General Personality Disorder

To be diagnosed with a Personality Disorder (PD), a person must meet the general criteria for a personality disorder. All PDs include this criteria; it's the specifics of the pattern of behaviour and thinking that change and are categorised as a particular PD.

1. Behaviour and ways of thinking that are outside of cultural expectations, including at least two of the following:
   1. Cognition: ways of perceiving and interpreting self, other people, and events;
   2. Emotion: the range, appropriateness, stability and/or intensity of emotions and emotional responses;
   3. Interpersonal functioning: the ability to create and maintain reciprocal social relationships;
   4. Impulse control
2. The behaviour and thinking is present in all aspects of life, not just in one area (e.g., doesn't only happen at work).
3. The behaviour and thinking causes distress and impairment in daily life.
4. The behaviour and thinking have been happening for a long time, and can be traced back to adolescence or early adulthood.
5. The behaviour and thinking can't be better explained by a different disorder and is not the result of another medical condition.