personality disorder

noun

plural personality disorders

: any of various psychological disorders that are characterized by persistent inflexible or impaired patterns of thought and behavior that usually cause difficulties in forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships and in meeting the daily demands of one's personal and work life and that typically become apparent during adolescence or early adulthood

Note: Personality disorders are typically accompanied by three types of presentations: intense and unstable emotions, eccentric and odd behavior, or extreme fear or nervousness.

As a diagnosable personality disorder, narcissism occurs more often in males than females, often developing in the teenage years or early adulthood and becoming more extreme with age.

—Jane E. Brody

Recent studies have shown that personality disorders, especially the one seen most frequently in clinical settings—borderline personality disorder—are common …, are associated with high levels of self-injury and suicide, and have a considerable, stressful effect on families.

—S. Charles Schultz

see antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, multiple personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

How much of her story is about the supernatural or unknown element of the show, and how much of it is about a personality disorder from repressed trauma? —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Apr. 2023

Take the case of Bryan Kohberger, the prime suspect in a quadruple homicide near the University of Idaho whose arrest ignited rampant media speculation about the psyche of a killer, as if properly diagnosing his personality disorder could mitigate the damage already done. —WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023

Someone who exhibits narcissistic traits may have a personality disorder known as narcissistic personality disorder. —Fortune Well, 3 Mar. 2023

The grey area in between a personality trait and a mental health condition: Because narcissism can be viewed on a spectrum, there is a grey area in between exhibiting benign personality traits and narcissism as a personality disorder. —Patricia Fersch, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

personality disorder

noun

: any of various psychological disorders that are characterized by persistent inflexible or impaired patterns of thought and behavior that usually cause difficulties in forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships and in meeting the daily demands of one's personal and work life and that typically become apparent during adolescence or early adulthood

Note: Personality disorders are typically accompanied by three types of presentations: intense and unstable emotions, eccentric and odd behavior, or extreme fear or nervousness.

As a diagnosable personality disorder, narcissism occurs more often in males than females, often developing in the teenage years or early adulthood and becoming more extreme with age.

—Jane E. Brody

Recent studies have shown that personality disorders, especially the one seen most frequently in clinical settings—borderline personality disorder—are common …, are associated with high levels of self-injury and suicide, and have a considerable, stressful effect on families.

—S. Charles Schultz

see antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, multiple personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder