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Personality disorders cause lasting changes in an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, making it difficult to relate to other people. The symptoms of a personality disorder can impact a person’s ability to maintain employment, participate in social activities, or have successful long-term relationships.
Fortunately, personality disorder medication helps address some of these symptoms. Learn more about personality disorders and how medication can help improve your quality of life, especially when combined with therapy.
Overview of Personality Disorders and Treatment Approaches
Personality disorders are categorized into several types or clusters.
Cluster A Disorders
Cluster A disorders are characterized by unusual behaviors and thoughts. They include:
- Paranoid personality disorder. Paranoid personality disorder causes an individual to be extremely suspicious of others, even if they have no reason to be suspicious. For example, someone with a personality disorder may believe family members are trying to harm them. People with PPD commonly hold grudges, have trouble accepting criticism, struggle to confide in others, or believe they’re right about everything.
- Schizoid personality disorder. People with schizoid personality disorder have a limited ability to relate to others in a meaningful way. They also care very little about what others think about them, making it difficult to maintain long-term relationships. People with schizoid personality disorder commonly engage in solitary activities, such as watching TV or playing computer games, so they can avoid interacting with others.
- Schizotypal personality disorder. Schizotypal personality disorder causes an individual to have disorganized thoughts, distorted perceptions, and a limited ability to form close relationships. Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder commonly have trouble relating to people, believe they have supernatural abilities or experience anxiety in social situations.
Cluster B Disorders
Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder belong to the Cluster B category. Although these disorders share some similarities, each affects an individual’s life in different ways.
- Antisocial personality disorder. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder tend to manipulate others or violate their rights.
- Borderline personality disorder. BPD makes it difficult for an individual to manage their emotions, which sometimes leads to impulsivity.
- Histrionic personality disorder. An individual with histrionic personality disorder craves attention from others, so they often behave dramatically or display strong emotions.
- Narcissistic personality disorder. People with NPD believe they’re special and want others to admire them. They also lack empathy, making it difficult to maintain positive relationships.
Cluster C Disorders
Cluster C disorders are characterized by anxious thoughts and behaviors. They include:
- Avoidant personality disorder. People with avoidant personality disorder have a significant amount of social anxiety. They long for meaningful relationships, but feelings of inadequacy make it difficult to interact with others.
- Dependent personality disorder. An individual with DPD relies heavily on others and has trouble taking care of themselves.
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. OCD causes an individual to have intrusive thoughts known as obsessions. These obsessions cause the individual to develop repetitive behaviors known as compulsions.
The main treatment options for personality disorders include prescription medications, dialectical behavior therapy, and residential treatment in a hospital or clinic.
Personality Disorder Medication Options
Personality disorder medication controls specific symptoms, improving your quality of life and making it easier to form relationships with other people.
1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
SSRIs prevent nerve cells from absorbing serotonin shortly after they produce it, increasing the amount of serotonin that stays in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical used to transmit messages between nerve cells. Several SSRIs work to control the symptoms of personality disorders, including sertraline and citalopram.
2. Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics also work on the chemicals responsible for transmitting messages throughout the nervous system. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. First-generation antipsychotics block dopamine receptors in the brain. Second-generation antipsychotics block some dopamine and serotonin receptors, but they activate other receptors.
3. Mood Stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are typically used to treat bipolar disorder, but they’re also helpful for individuals with personality disorders. Like SSRIs and antipsychotics, mood stabilizers regulate the amount of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.
How Medication Can Assist With Symptom Management
All three types of medications affect the neurotransmitters in your brain, but each controls different symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe Zoloft for BPD if you need help managing impulsivity and abrupt mood swings. Zoloft, also known as sertraline, is an SSRI. Mood stabilizers are also helpful for controlling mood swings. Antipsychotics work differently, so they’re only appropriate for personality disorders known to cause distorted perceptions.
Do You Need Personality Disorder Medication?
Mood swings, impulsivity, distorted thinking, and other symptoms can cause difficulties in working, forming positive relationships, and participating in social activities. If you have a personality disorder and these symptoms are disrupting your life, you may need to take medication.
Importance of Therapy in Conjunction With Medication
Personality disorder medication only controls certain symptoms, so it’s important to also enroll in therapy with a licensed professional. Dialectical behavior therapy is the most effective type of therapy for these conditions, as it helps an individual understand how their thoughts affect the way they behave. DBT is especially helpful for people who experience strong emotions, making it highly effective for treating Cluster B personality disorders.
DBT is a structured type of therapy, so it typically has four phases:
- Pre-assessment. During the pre-assessment, you meet with a therapist to determine if DBT is the right approach. Your therapist explains how DBT works and takes time to answer any questions you have about the therapeutic approach.
- Individual therapy. Individual therapy sessions allow you to address your symptoms. Your therapist helps you develop new skills and learn how to overcome challenges that can slow down your progress.
- Group skills training. DBT includes group skills training, which helps participants learn how to manage their emotions. Group skills training also makes it easier to set healthy boundaries and focus on the present instead of getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future.
- Crisis counseling. Finally, DBT typically includes phone-based crisis counseling. If you need advice on applying new skills, you can call your therapist for guidance.
Get Professional Help for Personality Disorders
If you have a personality disorder, you don’t have to accept a life filled with loneliness and anxiety. Contact FHE Health today to speak with a trained professional about your symptoms. We’re ready to help you regain control of your life.
