Personality disorder

Question 1

Define personality disorder?

Answer 1

A deeply ingrained and maladaptive pattern of behaviour of a specified kind

Typically apparent by the time of adolescence

Causing long-term difficulties in personal relationships or in functioning in society

Question 2

What are the three categories of personality disorder?

Answer 2

Type A (mad)
Type B (bad)
Type C (sad)

Question 3

What are the type A personality disorders?

Answer 3

Paranoid
Schizoid
Schizotypal

Question 4

Features of paranoid personality disorder? Is it seen more in males or females?

Answer 4

Males

Suspicious, paranoid distrusting
Especially paranoid fidelity of partners
Misconstrues things
Bears grudges
Preoccupied by paranoid beliefs, but never delusional

Question 5

Features of schizoid personality disorder? Is it seen more in males or females?

Answer 5

Males

Emotionally cold, flat affect
Not interested in other people or relationships
Socially isolated and happy to be so
Few interests, anhedonic
They don’t see their behaviour as a problem

Question 6

Features of schizotypal personality disorder?

Answer 6

Ideas of reference (incorrect interpretation of incidents having significance with themselves)

Superstitious, preoccupied with paranormal phenomena
Odd speech and behaviour
Suspicious and paranoid
Social anxiety

Question 7

What are the type B personality disorders?

Answer 7

Dissocial
Histrionic
Narcissistic

Emotionally unstable

• borderline
• impulsive

Question 8

Features of dissocial personality disorder? Is it seen more in males or females?

Answer 8

Males

Aggressive, easily frustrated and angered
Little regard for other people
Irresponsible
No guilt, doesn't learn from punishment
Blames others
Can't maintain relationships
Criminal activity

Question 9

You see signs of dissocial personality disorder in a 14 year old, what diagnosis would you give?

Answer 9

Conduct disorder, the precursor to dissocial personality disorder.
Diagnosis in under 18s

Question 10

What are the two types of emotionally unstable personality disorder? Are they seen more in males or females?

Answer 10

Both seen more in females

Borderline personality disorder
Impulsive

Question 11

Features of borderline personality disorder?

And why is it called that?

Answer 11

It was historically thought to be the borderline between psychosis and neurosis.

Lack of self-image and identity, not sure who they really are
Feeling of emptiness
Intense and unstable relationships
Strive to not be abandoned, often doing silly things
Deliberate self-harm

Question 12

Features of impulsive personality disorder?

Answer 12

Impulsive, doesn't think of consequences
Arguementative
Angry or violent outbursts
Need immediate rewards, and struggle to complete tasks without
Unstable, unpredictable mood

Question 13

Features of histrionic personality disorder?

Answer 13

Self dramatizing
Suggestible
Shallow, labile
Seek centre of attention, excitement
Inappropriately seductive
Preoccupied with being attractive

Question 14

Is histrionic personality disorder seen more in males or females?

Answer 14

Females

Question 15

Features of narcissistic personality disorder?

Answer 15

Exaggerate own achievements
Believing they’re entitled to be treated better than others
Exploiting others for personal gain
Lack empathy
Look down on people they believe are beneath them, while envying those above them.

Question 16

What are the type C personality disorders?

Answer 16

Dependent
Anxious avoidant
Anankastic

Question 17

Is narcissistic personality seen more in men or women?

Answer 17

Men (only slightly)

Question 18

Features of dependent personality disorder?

Answer 18

Wants others to make decisions for them
Requires excessive advice to make decisions
Dependent on family, friend, spouse
Other people’s needs before theirs, don’t ask anything of others
Feel helpless when alone
Fear being left to care for themselves

Question 19

Dependent personality more common in men or women?

Answer 19

Women

Question 20

Features of anxious avoidant personality disorder?

Answer 20

Always feeling tense
Believe they are socially inept
Worry about being rejected or criticised
Avoid social contact unless certain of being liked
Restrict activities to feel safe
Avoid social/job situations due to fear of rejection

Question 21

Anxious avoidant personality disorder: more in men or women?

Answer 21

Equal

Question 22

Features of anankastic personality disorder?

Answer 22

Excessive doubt/caution
Obsessed with rules
Perfectionist
Excessively conscientious
Prioritise being productive over personal life
Pedantic
Rigid, stubborn
Everyone has to do things their way

Question 23

Anankastic personality disorder, more in men or women?

Answer 23

Men

Question 24

Management of personality disorders?

Answer 24

Drugs:

• antipsychotic
• mood stabilisers
• anti-depressants

Psychological therapies
Social support
Crisis plan agreed with patient (especially in BPD)
Admission if risks

Question 25

Prognosis of personality disorders?

Answer 25

Manageable with support
Better if family understand and support

Many improve, personality disorders are far less common in the elderly