Can I be upset from. Mixed personality disorder: symptoms, types and treatment

Personality disorder- This is a kind of pathology of mental activity. This disorder is a personality type or a behavioral tendency consisting in significant discomfort and deviations from the norms established in this cultural and social environment. Personality disorder is considered a severe pathology of behavioral tendencies or characterological constitution of an individual, usually involving multiple personality structures. It is almost always accompanied by social and personal disintegration. Usually, this deviation occurs in the older childhood stage, as well as in puberty. Its manifestations are also noted in the mature period. The diagnosis of personality disorder is not made in the presence of isolated social abnormalities without the presence of personality dysfunction.

Causes of Personality Disorders

Severe pathology of the patterns of perception of individuals and their response to various conditions that render the subject incapable of social adjustment is a disorder of personality disorder. This ailment can manifest itself spontaneously or be a sign of other mental disorders.

Describing the causes of the occurrence of personality pathologies, first of all, it is necessary to focus on functional deviations on the main spheres of personality: mental activity, perception, relations with the environment, emotions.

As a rule, personality defects are congenital and persist throughout life. In addition, the described disorder may begin in puberty or later. In the case of this kind of ailment, it can be triggered by the transfer of a strong stress effect, other abnormalities in mental processes, and diseases of the brain.

Also, a personality disorder can arise as a result of a child suffering violence, intimate abuse, neglect of his interests and feelings, living crumbs in the conditions of parents' alcoholism and their indifference.

Numerous experiments indicate that personality disorder in mild manifestations is observed in ten percent of adults. In forty percent of patients in psychiatric institutions, this deviation manifests itself either as an independent disease, or as a component of another pathology of the psyche. Today, the reasons provoking the development of personality deviations are not fully understood.

Also, numerous scientific studies demonstrate that the male part of the population is more susceptible to personality pathology. In addition, this ailment is more common among disadvantaged families and low-income segments of the population. Personality disorder is a risk factor for committing a suicidal attempt, deliberate self-harm, drug or alcohol dependence, in some cases, provokes the progression of specific mental pathologies, such as depressive states, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Despite the fact that manifestations and impulsivity diminish with age, the inability to build and maintain close contacts is more resilient.

The diagnosis of personality disorders is particularly specific for two reasons. The first reason is the need to find out the period of onset of the disorder, that is, whether it arose at an early stage of formation or persisted at an older age. To find out this is possible only when communicating with a close relative of the patient who knows him from birth. Communication with a relative makes it possible to draw up a complete picture of the nature and model of the relationship.

The second reason is the complexity of assessing the factors that provoke a violation of the adaptation of the personality and the severity of deviations from the norm in the behavioral response. It is also often difficult to draw a clear line between norm and deviation.

Usually, the diagnosis of personality disorder is made when an individual's behavioral response is marked by a significant discrepancy with his socio-cultural level, or it causes tangible suffering to the environment and the patient himself, and also complicates his social and work activities.

Symptoms of personality disorders

People with personality disorders are often characterized by inadequate attitudes towards the problems that arise. That provokes difficulties in building harmonious relationships with relatives and significant environment. Usually, the first signs of a personality disorder are found during puberty or early adulthood. Such deviations are classified according to their severity and severity. Mild severity is usually diagnosed.

Signs of personality disorder are manifested, in the first turn, in the attitude of the individual to those around him. Patients do not notice inadequacy in their own behavioral response as well as in their thoughts. As a result, they rarely independently seek professional and psychological help.

Personal disorders are characterized by the stability of the course, involvement in the structure of the behavior of emotions, personality characteristics of thinking. Most individuals suffering from personality pathologies are dissatisfied with their own being, have problems in social situations and in communicative interaction at work. In addition, many individuals have a mood disorder, increased anxiety, and an eating disorder.

Among the main symptoms are:

• having negative feelings, such as feeling unhappy, anxious, unnecessary, or angry;
• difficulty or inability to manage negative feelings;
• avoidance of people and feeling of emptiness (patients are emotionally disconnected);
• frequent confrontation with the environment, threats of reprisals or insults (often escalating to assault);
• difficulty in maintaining stable relationships with relatives, especially children and marriage partners;
• periods of loss of contact with reality.

The listed symptoms can worsen with stress, for example, as a result of stress, various experiences, menstruation.

People with a personality disorder often have other mental health problems, most often they have depressive symptoms, abuse of psychoactive drugs, alcoholic beverages or drugs. Most personality disorders are of a genetic nature, manifested as a result of the influence of upbringing.

The formation of the disorder and its growth from an early age period is manifested in the following order. Initially, a reaction is observed as the first manifestation of personal disharmony, then development occurs when the personality disorder is clearly expressed in interaction with the environment. Then comes the disease, personality disorder, which is decompensated or compensated. Personal pathologies usually become pronounced at the age of sixteen.

They distinguish typical persistent personality deviations characteristic of persons deprived of their liberty for a long time, survivors of violence, deaf or deaf-mute. So, for example, deaf and dumb people are characterized by light delusional ideas, and persons in prison are characterized by explosiveness and basic distrust.

Personal anomalies in families tend to accumulate, which increases the risk of developing psychosis in the next generation. The social environment can contribute to the decompensation of implicit personality pathologies. After fifty-five years, under the influence of involutionary transformations and economic stress, personality anomalies are often brighter than in middle age. This age period is characterized by a specific "retirement syndrome", which is expressed in the loss of prospects, a decrease in the number of contacts, an increase in interest in one's health, an increase in anxiety and the appearance of a feeling of helplessness.

Among the most likely consequences of the described ailment are:

• the risk of developing dependence (for example, alcohol), inappropriate sexual behavior, suicidal attempts are possible;
• an abusive, emotional and irresponsible type of child upbringing, which provokes the development of mental disorders in children of a person suffering from a personality disorder;
• mental breakdowns occur due to stress;
• development of other mental disorders (for example,);
• the sick subject does not accept responsibility for his own behavior;
• distrust is formed.

One of the pathologies of the psyche is multiple personality disorder, which is the presence in one individual of at least two personalities (ego states). At the same time, the person himself is not aware of the simultaneous existence of several personalities in him. Under the influence of circumstances, one ego state is replaced by another.

The causes of this ailment are serious emotional trauma that occurred to the individual in early childhood, constantly repeated sexual, physical or emotional abuse. Multiple personality disorder is an extreme manifestation of psychological defense (dissociation), in which the individual begins to perceive the situation as if from the outside. The described defense mechanism allows a person to protect himself from excessive, unbearable emotions. However, with excessive activation of this mechanism, dissociative disorders arise.

With this pathology, depressive states are observed, suicidal attempts are not uncommon. The patient is prone to frequent sudden changes in mood, anxiety. Also, he may experience various phobias and, sleep and eating disorders, less often.

Multiple personality disorder is characterized by a close association with psychogenic, characterized by memory loss without the presence of physiological pathologies in the brain. This amnesia is a kind of defense mechanism by which a person acquires the ability to repress a traumatic memory from his own consciousness. In the case of multiple disorder, the described mechanism helps to "switch" ego states. Excessive activation of this mechanism often leads to the formation of general everyday problems with remembering in people with multiple personality disorder.

Types of personality disorders

According to the classification described in the International Manual on Mental Disorders, personality disorders are divided into three fundamental categories (clusters):

• Cluster "A" - these are eccentric pathologies, they include schizoid, paranoid, schizotypal disorder;
• Cluster B is an emotional, theatrical or hesitant disorder, which includes borderline, hysterical, narcissistic, antisocial disorder;
• Cluster C is anxiety and panic disorder: obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictive and avoidant personality disorder.

The described types of personality disorders differ in etiology and mode of expression. There are several types of classifications of personal pathologies. Regardless of the classification used, various personality pathologies can simultaneously be present in one individual, but with certain limitations. In this case, the most pronounced is usually diagnosed. The types of personality disorders are detailed below.

The schizoid type of personal pathology is characterized by the desire to avoid emotionally vivid contacts with the help of excessive theorizing, flight into fantasy, and isolation. Also, schizoid individuals often tend to disregard prevailing social norms. Such individuals do not need love, they do not need tenderness, do not express great joy, strong anger, or other emotions, which alienates the surrounding society from them and makes close relationships impossible. Nothing can provoke increased interest in them. Such individuals prefer a secluded activity. They have a poor response to criticism as well as to praise.

Paranoid personality pathology consists in increased sensitivity to frustrating factors, suspicion, expressed in constant dissatisfaction with society, rancor. Such people tend to attribute everything to their own account. With a paranoid type of personal pathology, the subject is characterized by an increased distrust of the surrounding society. He invariably thinks that everyone is deceiving him, building conspiracies against him. He tries to find a hidden meaning or threat to himself in any of the simplest statements and actions of others. Such a person does not forgive insults, is spiteful and aggressive. But she is able to temporarily not show her emotions until the right moment, so that she could then take revenge very cruelly.

Schizotypal disorder is a deviation that does not correspond to the diagnosis of schizophrenia in terms of diagnostic signs: either all the necessary symptoms are absent, or they are weakly manifested, erased. People with the described type of deviation are distinguished by abnormalities of mental activity and emotional sphere, eccentric behavior. With a schizotypal disorder, the following signs may be noted: inadequate affect, detachment, eccentric behavior or appearance, poor interaction with the environment with a tendency to alienate from people, strange beliefs that change behavior to incompatible with cultural norms, paranoid ideas, obsessive thoughts, etc.

With an antisocial type of personality deviation, the individual is characterized by ignorance of the norms established in the social environment, aggressiveness, and impulsiveness. In sick people, the ability to form attachment is extremely limited. They are rude and irritable, very conflicted, do not take into account the moral and ethical norms and rules of public order. These individuals always blame the surrounding society for all their own failures, constantly find an explanation for their actions. They do not have the ability to learn from personal mistakes, are unable to plan, are characterized by deceit and high aggressiveness.

Borderline personality disorder is a disorder that includes low, impulsivity, emotional instability, unstable connection with reality, increased anxiety, and severe degree. Self-injurious or suicidal behavior is considered a significant symptom of the described deviation. The percentage of fatal suicide attempts in this pathology is about twenty-eight percent.

A common symptom of this violation is a lot of low-risk attempts due to minor circumstances (incidents). Predominantly, interpersonal relationships are the trigger for suicide attempts.

Differential diagnosis of this type of personality disorder can be difficult because the clinical picture is similar to bipolar II disorder due to the fact that bipolar disorder of this type does not have easily detectable psychotic signs of mania.

Hysterical personality disorder is characterized by an endless need to gain attention, an overestimation of the importance of gender, erratic, theatrical behavior. It manifests itself in very high emotionality and demonstrative behavior. Often the actions of such a person are inappropriate and ridiculous. At the same time, she always strives to be the best, but all her emotions and views are superficial, as a result of which she cannot draw attention to her own person for a long time. People suffering from this type of ailment are prone to theatrical gestures, are susceptible to someone else's influence and are easily suggested. They need an auditorium when they do something.

The narcissistic type of personality anomaly is characterized by a belief in personal uniqueness, superiority over the environment, special position, and talent. Such personalities are characterized by overestimated self-esteem, absorption in illusions about their own successes, the expectation of an exceptionally good attitude and unconditional obedience from others, and the inability to express sympathy. They invariably try to control public opinion about themselves. Patients, often, devalue almost everything that surrounds them, while everything with which they associate their own person, they idealize.

Avoidant (anxious) personality disorder is characterized by a person's constant aspiration for social isolation, a feeling of inferiority, increased sensitivity to negative assessment by others and evasion from social interaction. Individuals with this personality disorder often think they cannot communicate or that their persona is not attractive. Because of being ridiculed, rejected, patients avoid social interaction. As a rule, they present themselves as individualists, alienated from society, which makes social adaptation impossible.

Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an increased feeling of helplessness, lack of vitality due to lack of independence, incompetence. Such people constantly feel the need for the support of other people, they seek to shift the solution of important issues of their own lives onto other people's shoulders.

Obsessive-compulsive personality pathology is characterized by an increased tendency towards caution and doubt, excessive perfectionism, preoccupation with details, stubbornness, periodically appearing or compulsions. Such people want everything around them to happen according to the rules they have established. In addition, they are unable to do any work, since the constant delving into details and bringing them to perfection simply does not allow them to complete what they started. Patients are deprived of interpersonal relationships, since there is no time for them. In addition, loved ones do not meet their exaggerated requirements.

Personality disorders can be classified not only by cluster or criteria, but also by their impact on social functioning, severity and attribution.

Treatment of personality disorders

The treatment of personality disorders is an individual process and is often very lengthy. As a rule, the typology of the disease, its diagnosis, habits, behavioral response, and attitude to various situations are taken as a basis. In addition, clinical symptomatology, personality psychology, and the patient's desire to make contact with a medical professional are of a certain importance. It is often quite difficult for dissocial personalities to contact the therapist.

All personality deviations are extremely difficult to correct, therefore, the doctor must have the proper experience, knowledge and understanding of emotional sensitivity. Treatment of personality pathologies should be comprehensive. Therefore, psychotherapy for personality disorders is practiced in close connection with drug treatment. The primary task of the healthcare professional is to alleviate the depressive clinic and bring down. With this, drug therapy does an excellent job. In addition, reducing exposure to external stress can also quickly relieve symptoms and anxiety.

Thus, in order to reduce the level of anxiety, relieve depressive symptoms and other concomitant symptoms, drug treatment is prescribed. In depressive conditions and high impulsivity, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is practiced. Outbursts of anger and impulsivity are corrected by anticonvulsants.

In addition, the patient's family environment is an important factor affecting the effectiveness of treatment. Because it can either aggravate the symptoms, or reduce the "bad" behavior of the patient and his thoughts. Often, family intervention in the treatment process is key to achieving the result.

Practice shows that psychotherapy helps patients with personality disorder most effectively, since drug treatment does not have the ability to affect character traits.

For an individual to realize his own wrong beliefs, features of maladaptive behavior, as a rule, repeated confrontation is necessary in long-term psychotherapy.

Maladaptive behavior, manifested in recklessness, emotional outbursts, lack of confidence, social isolation, can change over many months. Participation in group self-help methods helps in changing inappropriate behavioral responses. Behavioral changes are especially significant for those with borderline, avoidant, or antisocial personality pathologies.

Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes for personality disorder. Individuals with a history of personality pathology, as a rule, do not look at the problem from the standpoint of their own behavioral response, they tend to pay attention exclusively to the results of inappropriate thoughts and the consequences of behavior. Therefore, the psychotherapist must constantly emphasize the undesirable consequences of their mental activity and behavior. Often, the therapist may impose restrictions on behavioral responses (for example, he may say that you should not raise your voice in moments of anger). That is why the participation of relatives is important, since with such prohibitions they can help reduce the severity of inappropriate behavior. Psychotherapy aims to help subjects understand their own actions and behavior, leading to interpersonal problems. For example, a psychotherapist helps to realize addiction, arrogance, excessive distrust of the environment, suspicion and manipulativeness.

In modifying socially unacceptable behavior (eg, lack of confidence, social withdrawal, anger), group therapy for personality disorders and behavior correction is sometimes effective. Positive results can be achieved after several months.

Dialectical behavioral therapy is considered effective in borderline personality disorder. It consists of conducting weekly sessions of individual psychotherapy, sometimes in combination with group psychotherapy. In addition, telephone consultations between sessions are considered mandatory. Dialectical behavioral psychotherapy is designed to teach subjects to understand their own behavior, prepare them to make independent decisions and increase adaptability.

For subjects suffering from pronounced personality pathologies, manifested in inadequate beliefs, attitudes and expectations (for example, obsessive-compulsive syndrome), the classic is recommended. Therapy can last for at least three years.

Solving interpersonal problems usually takes more than one year. The foundation of effective transformations in interpersonal relationships is individual psychotherapy, aimed at the patient's awareness of the sources of his troubles in interaction with society.

Content

Personality traits become apparent after late adolescence and either remain unchanged throughout life, or change slightly or fade away with age. The diagnosis of personality disorder (ICD-10 code) is several types of mental pathologies. This ailment affects all spheres of a person's life, the symptoms of which lead to severe distress and disruption of the normal functioning of all systems and organs.

What is personality disorder

Pathology is characterized by a person's behavioral tendency, which differs significantly from the accepted cultural norms in society. A patient suffering from this mental illness has social disintegration and severe discomfort when communicating with other people. As practice shows, specific signs of personality disorder occur in adolescence, therefore, an accurate diagnosis can be made only at 15-16 years old. Prior to this, mental abnormalities are associated with physiological changes in the human body.

Causes

Mental personality disorders arise for various reasons - from genetic predispositions and birth trauma to the experience of violence in different life situations. Often, the disease occurs against the background of the child's neglect by the parents, intimate abuse or the baby's living in an alcoholic family. Scientific research shows that men are more prone to pathology than women. Risk factors provoking the disease:

• suicidal tendencies;
• alcohol or drug addiction;
• depressive conditions;
• obsessive compulsive disorder;
• schizophrenia.

Symptoms

People with personality disorder are characterized by antisocial or inappropriate attitudes towards all problems. This provokes difficulties in relationships with people around. Patients do not notice their inadequacy in behavioral patterns and thoughts, so they rarely turn to professionals for help on their own. Most individuals with personality pathologies are unhappy with their lives, suffer from constant heightened anxiety, bad mood, and eating disorders. The main symptoms of the disease include:

• periods of loss of reality
• difficulty in relationships with marriage partners, children and / or parents;
• feeling empty;
• avoiding social contact
• inability to deal with negative emotions;
• the presence of such feelings as uselessness, anxiety, resentment, anger.

Classification

To diagnose a personal disorder according to one of the ICD-10, the pathology must satisfy three or more of the following criteria:

• the disorder is accompanied by a deterioration in professional productivity;
• mental states lead to personal distress;
• abnormal behavior is pervasive;
• the chronic nature of stress is not limited to episodes;
• noticeable disharmony in behavior and personal positions.

The disease is also classified according to DSM-IV and DSM-5, grouping the entire disorder into 3 clusters:

1. Cluster A (eccentric or unusual disorders). They are divided into schizotypic (301.22), schizoid (301.20), paranoid (301.0).
2. Cluster B (fluctuating, emotional or theatrical disorders). They are divided into antisocial (301.7), narcissistic (301.81), hysterical (201.50), borderline (301.83), unspecified (60.9), disinhibited (60.5).
3. Cluster C (panic and anxiety disorders). They are dependent (301.6), obsessive-compulsive (301.4), avoidant (301.82).

In Russia, before the adoption of the ICD classification, there was an orientation of personality psychopathies according to P. B. Gannushkin. The system of the famous Russian psychiatrist, developed by the doctor at the beginning of the 20th century, was used. The classification includes several types of pathologies:

• unstable (weak-willed);
• affective;
• hysterical;
• excitable;
• paranoid;
• schizoid;
• psychasthenic;
• asthenic.

Types of personality disorder

The prevalence of the disease reaches up to 23% of all mental disorders in the human population. Personality pathology has several types, which are different in terms of the causes and symptoms of the manifestation of the disease, the method of intensity and classification. Different forms of the disorder require an individual approach in treatment, therefore, the diagnosis should be treated with special care in order to avoid dangerous consequences.

Transient

This personality disorder is a partial disorder that occurs after severe stress or emotional distress. Pathology does not lead to a chronic manifestation of the disease and is not a serious mental illness. The transistor disorder can last from 1 month to 1 day. Prolonged stress is provoked in the following life situations:

• regular overstrain due to conflicts at work, nervous situation in the family;
• tiring journey;
• passing the divorce proceedings;
• forced parting with loved ones;
• being in prison;
• domestic violence.

Associative

It is characterized by a fast course of associative processes. The patient's thoughts are so quickly replaced by a friend that he does not have time to pronounce them. Associative disorder manifests itself in the fact that the patient's thinking becomes superficial, the patient is inclined to switch attention every second, so it is very difficult to grasp the meaning of his speech. The pathological picture of the disease is also manifested in the slowing down of thinking, when it is very difficult for the patient to switch to another topic, it is impossible to single out the main idea.

Cognitive

This is a violation in the cognitive sphere of life. In psychiatry, such an important symptom of cognitive personality disorder is indicated as a decrease in the quality of brain performance. With the help of the central part of the nervous system, a person understands, interconnects and interacts with the world around him. The causes of cognitive impairment of personality can be many pathologies that differ in the condition and mechanism of occurrence. Among them, a decrease in brain mass or atrophy of an organ, an insufficiency of its blood circulation, and others. The main symptoms of the disease:

• memory impairment;
• Difficulty expressing thoughts
• deterioration in concentration;
• difficulty in counting.

Destructive

Translated from Latin, the word "destructiveness" means the destruction of the structure. The psychological term destructive disorder refers to the negative attitude of the individual towards external and internal objects. The personality blocks the outlet of fruitful energy due to failures in self-realization, remaining unhappy even after reaching the goal. Examples of destructive behavior of a metapsychopath:

• destruction of the natural environment (ecocide, environmental terrorism);
• damage to works of art, monuments, valuable items (vandalism);
• undermining public relations, society (terrorist attacks, military operations);
• purposeful decomposition of the personality of another person;
• destruction (murder) of another person.

Mixed

This type of personality disorder has been the least studied by scientists. The patient has one or another type of psychological disorder that is not persistent. For this reason, mixed personality disorder is also called mosaic psychopathy. The patient's character instability appears due to the development of certain types of addiction: gambling, drug addiction, alcoholism. Psychopathic personalities often combine paranoid and schizoid symptoms. Patients suffer from increased suspicion, prone to threats, scandals, complaints.

Infantile

Unlike other types of psychopathy, infantile disorder is characterized by social immaturity. A person cannot withstand stress, does not know how to relieve stress. In difficult situations, the individual does not control emotions, behaves like a child. Infantile disorders first appear during adolescence and progress as they get older. The patient, even with age, does not learn to control fear, aggression, anxiety, therefore they are denied group work, they are not hired for military service or the police.

Histrionic

Dissocial behavior in histrionic disorder is manifested in the search for attention and increased excess emotionality. Patients constantly demand from the environment confirmation of the correctness of their qualities, actions, approval. This manifests itself in a louder conversation, a strong ringing laughter, an inadequate reaction in order to concentrate the attention of others on oneself at any cost. Men and women with histrionic personality disorder are inadequately sexual in dress and with eccentric passive-aggressive behavior, which is a challenge for society.

Psychoneurotic

The difference between psychoneurosis is that the patient does not lose contact with reality, fully aware of his problem. Psychiatrists distinguish three types of psychoneurotic disorders: phobia, obsessive compulsions, and conversion hysteria. Great mental or physical stress can provoke psychoneurosis. This stress is often faced by first graders. In adults, neuropsychiatric shocks cause such life situations:

• marriage or divorce;
• change of job or dismissal;
• death of a loved one;
• career failures;
• lack of money and others.

Diagnosis of personality disorder

The main criteria for the differential diagnosis of personality disorder are poor subjective well-being, loss of social adaptation and performance, disorders in other areas of life. For the correct diagnosis, it is important for the doctor to determine the stability of the pathology, take into account the cultural characteristics of the patient, and compare with other types of mental deviations. Basic diagnostic tools:

• checklists;
• self-assessment questionnaires;
• structured and standardized patient interviews.

Personality Disorder Treatment

Depending on the attribution, comorbidity and severity of the disease, treatment is prescribed. Medication therapy includes the use of serotonin antidepressants (Paroxetine), atypical antipsychotics (Olanzapine), and lithium salts. Psychotherapy is carried out in an attempt to change behavior, to make up for gaps in upbringing, to search for motivation.

Video: personality disorders

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can diagnose and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

This disorder was a big talk a few years ago when bipolar disorder was diagnosed. Catherine Zeta Jones on living with bipolar disorder at Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Millions of people suffer from this, and I am only one of them. I say this out loud so that people know that there is nothing shameful in seeking professional help in such a situation.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress

Largely thanks to the courage of the black-haired Hollywood diva, other celebrities began to admit that they experienced this psychosis: Mariah Carey Mariah Carey: My Battle with Bipolar Disorder, Mel Gibson, Ted Turner ... Doctors suggest Celebrities With Bipolar Disorder bipolar disorder and already deceased famous people: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe ...

The list of names familiar to all is needed only in order to show that psychosis is very close to you. And perhaps even you.

What is bipolar disorder

At first glance, that's okay. Just mood swings. For example, in the morning you want to sing and dance for the joy that you are living. In the middle of the day, you suddenly find yourself lashing out at colleagues who are distracting you from something important. In the evening, a heavy depression rolls over you, when you can't even raise your hand ... Does it sound familiar?

The line between mood swings and manic-depressive psychosis (this is the second name of this disease) is thin. But it is there.

The perception of those with bipolar disorder is constantly jumping between the two poles. From an extreme maximum (“What a thrill it is just to live and do something!”) To an equally extreme minimum (“Everything is bad, we will all die. So, maybe there is nothing to wait, it's time to lay hands on ourselves ?!”). The highs are called periods of mania. Lows are in periods.

A person realizes how stormy he is and how often these storms have no reason, but he cannot do anything with himself.

Manic-depressive psychosis is exhausting, worsens relations with others, sharply reduces the quality of life and, as a result, can lead to suicide.

Where does bipolar disorder come from?

Mood swings are familiar to many and are not considered to be anything out of the ordinary. Therefore, bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose. Nevertheless, scientists are coping with this more and more successfully. In 2005, for example, it was established Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of Twelve-month DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) that manic-depressive psychosis in one form or another affects about 5 million Americans.

Bipolar disorder is more common in women than in men. Why is not known.

However, despite the large statistical sample, the exact causes of bipolar disorders have not yet been clarified. It is only known that:

1. Manic-depressive psychosis can occur at any age. Although it appears most often in late adolescence and early adulthood.
2. It can be caused by genetics. If one of your ancestors suffered from this disease, there is a risk that it will knock on you too.
3. The disorder is related to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Mainly - .
4. The trigger is sometimes severe stress or trauma.

How to recognize early symptoms of bipolar disorder

To capture unhealthy mood swings, you first need to find out if you are experiencing emotional extremes - mania and depression.

7 key signs of mania

1. You experience uplifting and a feeling of happiness for long (several hours or more) periods.
2. You have a reduced need for sleep.
3. Your speech is fast. And so much so that those around you do not always understand, and you do not have time to formulate your thoughts. As a result, it is easier for you to communicate in instant messengers or through emails than to talk to people in person.
4. You are an impulsive person: first you act, then you think.
5. You easily and jump from one case to another. Because of this, bottom line productivity often suffers.
6. You are confident in your abilities. It seems to you that you are faster and smarter than most people around you.
7. It is not uncommon for you to exhibit risky behavior. For example, you agree to have sex with a stranger, buy what you can't afford, or participate in spontaneous street races at traffic lights.

7 key signs of depression

1. You often experience prolonged (several hours or more) periods of unmotivated sadness and hopelessness.
2. You withdraw into yourself. It is difficult for you to get out of your own shell. Therefore, you limit contacts even with family and friends.
3. You have lost interest in those things that previously really clung to you, and have not gained anything new in return.
4. Your appetite has changed: it has sharply decreased or, on the contrary, you no longer control how much and what exactly you eat.
5. You regularly feel tired and lack of energy. And such periods continue for quite a long time.
6. You have problems with memory, concentration and decision making.
7. You sometimes think about. Catch yourself thinking that life has lost its taste for you.

Manic-depressive psychosis is when you recognize yourself in almost all of the situations described above. At some point in your life, you clearly show signs of mania, at another time you have symptoms of depression.

However, sometimes it happens that the symptoms of mania and depression manifest themselves simultaneously and you cannot understand what phase you are in. This condition is called mixed mood and is also one of the hallmarks of bipolar disorder.

What is bipolar disorder?

Depending on which episodes occur more often (manic or depressive) and how pronounced they are, bipolar disorder is divided into several types. Types of Bipolar Disorder.

1. Disorder of the first type. It is severe, and the alternating periods of mania and depression are strong and deep.
2. Disorder of the second type. Mania manifests itself not too brightly, but depression covers the same globally, as in the case of the first type. By the way, this is what Catherine Zeta-Jones was diagnosed with. In the case of the actress, the trigger for the development of the disease was throat cancer, which her husband, Michael Douglas, had long fought with.

Regardless of what type of manic-depressive psychosis we are talking about, the disease in any case requires treatment. And preferably faster.

What to do if you suspect you have bipolar disorder

Don't ignore your feelings. If you are familiar with 10 or more of the above signs, this is already a reason to see a doctor. Especially if from time to time you find yourself in a suicidal mood.

First, go to a therapist. The medic will suggest Diagnosis Guide for Bipolar Disorder you have to do several tests, including urinalysis and blood tests for thyroid hormone levels. Often, hormonal problems (in particular, developing, hypo- and hyperthyroidism) are similar to bipolar disorder. It is important to exclude them. Or treat if found.

The next step is to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist. You will need to answer questions about your lifestyle, mood swings, relationships with others, childhood memories, trauma, and family history of illnesses and drug incidents.

Based on the information received, the specialist will prescribe treatment. It can be either or taking medication.

Let's finish with the phrase of the same Catherine Zeta-Jones: “There is no need to endure. Bipolar disorder can be controlled. And it's not as difficult as it seems. "

Every fifteenth inhabitant of our planet suffers from a personality disorder. Moreover, he himself hardly perceives his condition as a disease that requires referral to specialists. He will justify all his actions and consider his behavior as normal. Treatment denies, and the consequences are unpredictable.

Personality disorder: adjustment difficulties

Personality disorder is a disataptive behavior pattern associated with a persistent mental disorder that is not associated with a physical or neurological illness. This pathology is difficult to correct, since the patient does not believe that he needs treatment. There is a lack of motivation, which is a catalyst for positive changes. The individual himself does not seek to get rid of the disorder and does not make good contact with psychotherapists.

Late referral to specialists leads to the fact that the patient gets an appointment with a psychiatrist already in the stage of deep neglect of the disease. It can be difficult to relieve symptoms and cure.

The first signs of the disease are actively manifested in adolescence. Before this period, individual episodes are possible, but only after the period of puberty can we talk about the problem. Individuals with cognitive personality disorder do not understand why others talk about any of their problems. After all, they believe that behavior and deeds are normal.

People with personality disorders are poorly perceived in society. They often have difficulties in personal communication. But at the same time, patients do not feel the pangs of remorse and do not have sympathy for others. After a certain time, their relationship with the world is built not according to the principle of personal adaptation to society, but according to the scheme, the code of the society is forced to accept or not to accept a problem person. Lack of motivation and desire to be treated exacerbates the problem, since not every doctor can find an approach to such a patient, relieve exacerbation symptoms and help get rid of the problem.

Specific personality disorders

In Soviet times, overly emotional individuals were often called psychopaths. This characteristic and classification was not inherent in Western psychiatry. Psychopathy is a serious behavioral disorder in which, against the background of underdevelopment of a number of personality traits, one clearly dominates. This includes a variety of deviations.

Types of personality disorders:

• Paranoid - the patient is dominated by overvalued ideas. He attributes special significance to his personality. But he is hostile to others, suspecting them of evil intentions. A person with pathology does not recognize its presence. When relatives or loved ones pay attention to a cognitive deviation and try to take them to a specialist, he will reassure that everything is fine with him and deny that there is a problem. Very sensitive to criticism.
• Schizoid - this diagnosis is characterized by introversion, isolation, a decrease in interest in life. The patient does not perceive the accepted norms of social behavior, often behaves eccentrically. Schizoid personality disorders are associated with a great passion for some kind of activity in which the individual succeeds. For example, he can be pathologically carried away by various health systems, to the extent that he can attract other people to his interests. Experts believe that in this way a certain asociality is replaced. Also, such patients may have problems with alcohol, drugs or other types of addiction.
• Dissocial - a characteristic feature of this personality disorder is the patient's cognitive behavior in order to get what he wants. With all this, such patients are able to win over people, including doctors. This type is especially pronounced in late adolescence.
• Hysterical - the main goal of such patients is to draw attention to their person in any way, including defiant behavior. The diagnosis is more typical for the female sex. Atypical moodiness, inconstancy of desires, extravagance, deceit are observed. In order to attract attention, the patient comes up with non-existent diseases, the symptoms of which can be given out by the autonomic system and which is difficult to remove.
• Obsessive-compulsive - patients with this type of personality disorder pathologically strive for order and perfection. They have no sense of humor, they try to be perfect in everything. When the set ideal goals are not achieved, they can fall into depressive states.
• Anxious - such a personality disorder is characterized by the cultivation of a personal inferiority complex. Patients are in a state of eternal anxiety and uncertainty. From childhood, such patients are shy and timid. Others are often suspected of dislike. Are prone to depression.
• Narcissistic - a deviation in which a person from childhood manifests narcissism, a desire to be constantly admired. Such a patient does not accept criticism: he reacts to it either with resentment or with aggression. Indifferent to the feelings of other people, inclined to exploit them to achieve their own goals.

Different forms of psychopathy require an individual approach to treatment. Personality disorders should not be confused with character accentuation. In the latter case, the person also has behavioral features, but they lie within the upper limit of the norm. Moreover, it is adapted to social conditions. Classification of classical psychopathies is inappropriate here. The diagnosis and types are different.

Causes of Personality and Behavioral Disorders

All specific personality disorders are usually divided into three clusters. Their classification:

• types of cluster A psychopathies: paranoid and schizoid;
• Cluster B psychopathies: hysterical, antisocial, narcissistic;
• types of cluster B psychopathies: obsessive-compulsive, depressive.

The causes of cluster A psychopathies are considered to be genetic-hereditary. The fact is that among the relatives of patients who have a personality disorder, as a rule, there is at least one with schizophrenia.

A hereditary predisposition to pathologies can also be traced in cluster B and C psychopathies. The first option can also be aggravated by alcohol problems: in families of people who drink, children often develop with impairments.

There is a version that cognitive specific personality disorders may be associated with hormonal disorders in the body. If a person has increased levels of testosterone, estrone and estradiol, the consequences of this are manifested in the form of aggression. In addition, he does not produce enough endorphins, which, in turn, leads to depressive disorders.

The social factor also plays an important role in the formation of the psychotype. For active children, space is important. If they are forced to grow up in a confined space, small-sized areas, this leads to the appearance of hyperactivity. Babies who are anxious at birth can become balanced when raised by emotionally stable parents. A calm mother can help a child to become confident, and an anxious one can increase his personal anxiety rather than relieve him.

Character traits become noticeable already in early childhood. In adolescence, they can already develop as a personality disorder. Cognitive impairment manifests itself in memory loss, increased fatigue. Pathologies of the nervous system are observed more often in persons of an asocial disposition of character.

Mixed personality disorder

This type of psychopathy has been studied less than others. The classification has no specific criteria. The patient exhibits forms of one or the other type of disorders that are not persistent. Therefore, this type of disorder is also called mosaic psychopathy. But it is also difficult for a person with a mixed type of disorder to get along in society due to the peculiarities of their behavior.

Character instability is often the basis that contributes to the development of different types of addiction. Mixed personality disorder can be accompanied by alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction.

Mosaic psychopathy can combine symptoms of the schizoid and paranoid types. Such people do not know how to build social contacts in society, they are obsessed with overvalued ideas. With the predominance of paranoid symptoms, patients suffer from increased suspicion. They are prone to scandals, threats, they like to write angry complaints about everyone and everything.

Specialists are alarmed if signs (classification) of several disorders coexist in one patient: schizoid, hysterical, asthenic, excitable. In this case, there is a high risk of developing schizophrenia.

Brain injuries or complications after a number of diseases can lead to mosaic types of pathology. This mixed personality disorder is considered acquired. If we consider the situation in detail, it will look like this: a person already has a congenital tendency to mosaic psychopathy, on which, due to certain circumstances, organic pathology is superimposed.

Mosaic disorder requires specific treatment only if symptoms worsen or if there is an organic build-up. Then a specialist can prescribe antipsychotics, tranquilizers, vitamins.

Infantile personality disorder

With this type of psychopathy, signs of social immaturity are pronounced. A person is not able to withstand stressful situations and relieve tension. In difficult circumstances, he does not control his emotions by analogy with how children do. Infantile personality disorders first became prominent in adolescence. Hormonal storms that occur at this time with a person cause changes in the psycho-emotional sphere. As you get older, the diagnosis can only progress. It is possible to finally talk about the presence of the disease only after reaching the age of 16-17. In stressful circumstances, the patient manifests himself as immature, poorly controlling aggression, anxiety, fear. Such a person is not hired for military service, he is denied employment in the security forces. Permits to carry weapons or obtain a driver's license are decided on a limited and strictly individual basis, according to an assessment of signs and condition.

Transient personality disorder

This diagnosis refers to borderline conditions, when the symptoms of deviation are difficult to attribute to any type of personality disorder. The main causes of psychopathy are prolonged stressful situations.


In the modern world, a person is surrounded by many unfavorable factors: troubles at work, hostilities, difficult family circumstances, financial failures, moving ... All this disrupts the usual way of life and unbalances. If such circumstances last too long, the human psyche does not always have a reserve to survive and overcome.

Transient personality disorder has its own characteristics:

• disorientation;
• hallucinations;
• rave;
• inhibition of verbal and motor functions.

Even one of the symptoms can already signal a disorder. This diagnosis is special in that the disease does not last too long: sometimes only a day, and sometimes a month. It suddenly arises and just goes away. Sometimes a person can go to bed with a disturbance, and get up in a normal emotional state with residual effects in the form of increased anxiety or sleep disturbances. With each new stress, a spontaneous return of pathology is possible.

Such a diagnosis does not pass without a trace. In the event that there are signs of delusion or hallucinations, such a person requires special treatment, because his condition can threaten the people around him. In the period between exacerbations, the patient experiences burnout, in which nerve cells are also destroyed. Therefore, even for preventive purposes, it is recommended to take vitamins and herbal remedies.

As examples from history show, partial transient personality disorder is not a harmless condition. Many of the famous serial killers and maniacs have had this diagnosis. They led a normal life, had families, jobs, but during the period of exacerbations they committed crimes. When Western experts studied the brains of executed criminals, they did not find significant changes in it. All parts of it corresponded to the norm of a healthy person. And only stressful conditions could lead to the appearance of signs of personality disorder, which entailed antisocial actions. Perhaps, if during the period when the first signs of the disease appeared, there would be a person nearby who noticed this and helped to consult a specialist, such consequences could be avoided. Finding himself one-on-one with continuous stressful situations, the psyche simply could not stand it. The mechanism of the development of the disease was started.

Treatment of personality disorders

When a person is diagnosed with psychopathy, they rarely agree with it. The peculiarity of this disease is precisely in the fact that the patient does not see problems in himself, but looks for them in others. Treatment in this case is always difficult. According to statistics, only one in five of them agrees to accept help.

Treatment of psychopathies is carried out individually. It includes sessions of psychotherapy and, if necessary, the use of drugs. In difficult cases, when the patient's antisocial behavior poses a threat to others, treatment can be carried out stationary.

The treatment of borderline conditions is controversial among specialists. Some believe that the patient needs help only during exacerbations, while others insist on constant support. In any case, psychopathic treatment continues for many years. If the patient is prone to impulsive actions that can threaten life and health, psychotropic drugs are used.

Etc.).

People with personality disorders often have other mental health problems, especially mental manifestations such as depression and substance abuse (alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse, etc.).

When and why personality disorders occur.

Personality disorders most often begin to manifest during adolescence and continue into adulthood.

Personality disorders can be mild, moderate, or severe, and can have periods of "remission" where they can be significantly reduced or absent at all.

Types of personality disorders.

Several different types of personality disorders are recognized. They can be grouped into one of three groups - A, B or C - which are listed below.

Cluster A personality disorders.

Person with Cluster A Personality Disorders - They tend to have difficulty communicating with others, and usually most people would find their behavior odd and eccentric. They can be described as living in a fantasy world of their own illusions.

An example is paranoid personality disorder, when a person becomes extremely distrustful and suspicious against the background of "good behavior".

Cluster B personality disorders.

A person with Cluster B personality disorders - tries to regulate their feelings and often fluctuates between the positive and negative opinions of others. This can lead to behaviors that are described as dramatic, unpredictable and disturbing.

A prime example is borderline personality disorder, when a person is emotionally unstable, there are impulses to self-harm, and intense, unstable relationships with others.

Cluster C personality disorders.

A person with Cluster C personality disorders - struggles with persistent and overwhelming feelings of anxiety and fear. Such people rarely exhibit patterns of behavior, most people with this class will have antisocial and withdrawn behavior.

An example is avoidant personality disorder, where a person is painfully shy, socially depressed, inadequate, and extremely sensitive. A person can and often wants to be a good family man, but he lacks the confidence to form a close relationship.

How many people have a personality disorder?

Personality disorders are common mental health problems.

It is estimated that about one in 20 people have a personality disorder. However, many people experience only subtle changes that often only appear during times of stress (such as bereavement). Other people with more serious problems will need the help of specialists for a long time.

Prognosis of the course of personality disorder.

Most people who are treated recover from a personality disorder over time.

Psychotherapeutic or medical treatments provide significant relief and can often be recommended even for people with mild personality disorder as just support. It depends on the severity of the disease, and on the presence of other current problems.
For some people with mild to moderate personality disorder, specific psychotherapy is indicated, which works great.

However, there is no single approach or any single psychotherapeutic techniques that could suit everyone, therefore, treatment should be selected taking into account the individual characteristics of personality development. It is very important that the treatment of personality disorders is carried out by a qualified psychotherapist.

Learn more about the treatment of personality disorders.

All people have their own special characters. People may have similar characters, but they will never be the same. Some personal characteristics are so different from the supposed norm and from the generally accepted rules of behavior that they cause irritation, misunderstanding and discomfort to others. Some character traits can cause problems, from which not only the originals themselves suffer, but also their close and distant environment.

Personality disorders are conditions that last a lifetime, decreasing or increasing in their manifestations, depending on the external environment and concomitant diseases. These temperamental disorders place unpredictable pressures on daily life when the need for skilled care is imperative. The task of the psychotherapist is to understand, understand and determine the way to compensate for a special personality and its adaptation. There are different ways: psychological and pedagogical, pharmacological and complex.

As already mentioned, personality disorder is a type of mental illness associated with problems of perception of situations, people, including oneself.

There are many specific types of personality disorders. These mental disorders, which are sometimes considered personality traits, are unhealthy ways of thinking and behaving, no matter what the situation, leading to significant problems and limitations in relationships, communication with others, work and school.

In most cases, a person is not able to understand that he has a personality disorder, because the way of thinking and behavior seems natural to him, and he most often blames others for certain problems that arise in the process of interpersonal contact.

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A patient

How can a teenager be told about the need to visit a psychiatrist? There are indications (F21). He is 17 years old, not a drug addict, a smart positive child.

Doctor