What Causes Personality Disorders?
The answer is not clear, but it seems that like other mental disorders, genes, brain problems and upbringing can play a part. There is evidence for the importance of:
Upbringing
If children are taken out of this sort of difficult environment, they are less likely to develop a personality disorder.
Early problems
Behaviour problems in childhood, such as severe aggression, disobedience, and repeated temper tantrums.
Brain problems
Some people with antisocial personality disorder have very slight differences in the structure of their brains, and in the way some chemicals work in their brains. However, there is no brain scan or blood test for a personality disorder.
Things that make it worse:
The answer is not clear, but it seems that like other mental disorders, genes, brain problems and upbringing can play a part. There is evidence for the importance of:
Upbringing
- physical or sexual abuse in childhood
- violence in the family
- parents who drink too much
If children are taken out of this sort of difficult environment, they are less likely to develop a personality disorder.
Early problems
Behaviour problems in childhood, such as severe aggression, disobedience, and repeated temper tantrums.
Brain problems
Some people with antisocial personality disorder have very slight differences in the structure of their brains, and in the way some chemicals work in their brains. However, there is no brain scan or blood test for a personality disorder.
Things that make it worse:
- using a lot of drugs or alcohol
- problems getting on with your family or partner
- money problems
- anxiety, depression or other mental health problems