7.1.2 Personality Disorders Flashcards
What developmental traumatic event is often seen in the history of patients with borderline personality disorder?
Childhood sexual abuse
Which personality disorder has compromise of temporal lobe and basal striato-thalamic structures?
Schizotypal
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: Obsessive compulsive personality disorder
Characterized by rigid conformity to rules, perfectionism and control (least pathological, moralistic, diligent, responds well to therapy)
How does stress relate to the hippocampus?
Increased stress/cortisol = reduced bilateral hippocampal volumes
How are cluster C personality disorders described? What disorders fall into this category?
“Anxious, Avoidant and Fearful” Cluster
Obsessive-Compulsive, Dependent, Avoidant Personality Disorder
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: Dependent
Pervasive psychological need to be cared for by other people
What are some personality disorders with greater response to CBT-spectrum counseling?
Borderline (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
Obsessive-compulsice
Avoidant
Dependent
Dysfunction of prefrontal-limbic circuits is associated with which two personality disorders?
Antisocial and Borderline (lower volume of hippocampus, LPFC, cingulate in borderline)
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: Avoidant
Cluster C
Pervasive feelings of social inhibition and inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation
Strong social anxiety
What is the pharmacological treatment for personality disorders?
There aren’t any approved by the FDA at this point
What are the three core features of a personality disorder?
Present by adolescence (age 15)
Pervasive and inflexible
Associated with impaired functioning (social, occupational)
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: Paranoid
Cluster A
Characterized by a pattern of irrational suspicion and mistrust of others, interpreting motivations as malevolent
How are cluster A personality disorders described? What disorders fall into this category?
“Odd or Eccentric” Cluster
Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal Personality Disorder
How are cluster B personality disorders described? What disorders fall into this category?
(B for big group b/c it has more than 3)
“Dramatic, Emotional, Erratic” Cluster
Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, Antisocial Personality disorder
What does this graph show?
This graph shows increased amygdala response in BPD and SPD as compared to the control. This is thought to be due to the fact that the healthy controls have a more robust response throughout the whole brain rather than localized to the amygdala.
What are the general signs of a personality disorder in a patient?
Frequent mood swings, stormy relationships, social isolation, angry outbursts, suspicion and mistrust of others, difficulty making friends, a need for instant gratification, poor impulse control, alcohol or substance abuse
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: histrionic
Cluster B
Pervasive pattern of attention-seeking behavior and excessive emotions
Seduction/manipulation of others
Ex: giving an excessively long toast at someone else’s wedding to gain attention
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: Antisocial
Cluster B
Pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, lack of empathy; must first have hx of Conduct Disorder during childhood
What are some of the brain areas that may contribute to the clinnical manifestation of personality disorders? In regards to cortisol.
PFC - executive functions, emotion regulation (controlled)
OFC - executive functions, emotion regulation (controlled)
ACC - emotion regulation (automatic)
HPC - memory function
What developmental traumatic event(s) is often seen in the history of patients with antisocial personality disorder?
Childhood psychological abuse, parental marital abuse, poverty, foster care
What are some personality disorders with less response to psychotherapy?
Cluster A spectrum, antisocial personality disorder
What is acceptance according to Marsha Linehan?
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: Narcissistic
Cluster B
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (profound self love), need for admiration, and a lack of empathy
What are common comorbidities associated with personality disorders?
Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders
Adjustment Problems
Substance abuse
Frequent ER visits
Social problems
Illegal activities
Poor inflexible coping strategies
Identify the cardinal features and typical traits for the following personality disorders and be able to identify them in a vignette: Borderline
Cluster B
Pervasive pattern of instability in relationships, self-image, identity, behavior and affect often leading to self-harm and impulsivity
Often mistaken for Bipolar Mood Disorder (Borderline patients react negatively to stimuli; bipolar is organic and happening on its own)
What is a personality disorder?
When personality features are extreme or skewed they can be maladaptive/inflexible and represent a disorder that requires treatment
