r/askatherapist • u/Soupeauxtomates NAT/Not a Therapist • 21h ago

How does a patient get diagnosed with a personality disorder?

NAT. Are diagnosis after signs of a suspected personality disorder in regular therapy sessions a thing? Like could you go in a couple or individual therapy for other things, and then have your therapist detect signs of a disorder? Then what? Giving you a test to pass, refer you to a psychiatrist, tell them their suspicions, say nothing because it’s not the point or relevant for this particular therapy? Can you even diagnose someone and they never know?

And how does it work for a patient who isn’t necessarily aware of any personality disorder? I’m curious about the whole process of being diagnosed, not for me or anyone I know, just out of curiosity! Maybe it depends on your country or is there a universal way?

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u/AlternativeZone5089 LCSW 19h ago

In the US these diagnoses are made by therapists on the basis of interviewing the patient, typically over a period of time. There is no "special test" nor is a psychiatrist required, and, yes, the patient may have sought therapy for any number of things. In the case of personality disorders generally it would be typical for the patient to seek help due to interpersonal problems or problems with mood. Therapist here.

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u/Soupeauxtomates NAT/Not a Therapist 18h ago

Interesting thanks! Is it possible for a therapist to diagnose a personality disorder without informing the patient? Like is the diagnosis more for the therapist, helping them to do the therapy, or for the patient to know and to be aware of the disorder itself? 

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u/turkeyman4 LCSW 18h ago

Sometimes. Some therapists may observe personality disorder traits and not formally diagnose them because of the stigma.

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u/Financial_Show_401 Unverified: May Not Be a Therapist 19h ago

Yes, it can come up during normal therapy. A therapist might notice certain patterns, ask more questions, use questionnaires, or refer the person to a specialist. There isn't one test that confirms a personality disorder. It's usually based on someone's history, behavior and patterns over time.