Chapter 13 Personality

Question 1

What is a personality disorder?

Answer 1

Persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, behaviour resulting in enduring emotional distress for affected person and others

Distress may (or may not) be subjective; causes significant functional impairment.

Question 2

How many specific personality disorders are listed in the DSM-5-TR?

Answer 2

10 specific personality disorders.

Question 3

Personality disorders are problems of degree in what sense?

Answer 3

The problems of people with personality disorders may just be extreme versions of the problems many of us experience on a temporary basis. So they just experience the problem to a greater degree than most.

Question 4

What is the downside of using categorical, either you do or you do not have a disorder model of the DSM?

Answer 4

The DSM does not rate how obsessive you are; if you meet the criteria, you are labelled as having obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. No in-between is possible when it comes to personality disorders.

Question 5

What is the five factor model used for and what are the 5 factors?

Answer 5

It’s a model to measure personality traits based on people’s levels of…
N = neuroticism
E = extraversion
O = openness to experience
A = agreeableness
C = conscientiousness.

Question 6

What are the three clusters of personality disorders according to DSM-5-TR?

Answer 6

• Cluster A: odd or eccentric
• Cluster B: dramatic, emotional, erratic
• Cluster C: anxious, fearful.

Question 7

What is the worldwide prevalence of personality disorders as of 2020?

Answer 7

8%

Question 8

Histrionic personality disorder is most often diagnosed in — whereas antisocial personality disorder is more common in —-

Answer 8

Females, males

Question 9

Is comorbidity common for people with personality disorders?

Answer 9

Very common, people often have more than 1 with overlapping symptoms

Question 10

Does diagnosis of personality disorder often lead to improved treatment?

Answer 10

No, so people are often hesitant to diagnose these

Question 11

TED talk on personality disorder:

Answer 11

-All of the traits of personality disorders may be linked to endurance hunting

-Found that some of the most successful people in history have these traits Ex. Killer VS cardiac surgeon need same traits

-Most scientists have very schizoid personality

Question 12

What are the cluster A personality disorders?

Answer 12

1. Paranoid personality disorder
2. Schizoid personality disorder
3. Schizotypal personality disorder

Question 13

Which personality disorder is characterized by suspiciousness and mistrust of others?

Answer 13

Paranoid Personality Disorder.

These people are often argumentative, hostile, and suicidal

Question 14

What is the best treatment for paranoid personality disorder?

Answer 14

Cognitive therapy to change the mistaken assumptions about others

This is very difficult because these people often have a very solidified view of life already

Question 15

What are the key symptoms of Schizoid Personality Disorder?

Answer 15

• Detachment from social relationships
• No desire to enjoy closeness with others
• Cold, aloof demeanor.
  *Choose difficulty because it feels homey

Question 16

What are some potential causes of schizoid personality disorder?

Answer 16

-Childhood shyness
-Abuse and neglect
-Low density dopamine receptors

Question 17

What treatment is commonly used for Schizoid Personality Disorder?

Answer 17

Social skills training involving role playing

Question 18

What are the clinical features of Schizotypal Personality Disorder?

Answer 18

• Social deficits
• Psychotic-like symptoms
• Cognitive impairments/paranoia.
  *Hypersensitive to criticism as kids
  *Hyper Defensive

They often have ideas of reference and report some unsualpereptual experiences

Question 19

What are ideas of reference for schizotypal personality disorder?

Answer 19

The feeling that ordinary events have a special, personal meaning or significance, directed towards them.

Question 20

What are some causes of schizotypal personality disorder?

Answer 20

-Genetics
-LH damage
-Abnormal semantic association abilities

Question 21

What is the treatment for schizotypal personality disorder?

Answer 21

Antipsychotic medication, community treatment, social skills training, CBT treatment for depression

Question 22

What are the cluster B disorders classified as?

Answer 22

Dramatic

Question 23

What are the cluster B disorders?

Answer 23

1. Antisocial
2. Borderline
3. Histrionic
4. Narcissistic

Question 24

What is a key characteristic of Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Answer 24

Aggressive, lying, cheating, no remorse.

Basically a psychopath

Question 25

True or false: Antisocial personality behaviour predicts future criminal offences

Answer 25

True

Question 26

What is antisocial personality disorder diagnosed as if its seen in kids?

Answer 26

Conduct disorder

Question 27

What genetic influences are associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Answer 27

* The interaction between gene-environment * Chronic stress in family.

Question 28

What are 3 neurobiological influences on the development of antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 28

1) Underarousal hypothesis -> Not enough cortical arousal 2) Fearlessness hypothesis -> Threshold for fear is too high 3) Not enough MAOA so person cannot deplete NTs

Question 29

What are some of the psychological and social influences on the development of antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 29

-Person will not abandon unattainable goals -Parents let child get what they want always -Physical abuse

Question 30

What is the integrative approach to understanding antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 30

It is due to a complex mix of genetic vulnerability, brain-based traits (like fearlessness and reward sensitivity), and negative environmental influences (like family stress and peer rejection) interact to shape antisocial behavior over time.

Question 31

What is the treatment for antisocial personality disorder

Answer 31

-Parent training -CBT -Preschool parenting skill/support program

Question 32

What are the characteristics of borderline personality disorder?

Answer 32

Unstable mood, turbulent relationships, fear of abandonment, self harm, and no control over emotions

Question 33

What are the causes of borderline personality disorder?

Answer 33

-Genetics -Memory bias for negative thoughts -Childhood sexual abuse -Experiencing rapid cultural change

Question 34

What are some treatments for borderline personality disorder?

Answer 34

Antipsychotics Antidepressants -DBT to reduce suicide attempts -Couples therapy

Question 35

What is a common therapy treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Answer 35

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).

Question 36

What are the characteristics of Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Answer 36

* Dramatic, theatrical * Self-centred, vain * Seek constant reassurance.

Question 37

What are the causes of histrionic personality disorder?

Answer 37

The same as causes for antisocial personality disorder

Question 38

What are the treatments for histrionic personality disorder?

Answer 38

-Improving interpersonal relationships -Teaching appropriate methods for negotiating wants and needs

Question 39

What is characteristic of narcissistic personality disorder?

Answer 39

An unreasonable sense of self importance and no compassion for others, often depressed

Question 40

What causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Answer 40

Failure of empathetic 'mirroring' from parents leads the child to stay in the grandiose stage of development

Question 41

What are the treatments for narcissistic personality disorder?

Answer 41

CBT, coping strategies, empathizing, and treatment for depression

Question 42

What are the cluster C personality disorders?

Answer 42

1. Avoidant 2. Dependent 3. Obsessive-Compulsive

Question 43

What is a primary feature of Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Answer 43

Interpersonally anxious, pessimistic about future, and fear of rejection.

Question 44

What are the causes of avoidant personality disorder?

Answer 44

-Person is born with difficult temperament and feels alienated -Person has an overactive behavioural inhibition system (so they avoid social situations because they are always inhibited)

Question 45

What treatment techniques are used for Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Answer 45

* Social skills training * CBT: graduated exposure to feared situations. *Systematic desensitization by trying to stay calm in the feared situation *Behavioural rehearsal: Patients act out the anxiety causing situations

Question 46

What are the main characteristics of Dependent Personality Disorder?

Answer 46

* Interpersonally dependent * Anxious * Cling to relationships.

Question 47

What are the causes of dependent personality disorder?

Answer 47

-May have had disruption in childhood that lead to fears of abandonment -Have high sociotropic traits (focused on others rather than own self) and low individualistic

Question 48

What is the treatment for dependent personality disorder?

Answer 48

Developing confidence without having the patient rely on the therapist too much

Question 49

What is the clinical description of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Answer 49

Rigidity, poor interpersonal relationships, quest for perfectionism. Always needing to work with no access to leisure mode.

Question 50

What is the cause of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Answer 50

Genetics

Question 51

What is the treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Answer 51

-Relaxation techniques -CBT to reframe compulsive thoughts

Question 52

What are sadistic and passive-aggressive personality disorders?

Answer 52

* Sadistic: receiving pleasure by inflicting pain on others * Passive-aggressive: defiance and refusal to cooperate with requests.

Question 53

True or False: The existence of sadistic and passive-aggressive personality disorders is universally accepted in the DSM-5.

Answer 53

False.