Cluster A Personality Disorders and Traits

Personality disorders affect the way an individual thinks, feels, and behaves. Personality disorders lead to erratic behaviors and can cause disruptions in people’s lives; this, in turn, leads to strained or failed relationships, friendships, work opportunities, or schooling. People with personality disorders often do not realize there is something amiss about the way they behave. This means that many personality disorders may go untreated, leading to emotional distress.

Personality disorders are categorized into three clusters, each with distinct characteristics. Of the ten personality disorders, three fall under cluster A personality disorders. 

Read on to learn more about cluster A personality disorders and what distinguishes them from the others. 

What Is a Cluster A Personality Disorder?

Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by odd or eccentric behavior. Although Cluster A personality disorders all exhibit different symptoms, they all involve atypical thinking patterns. This can result in social problems and a diminished quality of life [1]. 

What Are Cluster A Personality Disorders?

Cluster A includes three specific personality disorders that fall under this mental health condition category:

• Paranoid Personality Disorder
• Schizoid Personality Disorder
• Schizotypal Personality Disorder [2]

These disorders are grouped together due to their shared patterns of social detachment, unusual thinking, and difficulty relating to others.

To better understand how Cluster A fits into the broader diagnostic picture, it helps to compare it with the other personality disorder clusters:

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Marked by intense, emotional, and often unpredictable behaviors, cluster B includes:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Characterized by anxious or fearful behaviors and chronic insecurity, cluster C includes:

• Avoidant personality disorder
• Dependent personality disorder
• Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (distinct from OCD)

Each cluster reflects a unique style of maladaptive personality traits. While all three can seriously impact relationships and quality of life, Cluster A is especially linked to interpersonal isolation and eccentric perceptions of reality.

To gain a deeper understanding, we’ll now examine the individual disorders that make up Cluster A.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Individuals who have paranoid personality disorder run their lives based on a fear or suspicion of people, places, or things without a concrete reason. Because of this, they may seem cold or distant and often struggle to maintain relationships with others. Similar to all personality disorders, those who struggle with paranoid personality disorder may fail to see how their behavior is abnormal, harmful, or contributing to conflict in their lives. Symptoms of paranoid personality disorder include:

• Distrusting the motives or actions of others
• The strong belief that everyone is out to get them (by hurting them or deceiving them)
• The belief that others lack loyalty and are therefore untrustworthy
• The inability to talk or share information with others, which stems from a place of fear of retribution
• Believing harmless comments can be insults or attacks
• A tendency to hold grudges

Schizoid Personality Disorder

People who have schizoid personality disorder[3] can also come off as distant and cold. However, it isn’t necessarily coming from a place of paranoia; rather, it comes from a fear of closeness and intimacy. Those who have schizoid personality disorder may seem self-absorbed and detached from reality. Symptoms of schizoid personality disorder include:

• Preferring to be alone instead of spending time with others or in social settings
• Lack of interest in keeping up with family or friends
• Lack of emotional expression
• Does not enjoy activities that others commonly enjoy
• Difficulty or inability to read normal social cues

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Similar to the other cluster A personality disorders, people with schizotypal personality disorder exhibit disorganized ways of thinking. This can lead to misconstrued perceptions of reality or even poor communication skills. Individuals with this disorder show symptoms similar to schizophrenia on a less intense scale. 

Symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder can include: 

• Unusual ways of dressing
• Behavior and speech that are not socially acceptable
• Odd perceptions, such as hearing voices
• Lack of emotions or inappropriate emotions for a situation
• Social anxiety
• Delusions, such as seeing hidden meanings or messages in mundane things

What Are the Traits of Cluster A Personality Disorders?

Each of the cluster A personality disorders have their own specific symptoms, but the following list is a generalized overview of common overlap of traits:

• Lack of intimacy or closeness with family members or friends
• Distant, aloof demeanor
• Lack of expression or emotion, or inappropriate emotions
• Disorganized or unusual thinking or beliefs
• Suspicion, paranoia, or lack of interest

Diagnosing Cluster A Personality Disorders

Diagnosing any personality disorder can be difficult, especially since people who have personality disorders often don’t realize anything is amiss. This is the case for those experiencing cluster A personality disorders, too. 

However, once a person is under the treatment of a mental health professional, diagnoses can occur. In order to properly diagnose someone with a cluster A personality disorder, your mental health provider may ask you questions about the following subjects:

•  Perception of yourself, others, or events
• The appropriateness of your emotional responses
• How you deal and interact with others, especially in close relationships
• How you control your impulses

To gain further insight, mental health professionals may speak with your spouse or a close family member. This can prove very fruitful for an accurate diagnosis. Along with asking questions and interviewing people close to you, your doctor will also refer to the newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Published by the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM-5 lists diagnostic criteria for personality disorders, including duration and severity of symptoms. 

With a confirmed diagnosis, treatment focuses on addressing the behavioral and emotional symptoms of Cluster A personality disorders.

Treating Cluster A Personality Disorders

Treatment of cluster A personality disorders often involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. 

Medication for Cluster A Personality Disorders

Although no medication has been approved to treat personality disorders, some mental health professionals will prescribe medication to help individuals deal with the symptoms that come with having a personality disorder. For example, medications can include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics. 

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, at its core, is a form of talk therapy [4]. This kind of talk therapy requires the patient to meet with a therapist to discuss thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy that may help treat cluster A personality disorders include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Psychoanalytic therapy
• Psychoeducation

Ultimately, the goal of talk therapy is to help a patient with a cluster A personality disorder develop the tools to improve their quality of life, such as being able to identify struggles, learn from scenarios, and be aware of any emotional distress. 

How to Help Someone Who Has a Cluster A Personality Disorder

If you know someone who has a cluster A personality disorder or suspect someone close to you has one, there are different ways to support them. That said, it’s common for those with personality disorders to be unaware of their condition or to feel that treatment isn’t needed.

If you’re concerned that someone you care about may have an undiagnosed personality disorder, consider gently encouraging them to visit their primary care physician. A doctor can offer guidance and refer them to a mental health specialist if needed.

If you know someone who has a diagnosed personality disorder, here are ways to help support them during their treatment:

• Be patient with them
• Avoid taking their behavior personally
• Offer practical support, like scheduling therapy appointments or transportation
• Be available and open to a therapy session if it would help
• Be vocal about how you appreciate their efforts to improve
• Use “I” instead of “you” statements (“I care about you”, “I want the best for you”)
• Be kind to yourself and remember to acknowledge your own needs; you cannot help someone if you do not take care of yourself as well.

Receive Compassionate Personality Disorder Treatment at Connections

Living with a cluster A personality disorder makes life extremely difficult. If you or a loved one has a personality disorder, get help at Connections. 

Our staff is dedicated to providing compassionate treatment that addresses the entirety of an individual, not just their symptoms. We offer the following services as part of our dedication to your well-being and recovery:

• Around-the-clock supervision
• Personalized care plans
• Medication management
• Safe and comfortable living arrangements
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Motivational interviewing

Our evidence-based approaches are designed to help those with cluster A personality disorders and address any co-occurring symptoms, like: 

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood disorders
• Eating disorders
• Suicidal thoughts

At Connections, compassion is at the heart of our care. Experience the difference that a premier mental health facility can make on your path to recovery.

Contact us at 844-759-0999 to learn more about the resources and support available for those who have personality disorders.

Sources

[1] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9636-personality-disorders-overview

[2] https://medlineplus.gov/personalitydisorders.html

[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizoid-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354414?p=1

[4] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies