lecture 4 - personality disorders

Question 1

General characteristics of personality disorders

Answer 1

• personality traits
• rigid, inflexible
• interpersonal
• maladaptive ( schlecht angepasst)
• ego-syntonic
• long duration
• early onset
• treatment- resistant

Question 2

epidemiology

Answer 2

-6-10% of individuals have a PD
-high comorbidity
-functional impairment in relationship, work, education
-increased risk for criminal behavior, violence, suicide
-childhood adversities -> risk factors
-

Question 3

criminality, violence

- relation to different clusters

Answer 3

Cluster B PDs:

• > highly prevalent in correctional settings
• > increased risk for criminal recidivism (rückfälligkeit)

Cluster C PDs:
-> less prevalent

-in general: psychopathic offenders -> at higher risk for recidivism

Question 4

PD not otherwise specified (NOS)

Answer 4

• passive-aggressive

- depressive

Question 5

criticism categorical model of PDs

Answer 5

• high comorbidity and between Axis 1 and 2 disorders
• fuzzy borders between PDs
• many PD cases don’t seem to fit into any of the DSM categories (PDNOS)
• too much heterogeneity within each PD
• diagnostic cut-offs are arbitrary?
• Ps don’t represent taxons ?
• PDs less stable than once believed

Question 6

10 DSM- 5 PD

Answer 6

• polythetic system: separate diagnostic thresholds for each PD
• Cluster A (Schizoid, Schizotypal, Paranoid)
• B (Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic)
• C (Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-compulsive)