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OTHER SPECIFIED/UNSPECIFIED PERSONALITY DISORDER
Personality disorders occur when our negative, rigid traits begin to cause problems for us and we find it difficult to adapt to our surroundings. One of the most common personality disorders is another specified personality disorder. It is difficult to classify. It has features of several personality disorders and long-term patterns. A patient with this type of disorder has three features of a dependent personality disorder, three features of a histrionic personality disorder, and four features of a narcissistic personality disorder. This is because the three features are insufficient to diagnose a specific personality disorder (dependent, histrionic, or narcissistic). However, if you add all of these features together, you can speak of another specified personality disorder. It is worth emphasizing that there are many different combinations of this condition.
Causes
To date, no single specific cause has been identified for an unspecified personality disorder. The theories that have emerged over the past century refer to the influence of our genes, the environment, education, and nature. The current view is that it is a combination of all these factors. Both nature and environmental influences are essential for the development of our brains, and therefore for behavior and personality. It is worth remembering that the development of different personality disorders is different for each person.
Diagnosis
This refers to disturbances in personality functioning that do not meet the criteria for one of the specified personality disorders. For example, there may be traits of more than one specific personality disorder, while not all criteria for any one of these disorders are met separately (the so-called “mixed personality disorder”), and together they cause significant distress or limitations in one or more important areas of functioning (e.g., social, occupational).
The diagnosis of this personality disorder can be made if the following criteria are met:
A. An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that clearly differs from expectations in a person’s culture. This pattern is manifested in two (or more) of the following areas:
- Cognition: a way of observing and interpreting oneself, others, and events;
- Affect: the range, intensity, lability, and appropriateness of emotional responses;
- Functioning in contact with others;
- Impulse control.
B. The enduring pattern is inflexible and is expressed in a wide range of personal and social situations.
C. The enduring pattern causes significant distress or impairment in social functioning, occupational functioning, or other important areas.
D. The pattern is stable and long-lasting, and its onset can be traced back at least to adolescence or early adulthood.
E. The enduring pattern is not better explained as a manifestation or consequence of another mental disorder.
F. The enduring pattern is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., medication) or a medical condition (e.g., head injury).
Treatment
There are several treatment options for other specified/unspecified personality disorders. Psychotherapy (outpatient, part-time, or inpatient) is the most appropriate and evidence-based form of therapy. It may be supported by temporary pharmacotherapy (medication), sociotherapy, and systemic therapy. Treatment leads to a change in harmful patterns.
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