I use the approach and disciplines developed by Professor Masterson in my treatment of personality disorders. Dr. Masterson pioneered the developmental self and object relations approach to the psychotherapy of the Personality Disorders through clinical research. He is the founding father of The Society of Adolescent Psychiatry and past president of its New York Chapter and is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

DEFINITION

Personality disorders are pervasive chronic psychological disorders, which can greatly affect a person's life. Having a personality disorder can negatively affect one's work, one's family, and one's social life.

Personality disorders exists on a continuum so they can be mild to more severe in terms of how pervasive and to what extent a person exhibits the features of a particular personality disorder. While most people can live pretty normal lives with mild personality disorders (or more simply, personality traits), during times of increased stress or external pressures (work, family, a new relationship, etc.), the symptoms of the personality disorder will gain strength and begin to seriously interfere with their emotional and psychological functioning.

A very useful reference site for information on the Masterson approach to Personality Disorders is The Masterson Institute

References:
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.