Lecture 6: Personality Disorders

Question 1

abnormal psychology

Answer 1

field of research that focuses on psychological functioning that deviates from the norm
- statistical norm
- socio-cultural norm
- psychological perspective

Question 2

mental disorder

Answer 2

a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning

Question 3

personality disorder

Answer 3

a persistent pattern of inner experience and behavior that clearly deviates from the expectations of the individuals culture

Question 4

distress

Answer 4

feelings of emotional pain and suffering, depression, anxiety, self-consciousness, helplessness and vulnerability

Question 5

3 DSM clusters of PD

Answer 5

• cluster A: strange and eccentric
• cluster B: dramatic and emotional
• cluster C: anxious and fearful

Question 6

paranoid personality disorder (A)

Answer 6

pattern of distrust and suspiciousness in which the motives of others are interpreted as malevolent

Question 7

schizoid personality disorder (A)

Answer 7

pattern of detachment from social relationships and limited range of emotional expression

Question 8

schizotypal personality disorder (A)

Answer 8

pattern of acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities in behavior

Question 9

antisocial personality disorder (B)

Answer 9

patterns of disregard for and violation of the rights of others

Question 10

borderline personality disorder (B)

Answer 10

patterns of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and affect, and marked impulsivity

Question 11

histrionic personality disorder (B)

Answer 11

pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking

Question 12

narcissistic personality disorder (B)

Answer 12

pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy

Question 13

avoidant personality disorder (C)

Answer 13

pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

Question 14

dependent personality disorder (C)

Answer 14

pattern of submissive and clinging behavior associated with an excessive need to be taken care of

Question 15

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (C)

Answer 15

pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control

Question 16

cultural/ethnic differences

Answer 16

the diagnosis of personality disorders depends on what is considered normal

Question 17

prevalence

Answer 17

total number of cases in a given population at a time

Question 18

comorbidity

Answer 18

25–50% of people with a diagnosis of personality disorder also meet criteria for another personality disorder

Question 19

psychotherapy

Answer 19

• main way to treat PD
• main goal is to change the underlying maladaptive personality traits.
• helps people understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviors

Question 20

pharmacotherapy

Answer 20

• focused on acute symptoms
• medications available are more difficult to use to treat underlying disorder, but can be used in conjunction with psychotherapy

Question 21

treatment problems

Answer 21

• personality disorders are relatively unique in that they are often ego-syntonic (most people are largely comfortable with themselves)
• people rarely seek treatment for their antisocial, narcissistic, and/or schizoid personality disorder