The exact cause of personality disorders is unclear. However, genetics, neurological differences, and environmental factors may contribute to the development of these complex mental health conditions.

Where mood disorders can cause temporary or fluctuating changes in mood, personality disorders cause symptoms that remain consistent over time and across a range of situations. For example, bipolar ...

Genetics is just one of several factors thought to influence personality disorder development. Life experiences, family dynamics, coping mechanisms, and social learning may all be contributing factors ...

Neuroimaging suggests that hearing voices in borderline personality disorder is tied to reduced gray matter in specific brain ...

Diagnosing personality disorders in children is controversial due to natural developmental shifts in mood and behavior. When maladaptive traits remain pervasive and persistent, however, a personality ...

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) publishes “Practice Guidelines” for the treatment of several mental disorders, including eating disorders, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. These manuals ...

"Who's the new guy?" I asked the officer as a particularly-animated man closed in. "That's Bobby [name disguised]. Came in a few days ago. What you see is what you get. He's either all-a-dither or ...

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira is a New York-based science journalist whose work has appeared in Health, Live Science, and Discover Magazine, among other publications. She holds a master's degree in psychology ...

Before you go chalking someone's behavior up to their quirky personality, you may want to consider if something deeper is going on. Many people in older generations grew up believing any form of ...

Avoidant personality disorder causes sensitivity to rejection, criticism, and embarrassment. It may lead to avoiding social situations, a negative self-image, and an intense fear of ridicule. It's ...