According to the American Psychiatric Association, a personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time.  There are 10 specific types of personality disorders.

Personality disorders affect at least two of these areas:

• Way of thinking about oneself and others
• Way of responding emotionally
• Way of relating to other people
• Way of controlling one’s behavior

Personality disorders occur in 10 to 20 percent of the general population, and they can last for decades. A personality disorder is also a predisposing factor for other psychiatric disorders, such as substance abuse, suicide, affective disorders, impulse-control disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders. Individuals with personality disorders are far more likely to refuse psychiatric help and to deny their problems than persons with other mental health conditions. That’s because they are not concerned about their maladaptive behavior.