A recent study suggests that nearly one-in-five young American adults have a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life. And many of those who have a disorder don't receive treatment. It's a study that troubles Dr. John Malouf, Ph.D. "I thought the implication was one-in-five people has a personality disorder and therefore one-in-five people on campus are dangerous. And I think that is quite concerning and misleading."
The American Psychiatric Association defines personality disorders as "an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates from the expectations of the culture and the individual who exhibits it." These behaviors can interfere with a person's life. And in some cases, the behaviors can be dangerous - as seen with recent shootings on college campuses around the country.
But Dr. Malouf says not everyone with a personality disorder is violent. "First of all, the only personality disorders that were mentioned in the article were anti-social, paranoia and obsessive and compulsive, which gives the impression that all personality disorders are scary in some way."
Though there is no cure for personality disorders, there are treatments available. Disorders aren't diagnosed until a person is 18-years or older, but doctors say you can see patterns of the disorders before that. For more information, just visit
<http://www.apa.org>.
