Mood Disorder vs Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by extreme social detachment. People with this personality disorder often avoid intimate relationships and prefer solitary activities. Symptoms can include limited emotional expression, a lack of interest in close relationships, and an indifference to criticism or praise.

The key factor that distinguishes this condition from other mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders is that people with schizoid personality disorder don’t want or desire close relationships.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is another type of personality disorder. If you have APD, you may have a disregard for the rights of others, a lack of empathy, and impulsivity. People with this disorder often engage in criminal behavior such as theft or vandalism and may be aggressive towards others.

Symptoms can include lying, manipulation of others, impulsivity, and a disregard for the safety of oneself or others.

Borderline Personality Disorder

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) exhibit intense emotional instability and impulsive behavior. Those with BPD often act erratically in their relationships with others, leading to frequent arguments and conflicts.

Symptoms can include anger problems, self-harm or self-destructive behaviors, severe mood swings, recklessness or impulsivity, and an intense fear of abandonment. It’s often treated via a type of therapy called dialectical behavior therapy.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Symptoms can include overly dramatic or seductive behavior, an excessive need for approval, and difficulty forming meaningful relationships.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by eccentric behavior, odd beliefs, and social anxiety. People with this condition tend to feel intense distress in social situations and may struggle to make friends.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by extreme social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy. People with this condition often have low self-esteem and avoid social situations due to their fear of being judged or rejected, even if they desire close relationships.

While anxiety can come with similar symptoms, APD is not the same as social anxiety disorder. However, it is possible to have both an anxiety disorder and a personality disorder.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

When someone has narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), they have an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Those with NPD may have an intense need to impress others and feel important.

Entitlement, willingness to exploit others, envy, lack of empathy, and fantasies about power and success are common symptoms.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

You may have heard of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). This is not the same as obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, or OCPD.

OCPD is a personality disorder diagnosis involving an intense occupation with perfectionism, orderliness, or control. The condition is marked by a pervasive pattern of personality traits the person may not see as problematic.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorder is characterized by fear of separation and an excessive need to be taken care of. People with this personality type often rely on others to make decisions for them and may be passive or submissive so as to avoid conflict.