Personality disorders Where personality goes awry A multifaceted research approach is providing more clues to the origins of personality disorders. BY CHARLOTTE HUFF Monitor staff Print version: page 42 Over the years, few large-scale prospective studies have targeted the causes of personality disorders (PDs). But recently, a new body of research has begun to explore the potential influences of several factors, from genetics and parenting to peer influences, and even the randomness of life events. Indeed, …showed first 75 words of 1588 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1588 total…than a few causes even for a single personality disorder, says Millon, dean of the Florida-based Institute for Advanced Studies in Personology and Psychopathology. Narrowing down potential causes will help psychologists more quickly isolate what might be influencing a particular patient, he says. Millon explains: "Once you identify the one cause that seems most probable and most significant, then you can design your therapy in order to unlearn what seemed most problematic for that individual."