We’re all becoming more educated on mental health as the stigma and taboo around these conditions continue to disappear. Many of us feel more confident talking about our mental health, whether it’s feelings of anxiety or struggling with depression, but what if you have a mental disorder? These conditions fall into different categories with various treatment plans, diagnostic criteria, and medical definitions.
If you’ve clicked on this article, you might be looking for help navigating one or want to become more knowledgeable to help a friend or family member, so I want to give you an overview of the must-know information by explaining what they are and the differences between personality disorders and severe mental illnesses (SMIs).
Understanding Mental Disorders
A mental disorder is described by the World Health Organization as being “characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior.” People who suffer from them often feel distress, causing their everyday lives to be disrupted as a result. It’s estimated that almost 1 in 7 people live with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression being the most common.
Some disorders have enduring personality patterns, while others have episodic or severe symptom flare-ups. While effective prevention and treatment options exist, most people do not have access to effective care.
Types of Personality Disorders and Symptoms
Personality disorders have long-standing behavior patterns, including thoughts and feelings that deviate from cultural norms, causing distress or impairment. Most personality disorders begin to manifest in adolescence or early adulthood and persist for the rest of the person’s life, although they can be managed with a treatment plan.
They are some of the least understood mental health conditions, and research is ongoing to understand their causes. Genetics, brain changes, and childhood trauma are seen as the most common factors. There are 10 mental health conditions that are considered personality disorders, and they’re grouped into 3 clusters, based on having similar characteristics and symptoms.
- Cluster A: Individuals with this type are uncomfortable with close relationships, experience paranoia, and are detached from other people. Cluster A disorders are characterized by unusual and eccentric thinking or behavior and include paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder.
- Cluster B: Antisocial (ASPD), borderline (BPD), histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders fall into this category. Erratic and impulsive behavior, unstable emotions, and a distorted self-image characterize them.
- Cluster C: These personality disorders feature feelings of severe anxiety, perfectionism, and fear. They include avoidance, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders (OCPD).
Any one of these can affect your relationships, work life, and everyday functioning. Although there are 3 clusters, some of the characteristics and traits can overlap.
How is a Severe Mental Illness (SMI) Different?
A severe mental illness (SMI) is a psychotic condition that severely impairs a person’s ability to function day-to-day and negatively impacts their relationships. What makes SMIs different from personality disorders is that they require long-term treatment and support.
Bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder are some of the most serious types of SMIs, although other conditions like personality disorders and eating disorders can fall into this category, especially if they occur simultaneously. And people who have SMIs are typically diagnosed with more than one physical health condition, alongside their mental disorder.
4 Common SMIs Explained
SMIs are conditions that significantly impair functioning, impacting daily lives. We’re breaking down four of the most common ones to show how they differ from other personality disorders.
- Schizophrenia: This SMI affects perception, day-to-day function, and reality testing due to disorganized thinking, delusions, hallucinations, and negative feelings.
- Bipolar disorder: Characterized by mania and depressive episodes, going from emotional highs to depressive lows, resulting in irritability, impulsive actions, and fatigue. Severe episodes can result in delusions and hallucinations.
- Major depression: Considered an SMI when it requires intensive treatment or drastically interferes with day-to-day life as a result of severe impairment, loss of interest, and cognitive problems.
- Schizoaffective disorder: Has similar symptoms to mood disorders and schizophrenia with prominent psychosis that lasts for at least two weeks, resulting in extreme mood swings, distorted reality perception, and feelings of depression.
Key Differences Between the Two
It’s easy to be confused by the disorders, especially when there’s an overlap. Personality disorders are identified by their enduring patterns of behavior, whereas SMIs have more acute, biological symptoms.
The way these conditions are treated also differs, as SMIs usually require a combination of medication and therapy, while treatment plans for personality disorders focus on a therapy-led approach. The symptoms of SMIs often appear episodically, with a diagnosis based on their functional impact. By comparison, personality disorders have symptoms that can be observed in different environments on a more regular basis.
Ultimately, a personality disorder can create challenges in your everyday life, but living with an SMI can result in major impairment during episodes of delusion, hallucination, and euphoric highs.
How Personality Disorders and SMIs Are Treated
It’s important to remember that many personality disorders happen concurrently with SMIs, so a personalized treatment plan that addresses specific needs can be highly effective. And although they are treated with a psychotherapy-focused approach, SMIs require medication.
Early intervention is necessary for both conditions, as it can improve health outcomes. Seeking help prevents symptoms from escalating and also makes it easier to manage.
Resources for Help and Support
Mental health conditions often share similar traits and characteristics, so it’s crucial to reach out if you believe that you or a loved one may be experiencing any of these symptoms.
You can make an appointment with your healthcare provider, call a non-urgent emergency number, or talk to a mental health specialist. Charities like Mind can also provide support, or you can use resources like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic to continue your research.
