What is passive-aggressive personality disorder? Does passive-aggressive disorder have to do with other mental health and behavioral issues? Keep reading to learn how passive-aggressive personality disorder is defined or characterized.

How Does Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder Fit in With Other Mental Health Issues?

Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder, also called Negativistic Personality Disorder, used to be considered one of a group of long-term mental health issues that are characterized by thoughts and behaviors that may interfere with personal relationships, as well as school and work that are all referred to as personality disorders. Personality disorders is one of the main categories usually used to classify mental health issues. Personality disorders are a separate group from other commonly referred to categories, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and the various types of disorders that are considered behavior disorders, such as eating disorders, substance-abuse disorders, Attention-deficit and disruptive disorders, etc., although people with personality disorders frequently exhibit behaviors that are disruptive.

The personality disorders are characterized by the behaviors that accompany them. This group is separate from the main listing of personality disorders, which includes Paranoid personality disorder, Schizoid personality disorder, Schizotypal personality disorder, Antisocial personality disorder, Borderline personality disorder, Histrionic personality disorder, Narcissistic personality disorder, Avoidant personality disorder, Dependent personality disorder, and Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) lists 'specific personality disorders'—a subgroup of the main category 'Disorders of adult personality and behavior,' and the breakdown of the different types of personality disorders is somewhat different. Passive-aggressive personality disorder is specifically listed under F60.8, Other specific personality disorders, along with the types of disorder referred to as eccentric, "haltlose", immature, narcissistic, and psychoneurotic.

However, here's where a complication comes in. Recall that in the first sentence, I used the past tense. In the DSM-III-R (third edition, revised), Passive-aggressive personality disorder was included as a distinct listing. It was removed to Appendix B (items that require further study) in the DSM-IV. Rather than a mental illness, the DSM-IV describe passive-aggressiveness as a pattern of passive resistance and negative attitudes, so, "just" a behavior pattern or personality trait, not a mental illness.

How is Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder Characterized?

The exact causes that result in personality disorders are unknown, but it is thought that genetics and environmental factors contribute. It generally manifests by the time a person is in early adulthood. A person with Passive-aggressive personality disorder often resists taking directions and otherwise cooperating with authorities not by direct resistance but by indirect means, such as procrastinating and purposefully making inefficient choices, and they have a pessimistic outlook. Feeling unappreciated and misunderstood, they complain frequently. They may alternate between defiance and apologies. The negative attitudes often displayed earned it its alternate name.

Other typical characteristics include:

• missing deadlines
• arriving late
• making excuses
• having memory lapses that interfere with the progress of projects

Sources

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