Personality Disorders

Question 1

What are personality disorders?

Answer 1

They are defined as pervasive patterns of behaviour which cause the individual long-term difficulties in their interpersonal relationships and functioning in society

Question 2

At what age can a diagnosis of personality disorders be obtained?

Answer 2

> 18 years old

Question 3

What are the three main classifications of personality disorders?

Answer 3

Cluster A

Cluster B

Cluster C

Question 4

What is another term for cluster A personality disorders?

Answer 4

Odd or eccentric personality disorders

Question 5

What are the three subclassifications of cluster A personality disorders?

Answer 5

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Question 6

What are the six features of paranoid personality disorder?

Answer 6

Hypersensitive

Unforgiving Attitude When Insulted

Unwarranted Tendency To Question Loyalty of Friends

Reluctance To Confide In Others

Preoccupation With Conspirational Beliefs & Hidden Meanings

Unwarranted Tendency To Perceive Attacks On Their Character

Question 7

What are the seven features of schizoid personality disorder?

Answer 7

Indifference To Praise & Criticism

Preference For Solitary Activities

Lack of Interest In Sexual Interactions

Lack of Desire For Companionship

Emotional Coldness

Few Interests

Few Friends or Confidants Other Than Family

Question 8

What are the seven features of schizotypical personality disorder?

Answer 8

Ideas Of Reference

Odd Beliefs & Magical Thinking

Unusual Perceptual Disturbances

Paranoid Ideation & Suspiciousness

Odd, Eccentric Behaviours

Lack of Close Friends Other Than Family Members

Odd Speech Without Being Incoherent

Question 9

What is another term for cluster B personality disorders?

Answer 9

Dramatic, emotional or erratic personality disorder

Question 10

What are the four subclassifications of cluster B personality disorders?

Answer 10

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Question 11

Which gender is at a greater risk of antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 11

Male

Question 12

What are the seven features of antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 12

Failure To Conform To Social Norms With Respect To Lawful Behaviours

Deception For Personal Profit Or Pleasure

Impulsiveness Or Failure To Plan Ahead

Irritability & Aggressiveness

Reckless Disregard For The Safety of Self Or Others

Financial Irresponsibility

Lack of Remorse

Question 13

What is another term for borderline personality disorder?

Answer 13

Emotionally unstable personality disorder

Question 14

At what age can a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder be obtained?

Answer 14

It can be diagnosed before 18 years old if there is sufficient evidence that the patient has fully undergone the process of puberty

Question 15

What are the eight features of borderline personality disorder?

Answer 15

Efforts To Avoid Real Or Imagined Abandonment

Unstable Interpersonal Relationships Which Alternate Between Idealization & Devaluation

Unstable Self Image

Impulsivity In Spending, Sex & Substance Abuse

Recurrent Suicidal Behaviours

Affective Instability

Chronic Feelings of Emptiness

Difficulty Controlling Temper

Question 16

What are the eight features of histrionic personality disorder?

Answer 16

Inappropriate Sexual Seductiveness

Centre of Attention

Physical Appearance Used for Attention Seeking

Fluctuating & Shallow Expressions of Emotions

Suggestibility

Impressionistic Speech Lacking Detail

Self Dramatisation

Relationships Considered To Be Intimate Than They Here

Question 17

What are the eight features of narcissistic personality disorder?

Answer 17

Grandiose Sense of Self Importance

Fantasies of Unlimited Success, Power Or Beauty

Sense of Entitlement

Taking Advantage of Others To Achieve Their Own Needs

Lack of Empathy

Excessive Need For Admiration

Chronic Envy

Arrogant & Haughty Attitude

Question 18

What is another term for cluster C personality disorders?

Answer 18

Anxious and fearful personality disorder

Question 19

What are the three subclassifications of cluster C personality disorders?

Answer 19

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder

Question 20

What are the six features of obsessive compulsive personality disorder?

Answer 20

Occupied With Details, Rules, Lists, Order, Organisation or Agenda

Perfectionism That Detracts from Task Completion

Reduced Social Life Due To Task Consumption

Hoarding of Worn Or Insignificant Thing Even When They Have No Sentimental Meaning

Unwilling To Pass Tasks To Others Except If They Surrender To Exactly Their Way of Doing Things

Stiffness & Stubbornness

Question 21

What are the six features of avoidant personality disorder?

Answer 21

Avoidant of Occupational Activities Which Involve Significant Interpersonal Contact Due To Fears of Criticism Or Rejection

Unwillingness To Be Involved Unless Certain Of Being Liked

Preoccupied With Ideas That They Are Being Criticised Or Rejected In Social Situations

Restraint In Intimate Relationships Due To Fear Of Being Ridiculed

Self-View Of Being Inept & inferior To Others

Social Isolation With A Craving For Social Contact

Question 22

What are the seven features of dependent personality disorder?

Answer 22

Difficulty Making Everyday Decisions Without Excessive Reassurance From Others

Difficulty In Expressing Disagreement With Others Due To Fears of Losing Support

Lack of Initiative

Unrealistic Fears of Being Left To Care For Themselves

Urgent Search For Relationship As A Source of Care When A Close Relationship Ends

Extensive Efforts To Obtain Support From Others

Unrealistic Feeling That They Cannot Care For Themselves

Question 23

What are the two management options of personality disorders?

Answer 23

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)

Treatment of co-existing psychiatric conditions