[A patient with personality disorder on a consultation visit]

Personality disorders are disorders of cerebral function, in which the regulation of emotions or impulse control has become disturbed in a manner that impairs the capacity for reciprocal personal relationships. Persons suffering from unstable personality are exceedingly sensitive in reading emotional states from faces. In a crisis situation it is helpful for the patient, if the physician attempts to catch what is valid in the patient's experience and actively messages such understanding to the patient. Supporting the expressions of grief, loneliness and desire for contact is important in treating narcissistic personality disorder.