19: DISORDERS Flashcards
Cluster A
Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal
Cluster B
Antisocial, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Borderline
Personality Disorders VS Mental Disorders
Unlike symptoms, traits do not come and go.
- Traits are ego-syntonic: consistent with sense of self
- Symptoms are ego-dystonic: unwanted, inconsistent with sense of self
Criteria for Definition of PDs
- Occupational impairment
- Social impairment
- Subjective personal distress
What is Abnormal?
- Statistical: different from normal. can statistically determine through rarity
- Social: looking within individuals & subjective feelings
- Psychological: disorganized thoughts, unusual beliefs & attitudes
The DSM-5
- Change from a categorical view to a dimensional view (as a continuum) where only the extreme ends cause problems to one’s self
- Ultimately decided to make no changes to the way personality disorders were defined, maintaining a categorical model of personality disorders
Criteria for PD: Enduring pattern of behaviour deviating markedly from culture
This pattern is manifest in two or more of the following areas:
Cognition (ways of perceiving and interpreting the self, others, and events)
Affectivity (the range, intensity, ability, and appropriateness of emotional responses)
Interpersonal functioning
Impulse control
The Effect of Context in PD
- Social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds must be taken into account
Ex: Adjustment to society problems may appear as disorders - Age must be taken into account
Ex: Most adolescents experiment with various identities, therefore we try to refrain from diagnosing under 18 - Undergoing severe loss
- Gender: some disorders are diagnosed more often in one gender than the other. Can reflect underlying sex differences in how people cope
- Males exhibit more externalizing problems (fighting, vandalism) where women deal with internalized problems like depression and self harm
Statistics of PD
10-13% of the general population (Wiessman)
Some are rare (narcissistic PD <1%)
Some more common (schiotypal 3-5%)
Onset is difficult to determine; there’s gradual development in childhood
Traits of Cluster A
Traits that combine to make people socially uncomfortable, and appear to act in highly unusual ways in the presence of others. Some have no interest in others, some are very uncomfortable with others
Traits of Cluster B
Tend to have trouble with emotional control and experience difficulties getting along with others. Often appear dramatic and emotional, exhibiting unpredictable behaviour.
Neurotic Paradox
Fact that those with disorders often exhibit behaviours that exacerbate, rather than lessen, their problems. For example, those with Borderline who are concerned with abandonment throw rage in a manner that drives them away.
Paranoid PD Symptoms
> Extremely distrustful of others
Misinterpreting social events (thinks everyone is out to get them) looking for hidden meanings and motivations in others
Resentment toward others
Pathological jealousy: suspecting it with no evidence
Argumentative and hostile nature
Treatment for Paranoid PD
- Development of trust
- CBT to counter negativistic thinking
Schizoid PD symptoms
Void: Devoided of pleasure and connections
> Detached from normal social relationships
> Pleasureless life and in socializing
> Inept or socially clumsy
> Passive in the face of unpleasant events
- Preference to solitary jobs & hobbies
- Little pleasure from sensory experiences like eating or having sex
- Does not respond to social cues (inept or clumsy)
Causes of Schizoid PD
Possible link to autism: low density of dopamine receptors
People from some cultures react to stress in a way that looks like schizoid
Treatment of Schizoid PD
Therapy: model emotions, social skill training
Schizotypal PD symptoms
> Anxious in social relations and avoids people
Different and noncomforting
Eccentricity of beliefs
Disorganized thoughts and speech
- Uncomfortable in social relationships
- Anxious in social situations
- Tend to be suspicious of others
- Odd & eccentric
Schizotypal Causes
Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorder both take their root from schizophrenia and are closely tied to the history of the making of this category. These PDs exhibit low-grade nonpsychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.
- Comorbid with major depression
> Schizotypal is genetically similar to schizophrenia
> 1st degree relatives are more likely to exhibit features of schizotypal than the average
Treatment for Schizotypal
- Social skill training, reduce isolation
- Antipsychotics
Antisocial PD Symptoms
Antisocial means that they have a lack of concern for social norms
> Failure for concern of social norms
> Repeated lying
- General disregard for others and care little about other’s feelings
- Deceitfulness, manipulativeness and impulsivity
- Irritability or aggressiveness
- Reckless disregard for safety
- Consistent irresponsibility
- Lack of remorse
- Assaultive
Explanations for Psychopathy
> Evidence of reduced prefrontal connectivity in psychopaths, including less activity between amygdala and the prefrontal cortex (responsible for guilt & empathy)
May explain the tendency for psychopaths to display reduced fear responses and reduced guilt/remorse.
Victims of childhood abuse have higher rates of psychopathy years later
Those displaying psychopathic traits were more likely to have experienced neglect
Is the observed fearlessness of a psychopath also the result of a desensitization process, being exposed to violence or other antisocial behaviour?