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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Disease > P > Personality disorders

Personality disorders   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment

Alternative names:

Axis II disorders

Definition:

Individual traits that reflect ingrained, inflexible, and maladaptive patterns of behavior that cause discomfort and impair a persons ability to function.

Causes and Risks

The exact cause of personality disorders is not known, however, several theories attempt to explain the cause. Biologic theorists believe chromosomal or nervous system disorders are the cause. Social theorists believe learned behavior responses cause the disorders. Psychodynamic theorists use deficiencies in ego development to explain the causes.

The disorders have only been recently categorized and include the following:

They lack sufficient coping mechanisms to be adaptive and have difficulty dealing with everyday stresses and problems. These disorders are manifested by difficulties in interpersonal relationships with others.

Ency. home > Disease > P > Personality disorders

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