Week 4 - Discussion Forum 2 A If personality disorders are maladaptive personality traits that interfere with functioning, should they be considered to be "mental disorders"? Are they disorders in the same sense as agoraphobia or bipolar disorder? Or are they instead just a reflection of the individual's personality? Does calling such behavior a disorder excuse it and allow the individual not to take responsibility for his or her behavior (as some have asserted regarding the controversial proposed diagnosis, sadistic personality disorder)?