Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is characterized by an obsessive desire and preoccupation with things being neat and orderly to the point of inflexibility. It is an ego-syntonic disorder.

Some symptoms include: 
- rigid adherence to rules
- perfectionistic attitude
- failure to relinquish responsibility to others
- constant desire for control
- frugality
- hoarding

A disorder is proclaimed when these traits interfere with someone’s ability to function, and simply having some of these traits is insufficient for diagnosis.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Marked by social deficits, social anxiety that does not decrease with familiarity, eccentric behavior, bizarre thinking, and odd speech characteristic of schizophrenia.  Often these individuals are preoccupied with superstitious beliefs about the supernatural. 
Though symptoms are very similar to schizophrenia, and often is confused for this diagnosis, the main difference lies in the presence or duration of psychotic episodes. People with schizotypal personality disorder may have brief, not very intense, and infrequent psychotic episodes, unlike in schizophrenia. Another key difference is that those with SPD can be made aware of their eccentricities, whereas it is very difficult to impossible to sway individuals with schizophrenia away from their delusions. 


Schizotypal Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by consistent avoidance of social interaction, a disinterest in others, and flat emotional affect. Very uncommon, it only affects less than 1% of the population. Though symptoms are similar to schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia, those with schizoid personality disorder have not lost touch with reality (no hallucinations or delusions), and their speech is coherent and rational. Also, these individuals are not anxious about their lack of social contact, unlike in schizotypal personality disorder. 

Schizoid Personality Disorder

As the name implies, this disorder is characterized by paranoia and distrust. It is also characterized by excessive sensitivity to failure, tendency to hold grudges, aggressive sense of complacency, excessive self-restraint, and the belief of conspiracy theories. Individuals with this diagnosis cannot have their cognition explained by delusional disorder or schizophrenia. PPD is not psychosis, as the patient has not lost touch with reality. 

Paranoid Personality Disorder

As the name implies, this disorder involves having a grandiose sense of self-importance. In addition to having an egocentric world view, associated symptoms include a hankering for attention, troubled relationships, and lacking empathy for others. However, often, those with this disorder truly have a low and fragile self-esteem, using their narcissism as a coping mechanism. Criticism is not handled well, and most problems are projected to being the faults of others to avoid damage to this ego. 

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Characterized by extreme attention-seeking behavior, individuals with this disorder have a distorted self-image that requires the approval of others. Often these individuals will act in bizarre or promiscuous ways to get the attention they crave. Symptoms include excessive concern over personal appearance, discomfort unless the center of attention, easily influenced by others, act rashly, have difficulty maintaining relationships, and self-absorption. 

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Characterized by a dependency on others and anxiety experienced when alone. Individuals with this disorder have an excessive need to be cared for, often seen as clingy and needy, and cannot function without others. An anxious disorder, some of the symptoms include submissive behavior, fearing rejection and abandonment, desiring constant reassurance and contact from others, and having a strong sensitivity to criticism and rejection. 

Dependent Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is primarily defined by a pervasive pattern of instability across interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood, combined with significant impulsivity. Individuals with this disorder often experience intense emotions and may engage in frantic behaviors to manage their profound fear of abandonment.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Otherwise known as Cluster C personality disorder, this disorder is characterized by extreme shyness, socially inhibited behavior, feelings of inadequacy, and fear of rejection and criticism. To avoid rejection, a pattern of avoidance is displayed, resulting in social isolation. Often, this disorder coincides with social anxiety disorder. Some symptoms include anhedonia (lack of enjoyment in activities), social anxiety, avoiding social situations (like conflict and relationships), feelings of inadequacy, and constant fear of disapproval.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Marked by the consistent lack of regard for the rights of others and social norms. Often, people with this disorder can be deceitful and lacking remorse. Modern diagnoses consider this disorder to be related to psychopathy and sociopathy. To be diagnosed with ASPD, someone must be older than 18. 
- Sociopathy
- Psychopathy

Antisocial Personality Disorder

- paranoid personality disorder
- schizoid personality disorder
- schizotypal personality disorder
- antisocial personality disorder
- borderline personality disorder
- histrionic personality disorder
- narcissistic personality disorder
- avoidant personality disorder
- dependent personality disorder
- obsessive–compulsive personality disorder
-dissociative identity disorder

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New York University

A personality disorder is defined by a pervasive and inflexible personality style that significantly deviates from cultural norms, causing problems for the individual and for others. This pattern typically emerges during adolescence or early adulthood and leads to significant distress or functional impairment.

Personality Disorders

A personality disorder is a long-term deviation in behavior, thoughts, and feelings from the cultural norm and expectancies. Without treatment, a personality disorder causes distress to the individual and creates problems in functioning. 

Personality disorders

Robitz, R. (2018, November). What are Personality Disorders? What Are Personality Disorders? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/personality-disorders/what-are-personality-disorders. 

What are Personality Disorders? General summary

Funder, D. C. (2019). The personality puzzle. New York, NY: W. W. Norton &amp; Company.

The Personality Puzzle

Specific Personality Disorders

The DSM-5 outlines 3 steps for clinical psychologists to make accurate diagnoses. This new model emphasizes the description of the psychological difficulty and the degree of the associated problems. 

Diagnosing Personality Disorders

The newest section of the DSM-5 outlines 6 main personality disorders (schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, avoidant, and obsessive–compulsive personality disorder) that come from the 10 disorders (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent and obsessive–compulsive personality disorder) described in the traditional section.

Main Personality Disorders

“Dark personalities” refer to a set of socially aversive traits in the subclinical range. People with dark personalities don't meet enough of the criteria to be diagnosed with any of the disorders in a clinical setting and are able to flourish in everyday work settings, scholastic settings, and the broader community.


Dark Personalities

Citations for personality disorder sources 

References: Personality Disorders

A comprehensive understanding of personality disorders requires achieving several key learning objectives. These include explaining the essential nature of these disorders and how they differ from other psychological conditions, identifying and contrasting the three distinct clusters of personality disorders, and recognizing the primary features and etiological factors associated with both borderline and antisocial personality disorders.

Learning Objectives for Personality Disorders

The enduring and maladaptive personality styles associated with personality disorders are deeply troubling and problematic for both the individuals and those around them. These styles often lead to interpersonal conflicts, hinder the formation and maintenance of social relationships, and obstruct the achievement of personal life goals.

Consequences of Maladaptive Personality Styles in Personality Disorders

The DSM-5 organizes the 10 recognized personality disorders into three distinct clusters based on shared traits. Cluster A is characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors; Cluster B by impulsive, dramatic, emotional, and erratic behaviors; and Cluster C by nervous and fearful behaviors.

Personality Disorder Clusters in the DSM-5

Based on 2007 research, it is estimated that slightly more than 9% of the United States population is affected by a personality disorder.

Prevalence of Personality Disorders in the U.S.

Within the field of psychology, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder are widely regarded as being particularly challenging and problematic.

Especially Problematic Personality Disorders

The DSM-5 offers an alternative framework for conceptualizing personality disorders, which is derived from the Five Factor Model of personality. This model assesses personality functioning by evaluating impairments in two primary domains: self-functioning (which includes identity and self-direction) and interpersonal functioning (which includes empathy and intimacy).

Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders

A clinician is evaluating several clients. Which of the following descriptions provides the strongest evidence for a potential personality disorder, based on the fundamental definition of this category of disorders?

The DSM-5 is the most recent edition of the DSM. It contains descriptions of each of the major personality disorders and aids in diagnosis disorders. The DSM-5 organizes personality disorders in terms of the maladaptive five traits that go along side the Big 5 personality traits. 

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