Lecture 9- Personality Disorders

Question 1

What is Personality?

Answer 1

Characteristic pattern of behavior across multiple situations

Question 2

Big 5 Factors of Personality

Answer 2

Conscientiousness
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
Openness
Extraversion

Question 3

Conscientiousness

Answer 3

High- Disciplined and structured
Low- Spontanteous

Question 4

Agreeableness

Answer 4

High- Empathetic, eager to please
Low- Oppositional

Question 5

Neuroticism

Answer 5

High- Anxious, moody, easily stressed
Low- Unflappable, good under pressure, level-headed

Question 6

Openness

Answer 6

High- Imaginative and creative
Low- Practical, concrete, mathematically oriented

Question 7

Extraversion

Answer 7

High- Outgoing, enthusiastic
Low- Reserved

Question 8

Determinants of Personality

Answer 8

Neurobiological Bases
Genetics
Environmental factors

Question 9

Neurobiological aspects of personality

Answer 9

Based on structures within the brain
Supporting evidence- Phineas Gage, personality changed after brain injury

Question 10

Genetic basis of personality

Answer 10

20-50% heritability score depending on factors analyzed

Question 11

Environmental basis of personality

Answer 11

Cognitive and behavioral
Attachment theories
Childhood experiences and upbringing

Question 12

Personality Disorders Definition

Answer 12

Personality Characteristics that are inflexible and maladaptive, cause functional impairment, and/or subjective distress

Question 13

Personality Disorders Diagnostic Criteria

Answer 13

Enduring pattern of behavior that is inflexible and pervasive
Stable condition with onset in childhood or adolescence
Functional impairments
Subjective distress- Not requred

Question 14

Personality Disorder Epidemiology

Answer 14

0.5-2% of population
Men- Most common is ASPD
Women- Histrionic and Borderline are most common
Provider bias is common in diagnosing men vs women

Question 15

Personality Disorder Clusters

Answer 15

A- Odd or eccentric-
Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal
B- Dramatic, emotional, and erratic
ASPD, Borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic
C- Fearful or anxious
Avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive

Question 16

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Answer 16

Pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others
Bears grudges and is reluctant to confide in others
Caused by trauma and learning that people are malevolent or deceptive; related to schizophrenia
Treated by CBT with focus on trust, poor prognosis and unlikely to seek help

Question 17

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Answer 17

Lack of desire for close relationships with limited range of emotion; little or no distress with being alone
Caused by childhood shyness and low dopamine content
Treated with social skills therapy

Question 18

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Answer 18

Schizophrenia-like symptoms
Discomfort with close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions with odd beliefs and eccentric behaviors
Genetic and environmental causes like schizophrenia
Treatment similar to schizophrenia- Social skills, antipsychotics, and community treatment

Question 19

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) Description

Answer 19

A pervasive pattern of disregard and violation of others’ rights; lack of remorse and failure to conform to social rules
Usually followed by conduct disorder in adolescence and childhood
More common in men

Question 20

ASPD Causes and Treatment

Answer 20

Underarousal and fearlessness hypotheses
Treated with incarceration, interventions, and parent education
Rarely seek treatment on their own

Question 21

Psychopathy

Answer 21

Less overt condition marked by lack of fear and concern
Can be acquired by damage to the frontal cortex- Phineas gage

Question 22

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Answer 22

A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking
Shifting emotions, impressionistic, dramatic, and suggestible
Causes problems in interpersonal relationships
Female alternative for ASPD

Question 23

Borderline Personality Disorder Description

Answer 23

A Pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affect, and impulse control
Issues with abandonment
Impulsive and self-destructive
Lack of self-esteem and self-worth
All-or-none thinking
1-2% of population; highly comorbid with other disorders

Question 24

Borderline Causes

Answer 24

Genetic and biological vulnerabilities
Invalidating social environments:
Abuse or neglect in childhood
Chronic emotional dysregulation
Chaotic childhood

Question 25

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Answer 25

Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder
Created by Marsha Linehan
Focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness
Reduces suicide and social imparments

Question 26

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Answer 26

Pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy
Commonly comorbid with depression
Caused by lack of empathy and altruism development
Treated by focus-shifting therapy

Question 27

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Answer 27

Sensitive, low self-esteem with fear of rejection and attention
Desire social interaction but too anxious to reach out
Caused by early childhood rejection and lack of love
Treated by behavioral interventions and emphasis on therapeutic alliance

Question 28

Dependent Personality Disorder

Answer 28

Excessive need to be taken care of, submissive, clingy, reliance on others, fear abandonment
Caused by early childhood experiences and attachment styles- Death or rejection of caregivers
Treated by gradual increases of independence with therapist

Question 29

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Answer 29

Preoccupation with orderliness, perfection, and control
Lack of flexibility, openness, and efficiency
Caused by genetics
Treat similar to OCD with focus on fear of disorder