Few good large-scale studies have correlated early deprived or traumatic childhoods with later personality disorders. B. Course and Prognosis Personality disorders usually become evident in adolescence, or somtimes earlier. Clinical lore holds that once you have a personality disorder, you have it for life. However, surprisingly little is known about the course of these illnesses, but outcome studies suggest quite variable courses ranging from recovery to increasing severity over the lifespan. The diagnostic criteria for the personality disorders are described below.
Diagnosis is often difficult.
Personality disorders do not begin suddenly. Any of these can mimic a personality disorder. Be curious about why someone with a personality disorder comes to you at a particular time. Look for some change in important relationships that upset the former balance and suddenly made the disordered personality obvious to the patient or others. Pay attention to your feelings about the patient.