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The ten different personality disorders identified in the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Health (DSM5) APA, 2013 can be grouped into three clusters based on descriptive similiarities within each cluster. These are:
Cluster A
The “odd, eccentric” cluster of disorders that include:
- Paranoid Personality Disorder
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder, and
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
The common features of this cluster are familial association with mood disorders, social awkwardness and social withdrawal. Distorted thinking is the key to these disorders.
Cluster B
The “dramatic, emotional, erratic” cluster of disorders that include:
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Histrionic Personality Disorder, and
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
The behaviors of people with these disorders are so dramatic, emotional, or erratic that it is amost impossible to have relationships that are truly giving and satisfying. Disorders in this cluster share familial association with problems of impulse control and emotional regulation and border on the psychotic.
Cluster C
The “anxious, fearful” cluster of disorders that include:
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Dependent Personality Disorder, and
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
The common traits of this cluster of disorders include a psychological disposition whereby the individual seems quiet and thoughtful, but is in fact frustrated and angry. A person with a typical Type C personality appears to lack emotions, does not usually assert themselves, and generally wants to pacify others. Cluster C has familial association with mood disorders.
It is common for a person to be diagnosed with more than one personality disorder. Research has shown that there is a tendency for personality disorders within the same cluster to co-occur. Skodol, 2005
This report is not a diagnosis. We hope this information can guide you into improving your life.
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