You may need to be treated for months or years.
Often, a team approach is needed to meet your mental, medical and social needs.
The treatment that's best for you depends on your personality disorder, how serious it is and your life situation. Your doctor may refer you to a neuropsychologist or clinical psychologist for personality or cognitive testing to better understand how you see and interpret the world around you. Your mental health professional may compare your symptoms to the guidelines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), published by the American Psychiatric Association. With your permission, information from family members or others may help. This evaluation includes a discussion about your thoughts, feelings and behavior, and it may include a questionnaire to help pinpoint a diagnosis.
Your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional. Your evaluation may include lab tests and a screening test for alcohol and drugs. In some cases, your doctor may link your symptoms to an underlying physical health concern. Your doctor may do a physical exam and ask questions about your health. Finding out if you have a personality disorder may involve:
