How do You Recognize Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders have several common characteristics that show up, which makes them easier to diagnose and treat. There are common threads in almost all personality disorders, and they can include "enduring pattern[s] of behavior and experience that deviate markedly from cultural expectations and which lead to significant personal distress or significa

Psychiatrist Carr gives a specific case example of this disorder to give a better understanding of what kind of people suffer from this disorder and how it affects their lives. This case, which is rather drastic, involves Tracy, a 32-year-old mother and wife suffering from DPD. She was not initially diagnosed with the disease; it was her husband who caused her to be diagnosed. He called a clinic because he was afraid of his attraction to his 15-year-old daughter. When the entire family came in for counseling, the counselor discovered the father had been having sexual relations with his daughter for over a year. The counselor recommended the father should leave the family because of his behavior and seek treatment. However, Tracy did not think she could function without her husband, and so refused to cooperate with the counselor. Carr states, "Tracy refused to co-operate because she felt unable to make decisions and function without her husband. Thus Tracy was prepared to jeopardize her daughter's safety for her own dependency needs" (Carr, 2001, p. 154). This may be an unusual case, but it shows how difficult DPD can be, and how it can take over a person's entire life - clouding their judgment and their ability to cope with everyday and not so everyday concerns.

It must be very hard to live with this disorder, especially if they know something is wrong with them but they do not understand what it is or how to take care of it. While some patients live very comfortable lives (as long as someone else is in control), others experience many difficulties in their personal and professional lives. Psychiatrist Lowman studies work related problems with personality disorders. He writes,

There have been many studies into this disorder and how people get it. Many studies show that more women than men have this disorder, and that the people who suffer from DPD often come from homes where their parents had very controlling personalities and were not very emotional (Lowman, 1993, p. 190). Studies have also shown that often personality disorders begin in childhood or young adulthood, and so can last throughout life. Other studies have shown conclusive results that people with this disorder often come from families with a history of this disorder, and they can pass it on to their children. It is also possible that people with these disorders copied the behavior of close family members. Expert Austrian continues,

These people may seem extremely docile or meek, and they have trouble expressing their opinion and making decisions. They hardly ever openly show anger, and they can be very manipulative when they seek others to manage their lives and their every thought. It is easy to see why this disorder can lead to depression and difficulty in relationships. It is difficult to be responsible for oneself, and it must be even more difficult to be totally responsible for another person, too, and in effect, a person in a relationship with someone with DPD is responsible for both of them, not just themselves. Thus, the affects of this disorder affect not just the sufferer, but those close to them.

Sadly, these people are so dependent on others that they will tolerate just about any treatment to make sure they do not lose their support and strong partner. Often, this means they will even put up with physical or mental abuse, or allow it to go on in their homes, as the case study discussed later in this paper will show. Sometimes, it is hard to distinguish this disorder from passive-aggressive disorder.

The affects of this disorder are many, and people with this disorder may have other psychological problems, too. Many people with DPD also suffer from depression, as well as panic disorders and somatic disorders (Lowman, 1993, p. 190). As was shown above, they may also suffer from physical or mental abuse because of their need to cling to others for support and guidance. In addition, because of the trend of depre

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