personality disorder

noun

Meaning

A mental health condition characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate from cultural expectations and cause significant distress or impairment.

Examples

  • Clinicians often evaluate patients for a personality disorder when their interpersonal conflicts become chronic and repetitive.
  • Living with a personality disorder requires a tailored approach to therapy, often involving dialectical behavior techniques.

Synonyms: mental illness, psychological condition, mental health issue, psychopathology