Chapter 6: Personality Disorders

Question 1

What is the general descriptor of a personality disorder?

Answer 1

• Inflexible or maladaptive behavior patterns.
• Cause significant personal distress.
• Impaired functioning.

Question 2

When do personality disorders typically become evident?

Answer 2

In adolescence and early adulthood, but continue on through much of adult life.

Question 3

What is the biggest difficulty with treating personality disorders?

Answer 3

Traits become so ingrained in an individual that they are highly resistant to change.

Question 4

What are the three clusters of personality disorders listed by the DSM? Describe each.

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What disorders belong to Cluster A?

Answer 5

Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal.

Question 6

What is a paranoid personality disorder? Prevalence? Gender-specificty?

Answer 6

Cluster A disorder is characterized by persistent suspiciousness of the motives of others, but not to the point of holding clear cut delusions.

Prevalence in 2.3-4.4%

More common in men.

Question 7

What is a schizoid personality disorder? Prevalence?

Answer 7

Cluster A disorder characterized by detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression, described as a ‘loner’.

Prevalence in 3.1-4.9%

Question 8

How are people with schizoid personality disorder typically described?

Answer 8

Distant and aloof.

Question 9

What is a shizotypal personality disorder? Prevalence?

Answer 9

Cluster A disorder characterized by acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behavior.

Contain paranoid thinking.

Prevalence is 3%.

Question 10

What are ideas of reference?

Answer 10

A form of delusional thinking in which a person reads personal meaning into the behavior of others or external events that are completely independent of the person.

(The 9/11 bombing was done to threaten ME, they are trying to find and hurt ME)

Question 11

What disorders are categorized under Cluster B?

Answer 11

Antisocial personality disorder, Borderline personality disorder, Histrionic personality disorder, Narcissistic personality disorder.

Question 12

What is Antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 12

Cluster B disorder characterized by a chronic pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others.

Question 13

What are the key characteristics of APD?

Answer 13

Low levels of anxiety in threatening situations, lack of guilt/remorse.
Superficial charm.

Question 14

What is the prevalence of APD?

Answer 14

4.3%

Question 15

What gender is APD most common in?

Answer 15

Men.

Question 16

What is borderline personality disorder?

Answer 16

A cluster B disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in relationships, self-image, and mood. Maintains a lack of control over impulses.

Question 17

What are the key characteristics of BPD?

Answer 17

Uncertainties about self, loyalties, careers.
Fear of abandonment.
Black-and-White thinking.
Intense and shifting beliefs about others.

Question 18

What is the prevalence of BPD?

Answer 18

1.6-5.9%

Question 19

What disorder features a common engagement in self-mutilation as a means of manipulating others?

Answer 19

BPD.

Question 20

What is a histrionic personality disorder?

Answer 20

Cluster B disorder characterized by the excessive need to be the centre of attention and receive constant praise/approval. Often appear overly dramatic and emotional. More common in women.

Question 21

What is Narcissistic personality disorder?

Answer 21

Cluster B disorder characterized by inflated or grandiose sense of themselves and an extreme need for admiration.

Typically self-absorbed, lacking empathy.

Question 22

What is the prevalence of Narcissistic personality disorder? Gender specific?

Answer 22

0-6.2%, more than half of diagnosed individuals are men.

Question 23

What disorders are categorized under Cluster C?

Answer 23

Avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

Question 24

What is avoidant personality disorder?

Answer 24

Cluster C disorder is characterized by the avoidance of social relationships due to fears of rejection and criticism. Fear of public embarrassment.

Question 25

What is the prevalence of avoidant personality disorder? Gender-specific?

Answer 25

2.4%. Equal rates among men and women.

Question 26

What is dependent personality disorder?

Answer 26

A cluster C disorder is characterized by difficulties making independent decisions and by overly dependent behavior. Excessive need to be taken care of by others, constantly seeking advice. More common in women.

Question 27

What is an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

Answer 27

Cluster C disorder characterized by rigid ways of relating to others, perfectionistic tendencies, lack of spontaneity, and excessive attention to details.

Question 28

What is the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder? Gender-specific?

Answer 28

2.1-7.9%. More common in men.

Question 29

What is the psychodynamic perspective on personality disorders?

Answer 29

Oedipal conflicts explain normal and abnormal personality development (classical) Development of the sense of self explain disorders such as narcissistic and BPD; (self-psychology)

Question 30

What is splitting?

Answer 30

Psychodynamic term used to describe the inability of a person to reconcile the positive and negative aspects of themselves and others to a cohesive (grey) integration, resulting in sudden shifts between strongly positive and negative feelings.

Question 31

What is the learning perspective on personality disorders?

Answer 31

Personality disorders are maladaptive patterns of behavior; interest in defining the learning histories and situational factors that give rise to maladaptive behavior and the reinforcers that maintain them.

Question 32

What are the family perspectives on personality disorders?

Answer 32

Disturbances in family relationships underlie the development of personality disorders. Physical/sexual abuse leads to the development of personality disorders. Extreme fears of abandonment lead to failure of secure parental attachment.

Question 33

What are the cognitive-behavioral perspectives of personality disorders?

Answer 33

Observation and imitation; people with personality disorders believe that their social experiences influence their behavior.

Question 34

What are the biological perspectives of personality disorders?

Answer 34

Personality traits may be inherited.

Question 35

What are the sociocultural perspectives of personality disorders?

Answer 35

Social conditions may contribute to development of behavioral patterns. (Socioeconomic risk factors)

Question 36

What are psychodynamic approaches to personality disorder treatment?

Answer 36

Bring awareness of the roots of self-defeating behavior patterns and learn more adaptive ways of relating to others.

Question 37

What are cognitive-behavioral approaches to personality disorder treatment?

Answer 37

Attempt to replace maladaptive behavior with adaptive behavior.

Question 38

What are the Canadian Treatment Services?

Answer 38

- Safety and crisis support. - Containment of psychological distress through continuing care. - Teach control and regulation skills. - Long-term treatment.

Question 39

How is Paranoid personality disorder treated?

Answer 39

CBT, medication (anti-depressants, anti-psychotics)

Question 40

How is schizoid personality disorder treated?

Answer 40

CBT, psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, group therapy, medication (anti-depressants)

Question 41

What is dialectical behavior therapy?

Answer 41

Form of therapy used to treat dysfunction with interpersonal relationships as well as self-view and maladaptive behavior/thoughts.

Question 42

How is schizotypal personality disorder treated?

Answer 42

CBT, supportive therapy (building trust), supportive-expressive therapy (remove negative bias from relationships)

Question 43

How is antisocial personality disorder treated?

Answer 43

``` Parent management treatment (prevention) Contingency management (reward system) Schema therapy (bring to life schemas experienced in childhood) CBT Dialectical behavioral therapy Attachment therapy Psychotherapy (anger management, substance abuse) Medications. ```

Question 44

How is borderline personality disorder treated?

Answer 44

Dialectical behavioral therapy Schema-focused therapy Mentalization-based therapy (recognize mental states) Transference-focused psychotherapy (relationship based) Medications

Question 45

How is histrionic personality disorder treated?

Answer 45

CBT Supportive psychotherapy (improve self-view) interpersonal therapy Medication (anti-depressants/anti-anxiety)

Question 46

How is narcissistic personality disorder treated?

Answer 46

``` CBT Schema therapy Gestalt therapy (self-awareness/responsibility) Mentalization based therapy Transference based therapy Dialectical therapy Medications ```

Question 47

How is avoidant personality disorder treated?

Answer 47

``` CBT Psychodynamic therapy Schema therapy Group therrapy Family therapy ```

Question 48

How is dependent personality disorder treated?

Answer 48

CBT Psychodynamic therapy Schema therapy Medication (antidepressants and antianxiety)

Question 49

How is obsessive-compulsive personality disorder treated?

Answer 49

CBT Pschodynamic therapy Nidotherapy (characteristics are an asset, not a drawback) Medication (anti-depressants and anti-anxiety)