Exam 3 - Personality disorders Flashcards
What are the characteristics of personality disorders?
- chronic interpersonal difficulties, struggle with interacting with others
- problems with identity or sense of self
What are the DSM/clinical criteria for personality disorders?
- pervasive and inflexible
- stable and of long duration
- clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning
- manifests in at least two areas (cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, and/or impulse control)
What personality disorders are in Cluster A?
- paranoid
- schizoid
- schizotypal
What personality disorders are in Cluster B?
- histrionic
- narcissistic
- antisocial
- borderline
What personality disorders are in Cluster C?
- avoidant
- dependent
- obsessive-compulsive
What are the difficulties in studying/researching personality disorders?
- diagnostic criteria is not sharply defined
- diagnostic categories not mutually exclusive, there can be overlap
- dimensional personality characteristics
- five-factor model of personality
What is the five-factor model of personality (O.C.E.A.N.)?
- Openness to experience (try different things, engage in new experiences)
- Conscientiousness (time management)
- Extraversion (outgoing, like being around others)
- Agreeableness (friendly, easy to get along with)
- Neuroticism (proneness to negative affect)
Paranoid personality disorder
- suspiciousness and distrust of others, always think some sort of trickery is happening
- see self as blameless
- bear grudges, less forgiving
- see hidden meanings
- NOT psychotic
Schizoid personality disorder
- inability and lack of desire to form attachments to others, prefer to be alone
- impaired social relationships
- unable to express feelings, not very emotionally reactive
- high levels of introversion
Schizotypal personality disorder
- excessive introversion
- highly personalized and superstitious thinking (thinks everything is about them)
- peculiar thought patterns
- perceived as eccentric
Histrionic personality disorder
- crave attention, need to be at the center of attention
- overconcern with attractiveness, perceived as vain and self-centered
- irritability and temper outbursts if attention-seeking is frustrated
- very emotional, theatrical
Narcissistic personality disorder
- grandiosity, very self-centered
- preoccupation with receiving attention in terms of their success and accomplishments
- lack empathy
- hypercritical and very retaliatory
Antisocial personality disorder
- persistently disregard and violate others’ rights, will do anything to get what they want
- inability to follow approved models of behavior
- 100% fine with violating laws and societal standards
- deceitfulness/manipulation of others, unconcerned with others
- history of conduct problems as a child
Attempted suicide, self mutilation and similar behaviors are often seen in which personality disorder?
borderline
Borderline personality disorder, what causes this disorder?
- drastic mood shifts
- impulsiveness
- chronic feelings of boredom/emptiness, will engage in high risk behavior because of it
- genuine fear of abandonment, manipulation occurs because of this
- increased amygdala, decreased frontal area
Kiera was diagnosed with what? What was the peculiar thing she did?
- borderline personality disorder
- sent letters written in blood
Avoidant personality disorder
- hypersensitivity to rejection or social derogation
- very shy, despite not wanting to be alone
- self-conscious and self-critical
- insecurity in social interaction and initiating relationships
What disorder does avoidant personality disorder resemble?
social anxiety disorder
Dependent personality disorder
- need constant reassurance and to be taken care of
- discomfort at being alone, difficulty in separating in relationships
- indecisiveness and submissive behavior
What are some of the causes of dependent personality disorder?
- authoritarian or overprotective parent
- trauma
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
- excessive concern with order, rules, and trivial details
- perfectionism, find it difficult to delegate tasks
- lack of expressiveness and warmth
- difficulty in relaxing
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder have obsessions or compulsions. True or false?
False, they do NOT have obsessions or compulsions
What is the goal of treating personality disorders?
- decrease distress
- alter personality traits
- alter ways of thinking
Does culture have a correlation with the expression of personality disorders?
yes
What are the difficulties in treating personality disorders?
- may have another disorder, or be comorbid
- varied goals, treatments may be altered for each disorder
- client’s resistance to change
- relationship formation challenges
What are the treatments for borderline personality disorder?
- Dialectical behavior therapy (learn techniques that allow them to not act out when they feel a strong emotion, BEST OPTION)
- antidepressant medications (SSRIs, short term only)
- transference-focused psychotherapy (teach them that there is a middle group to their extreme emotions)
- mentalization (understand others and themself)
What is the best treatment for schizotypal PD?
antipsychotic or antidepressant medications
What is the best treatment for avoidant PD?
cognitive-behavioral treatment and antidepressant medication
Psychopathy
- sociopath or psychopath
- inadequate conscience development
- irresponsible and impulsive behavior
- ability to impress and exploit others
- grandiose sense of self worth
Are psychopathy and antisocial PD the same?
no
What are the dimensions of psychopathy?
1a. Interpersonal - superficial charm, pathological lying
1b. Affective - lack of remorse, guilt, and empathy
2a. Lifestyle - need for stimulation (internally bored), impulsivity
2b. Antisocial - poor behavior controls, criminality
Which of the two dimensions of psychopathy do individuals with antisocial PD also have? Which two do they NOT have?
- 2a. Lifestyle and 2b. Antisocial
- 1a. Interpersonal and 1b. Affective
What are the causal factors in psychopathy?
- genetic influences
- low levels of fear due to underactive amygdala and frontal areas
- general emotional deficits
- early parental loss
- parental loss or rejection
What are the differences in risk for ASPD and psychopathy?
- those with ASPD are typically more reactive, and have difficulty learning to regulate emotions
- those with psychopathy exhibit fearlessness, and low anxiety, have poor consciences, and premeditated aggression
What aspect of psychopathy do sociocultural factors influence?
level of aggression
Why is the treatment of psychopaths difficult?
- will not seek treatment unless forced
- do not learn from punishment (jail)
- a focus on empathy, emotions, and interpersonal skills causes them to become a better psychopath and manipulator
