Psychiatric Care · Personality Disorders · Borderline Personality

Personality Disorder Treatment

Published: August 1, 2026 Reviewed by: Yvette Elpidio, PMHNP-BC

Personality disorders involve deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others that cause persistent distress and difficulty functioning. They are often misunderstood and frequently undertreated. PNS psychiatrists offer evaluation, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment for personality disorders across all eight of our Southern California practice locations.

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What are
personality disorders?

Personality disorders are mental health conditions characterized by enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating to others that differ significantly from cultural expectations and create challenges in daily life. These patterns often develop over many years and can affect relationships, self-esteem, emotional regulation, decision-making, and overall functioning.

Signs & Symptoms

Recognizing 
personality disorders

Personality disorders can present differently from person to person. While symptoms vary depending on the specific diagnosis, many individuals experience longstanding patterns that affect how they view themselves and interact with others.

Experiencing intense emotional reactions, rapid mood shifts, or difficulty recovering from emotional distress.

Frequent conflict, fear of abandonment, difficulty maintaining healthy boundaries, or patterns of unstable relationships.

Uncertainty about personal values, goals, self-worth, or sense of identity.

Strong emotional reactions to perceived criticism, disappointment, or interpersonal conflict.

Difficulty controlling urges, making decisions impulsively, or engaging in behaviors that create long-term consequences.

Challenges understanding, trusting, or connecting with others in healthy and consistent ways.

Recurring problems at work, school, home, or in relationships that follow similar patterns over time.

Feeling disconnected, unfulfilled, misunderstood, or emotionally unsettled despite changes in circumstances.

Types of personality disorders

Personality disorders exist along a spectrum, and symptoms often overlap. A psychiatric evaluation can help clarify symptom patterns and identify the most appropriate treatment approach.

Common presentations include:

  • Borderline Personality Disorder: Often characterized by emotional intensity, relationship instability, fear of abandonment, impulsivity, and difficulty maintaining a consistent sense of self.
  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder: May involve patterns of self-focus, difficulty with criticism, challenges in relationships, and a need for external validation that affects interpersonal functioning.
  • Cluster A Disorders: Include paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. These presentations may involve social withdrawal, difficulty forming close relationships, unusual beliefs or patterns of thinking, emotional distance, or persistent distrust of others.
  • Avoidant Personality Traits: Persistent sensitivity to criticism, fear of rejection, social inhibition, and difficulty forming close relationships despite a desire for connection.

When to seek help

If emotional patterns, relationship difficulties, impulsive behaviors, self-image concerns, or interpersonal conflicts are causing ongoing distress or interfering with daily life, it may be time to seek professional support.

Many people with personality-related concerns spend years feeling stuck in the same cycles without understanding why. A psychiatric evaluation can help identify patterns, clarify diagnoses, and create a path toward meaningful change.

Treatment can help improve emotional regulation, communication, relationships, self-awareness, and overall functioning.

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Book an appointment at any PNS location. Our scheduling team will get in touch, usually within one business day.

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How PNS Treats It

Personality disorder treatment at PNS

PNS takes an individualized, compassionate approach to treating personality disorders and related symptoms. Treatment focuses on helping patients better understand emotional patterns, strengthen relationships, improve coping skills, and build greater stability over time.

Psychotherapy

Therapy is often a central component of treatment. Patients may work on emotional regulation, communication, relationship patterns, distress tolerance, self-awareness, and healthier coping strategies through evidence-based approaches tailored to their needs.

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Medication Management

While personality disorders themselves are not typically treated with medication alone, medication may help manage related symptoms such as depression, anxiety, mood instability, irritability, impulsivity, or sleep difficulties when appropriate.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. While personality disorders involve longstanding patterns, many people experience significant improvement through therapy, psychiatric care, and ongoing support.

Personality disorders are believed to develop through a combination of biological, psychological, developmental, and environmental factors. No single cause applies to every individual.

Medication may be used to help manage co-occurring symptoms such as anxiety, depression, mood instability, or sleep difficulties, but treatment often centers on psychotherapy and skill development.

Diagnosis typically involves a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation that explores emotional patterns, relationships, symptom history, functioning, and overall mental health.

Many personality-related symptoms develop gradually and can persist for a long time before treatment begins. It is never too late to seek support, develop new skills, and work toward healthier patterns.

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