Personality Disorder: What Is It, What Are the Symptoms, and How Is It Diagnosed and Treated?

Personality disorders, such as "borderline," which are not classified as diseases but can complicate a person’s social and professional life, actually emerge during childhood. So, can personality disorders be treated? What symptoms should be considered? Psychiatrist Dr. Cem Hızlan from Anadolu Health Center provided important information on this topic...

What is a Personality Disorder, Is It a Disease?

According to diagnostic criteria, a personality disorder cannot be classified as a disease. It is actually a condition where certain behavioral and personality traits become so prominent that they make it difficult for the person to adapt socially and professionally.

Is there a specific risk group?

Rather than a risk group, this is a structural issue. According to some experts, childhood years are influential, while others believe it results from the shaping of an innate characteristic. Therefore, a personality disorder is not a health problem we acquire later in life.

How is the definitive diagnosis made?

A personality disorder originates from early childhood, but a definitive diagnosis is not made until after adolescence, as personality has not yet fully developed during this time. Once the person transitions into adulthood, an evaluation is made based on their behavior. Clinical findings and examinations are essential for making a definitive diagnosis.

Are there observable symptoms?

It may not be noticed in childhood, but it can become more apparent when certain conditions mature. However, different types of personality disorders have various behavioral patterns; they may show more intertwined, complex, or even subtle symptoms. For example, in some types of personality disorders, anxiety is predominant, and the person may exhibit behaviors accordingly. Or, in the case of borderline personality disorder, the person experiences sharp emotional fluctuations instead of the expected behaviors in their social or professional position. This can even escalate to behaviors that may put themselves or others in difficult situations.

Can our profession trigger a personality disorder?

No, a profession does not change a person's behavioral traits. However, the personality structure we have may be more suitable for the profession we choose, and it may stand out more in that profession. Unfortunately, sometimes we are not presented with choices, and we may have to adapt to an environment that is not compatible with our personality traits, which can become a challenging and exhausting situation. Therefore, it is very important for individuals to make career choices freely according to their own traits.

Can it be treated? Is there any medication used?

It is not entirely accurate to say that a personality disorder can be "treated" because no one visits a doctor to change their personality to someone else's. However, if an individual feels that their personality traits are causing them harm, they may want to reconsider the situation and prevent self-harm, possibly restructuring their life and adopting a new lifestyle. In this case, psychotherapy is a useful option. No medication is used. However, secondary conditions caused by the personality disorder, such as anxiety or depression, can arise. In such cases, medications may be planned to control these symptoms, not for the personality disorder itself.

What should parents pay attention to?

Rather than focusing on spotting symptoms, parents should be involved in their children's lives as a whole. In daily life, we get to know each other not based on symptoms but through our mutual relationships. If a parent has a strong and continuous relationship with their child, they will notice changes in them. This allows us to understand our loved ones better, respect their decisions, and provide healthier guidance by seeing more clearly what is good or bad for them. Instead of taking a coercive attitude for certain options and blocking our children's paths, we can see that when we are by their side, their personality structure will transform from a harmful trait into a structure they can use better.