Personality Disorder
Before you read the webpage please read the following notes:
NOTE 1 – We are giving you an overview of this condition in a question and answer format so you have some information for when you talk to a health professional. We have not discussed how to diagnose this condition, the types of treatment available for this condition and how you as the parent can help your child. We will leave that for a professional to discuss with you when a healthcare plan or special educational needs plan is being written for your child once they have been diagnosed.
NOTE 2 – Children can suffer from more than one condition at any one time. This is known as comorbid.
NOTE 3 – The exact cause of many of the conditions we have written about is unknown. Research is continuing. There can often be a genetic component which when inherited can make an individual prone to the condition. There are also other factors which can play a part in the development of the condition and can trigger it. We have detailed these factors in each write up.
NOTE 4 – Education for children with special education needs and disabilities is written elsewhere on this website. Please click the link below to access it.
WHAT IS A PERSONALITY DISORDER?
Personality disorders affect how a person feels, thinks and acts. This individual is very difficult to get along with and to maintain a relationship with. They often end up alone and isolated.
Children with a personality disorder are regarded as children with special educational needs.
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR PERSONALITY DISORDERS
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR OVERVIEW – BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES A CHILD WITH A PERSONALITY DISORDER DISPLAY?
The symptoms a child with a personality disorder may show will depend upon the type of personality disorder they have.
Paranoid personality disorder symptoms
- False belief that others are trying to hurt them
- Suspicious of others
- Secretive and unable to confide in others
- They hold grudges very easily.
- Very sensitive to remarks and behaviour often taking them as threats
Schizoid personality disorder symptoms
- They like being alone
- They can be cold and indifferent
- Unemotional
- They do not experience pleasure in things
Schizotypal personality disorder symptoms
- They believe there are hidden messages in things and certain situations
- They may hear voices
- They have odd beliefs, thinking and behaviour.
- They think they can influence people with their thoughts
- They find it difficult to have close relationships
Antisocial personality disorder symptoms
- They violate others’ rights very easily.
- They can be impulsive
- They are irresponsible
- They have no or little regret for their actions
- They are aggressive and violent
- They have no regard for others
- They have no regards for authority
- They have no regard for property
- They lie, cheat, and deceive others
Borderline personality disorder symptoms
- They are afraid of being abandoned
- They are afraid of being alone
- They feel empty
- They can self harm
- Their relationships are intense
- They have suicidal thoughts
- They engage in risky actions such as gambling
- They can binge eat
- They are unstable
- They have frequent mood swings
Histrionic personality disorder symptoms
- Easily led astray and influenced
- Attention seeking
- Shallow
- Overly emotional
- Strong opinions without substance to back these opinions up
- Too much focus on their physical appearance and looks
Narcissistic personality disorder symptoms
- They are arrogant
- They think others are jealous of them
- They think nothing of taking advantage of others
- They like to be praised constantly
- They think highly of themselves and exaggerate their successes and achievements
- They think they are above others
- They crave power
Avoidant personality disorder symptoms
- They are scared of being made fun off
- They feel inferior to others
- They fear rejection
- They hate criticism
- They feel ugly to others
- They try and avoid others
- They can end up isolated
- They can be socially shy
Dependent personality disorder symptoms
- They lack self confidence
- They stay in abusive relationships even when there is an option to leave
- They need to be in a relationship
- They need to be take care off
- They need reassurance of others to do things
- They don’t like others disapproving of them
- They are afraid to fend for themselves because they think they cannot
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder symptoms
- They are obsessed with rules
- They are obsessed with doing things in a certain way
- They are inflexible about morals and values
- They can be stubborn
- They can hoard
- They like being in control
- They cannot delegate
- They can overly commit to things
- They have high standards and suffer from perfectionism. This stops them completing tasks because perfectionism is not being reached.
ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE A PERSONALITY DISORDER BORN WITH IT OR IS IT ACQUIRED?
Similar to many mental health disorders, the exact cause of personality disorder is unknown. However, there may be a genetic element to it and it could be inherited but there are many factors which play a part in its development in the child. They are:
- A severe childhood traumatic event
- Abuse
- Death of a close person
- Severe injury or illness
- Family breakdown
- Neglect and abandonment
- A history of mental illness
WHEN DO MOST CHILDREN FIRST DISPLAY THE SIGNS OF A PERSONALITY DISORDER?
Children with a personality disorder usually start showing signs in their teens, however there are instances when this disorder can begin earlier.
CAN A PERSONALITY DISORDER GO AWAY, BE CURED OR PREVENTED?
Personality disorders can be treated, managed and controlled. They cannot be prevented.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERSONALITY DISORDER?
There are 3 different types of personality disorder. They are:
1. Cluster A – Individuals with cluster A personality disorders are socially very awkward, they do not think rationally, and their emotional responses are improper. They display very odd behaviour and thinking patterns. The personality disorders that are in this category are:
- Schizoid personality disorder
- Schizotypal personality disorder
- Paranoid personality disorder
2. Cluster B – Individuals with cluster B personality disorder are excessively emotional and cannot control their emotions. They also have random, usual and erratic thinking and actions. The personality disorders that are in this category are:
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Histrionic personality disorder
3. Cluster C – These individuals with this type of personality disorder have excessive anxiety and their thinking and behaviour is based around being afraid. The personality disorders that are in this category are:
- Dependent personality disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
- Avoidant personality disorder
WHO DO YOUR CONTACT FOR HELP IF YOU FEEL YOUR CHILD HAS A PERSONALITY DISORDER?
Contact your GP immediately – Your GP will arrange for your child to be assessed for a personality disorder. Your GP will then arrange for your child to have the correct support, medication, therapy and treatment to manage and control the condition. They will also inform you of any lifestyle changes you may need to make and refer you for further help if you need it.
Contact the school SEN department – The SEN department (special educational needs) at school will take your concerns seriously and help you. Please read the next section below.
IS A PERSONALITY DISORDER CONSIDERED A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEED (SEN)?
A child suffering from a personality disorder can be considered as one with special educational needs (SEN) if the issues the child is suffering from make education and learning much more difficult than other children of the same age.
Talk to the SEN department at your child’s school. There will be a special teacher there called a SENCO (special SEN coordinator) who looks after the welfare of all SEN children at the school and they will be able to advise you further.
WHERE CAN YOU AS A PARENT TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
You can contact NSPCC – If your child has a personality disorder you can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns. If the child is in danger they will call the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US
You can contact FAMILY LIVES – Family lives was previously known as parentline. You can speak to them about your concerns that your child has a personality disorder.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US
You can contact SUPPORTLINE – Supportline can provide confidential emotional support over the phone about your concerns if your child has a personality disorder. Their helpline number is 01708 765 200. You can also email them.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SUPPORTLINE – CONTACT US
You can contact your local authority child services – You can call them directly or look on their website to see if there are any local support groups where you can get support.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
You can contact other organisations –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 16 – CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.
WHERE CAN YOUR CHILD TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
Your child can contact CHILDLINE – If your child has a personality disorder and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.