Chapter 13 - Personality

Question 1

What is a personality disorder?

Answer 1

-A persistent pattern of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors causing significant distress or functional impairment, as listed in the DSM-5-TR with 10 specific disorders.

Question 2

Why is the category of personality disorders controversial?

Answer 2

-It involves debate between categorical (type) and dimensional (degree) models, with the Five-Factor Model used to measure “normal” personality traits for better understanding.

Question 3

How are personality disorders categorized in the DSM-5-TR?

Answer 3

Into three clusters:

Cluster A: Odd or eccentric
Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, erratic
Cluster C: Anxious, fearful

Question 4

What is the worldwide prevalence of personality disorders?

Answer 4

-7.8% (higher in high-income countries).

Question 5

How does gender bias affect personality disorder diagnoses?

Answer 5

-Histrionic Personality Disorder: Biased against females.
-Antisocial Personality Disorder: Biased against males.

Question 6

What is comorbidity in the context of personality disorders?

Answer 6

-The presence of more than one disorder or disease in the same person.

Question 7

What are the three personality disorders in Cluster A?

Answer 7

-Paranoid Personality Disorder
-Schizoid Personality Disorder
-Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Question 8

What is Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Answer 8

-A disorder characterized by mistrust and suspicion of others without justification, often leading to hostility, argumentativeness, or social withdrawal.

Question 9

What causes Paranoid Personality Disorder, and how is it treated?

Answer 9

-Causes: Genetics, relatives with schizophrenia, childhood trauma, or cognitive cultural factors.
-Treatment: Cognitive therapy to change mistaken assumptions about others.

Question 10

What is Schizoid Personality Disorder?

Answer 10

-detachment, no desire for relationships, emotionally cold

Question 11

What causes Schizoid Personality Disorder, and how is it treated?

Answer 11

-Causes: Childhood shyness, abuse, neglect, or biological factors like low dopamine receptor density.
Treatment: Social skills training (e.g., role-playing), though outcomes are often limited.

Question 12

What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder?

Answer 12

-odd or eccentric behaviours, paranoia, unusual beliefs

Question 13

What causes Schizotypal Personality Disorder, and how is it treated?

Answer 13

-Causes: Genetics, brain abnormalities, left hemisphere damage, and issues in semantic association abilities (linked to magical ideation).
Treatment: Antipsychotic medication, community treatment, social skills training, CBT, and treatment for depression.

Question 14

What are the four personality disorders in Cluster B?

Answer 14

-Antisocial Personality Disorder
-Borderline Personality Disorder
-Histrionic Personality Disorder
-Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Question 15

What is Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Answer 15

-A disorder marked by aggressive, deceitful behavior, lack of remorse, substance abuse, and risk-taking, often beginning as conduct disorder in children.

Question 16

What causes ASPD?

Answer 16

-Genetics: Gene-environment interaction, chronic family stress.
-Neurobiology: Low cortical arousal, fearlessness, deficient MAOA gene.
-Social/Psychological Factors: Inept parental discipline, abuse, and failure to abandon unattainable goals.

Question 17

How is ASPD treated and prevented?

Answer 17

-Treatment: Parent training, CBT, and multifaceted programs for juvenile offenders.
Prevention: Preschool programs combining good parenting skills and family support.

Question 18

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Answer 18

-A disorder characterized by unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, emotional dysregulation, self-mutilating behaviors, and high suicide risk.

Question 19

What causes BPD?

Answer 19

-Biology: Genetics and mood disorder links.
-Trauma: Childhood abuse, early trauma, and PTSD-like experiences.
-Cognition: Negative memory biases.

Question 20

How is BPD treated?

Answer 20

-Medications: Antipsychotics and antidepressants.
Therapies: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), PTSD-based approaches, and couples therapy in some cases.

Question 21

What is Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Answer 21

-A disorder involving dramatic, theatrical behavior, self-centeredness, impulsivity, and excessive concern with physical appearance, often overdiagnosed in women.

Question 22

What causes Histrionic Personality Disorder, and how is it treated?

Answer 22

-Causes: Co-occurs with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Treatment: Focus on improving interpersonal relationships and teaching appropriate ways to meet needs.

Question 23

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Answer 23

-A disorder characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, lack of compassion, arrogance, envy, and frequent depression.

Question 24

What causes NPD, and how is it treated?

Answer 24

Causes: Failure of parental empathetic “mirroring,” leading to fixation at a self-centered developmental stage.
Treatment: CBT, coping strategies (e.g., relaxation training, accepting criticism), fostering empathy, and treating depression.

Question 25

What are the three personality disorders in Cluster C?

Answer 25

-Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Question 26

What is Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Answer 26

-A disorder marked by interpersonal anxiety, fear of rejection, pessimism, and social alienation often stemming from low self-esteem.

Question 27

What causes Avoidant Personality Disorder, and how is it treated?

Answer 27

-Causes: Difficult temperament, parental rejection, uncritical love, and an overactive behavioral inhibition system.
Treatment:
Social skills training
CBT with gradual exposure to fears
Systematic desensitization
Behavioral rehearsal
Anxiety-related medical interventions

Question 28

What is Dependent Personality Disorder?

Answer 28

-A disorder involving interpersonal dependence, anxiety, submissiveness, sensitivity to criticism, and a strong need for reassurance and relationships.

Question 29

What causes Dependent Personality Disorder, and how is it treated?

Answer 29

-Causes: Early childhood disruptions leading to fears of abandonment, high sociotropic traits, and low individualistic achievement traits.
Treatment: Building confidence and ensuring the patient does not over-rely on the therapist.

Question 30

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Answer 30

-A disorder characterized by rigidity, poor interpersonal relationships, and a relentless pursuit of perfectionism.

Question 31

What causes OCPD, and how is it treated?

Answer 31

-Causes: Genetic predisposition.
Treatment: Relaxation techniques and CBT to reframe compulsive thoughts.

Question 32

What is Sadistic Personality Disorder?

Answer 32

• A proposed disorder where individuals gain pleasure from inflicting pain on others.

Question 33

What is Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder?

Answer 33

-A proposed disorder involving defiance and refusal to cooperate with requests.

Question 34

Why are Sadistic and Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorders not in the DSM-5 or DSM-5-TR?

Answer 34

-Their existence is still controversial, so they are not officially recognized.