Chapter 19 discusses disorders of personality. The authors begin with an overview of the concept of disorder, noting that a psychological disorder is a pattern of behavior or experience that is distressing and painful to the person, leads to some disability or impairment in important life domains, and is associated with increased risk for further suffering, loss of function, death, or confinement. The authors then review the concepts of "abnormal" and "psychopathology."

Next, the authors discuss the concept of personality disorder, providing a definition and description based on current thinking in Western psychiatry. The authors then differentiate categorical and dimensional approaches to psychopathology, in general, and personality disorders, in particular. The authors then discuss the importance of context, especially culture, age, and gender, in defining what is and what is not abnormal or a disorder.

Next, the authors then review the 10 specific personality disorders recognized by Western psychiatry. The erratic cluster of personality disorders includes 1) antisocial personality disorder, 2) borderline personality disorder, 3) histrionic personality disorder, and 4) narcissistic personality disorder. These four disorders are defined by "ways of being" that are unpredictable, violent, or emotional. The next cluster of personality disorders, the eccentric cluster, includes disorders that are defined by ways of being that are odd, different, or peculiar. The eccentric cluster includes schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder. Finally, the anxious cluster of personality disorders includes disorders that are defined by ways of being that are nervous, fearful, or distressed. The anxious cluster includes avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. The authors close with a brief review of some of the proposed causes of personality disorders.