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Learn more about personality disorders
Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterised by persistent, inflexible patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviate significantly from cultural expectations, cause substantial distress or impairment, and remain stable across time and different situations. Recognised in the DSM-5 across three clusters, they include borderline personality disorder (BPD), narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), avoidant personality disorder (AvPD), and seven others. Personality disorders affect how a person relates to themselves and to others at a fundamental level, and are frequently associated with difficulties in relationships, identity, and emotional regulation. They are not character flaws; they are recognised clinical conditions that respond to treatment.
Personality disorders vary significantly by type, but a number of features appear across the group.
Common signs
- Persistent patterns of thought, emotion, or behaviour that feel fixed and are difficult to change, regardless of the consequences
- Significant difficulties in relationships, including instability, conflict, withdrawal, or dependence
- A troubled or unstable sense of identity or self-worth
- Intense emotional reactions that are difficult to regulate or that feel disproportionate to the situation
- Patterns that have been present since adolescence or early adulthood, rather than arising in response to a specific event
- Significant distress or impaired functioning in work, relationships, or daily life
Other common experiences
- Co-occurring depression, anxiety, or trauma-related symptoms
- Difficulties that are persistent but have been difficult to name or understand
- A history of relationships or situations that seem to repeat in recognisable ways
Personality disorders require longer-term therapeutic work. The most effective approaches work at the level of deep-rooted patterns rather than managing surface symptoms alone.
- DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) DBT was developed specifically for borderline personality disorder and has a strong evidence base. It builds skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Schema therapy Schema therapy identifies and works to change the early maladaptive schemas at the root of personality disorder presentations, using cognitive, experiential, and relational techniques across a longer-term engagement.
- Psychodynamic therapy Psychodynamic approaches explore the developmental and relational origins of personality patterns, working with the therapeutic relationship itself as a vehicle for change.
- CFT (Compassion-focused therapy) CFT addresses the shame and self-criticism that are common across personality disorders, building a more compassionate internal relationship as a foundation for broader therapeutic work.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Finding a therapist experienced in personality disorder work specifically, rather than general mental health support, matters significantly for how useful the work is. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
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