Personality Disorders Can Have Grave Consequences

Mental disabilities impact thinking, emotional state, and behavior, and affect psychological functioning.

- DR P.S. VENKATESH RAO

Physical disabilities are obvious to the person and others and often attract cooperation, kindness, and help. In contrast, mental disabilities, especially personality disorders, may not be obvious to themselves or others, and when noticed, attract scorn and avoidance. Mental disabilities are of three types: Intellectual disability (neurodevelopmental disorder), Learning disability, and Mental (psychiatric) disorder. Mental disorders may be personality, anxiety, mood, substance abuse, or psychotic disorder. Personality disorders involve disruptive thinking, behavior, mood, social interaction, and communication. Approximately 6% of the global population has a personality disorder.

Personality disorders are difficult to treat in psychiatry, as those afflicted don't seek treatment, as they don't accept that their behavior is problematic. Seniors and leaders with personality disorders can be a serious problem to others and can ruin families, institutions, and nations.

Types of Personality Disorders: There are 10 types of recognized personality disorders, grouped in three main clusters, each with a different symptom set. Cluster A includes Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal personality disorders. These individuals have unusual and eccentric thinking or behaviors and are "treatment-resisting."

The paranoid mistrust and suspect others of trying to demean, harm, or threaten them. The schizoid are detached, unemotional, and disinterested in interpersonal relationships. The schizotypal have superstitions, distorted views of reality, and unusual behaviors, limiting close relationships. Cluster B includes Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic personality disorders. They display intense, unstable emotions and impulsive, dramatic, and erratic behaviors, and are "treatment-ignorant".