If symptoms are mild and well controlled, you may only need treatment from your primary care doctor, psychiatrist or psychotherapist. If possible, find a mental health professional with experience treating personality disorders.
4.1. Psychotherapy Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is the mainstay of treatment for personality disorders. During psychotherapy with a mental health professional, you can learn and share about your emotional state, moods, thoughts, and behaviors. The person also learns how to cope with stress and manage the disorder.
Psychotherapy is offered in individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, or therapy sessions that include family or friends. There are several types of psychotherapy - your mental health professional can determine which is best for you.
You can also get training in social skills. During this training, you can use the insight and knowledge you gain to learn healthy ways to manage symptoms and reduce behaviors that interfere with activities and relationships. your system.
Family therapy provides support and education to families on how to cope when a family member has a personality disorder.
4.2. Medications There are no medications specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat personality disorders. However, certain psychiatric medications can help treat various personality disorder symptoms.
Antidepressants: Antidepressants may be helpful if the person is depressed, angry, impulsive, irritable, or hopeless, which may be related to a personality disorder. Mood Stabilizers: As their name suggests, the mood stabilizers contained within medications can help reduce mood swings or reduce irritability, impulsivity, and aggression. Antipsychotics: Also known as sedatives that can be helpful if your symptoms include losing touch with reality (psychotic disorder) or in some cases if you have anxiety problems. anxious or angry. Anti-anxiety medication: This medication may be helpful if you have anxiety, agitation, or insomnia.

In some cases, personality disorders can be so severe that you need to be hospitalized for psychiatric care. This is usually only recommended when patients are unable to take care of themselves properly or when they are in immediate danger of harming themselves or others.
After receiving stable treatment in the hospital, the doctor may recommend continuing monitoring in the hospital for a while or discharge the patient from the hospital and re-examine according to the schedule.
People with personality disorders may not be able to find treatment on their own; and as a result, many people do not get treatment. One reason for not seeking treatment for a personality disorder may be that many people with personality disorders are still able to function normally in society.
Most personality disorders occur on a continuous basis, and it is difficult to completely cure the personality disorder. However, treatment can help relieve some of the worrisome symptoms of many types of personality disorders.

5. What are the complications of personality disorder?

If left untreated, personality disorders can bring enormous personal and societal costs, including loss of work productivity, hospitalization, and imprisonment. People with untreated personality disorders are also at increased risk of alcohol or drug abuse, violent or self-destructive behavior, and even suicide.
At this time, there is no known way to prevent personality disorder from occurring, but prompt treatment will help improve the condition and limit the impact on the person's daily life.

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