What are the 10 Types of Personality Disorders?

A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder that affects how a person manages his feelings and behaviors and how he relates to situations and people.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-IV) lists 10 specific personality disorders: paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent and anankastic (obsessive-compulsive) personality disorder.

DSM-5 lists 10 specific personality disorders

What are the Most Common Types of Personality Disorders?

Personality Disorders

A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder characterized by long-term behavioral patterns and internal experiences that deviate from expectations of culture, cause distress or performance problems and persist over time.

A person with a personality disorder has a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving that makes him different from other people.

A personality disorder may affect at least two of these areas:

• Way of controlling one’s behavior
• Way of thinking about oneself and others
• Way of relating to other people
• Way of responding emotionally

Read here: Types of Personality and Objective Methods of Personality Assessment

Types of Personality Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) lists 10 specific personality disorders that are classified into three clusters (A, B, or C) based on descriptive similarities:

Cluster A (Odd, bizarre or eccentric disorders)

• Paranoid personality disorder
• Schizoid personality disorder
• Schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster B (Emotional, dramatic or erratic disorders)

• Antisocial personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder

Cluster C (anxious or fearful disorders)

• Avoidant personality disorder
• Dependent personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Personality disorder clusters (DSM-IV) 

10 Types of Personality Disorders

1. Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) refers to mental health conditions called eccentric personality disorders. 

People with PPD suffer from paranoid delusions, odd or unusual behaviors, social isolation, a pervasive, long-standing suspiciousness, sensitivity to criticism, an unrelenting mistrust of others, increased alertness and emotional rigidity.

Paranoid personality disorder usually appears in early adulthood and is more common in men than in women.

2. Schizoid Personality Disorder

A schizoid personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by a tendency toward a solitary or sheltered lifestyle, a lack of interest in social activities and social interaction with others,  a limited range of emotional expression, emotional coldness, secretiveness, detachment, and apathy.

Schizoid personality disorder usually begins in early adulthood.

3. Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) is one type of eccentric personality disorder characterized by thought disorder, paranoid ideation, unconventional beliefs, derealization, severe social anxiety, and transient psychosis.

People with schizotypal disorder typically suffer from persistent and excessive social anxiety, paranoid thoughts or doubts about others’ loyalty, eccentric or unusual beliefs or mannerisms, flat or limited emotional responses, beliefs in superpowers or superstitions and lack of close friends outside of the immediate family.

4. Antisocial Personality Disorder

 An antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by irresponsible, impulsive and aggressive and often criminal behavior. 

A person with ASPD has a long-term pattern of manipulating or violating the rights of others without any remorse and he can be witty, charming, and fun to be around -- but he does not care for other's feelings.

5. Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, a distorted sense of self, a long-term pattern of unstable relationships and difficulty managing emotions and behavior.

BPD affects the way a person thinks and feels about themselves and others, causing problems with functioning in everyday life.

6. Histrionic Personality Disorder

A histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a mental health disorder characterized by a pattern of constant attention-seeking and seductive behaviors, emotional overreaction and an excessive need for approval. 

A person with HPD acts in a very emotional and dramatic way that draws attention to himself.

HPD affects a person's way of thinking, perceiving, and relating to others and it usually begins in early adulthood.

7. Narcissistic personality disorder

A narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder in which a person has a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, a long-term pattern of exaggerated feelings of self-importance, troubled relationships and a lack of empathy and consideration for other people.

People with NPD can be cocky, egoistic, selfish, manipulative, patronizing and demanding, and often spend more time thinking about achieving power and success, or about their appearance.

The narcissistic behaviors typically begin in early adulthood and affect every area of the narcissist’s life: from family and love affairs to work and friendships.

8. Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of severe social anxiety, social discomfort, feelings of inadequacy and inferiority, avoidance of interpersonal contact, feelings of extreme social inhibition and extreme sensitivity to negative criticism and rejection.

People with AvPD often avoid social interaction for fear of being humiliated, ridiculed, rejected or disliked despite a strong desire for intimacy and they consider themselves to be shy or socially unfit or personally unappealing and they avoid getting involved with others unless they are sure they will be liked.

9. Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is an anxious personality disorder characterized by a pervasive psychological dependence on other people for comfort, reassurance, advice, and support.

People with DPD suffer from extreme passivity, avoidance of responsibilities, devastation or helplessness when relationships end, and severe submission and may develop symptoms of anxiety when they're not around others. 

A dependent personality disorder may begin in early adulthood and present in various contexts and circumstances and can be associated with inadequate functioning.

10. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), also known as an anankastic personality disorder, is a personality disorder characterized by extreme perfectionism, attention to details, a preoccupation with orderliness, and neatness, and mental and interpersonal control and a severe need to dominate and control over one's environment.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder interferes with interpersonal relationships, efficiency, flexibility, and openness to experience.

Read more:

1. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD)
2.  What is Schizophrenia? -Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Complications of Schizophrenia

3. What is Schizoaffective Disorder? -Difference between Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder