Personality disorders are a group of enduring psychiatric conditions characterised by patterns of inner experience and behaviour that deviate significantly from cultural expectations, are pervasive and inflexible, and cause significant distress or impairment in functioning.
Unlike episodic conditions — where there are periods of illness and remission — personality disorders describe the underlying structure of a person's psychology. They affect how a person thinks about themselves and others, how they manage emotions, and how they relate and behave across situations. Because these patterns often feel ego-syntonic — consistent with the person's sense of self — they are frequently not recognised as a clinical condition until their consequences have caused significant harm.
The most clinically significant presentations seen at IsraClinic:
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) — intense instability in emotions, self-image, and relationships; fear of abandonment; impulsive behaviour; self-harm; and recurrent suicidal ideation. BPD has a strong evidence base for specific treatments.
Narcissistic personality disorder — pervasive grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, often co-occurring with significant underlying vulnerability.
Antisocial personality disorder — persistent disregard for the rights of others, with patterns of deceitfulness, impulsivity, and lack of remorse.
Avoidant personality disorder — pervasive social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation leading to significant restriction.
Dependent personality disorder — excessive need for care, difficulty making independent decisions, and intense fear of abandonment.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder — distinct from OCD — pervasive preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility.
Personality disorders frequently co-occur with depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and substance use — and may complicate the presentation and treatment of these conditions if not identified.
Diagnosing personality disorders requires careful, comprehensive assessment — not a checklist applied in a single consultation. The clinical interview explores the patient's long-standing patterns of thinking, emotion, and behaviour; developmental history; the impact of early experiences; and the relationship between personality factors and any current symptoms.
Psychological assessment using projective and structured testing provides essential information about the patient's underlying psychological structure — information that is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Differential diagnosis is important: personality disorder features overlap with each other and with episodic conditions. Accurate formulation of the personality structure improves clinical outcomes in all co-occurring conditions.
Personality disorders are among the most treatment-responsive conditions when the right approach is applied — but they require a different therapeutic framework from episodic psychiatric conditions.
Schema Therapy is one of the most evidence-based treatments for personality disorders, particularly BPD, avoidant, and other cluster C presentations. Schema therapy works directly with the deep cognitive and emotional patterns — schemas and modes — that underlie the personality structure.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is specifically designed for borderline personality disorder and has the strongest evidence base for this presentation. DBT addresses emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, self-harm, and interpersonal difficulties through a structured combination of individual therapy and skills training.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy addresses the unconscious relational patterns and developmental roots of personality difficulties, appropriate for a range of presentations.
Pharmacotherapy does not treat the personality disorder itself but may be indicated for co-occurring symptoms — mood instability, depression, or anxiety — and is prescribed individually. Digital prescriptions are issued through the Yarpa system.
All treatment follows the Psychoergonomic Method — ensuring the therapeutic approach is built around this specific patient's psychological structure, history, and clinical needs.
If persistent patterns of emotional instability, relationship difficulties, self-destructive behaviour, or pervasive dissatisfaction are affecting your life — a specialist assessment is appropriate. Personality disorders respond to the right treatment, and early engagement tends to produce better outcomes.
IsraClinic accepts patients for in-person consultation in Tel Aviv and online, in English, Russian and Hebrew. No referral is required.
Clinical Reviewer: Dr. Mark Zevin, MD — Senior Psychiatrist, IsraClinic | Last reviewed: 2026
Long-standing patterns of emotional difficulty or relationship struggles deserve proper clinical attention. If you would like to discuss your situation, our team is available in English, Russian and Hebrew.