Lecture 7 'Personality Disorders'

Question 1

The general definition of personality disorder in the DSM 5 emphasizes the ________ of the pattern and the _______ impairment associated with the traits in question

Answer 1

duration

social

Question 2

Personality disorders occur when personality traits are _________, _________ and __________ producing either a behavioural impairment or emotional distress

Answer 2

rigid, inflexible and maladaptive

Question 3

Overall, males or females have higher prevalence rates of personality disorders?

Answer 3

Both equal

Question 4

What are two classification problems of personality disorder?

Answer 4

> poor reliability when assessors don’t agree

> high comorbidity with other disorders

Question 5

What are seven sources of diagnostic error when it comes to diagnosing personality disorders?

Answer 5

1. personality traits are present in varying degrees in most people
2. the diagnostic categories are defined by extremes
3. clinician’s own views regarding personality features
4. retrospective information
5. higher level of interference required
6. use of descriptive criteria
7. source of information

Question 6

What are the three P’s in the classification of personality disorder?

Answer 6

Persistent (over time)
Pervasive (across people/situations)
Pathological (clearly abnormal)

Question 7

The general diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder has to show an enduring pattern of symptoms which is __________ and _______ across a range of situations. The pattern needs to be _______ and of ______ duration

Answer 7

inflexible
pervasive
stable
long-duration

Question 8

Many symptoms of personality disorder are maladaptive variations of what two social motivations?

Answer 8

> Absence of motivation for affiliation

> Exaggerated motivation for power (and achievement)

Question 9

Cluster A personality disorders involve which three types of PD’s?

Answer 9

paranoid
schizoid
schizotypal

Question 10

Cluster B personality disorders involve which four types of PD’s?

Answer 10

borderline
antisocial
histrionic
narcissist

Question 11

What are the three key features of Cluster A personality disorders?

Answer 11

Odd, quirky, eccentric

Question 12

What are the three key features of Cluster B personality disorders?

Answer 12

Dramatic, emotional or erratic

Question 13

People with paranoid personality disorder have difficulty ______ others because they tend to interpret what others say/do as _____________

Answer 13

trusting

directed at them

Question 14

List characteristics of schizoid personality disorder

Answer 14

• Pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression

Question 15

List the key characteristic of schizotypal personality disorder

Answer 15

• Pervasive pattern of social/interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort, schizophrenia features

Question 16

List the key characteristic of borderline personality disorder

Answer 16

• Pervasive pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships, self image, affect and impulsivity

Question 17

List the key characteristic of antisocial personality disorder

Answer 17

• Pervasive pattern of disregard for / violation of rights of others

Question 18

List the key characteristic of histrionic personality disorder

Answer 18

• pervasive pattern of excessive emotion and attention seeking behaviour

Question 19

List the key characteristic of narcissistic personality disorder

Answer 19

• pervasive pattern of grandiosity (fantasy or behaviour), need for admiration, and lack of empathy

Question 20

What are the two features of Cluster C personality disorders?

Answer 20

anxiety, fearfulness

Question 21

What are the three personality disorders in Cluster C?

Answer 21

Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive Compulsive personality

Question 22

List the key characteristic of avoidant personality disorder

Answer 22

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

Question 23

List the key characteristic of dependent personality disorder?

Answer 23

• Pervasive pattern of submissive and clinging behaviour (point out own inadequacies so others will look after them)

Question 24

List the key characteristic of obsessive compulsive personality disorder?

Answer 24

• Pervasive pattern of perfectionism, inflexibility, orderliness, preoccupied with details and rules, extreme devotion to productivity (no leisure)

Question 25

True or false, both classic twin studies and adoption studies indicate there is genetic contribution for antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 25

true

Question 26

According to the biological perspective, antisocial personality disorder can be caused by low levels of _________ _______ or a higher ___________?

Answer 26

low cortical arousal

higher fear threshold

Question 27

What are three social factors which likely cause antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 27

Marital discord and divorce
Modelling of antisocial behaviour
Parental rejection/negativity

Question 28

What three factors make the study of effective treatment for people with PD’s difficult?

Answer 28

• most people don’t seek treatment (ego-syntonic = does not upset them to have)
• premature termination of treatment
• high co-morbidity

Question 29

Which personality disorder is the most difficult to treat?

Answer 29

Borderline PD

Question 30

What therapy is commonly used to treat borderline PD?

Answer 30

Dialectical behaviour therapy

Question 31

What therapy is commonly used to treat schizotypal PD?

Answer 31

Social skills training