Personality Disorders Rehab: Treatment for Symptoms, Causes, & More

Everyone has personality traits that shape their thoughts, feelings, and relationships with others. But people living with personality disorders deal with rigid and unhealthy traits that affect their relationships, work, and daily life.

Fortunately, mental health rehab programs can help you understand your patterns, deal with stress, and build healthier ways to cope.

Learn how personality disorder rehab works, the care available, and how you or a loved one can take the next step toward better mental health.

Rehab for personality disorder provides structured, evidence-based care to help you manage distress, improve relationships, and find a stable sense of self.

Rehab can also be tailored to the type of personality disorder you have. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), there are 10 recognized types of personality disorders divided into three clusters.

These clusters include:

• Cluster A personality disorders: Odd or eccentric behaviors. Includes paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder.
• Cluster B personality disorders: Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors. Includes borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.
• Cluster C personality disorders: Anxious or fearful behaviors. Includes avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

Personality disorders often begin in early adulthood and can co-occur with other mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, and substance use disorder.

In a mental rehab program, personality disorder treatment includes:

• Personalized treatment plans based on your diagnosis:
• One-on-one group and psychotherapy sessions
• Medication management
• Support in repairing interpersonal relationships
• Education about symptoms and tools for healing

Working with a trained mental health professional, you can gain a deeper understanding of your behavior patterns and discover new ways to think and cope.

Symptoms can vary based on the type of personality disorder. Many symptoms involve challenges with emotional response, behavior, and relating to others.

Other common symptoms of personality disorders include:

• Unstable moods or extreme mood swings
• Difficulty trusting others and maintaining close relationships
• Distorted self-image
• Low self-esteem
• Intense fear of abandonment
• Impulsive behavior or risky decision-making
• Patterns of perfectionism or control
• Beliefs not rooted in reality, like magical thinking or psychosis

These symptoms can cause significant distress in relationships and daily life. In a rehab center, therapy and other techniques can help build emotional stability and shift harmful patterns of thinking.

Untreated personality disorders can lead to various negative outcomes. These outcomes may lead to issues with health, safety, and quality of life.

Common side effects of personality disorders include:

• Conflict with family members or others
• Poor work or school performance
• Self-harming behaviors
• Suicidal thoughts
• Drug use or alcohol use to cope with emotional difficulties
• Physical symptoms like chest pain, elevated heart rate, or palpitations
• Legal issues due to disregarding the rights of others
• Co-occurring issues like schizophrenia, OCD, or post-traumatic stress disorder

Mental rehab can help address these complications through therapy, medication, and peer support. This provides you with the tools to support your overall mental and physical well-being.

Rehab programs tailor care to the specific mental illness or personality disorder diagnosed. Here is a look at some common treatment options by type of personality disorder.

People with antisocial personality disorder often violate social norms, have impulsivity problems, and engage in negative behaviors, showing little to no remorse.

Treating antisocial personality disorder helps people learn to manage their behavioral issues and understand natural consequences of their actions.

Treatment for antisocial personality disorder may include:

• Long-term psychotherapy to address behavior patterns
• Structured residential programs to support accountability and routine
• Medication when necessary

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves unstable moods, a shaky sense of self, and intense fears of abandonment.

Treatment focuses on helping people with BPD learn to manage moods and address these fears.

Treatment for BPD may include:

• Behavioral modalities like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are used to teach emotional regulation skills
• Group therapy to improve interpersonal relationships
• Medication for related or co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety disorders

Narcissistic personality disorder can be characterized by a lack of empathy and fragile self-esteem hidden beneath a high sense of self-importance.

Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder can include:

• Talk therapy to explore self-worth and reduce dependence on external validation
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to change rigid thinking patterns
• Group therapy and structured feedback to encourage empathy

There are a number of other personality disorders as well, though less commonly known. Mental health rehab programs can help people battling all types of these disorders.

Other personality disorders treated in rehab include:

• Paranoid personality disorder: Treated with CBT to reduce mistrust
• Schizoid personality disorder: Therapy focuses on comfort in social situations
• Schizotypal personality disorder: May require psychiatric care for psychosis or disordered thinking
• Avoidant personality disorder: Therapy supports confidence in social and work settings
• Dependent personality disorder: Encourages decision-making and self-confidence
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: Treatment targets rigidity and perfectionism

Most people with personality disorders benefit from a mix of treatment approaches. At a mental rehab center, you can find flexible levels of care and tailored treatment plans to help support long-term personality disorder recovery.

In residential treatment, you stay at a facility and receive round-the-clock care. This option is best for people with severe personality disorder symptoms or a dual diagnosis.

Those with cluster B personality disorders may especially benefit if they have symptoms like aggression or self-harm.

It can also be helpful for anyone who feels like they need a safe environment to heal without the distractions of the outside world.

Inpatient services for personality disorders may include:

• Daily therapy with licensed mental health professionals
• Medication management
• Peer support and life skills training
• Holistic services like yoga, art therapy, and mindfulness
• Case management to coordinate aftercare

Outpatient rehab for personality disorder allows you to receive ongoing, consistent care while living at home.

These programs are a good next step after residential treatment and are ideal for people who have more stable symptoms.

Levels of care for personality disorder include:

• Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): For full-day care, where you return home at night
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs): A step down from a PHP that offers long sessions several times per week
• Standard outpatient therapy: Ongoing and weekly psychotherapy

Outpatient treatment can provide ongoing support as long as you need it. While PHPs and IOPs have program timelines, standard outpatient therapy can be attended indefinitely.

Therapy is foundational to personality disorder rehab.

These sessions help you examine long-standing patterns of thinking, cope with distress, and work toward better self-image and functioning.

Effective types of therapy for people with personality disorders:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Used to help change negative patterns of thinking and behaviors
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Used to help with impulsivity, emotional distress, and self-harm
• Group therapy: Offers a supportive environment of peers, provides accountability, and gives real-time practice in managing interpersonal relationships and social situations
• Talk therapy: Helps explore trauma, relationships, and mental health history

Often, a combination of therapeutic approaches can be used to provide a comprehensive treatment approach.

There are various other approaches that can help with personality disorder treatment.

Some rehab programs also offer:

• Medications like antidepressants or mood stabilizers
• Family therapy to support close relationships
• Lifestyle guidance (diet, exercise, and sleep)
• Support for co-occurring conditions like substance use or schizophrenia

If you or a loved one is struggling with a personality disorder, it can be difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, there are free resources to help you.

Here are some trusted resources to support your personality disorder recovery:

• Personality Disorder Awareness Network: Dedicated to raising education and awareness of personality disorders and promoting early intervention.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Offers support groups, educational materials, and community events
• Mental Health America (MHA): Provides screenings, information, and advocacy
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Lists treatment centers and crisis lines

You don’t have to face the challenges of a personality disorder alone. The right treatment can help you regain balance and improve your relationships, health, and well-being.

Our network of top-reviewed rehab centers offers expert care, proven therapies, and compassionate support for people living with personality disorders. Find a program that fits your needs today.

Get started with a free consultation. Connect with PsyWeb now to speak with a live representative and discover the ideal treatment program for you or your loved one.