Personality disorder

Question 1

Attachment theory and how it may lead to feeling uncontained.

Question 2

Ainsworth’s strange situation - the first thing a baby should be worried about is the mother leaving in a secure attachment style.

Answer 2

Responsive parent –> secure attachment

Inconsistent parent –> anxious/ambivalent attachment style

Unresponsive parent –> avoidant attachment style (child doesn’t feel that distressed when the parent leaves; parameters show stress but child isn’t aware of it)

Question 3

Aetiology of PD

Question 4

How does developmental trauma affect tthe threat response circuit?

Answer 4

Affects entire threat response circuit:

1. Predominantly suppresses conscious regulation of fear
2. Different areas sensitive at different ages
3. Latent period of ~9 years

Uncinate fasciculus -smaller in those who have experienced trauma. Therefore a smaller connection between thinking and feeling.

Question 5

Neglect could be said to be the worst type of developmental trauma and it affects all different parts of the brain

Question 6

Name 2 unhealthy coping mechanims taken up by those with EUPD.

Answer 6

Splitting - primitive way of dealing with ambiguity; objects and/or self are either wholly good or wholly bad, aspects of self are split off.

Projection - intolerable feelings/aspects of self are “externalised” to reduce anxiety; projected onto others; projected into others (e.g. thinking that a good part of you has entered someone else and you cannot live without them)