Chapter 11: Personality Disorders Flashcards
What is the nature of personality disorders?
- enduring, inflexible predispositions
- maladaptive, causing distress and/or impairment
- high comorbidity
- poorer prognosis
* 5. ego-syntonic: patients don’t feel that treatment is necessary
Ego-syntonic
person feels the disorder is consistent with one’s identity; patients don’t feel that treatment is necessary.
“Kind”
traditionally assigned categories of personality disorders
“Degree”
additional dimensional model of personality disorders
individuals are rated on the degree to which they exhibit various personality traits
Cluster A
odd or *eccentric cluster
Cluster B
*dramatic, emotional, erratic cluster
Cluster C
fearful or *anxious cluster
Gender distribution and gender bias in personality disorder diagnosis
the exact same personality in a man and a woman is perceived differently based purely on gender
antisocial and histrionic
Antisocial
males usually classified as this
check textbook
Histrionic
females usually classified as this
check textbook
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Cluster A
Description: pervasive and unjustified mistrust and suspicion
Causes: early learning that people and the world are dangerous
Treatment: *no treatment study (very few people think they have a disorder so there is no study done to see what is effective and what isn’t), treatment focuses on development of trust, CBT to counter negativistic thinking
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Cluster A
Description: detachment from social relationships. very limited range of emotions in interpersonal situations.
Causes: childhood shyness, preference for social isolation resembles autism
Treatment: *no treatment study, focus on the value of interpersonal relationships, building empathy and social skills
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Cluster A
Description: detachment from reality, but not so much that it’s dysfunctional. Magical thinking, resembles a milder form of schizophrenia.
Causes: more likely to have this if one of parents has schizophrenia. check textbook
Treatment: main focus is on developing social skills, address comorbid depression (30% to 50% meet criteria for major depressive disorder), medical treatment is similar to schizophrenia treatment, treatment prognosis is generally poor.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Cluster B
Description: manipulating and not feeling bad about it. “sociopath” and “psychopath.” May be very charming, lack of a conscience, empathy, and remorse. High narcissism.
Causes: early histories of behavioral problems, including conduct disorder. Families with inconsistent parental discipline and support. Families often have histories of criminal and violent behavior.
Neurobiological factors…??
Treatment: often incarceration is the only viable alternative. may need to focus on practical (or selfish) consequences (e.g. ifs you rob someone, you’ll have to serve time)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Cluster B
Description: individuals who’s emotions are more variable than others, so they do extreme things (self-mutilation and suicideal gestures). Comorbidity high with other mental disorders (mood disorders)
Causes: High emotional reactivity, runs in families, impaired functioning of limbic system (maybe), early trauma/abuse play a causal role for some.
Treatment: THIS ONE IS TREATABLE. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT groups *textbook
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
treatment for borderline personality disorder that involves exposing the client to stressors in a controlled situation, as well as helping the client regulate emotions and cope with stressors that might trigger suicidal behavior
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Cluster B
Description: Uses sexuality to get attention (more common in females)
Causes: unknown?? Variant of antisocial personality expressed in more feminine way?
Treatment: Focus on attention seeking and long-term negative consequences, targets may also include problematic interpersonal behaviors. No treatment study.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Cluster B
Description: exaggerated and unreasonable sense of self-importance. Preoccupation with receiving attention. Lack sensitivity and compassion for other people. Highly sensitive to criticism; envious, and arrogant.
Causes: failure to learn empathy as a child
Treatment: Focus on grandiosity, lack of empathy, unrealistic thinking. No treatment study.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Cluster C
Description: Social phobia forever. Extreme sensitivity to the opinions of others. Highly avoidant of most interpersonal relationships. Are interpersonally anxious and fearful of rejection. Low self esteem.
Causes: difficult temperament and early rejection
Treatment: Treatment is similar to social phobia. Targets include social skills and anxiety.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Cluster C
Description: Reliance on others to make major and minor life decisions. Unreasonable fear of abandonment. Clingy and submissive in interpersonal relationships
Causes: Largely unclear. Linked to early disruptions in learning independence.
Treatment: No treatment study. Therapy typically progresses gradually. Targets include skills that foster independence.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Cluster C
Description: Person needs to be perfect and needs all things to be perfect. Highly perfectionistic, orderly, and emotionally shallow.
Causes: Largely unknown. Weak genetic link.
Treatment: No treatment study. Address fears related to the need for orderliness. Rumination, procrastination, and feelings of inadequacy.
What are the two personality disorders that can be treated?
Borderline personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder.
