Personality disorders: behavioral characteristics. Mental illnesses: a complete list and description of diseases Nervous personality disorder

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Personality disorder is a type of pathology of mental activity. This disorder is a personality type or behavioral tendency characterized by significant discomfort and departure from the norms established in that cultural and social environment. A personality disorder is considered a severe pathology of an individual's behavioral tendencies or character constitution, usually involving several personality structures. It is almost always accompanied by social and personal disintegration. Typically, this deviation occurs in older childhood, as well as during puberty. Its manifestations are also observed in adulthood. The diagnosis of personality disorder is not made in the presence of isolated social deviations without the presence of personality dysfunction.

Causes

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

When describing the causes of personality pathologies, first of all, it is necessary to focus functional deviations on the main areas of personality: mental activity, perception, relationships with the environment, emotions.

As a rule, personality defects are congenital and manifest themselves throughout life. In addition, the described disorder may begin during puberty or at an older age. In the case of this kind of illness, it can be triggered by exposure to severe stress, 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, or the child living in conditions of parental alcoholism and their indifference.

Numerous experiments indicate that mild manifestations of personality disorder are 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 mental pathology. Today, the reasons that provoke the development of personality deviations have not been fully elucidated.

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

The diagnosis of personality disorders is particularly specific due to two reasons. The first reason is the need to clarify the period of onset of the disorder, that is, whether it arose at an early stage of formation or persisted into older age. It is possible to find out this only by communicating with a close relative of the patient who has known him since birth. Communication with a relative makes it possible to get a complete picture of the nature and pattern of relationships.

The second reason is the difficulty of assessing the factors that provoke disruption of personality adjustment and the severity of deviations from the norm in behavioral response. Also, it is often difficult to draw a clear boundary line between the norm and deviation.

Typically, a diagnosis of personality disorder is made when there is a significant discrepancy in the individual’s behavioral response to his sociocultural level or it causes significant suffering to those around him and the patient himself, and also complicates his social and work activities.

Symptoms of Personality Disorders

People with a personality disorder are often characterized by an inadequate attitude towards the problems that manifest themselves. What provokes difficulties in building harmonious relationships with relatives and significant others. Typically, the first signs of a personality disorder are detected during puberty or early adulthood. Such deviations are classified according to severity and severity. Mild severity is usually diagnosed.

Signs of a personality disorder are manifested, first of all, in the individual’s attitude towards others. Patients do not notice inadequacy in their own behavioral response as well as in their thoughts. As a result, they rarely seek professional psychological help on their own.

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

Among the main symptoms are:

• having negative feelings, such as feelings of distress, anxiety, worthlessness, or anger;
• difficulty or inability to manage negative feelings;
• avoidance of people and feelings of emptiness (patients are emotionally disconnected);
• frequent confrontations with others, threats of violence or insults (often escalating to assault);
• difficulty maintaining stable relationships with relatives, especially children and marriage partners;
• periods of loss of contact with reality.

The listed symptoms may worsen under tension, for example, as a result of stress, various experiences, or menstruation.

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

The formation of the disorder and its growth from an early age period manifests itself 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 when interacting with the environment. After which a personality disorder occurs, which can be decompensated or compensated. Personality pathologies usually become pronounced at the age of sixteen.

There are typical stable personality deviations characteristic of persons imprisoned for long periods of time, those who have suffered violence, and those who are deaf or deaf-mute. So, for example, deaf and mute people are characterized by mild delusional ideas, and people who have been in prison are characterized by explosiveness and basic distrust.

Personality anomalies tend to accumulate in families, 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 more pronounced than in middle age. This age period is characterized by a specific “retirement syndrome”, expressed in a loss of prospects, a decrease in the number of contacts, an increase in interest in one’s health, an increase in anxiety and a feeling of helplessness.

Among the most likely consequences of the described disease are:

• the risk of developing addiction (for example, alcohol), inappropriate sexual behavior, possible suicide attempts;
• 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;
• mistrust is formed.

One of the mental pathologies 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 within him. Under the influence of circumstances, one ego state is replaced by another.

The causes of this disease are serious emotional trauma that occurred to the individual in early childhood, constantly recurring 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, and suicidal attempts are common. The patient is subject to frequent sudden changes in mood and anxiety. He may also experience various phobias and, less commonly, sleep and eating disorders.

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

Types of Personality Disorders

In accordance with the classification described in the International Guide to Mental Disorders, personality disorders are divided into three fundamental categories (clusters):

• Cluster “A” is eccentric pathologies, these include schizoid, paranoid, schizotypal disorder;
• Cluster “B” is emotional, theatrical or fluctuating disorders, which include borderline, hysterical, narcissistic, antisocial disorder;
• Cluster “C” is anxiety and panic disorders: obsessive-compulsive disorder, dependent and avoidant personality disorder.

The described types of personality disorders differ in etiology and mode of expression. There are several types of classifications of personality 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 symptoms are usually diagnosed. The types of personality disorders are described in detail below.

The schizoid type of personality pathology is characterized by the desire to avoid emotionally intense contacts through excessive theorizing, escape into fantasy, and withdrawal into oneself. Also, schizoid individuals often tend to disdain prevailing social norms. Such individuals do not need love, they do not need tenderness, they 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 solitary activities. They have a weak response to criticism, as well as to praise.

Paranoid personality pathology consists of increased sensitivity to frustrating factors, suspicion, and is expressed in constant dissatisfaction with society and resentment. Such people tend to take everything personally. With the paranoid type of personal pathology, the subject is characterized by increased distrust of the surrounding society. It invariably seems to him that everyone is deceiving him and plotting against him. He tries to find hidden meaning or a threat to himself in any of the simplest statements and actions of others. Such a person does not forgive insults, is angry and aggressive. But she is capable of temporarily not showing her emotions until the right moment, so that she can then take revenge very cruelly.

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

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

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

A common symptom of this disorder is a multitude of low-risk attempts due to minor circumstances (incidents). Mostly, the trigger for suicide attempts is interpersonal relationships.

Differential diagnosis of personality disorders of this type can cause certain difficulties, since the clinical picture is similar to bipolar disorder type II 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 for attention, an overestimation of the importance of gender, unstable behavior, and 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 attract attention to her own person for a long time. People suffering from this type of illness are prone to theatrical gestures, are subject to the influence of others and are easily suggestible. They need an “audience” 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 individuals are characterized by inflated self-esteem, preoccupation with illusions about their own successes, the expectation of 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 they idealize everything they associate with.

Avoidant (anxious) personality disorder is characterized by a person’s constant desire to be socially withdrawn, a feeling of inferiority, increased sensitivity to negative evaluation by others, and avoidance of social interaction. Individuals with this personality disorder often think that they are poor communicators or that they are unattractive. Due to being ridiculed and 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 and lack of vitality due to lack of independence and incompetence. Such people constantly feel the need for the support of other people; they strive to shift the solution of important issues in their own lives onto the shoulders of others.

Obsessive-compulsive personality pathology is characterized by an increased tendency to caution and doubt, excessive perfectionism, preoccupation with details, stubbornness, periodic 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 constant delving into details and bringing them to perfection simply does not make it possible to complete what they started. Patients are deprived of interpersonal relationships because there is no time left for them. In addition, loved ones do not meet their high demands.

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

Treatment

The treatment of personality disorders is an individual and often very lengthy process. 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 symptoms, personality psychology, and the patient’s desire to make contact with a medical professional are of certain importance. It is often quite difficult for dissocial individuals to make contact with a therapist.

All personality deviations are extremely difficult to correct, so 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 a medical professional is to alleviate the depressive symptoms and reduce them. Drug therapy copes well with this. 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 accompanying symptoms, drug treatment is prescribed. For depression and high impulsivity, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is practiced. Outbursts of anger and impulsivity are treated with anticonvulsants.

In addition, an important factor influencing the effectiveness of treatment is the patient’s family environment. Because it can either aggravate symptoms or reduce the patient’s “bad” behavior and thoughts. Often, family intervention in the treatment process is key to achieving results.

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

For an individual to become aware of his own incorrect beliefs and the characteristics of maladaptive behavior, as a rule, repeated confrontation is necessary in long-term psychotherapy.

Maladaptive behavior such as recklessness, emotional outbursts, lack of confidence, and social withdrawal may change over many months. Participation in group self-help methods can help in changing inappropriate behavioral responses. Behavioral changes are especially significant for those suffering from borderline, avoidant, or antisocial personality pathology.

Unfortunately, there are no quick ways to cure a personality disorder. Individuals with a history of personality pathology, as a rule, do not look at the problem from the perspective of their own behavioral response; they tend to pay attention exclusively to the results of inappropriate thoughts and the consequences of behavior. Therefore, the therapist needs to constantly emphasize the undesirable consequences of their mental activity and behavior. Often, the therapist may impose restrictions on behavioral responses (for example, he may tell you not to 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 is aimed at helping subjects understand their own actions and behaviors that lead to interpersonal problems. For example, a psychotherapist helps to recognize dependence, arrogance, excessive distrust of the environment, suspicion and manipulativeness.

Group psychotherapy for personality disorders and behavior modification are sometimes effective in changing socially unacceptable behavior (eg, lack of confidence, social withdrawal, anger). Positive results can be achieved after several months.

Dialectical behavior therapy is considered effective for borderline personality disorder. It consists of 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 one is recommended. Therapy can last for at least three years.

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

Doctor of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"

The information presented in this article is intended for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional advice and qualified medical care. If you have the slightest suspicion that you have a personality disorder, be sure to consult your doctor!

Nowadays, mental disorders occur in hardly every second person. The disease does not always have clear clinical manifestations. However, some deviations cannot be neglected. The concept of normal has a wide range, but inaction, with obvious signs of illness, only aggravates the situation.

Mental illnesses in adults, children: list and description

Sometimes different ailments have the same symptoms, but in most cases, diseases can be divided and classified. Major mental illnesses - a list and description of deviations may attract the attention of loved ones, but the final diagnosis can only be established by an experienced psychiatrist. He will also prescribe treatment based on symptoms, coupled with clinical studies. The sooner a patient seeks help, the greater the chance of successful treatment. You need to discard stereotypes and not be afraid to face the truth. Nowadays, mental illness is not a death sentence, and most of them can be successfully treated if the patient turns to doctors for help in time. Most often, the patient himself is not aware of his condition, and his loved ones should take on this mission. The list and description of mental illnesses is created for informational purposes only. Perhaps your knowledge will save the lives of those you care about, or dispel your worries.

Agoraphobia with panic disorder

Agoraphobia, to one degree or another, accounts for about 50% of all anxiety disorders. If initially the disorder meant only a fear of open space, now fear of fear has been added to this. That’s right, a panic attack occurs in a situation where there is a high probability of falling, getting lost, getting lost, etc., and fear cannot cope with this. Agoraphobia expresses nonspecific symptoms, that is, increased heart rate and sweating can also occur with other disorders. All symptoms of agoraphobia are exclusively subjective, experienced by the patient himself.

Alcoholic dementia

Ethyl alcohol, when consumed regularly, acts as a toxin that destroys the brain functions responsible for human behavior and emotions. Unfortunately, only alcoholic dementia can be monitored and its symptoms identified, but treatment will not restore lost brain functions. You can slow down alcohol-induced dementia, but not completely cure the person. Symptoms of alcohol-induced dementia include slurred speech, memory loss, sensory loss, and lack of logic.

Allotriophagy

Some people are surprised when children or pregnant women combine incompatible foods, or, in general, eat something inedible. Most often, this is how a lack of certain microelements and vitamins in the body is expressed. This is not a disease, and is usually “treated” by taking a vitamin complex. With allotriophagy, people eat something that is basically not edible: glass, dirt, hair, iron, and this is a mental disorder, the causes of which are not only a lack of vitamins. Most often this is shock, plus vitamin deficiency, and, as a rule, treatment also needs to be approached comprehensively.

Anorexia

In our time of gloss craze, the mortality rate from anorexia is 20%. The obsessive fear of getting fat makes you refuse to eat, even to the point of complete exhaustion. If you recognize the first signs of anorexia, a difficult situation can be avoided and measures can be taken in time. The first symptoms of anorexia:

Setting the table turns into a ritual, with counting calories, fine cutting, and arranging/spreading food on a plate. My entire life and interests focus only on food, calories, and weighing myself five times a day.

Autism

Autism – what is this disease, and how treatable is it? Only half of children diagnosed with autism have functional brain disorders. Children with autism think differently than normal children. They understand everything, but cannot express their emotions due to impaired social interaction. Ordinary children grow up and copy the behavior of adults, their gestures, facial expressions, and thus learn to communicate, but with autism, non-verbal communication is impossible. Children with autism do not strive for loneliness; they simply do not know how to establish contact themselves. With due attention and special training, this can be somewhat corrected.

Delirium tremens

Delirium tremens refers to psychosis caused by prolonged drinking. Signs of delirium tremens are represented by a very wide range of symptoms. Hallucinations - visual, tactile and auditory, delusions, rapid mood swings from blissful to aggressive. To date, the mechanism of brain damage has not been fully understood, and there is no complete cure for this disorder.

Alzheimer's disease

Many types of mental disorders are incurable, and Alzheimer's disease is one of them. The first signs of Alzheimer's disease in men are nonspecific and are not immediately obvious. After all, all men forget birthdays and important dates, and this does not surprise anyone. In Alzheimer's disease, short-term memory is the first to suffer, and the person literally forgets the day. Aggression and irritability appear, and this is also attributed to a manifestation of character, thereby missing the moment when it was possible to slow down the course of the disease and prevent too rapid dementia.

Pick's disease

Niemann-Pick disease in children is exclusively hereditary, and is divided according to severity into several categories, based on mutations in a certain pair of chromosomes. Classic category “A” is a death sentence for a child, and death occurs by the age of five. Symptoms of Niemann Pick disease appear in the first two weeks of a child's life. Lack of appetite, vomiting, clouding of the cornea and enlarged internal organs, which causes the child’s belly to become disproportionately large. Damage to the central nervous system and metabolism leads to death. Categories “B”, “C”, and “D” are not so dangerous, since the central nervous system is not affected so quickly, this process can be slowed down.

Bulimia

What kind of disease is bulimia, and does it need to be treated? In fact, bulimia is not a simple mental disorder. A person does not control his feeling of hunger and eats literally everything. At the same time, the feeling of guilt forces the patient to take a lot of laxatives, emetics and miracle drugs for weight loss. Obsessing over your weight is just the tip of the iceberg. Bulimia occurs due to functional disorders of the central nervous system, pituitary disorders, brain tumors, the initial stage of diabetes, and bulimia is only a symptom of these diseases.

Hallucinosis

The causes of hallucinosis syndrome occur against the background of encephalitis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, hemorrhage or tumors. With complete clear consciousness, the patient may experience visual, auditory, tactile or olfactory hallucinations. A person can see the world around him in a somewhat distorted form, and the faces of his interlocutors can be presented as cartoon characters or geometric shapes. The acute form of hallucinosis can last up to two weeks, but you should not relax if the hallucinations have passed. Without identifying the causes of hallucinations and appropriate treatment, the disease may return.

Dementia

Stuttering is a violation of the tempo-rhythmic organization of speech, expressed by spasms of the speech apparatus. As a rule, stuttering occurs in physically and psychologically weak people who are too dependent on the opinions of others. The area of ​​the brain responsible for speech is adjacent to the area responsible for emotions. Violations that occur in one area inevitably affect another.

gambling addiction

This psychological disorder refers to a desire disorder. The exact nature has not been studied, however, it has been noted that kleptomania is a comorbidity with other psychopathic disorders. Sometimes kleptomania manifests itself as a result of pregnancy or in adolescents, during hormonal changes in the body. The desire to steal with kleptomania does not have the goal of getting rich. The patient seeks only the thrill of the very fact of committing an illegal act.

Cretinism

Types of cretinism are divided into endemic and sporadic. As a rule, sporadic cretinism is caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormones during embryonic development. Endemic cretinism is caused by a lack of iodine and selenium in the mother's diet during pregnancy. In the case of cretinism, early treatment is of great importance. If, for congenital cretinism, therapy is started at 2–4 weeks of a child’s life, the degree of his development will not lag behind the level of his peers.

"Culture shock

Many people do not take culture shock and its consequences seriously, however, a person’s condition during culture shock should raise concerns. People often experience culture shock when moving to another country. At first a person is happy, he likes different food, different songs, but soon he is faced with the deepest differences in deeper layers. Everything that he is accustomed to consider normal and ordinary goes against his worldview in the new country. Depending on the characteristics of the person and the motives for moving, there are three ways to resolve the conflict:

1. Assimilation. Complete acceptance of a foreign culture and dissolution in it, sometimes in an exaggerated form. One’s own culture is belittled and criticized, and the new one is considered more developed and ideal.

2. Ghettoization. That is, creating your own world inside a foreign country. This is isolated living and limited external contact with the local population.

3. Moderate assimilation. In this case, the individual will retain in his home everything that was customary in his homeland, but at work and in society he tries to acquire a different culture and observes the customs generally accepted in this society.

Persecution mania

Persecution mania - in one word, a real disorder can be characterized as spy mania or stalking. Persecution mania can develop against the background of schizophrenia, and manifests itself in excessive suspicion. The patient is convinced that he is the object of surveillance by the special services, and suspects everyone, even his loved ones, of espionage. This schizophrenic disorder is difficult to treat, since it is impossible to convince the patient that the doctor is not an intelligence officer, and the pill is a medicine.

Misanthropy

A form of personality disorder characterized by dislike of people, even hatred. , and how to recognize a misanthrope? The misanthrope opposes himself to society, its weaknesses and imperfections. To justify his hatred, a misanthrope often elevates his philosophy into a kind of cult. A stereotype has been created that a misanthrope is an absolutely closed hermit, but this is not always the case. The misanthrope carefully selects who to let into his personal space and who, perhaps, is his equal. In severe form, the misanthrope hates all of humanity as a whole and can call for mass murders and wars.

Monomania

Monomania is a psychosis expressed in concentration on one thought, with complete preservation of reason. In current psychiatry, the term “monomania” is considered outdated and too general. Currently, they distinguish “pyromania”, “kleptomania” and so on. Each of these psychoses has its own roots, and treatment is prescribed based on the severity of the disorder.

Obsessive states

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is characterized by the inability to get rid of intrusive thoughts or actions. As a rule, individuals with a high level of intelligence and a high level of social responsibility suffer from OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder manifests itself in endless thinking about unnecessary things. How many checks are on the jacket of a fellow traveler, how old is the tree, why does the bus have round headlights, etc.

The second variant of the disorder is obsessive actions or double-checking of actions. The most common impact is related to cleanliness and order. The patient endlessly washes everything, folds it and washes it again, to the point of exhaustion. The syndrome of persistent states is difficult to treat, even with the use of complex therapy.

Narcissistic personality disorder

The signs of narcissistic personality disorder are not difficult to recognize. prone to inflated self-esteem, confident in their own ideality and perceive any criticism as envy. This is a behavioral personality disorder, and it is not as harmless as it may seem. Narcissistic individuals are confident in their own permissiveness and have the right to something more than everyone else. Without a twinge of conscience, they can destroy other people’s dreams and plans, because it doesn’t matter to them.

Neurosis

Is obsessive-compulsive disorder a mental illness or not, and how difficult is it to diagnose the disorder? Most often, the disease is diagnosed based on patient complaints, psychological testing, MRI and CT scans of the brain. Neuroses are often a symptom of a brain tumor, aneurysm, or previous infections.

Mental retardation

Negative twin delusion syndrome is also called Capgras syndrome. Psychiatry has not decided whether to consider this an independent disease or a symptom. A patient with negative twin syndrome is sure that one of his loved ones, or himself, has been replaced. All negative actions (crashed a car, stole a candy bar in a supermarket), all this is attributed to the double. Possible causes of this syndrome include the destruction of the connection between visual perception and emotional perception, due to defects in the fusiform gyrus.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation is expressed in bloating, flatulence, and impaired bowel movements. The most common cause of IBS is stress. Approximately 2/3 of all sufferers of IBS are women, and more than half of them suffer from mental disorders. Treatment for IBS is systemic and includes medications to relieve constipation, flatulence, or diarrhea, as well as antidepressants to relieve anxiety or depression.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Taphophilia manifests itself in an attraction to cemeteries and funeral rituals. The reasons for taphophilia mainly lie in cultural and aesthetic interest in monuments, rites and rituals. Some old necropolises are more like museums, and the atmosphere of the cemetery is peaceful and reconciles with life. Taphophiles are not interested in dead bodies or thoughts about death, and only have a cultural and historical interest. As a rule, taphophilia does not require treatment unless visiting cemeteries develops into obsessive OCD behavior.

Anxiety

Anxiety in psychology is unmotivated fear or fear for minor reasons. In a person’s life, there is “useful anxiety”, which is a defense mechanism. Anxiety is the result of an analysis of the situation and a forecast of the consequences, how real the danger is. In the case of neurotic anxiety, a person cannot explain the reasons for his fear.

Trichotillomania

What is trichotillomania, and is it a mental disorder? Of course, trichotillomania belongs to the group of OCD and is aimed at tearing out one’s hair. Sometimes hair is pulled out unconsciously, and the patient may eat personal hair, which leads to gastrointestinal problems. Typically, trichotillomania is a reaction to stress. The patient feels a burning sensation in the hair follicle on the head, face, body and after pulling it out, the patient feels peace. Sometimes patients with trichotillomania become recluses because they are embarrassed by their appearance and ashamed of their behavior. Recent studies have revealed that patients with trichotillomania have damage in a certain gene. If these studies are confirmed, treatment for trichotillomania will be more successful.

Hikikomori

It is quite difficult to fully study the phenomenon of hikikomori. Basically, hikikomori deliberately isolate themselves from the outside world, and even from their family members. They do not work and do not leave their room unless absolutely necessary. They maintain contact with the world via the Internet, and can even work remotely, but they exclude communication and meetings in real life. Often hikikomori suffer from mental disorders of the autism spectrum, social phobia, and anxiety personality disorder. In countries with undeveloped economies, hikikomori practically does not occur.

Phobia

Phobia in psychiatry is fear, or excessive anxiety. As a rule, phobias are classified as mental disorders that do not require clinical research, and psychocorrection will cope better. The exception is already ingrained phobias that go beyond a person’s control, disrupting his normal functioning.

Schizoid personality disorder

The diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder is made on the basis of symptoms characteristic of this disorder. With schizoid personality disorder, the individual is characterized by emotional coldness, indifference, reluctance to socialize and a tendency to solitude.

Such people prefer to contemplate their inner world and do not share their experiences with loved ones, and are also indifferent to their appearance and how society reacts to it.

Schizophrenia

Sometimes parents ask the question: “Encopresis - what is it, and is it a mental disorder?” With encopresis, the child cannot control his stool. He can “big-time” shit his pants and not even understand what’s wrong. If this phenomenon occurs more than once a month and lasts at least six months, the child needs a comprehensive examination, including from a psychiatrist. When potty training a child, parents expect the child to get used to it the first time, and scold the child when he forgets about it. Then the child develops a fear of both the potty and defecation, which can result in mental encopresis and a host of gastrointestinal diseases.

Enuresis

As a rule, it goes away by the age of five, and no special treatment is required. You just need to follow a daily routine, don’t drink a lot of fluids at night, and be sure to empty your bladder before going to bed. Enuresis can also be caused by neurosis due to stressful situations, and traumatic factors for the child should be excluded.

Bedwetting is a major concern in adolescents and adults. Sometimes in such cases there is an anomaly in the development of the bladder, and, alas, there is no treatment for this, except for the use of an enuresis alarm.

Often mental disorders are perceived as a person’s character and they are blamed for things of which, in fact, they are innocent. The inability to live in society, the inability to adapt to everyone is condemned, and the person turns out to be alone with his misfortune. The list of the most common ailments does not cover even a hundredth part of mental disorders, and in each specific case, symptoms and behavior may vary. If you are worried about the condition of a loved one, you should not let the situation take its course. If a problem interferes with your life, then it needs to be solved together with a specialist.

Personality disorders, as a rule, arise in adolescents and actively develop until full mental maturity, often integrating into a person’s established psychotype. Professionals argue that the above diagnosis can only be made from the age of fifteen to sixteen: before that, mental characteristics are often associated with active physiological changes in the body.

Previously, personality disorder was not identified as a special type of mental disorder and was classified as classical psychopathy, which arose as a result of underdevelopment of the nervous system due to a number of factors (trauma, heredity, harmful environment, etc.).

This condition can be caused by birth trauma and genetic predispositions to violence in various forms and certain life situations.

Quite often, personality disorder is confused with impaired perception, psychosis and the influence of various diseases, however, these conditions differ in complex clinical symptoms, features of the qualitative and quantitative specificity of a psychiatric disorder,

Symptoms of disorders by type

Each type of disorder has its own symptoms:

Passive-aggressive

Patients are irritable, envious, rather angry, threaten to commit suicide, but, as a rule, do not do this. The condition is aggravated by constant depression due to alcoholism, as well as various somatic disorders.

Narcissistic

There is a significant exaggeration of one's own talents and merits, multiple fantasies on various topics. They love admiration for themselves, envy the successful people around them and demand unwavering submission to their own demands.

Dependent

People with this syndrome often have very low self-esteem, they show self-doubt and try to avoid responsibility. A special problem in this case is the fundamental difficulties of making important decisions; people with such a personality disorder easily endure insults and humiliation, and are afraid of loneliness.

Alarming

Manifests itself in fear of various environmental factors. They are afraid to speak publicly, have a number of social phobias, are very sensitive to criticism, and require constant support and approval from society.

Anancast

There is excessive shyness, impressionability, and lack of confidence in oneself and one’s strengths. Such patients are often overcome by doubts, they are afraid of responsible work, and sometimes they are overcome by obsessive thoughts.

Histrionic

They crave constant attention and are very impulsive to the point of hysteria. Extremely changeable moods will often change. People try to stand out in the most extravagant way, often lying and making up various stories about themselves in order to gain more significance from society. They often behave openly and friendly in public, but in families they are tyrants.

Emotionally unstable

They are very excitable and respond to any events very violently, openly expressing anger, dissatisfaction, and irritation. The outbursts of such people often lead to open violence if they meet resistance/criticism from other people. Their mood is very changeable, unpredictable, and they have a great tendency to act impulsively.

Dissocial

Tendency to ill-considered and impulsive actions, disregard for moral standards, indifference and aversion to responsibilities. Such people do not regret their actions, they often lie, manipulate others, and they do not have anxiety or depression.

Schizoid personality disorder

Such people strive for isolated life activities; they do not want close relationships and ordinary contacts with others. Patients are indifferent to praise or criticism, show very little interest in sexual relations, but they often become attached to animals. The predetermining factor is the maximum possible isolation from the surrounding society.

Paranoid

They almost always experience unfounded suspicions about deception, exploitation, or other actions on the part of society. Patients are unable to forgive other people; they believe that they are always right and understand only the authority of power and authority. In extreme forms they can be dangerous, especially if they intend to pursue or take revenge on their imaginary enemies and offenders.

Diagnostics

All the main criteria by which personality disorders can be correctly diagnosed are contained in the latest edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).

In particular, conditions that cannot be explained by brain diseases or extensive brain damage, as well as known mental disorders, become decisive.

1. The chronic nature of altered behavior, which arose over a long period of time and is not associated with the etymology of episodes of mental illness.
2. The style of altered behavior systematically disrupts adaptation to life or social situations.
3. Disharmony with behavior and one’s own positions is revealed, manifested in deviations from the norm in perception, thinking, and communication with other people. Lack of impulse control, affectivity, and frequent excitability/inhibition are also diagnosed.
4. As a rule, the disorder described above is accompanied by a partial or complete loss of productivity in society or work.
5. The above-described manifestations occur in childhood and also in adolescents.
6. The condition leads to large-scale distress, which manifests itself in the later stages of the development of the problem.

If at least three of the above-mentioned signs are found in a patient who has been given a potential diagnosis of Personality Disorder, then the likelihood of its correct diagnosis after receiving additional tests, if necessary, is considered proven.

Treatment for Personality Disorder

It should be understood that personality disorders are a rather severe mental disorder, therefore any treatment is mainly aimed not at changing the personality structure, but at neutralizing the negative manifestations of the syndrome and partial compensation of normal mental functions. In modern medicine, two main approaches are used.

Psychological-social therapy

In particular, this includes individual, group, and family therapy conducted by experienced neuropsychotherapists, psychological education, as well as environmental treatment and exercises in special self-help groups.

Drug therapy

Recent studies show that the popular classic method of combating personality disorder is ineffective, so even in the FDA recommendations you will not find instructions about drug treatment. Some experts recommend using antipsychotics and antidepressants in this case, usually in small doses. Antipsychotics and benzodiazepines are widely used, mainly to suppress attacks of aggression, but their constant use can cause worsening of depressive conditions, drug dependence and even the opposite effect of agitation.

In any case, it is simply impossible to independently treat or alleviate the symptoms of a personality disorder. We recommend that you contact several independent specialists on this issue at once, carefully weigh their suggestions and recommendations, and only then make a decision, especially when it comes to taking certain groups of drugs on an ongoing basis or revolutionary methods of dubious untested origin.

Useful video

This disorder came to prominence several 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 loudly so that people know that there is no shame 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 had 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 in already deceased famous people: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe...

The listing of names familiar to everyone is only necessary to show that psychosis is very close to you. And perhaps even you.

What is bipolar disorder

At first glance, there's nothing wrong with it. Just mood swings. For example, in the morning you want to sing and dance with the joy of being alive. In the middle of the day, you suddenly lash out at your colleagues who are distracting you from something important. By the evening, a severe depression rolls over you, when you can’t even raise your hand... 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 worldview of those who suffer from bipolar disorder constantly swings between two poles. From an extreme maximum (“What a thrill it is to just live and do something!”) to an equally extreme minimum (“Everything is bad, we’re all going to die. So, maybe there’s nothing to wait for, it’s time to commit suicide?!”). The highs are called periods of mania. Minimums - 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 relationships with others, sharply reduces the quality of life and can ultimately lead to suicide.

Where does bipolar disorder come from?

Mood swings are familiar to many and are not considered something out of the ordinary. This makes bipolar disorder quite 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 about 5 million Americans suffer from manic-depressive psychosis in one form or another.

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

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

1. Manic-depressive psychosis can occur at any age. Although it most often appears in late adolescence and early adulthood.
2. It may be caused by genetics. If one of your ancestors suffered from this disease, there is a risk that it will come knocking on your door.
3. The disorder is associated with 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 detect unhealthy mood swings, you first need to find out whether you are experiencing emotional extremes - mania and depression.

7 Key Signs of Mania

1. You experience elation and a feeling of happiness for long periods (several hours or more).
2. Your need for sleep is reduced.
3. You speak quickly. 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 via emails than to talk to people in person.
4. You are an impulsive person: you act first, think later.
5. You easily jump from one thing to another. As a result, bottom line productivity often suffers.
6. You are confident in your abilities. It seems to you that you are faster and smarter than most of those around you.
7. You often exhibit risky behavior. For example, you agree to have sex with a stranger, buy something you can’t afford, or take part 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 become isolated in yourself. You find it difficult to come out of your shell. Therefore, you limit contact even with family and friends.
3. You have lost interest in those things that used to really captivate 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 energy. And such periods continue for quite a long time.
6. You have problems with memory, concentration and decision making.
7. Do 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 the situations described above. At some point in your life you clearly show signs of mania, at another - symptoms of depression.

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

What is bipolar disorder?

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

1. Type 1 disorder. It is severe, alternating periods of mania and depression are strong and deep.
2. Disorder of the second type. Mania does not manifest itself very clearly, but it covers with depression just as globally as in the case of the first type. By the way, Catherine Zeta-Jones was diagnosed with exactly this. In the actress’s case, the trigger for the development of the disease was throat cancer, which her husband, Michael Douglas, had been battling for a long time.

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 signs listed above, this is already a reason to consult a doctor. Especially if from time to time you catch yourself feeling suicidal.

First, go see a therapist. The medic will suggest Diagnosis Guide for Bipolar Disorder You need to do several tests, including a urine test and a blood test to check your 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 they are found.

The next step will be a visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist. You will have to answer questions about your lifestyle, mood swings, relationships with other people, childhood memories, traumas, and family history of illnesses and drug use incidents.

Based on the information received, the specialist will prescribe treatment. This could be either taking medications or taking medications.

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

Our society consists of completely different, dissimilar people. And this is visible not only in appearance - first of all, our behavior and reaction to life situations, especially stressful ones, are different. Each of us - and probably more than once - has encountered people with, as people say, whose behavior does not fit into generally accepted norms and often causes condemnation. Today we will look at mixed personality disorder: the limitations that this illness entails, its symptoms and treatment methods.

If a person’s behavior exhibits a deviation from the norm, bordering on inadequacy, psychologists and psychiatrists consider this a personality disorder. There are several types of such disorders, which we will consider below, but most often they are diagnosed (if this definition can be considered a real diagnosis) mixed. Essentially speaking, it is advisable to use this term in cases where the doctor cannot classify the patient’s behavior into a certain category. Practicing doctors notice that this happens very often, because people are not robots, and it is impossible to identify pure types of behavior. All personality types we know are relative definitions.

Mixed Personality Disorder: Definition

If a person has disturbances in his thoughts, behavior and actions, he has a personality disorder. This group of diagnoses is classified as mental. Such people behave inappropriately and perceive stressful situations differently, in contrast to absolutely mentally healthy people. These factors cause conflicts at work and in the family.

For example, there are people who cope with difficult situations on their own, while others seek help; Some tend to exaggerate their problems, while others, on the contrary, downplay them. In any case, such a reaction is absolutely normal and depends on the character of the person.

People who have mixed and other personality disorders, unfortunately, do not understand that they have mental problems, so they rarely seek help on their own. Meanwhile, they really need this help. The main task of the doctor in this case is to help the patient understand himself and teach him to interact in society without causing harm to himself or others.

Mixed personality disorder in ICD-10 should be looked for under F60-F69.

This condition lasts for years and begins to manifest itself in childhood. At the age of 17-18, personality formation occurs. But since at this time the character is just being formed, such a diagnosis at puberty is incorrect. But in adulthood, when the personality is fully formed, the symptoms of a personality disorder only worsen. And usually it is a type of mixed disorder.

ICD-10 has another heading - /F07.0/ “Personality disorder of organic etiology”. Characterized by significant changes in the habitual pattern of premorbid behavior. The expression of emotions, needs and drives is especially affected. Cognitive activity may be reduced in the area of ​​planning and anticipating consequences for oneself and society. The classifier contains several illnesses in this category, one of them is personality disorder due to mixed illnesses (for example, depression). This pathology accompanies a person throughout his life if he does not realize his problem and does not fight it. The course of the disease is wavy - periods of remission are observed, during which the patient feels excellent. Transient mixed personality disorder (that is, short-term) is quite common. However, accompanying factors such as stress, alcohol or drug use, and even menstruation can cause a relapse or worsening of the condition.

When a personality disorder gets worse, it can lead to serious consequences, including physical harm to others.

Causes of personality disorder

Personality disorders, both mixed and specific, usually occur in the context of brain injuries resulting from falls or accidents. However, doctors note that both genetic and biochemical factors, as well as social ones, are involved in the formation of this disease. Moreover, social ones play a leading role.

First of all, this is incorrect parental upbringing - in this case, the character traits of a psychopath begin to form in childhood. Besides this, none of us understands how detrimental stress really is to the body. And if this stress turns out to be excessively strong, it can subsequently lead to a similar disorder.

Sexual abuse and other psychological trauma, especially in childhood, often lead to a similar result - doctors note that about 90% of women with hysteria in childhood or adolescence were raped. In general, the causes of pathologies that are designated in ICD-10 as personality disorders in connection with mixed diseases should often be sought in the patient’s childhood or adolescence.

How do personality disorders manifest themselves?

People with personality disorders usually have accompanying psychological problems - they consult doctors about depression, chronic tension, and problems building relationships with family and colleagues. At the same time, patients are confident that the source of their problems is external factors that do not depend on them and are beyond their control.

So, people diagnosed with mixed personality disorder have the following symptoms:

• problems with building relationships in the family and at work, as noted above;
• emotional disconnection, in which a person feels emotionally empty and avoids communication;
• difficulties in managing one’s own negative emotions, which leads to conflicts and often even ends in assault;
• periodic loss of contact with reality.

Patients are dissatisfied with their lives; it seems to them that everyone around them is to blame for their failures. It was previously believed that such a disease could not be treated, but recently doctors have changed their minds.

Mixed personality disorder, the symptoms of which are listed above, manifests itself in different ways. It consists of a range of pathological features that are common to the personality disorders described below. So, let's look at these types in more detail.

Types of Personality Disorders

Paranoid disorder. As a rule, such a diagnosis is made to arrogant people who are confident only in their point of view. Tireless debaters, they are sure that only they are always and everywhere right. Any words and actions of others that do not correspond to their own concepts are perceived negatively by the paranoid. His one-sided judgments become the cause of quarrels and conflicts. During decompensation, symptoms intensify - paranoid people often suspect their spouses of infidelity, as their pathological jealousy and suspicion intensify significantly.

Schizoid disorder. Characterized by excessive isolation. Such people react with equal indifference to both praise and criticism. They are so cold emotionally that they are unable to show either love or hatred towards others. They are distinguished by an expressionless face and a monotonous voice. For a schizoid, the world around him is hidden by a wall of misunderstanding and embarrassment. At the same time, he has developed abstract thinking, a tendency to think about deep philosophical topics, and a rich imagination.

This type of personality disorder develops in early childhood. By the age of 30, the sharp angles of pathological features level out somewhat. If the patient’s profession involves minimal contact with society, he will successfully adapt to such a life.

Dissocial disorder. A type in which patients have a tendency to aggressive and rude behavior, disregard for all generally accepted rules, and a heartless attitude towards family and friends. In childhood and puberty, these children do not find a common language in a group, often fight, and behave defiantly. They run away from home. In adulthood, they are deprived of any warm affections, they are considered “difficult people”, which is expressed in cruelty to parents, spouses, animals and children. It is this type that is prone to commit crimes.

Expressed in impulsiveness with a hint of cruelty. Such people perceive only their opinion and their outlook on life. Small troubles, especially in everyday life, cause them emotional tension and stress, which leads to conflicts that sometimes turn into assault. These individuals do not know how to assess the situation adequately and react too violently to ordinary life problems. At the same time, they are confident in their own importance, which others do not perceive, treating them with prejudice, just as patients are confident.

Hysterical disorder. Hysterical people are prone to increased theatricality, suggestibility and sudden mood swings. They love to be the center of attention and are confident in their attractiveness and irresistibility. At the same time, they reason rather superficially and never take on tasks that require attention and dedication. Such people love and know how to manipulate others - family, friends, colleagues. By adulthood, long-term compensation is possible. Decompensation can develop in stressful situations, during menopause in women. Severe forms are manifested by a feeling of suffocation, a coma in the throat, numbness of the limbs and depression.

Attention! A hysterical person may have suicidal tendencies. In some cases, these are simply demonstrative attempts to commit suicide, but it also happens that a hysteric, due to his tendency to violent reactions and hasty decisions, may quite seriously try to kill himself. That is why it is especially important for such patients to contact psychotherapists.

Expressed in constant doubts, excessive caution and increased attention to detail. At the same time, the essence of the type of activity is missed, because the patient is only worried about the details in order, in lists, in the behavior of colleagues. Such people are confident that they are doing the right thing, and constantly make comments to others if they do something “wrong.” The disorder is especially noticeable when a person performs the same actions - rearranging things, constant checks, etc. In compensation, patients are pedantic, precise in their official duties, and even reliable. But during the period of exacerbation, they develop a feeling of anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and fear of death. With age, pedantry and frugality develop into selfishness and stinginess.

Anxiety disorder is expressed in feelings of anxiety, fearfulness, and low self-esteem. Such a person is constantly worried about the impression he makes and is tormented by the consciousness of his own contrived unattractiveness.

The patient is timid, conscientious, tries to lead a secluded life, because he feels safe alone. These people are afraid of offending others. At the same time, they are quite well adapted to life in society, since society treats them with sympathy.

The state of decompensation is expressed in poor health - lack of air, rapid heartbeat, nausea or even vomiting and diarrhea.

Dependent (unstable) personality disorder. People with this diagnosis are characterized by passive behavior. They shift all responsibility for making decisions and even for their own lives onto others, and if there is no one to shift it to, they feel incredibly uncomfortable. Patients are afraid of being abandoned by people who are close to them, are submissive and dependent on other people's opinions and decisions. Decompensation manifests itself in a complete inability to control one’s life with the loss of a “leader,” confusion, and bad mood.

If the doctor sees pathological features inherent in different types of disorders, he diagnoses “mixed personality disorder.”

The most interesting type for medicine is a combination of schizoid and hysterical. Such people often develop schizophrenia in the future.

What are the consequences of mixed personality disorder?

1. Such mental deviations can lead to a tendency towards alcoholism, drug addiction, suicidal tendencies, inappropriate sexual behavior, and hypochondria.
2. Improper upbringing of children due to mental disorders (excessive emotionality, cruelty, lack of sense of responsibility) leads to mental disorders in children.
3. Mental breakdowns are possible when performing normal daily activities.
4. Personality disorder leads to other psychological disorders - depression, anxiety, psychosis.
5. The impossibility of full contact with a doctor or therapist due to mistrust or lack of responsibility for one’s actions.

Mixed personality disorder in children and adolescents

Personality disorder usually appears in childhood. It is expressed in excessive disobedience, antisocial behavior, and rudeness. However, such behavior is not always a diagnosis and may turn out to be a manifestation of a completely natural development of character. Only if this behavior is excessive and constant can we talk about mixed personality disorder.

A major role in the development of pathology is played not so much by genetic factors as by upbringing and social environment. For example, hysterical disorder may occur against the background of insufficient attention and participation in the child’s life on the part of parents. As a result, about 40% of children with behavior disorders continue to suffer from it.

Adolescent Mixed Personality Disorder is not considered a diagnosis. The disease can be diagnosed only after puberty has ended - an adult already has a formed character that needs correction, but is not completely corrected. And during puberty, such behavior is often the result of the “perestroika” that all adolescents experience. The main type of treatment is psychotherapy. Young people with severe mixed personality disorder in the decompensation stage cannot work in industries and are not allowed into the army.

Treatment for Personality Disorder

Many people who have been diagnosed with mixed personality disorder are primarily interested in how dangerous the condition is and whether it can be treated. Many people are diagnosed completely by accident; patients claim that they do not notice its manifestations. Meanwhile, the question of whether it can be treated remains open.

Psychiatrists believe that it is almost impossible to cure a mixed personality disorder - it will accompany a person throughout his life. However, doctors are confident that its manifestations can be reduced or even achieved stable remission. That is, the patient adapts to society and feels comfortable. At the same time, it is important that he wants to eliminate the manifestations of his illness and fully comes into contact with the doctor. Without this desire, therapy will not be effective.

Medications in the treatment of mixed personality disorder

If organic personality disorder of mixed origin is usually treated with drugs, then the disease we are considering is treated with psychotherapy. Most psychiatrists are confident that drug treatment does not help patients because it is not aimed at changing the character that patients mainly need.

However, you should not give up medications so quickly - many of them can alleviate a person’s condition by eliminating certain symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. At the same time, medications must be prescribed with caution, because patients with personality disorders develop drug dependence very quickly.

Neuroleptics play a leading role in drug treatment - taking into account the symptoms, doctors prescribe drugs such as Haloperidol and its derivatives. It is this drug that is most popular among doctors for personality disorder, as it reduces manifestations of anger.

In addition, other medications are prescribed:

• Flupectinsol successfully copes with suicidal thoughts.
• "Olazapine" helps with affective instability and anger; paranoid symptoms and anxiety; has a beneficial effect on suicidal tendencies.
• - mood stabilizer - successfully copes with depression and anger.
• Lamotrigine and Topiromate reduce impulsivity, anger, and anxiety.
• Amitriptin also treats depression.

In 2010, doctors were researching these drugs, but the long-term effect is unknown, as there is a risk of side effects. At the same time, the National Institute of Health in the UK released an article in 2009 that said that experts do not recommend prescribing medications if a mixed personality disorder occurs. But when treating concomitant diseases, drug therapy can give a positive result.

Psychotherapy and mixed personality disorder

Psychotherapy plays a leading role in treatment. True, this process is long and requires regularity. In most cases, patients achieved stable remission within 2-6 years, which lasted at least two years.

DBT (dialectical is a technique that was developed by Marsha Linehan in the 90s. It is aimed primarily at treating patients who have experienced psychological trauma and cannot recover from it. According to the doctor, pain cannot be prevented, but suffering can be. Specialists help their patients develop a different line of thinking and behavior.This will help in the future to avoid stressful situations and prevent decompensation.

Psychotherapy, including family therapy, is aimed at changing interpersonal relationships between the patient and his family and friends. Treatment usually lasts about a year. It helps eliminate mistrust, manipulativeness, and arrogance of the patient. The doctor looks for the root of the patient’s problems and points them out to him. For patients with narcissism syndrome (narcissism and narcissism), which also refers to personality disorders, a three-year psychoanalysis is recommended.

Personality disorder and driver's license

Are the concepts of “mixed personality disorder” and “driving license” compatible? Indeed, sometimes such a diagnosis can prevent the patient from driving a car, but in this case everything is individual. The psychiatrist must determine which types of disorders predominate in the patient and what their severity is. Only on the basis of these factors will a specialist make the final “vertikt”. If the diagnosis was made years ago in the military, it makes sense to visit the doctor's office again. Mixed personality disorder and a driver's license sometimes don't interfere with each other at all.

Limitations in the patient's life

Patients usually do not have problems finding employment in their specialty, and they interact with society quite successfully, although in this case everything depends on the severity of pathological traits. If a diagnosis of “mixed personality disorder” occurs, restrictions cover almost all areas of a person’s life, since he is often not allowed to join the army or drive a car. However, therapy helps smooth out these rough edges and live like a completely healthy person.