Personality Disorders Flashcards
How is personality relevant to health and medicine?
Personality is an integral part of understanding a patient’s context in health and medicine. A person’s personality influences their health behaviors, their response to illness, and their interaction with healthcare professionals.
Briefly differentiate personality traits from personality disorders.
Personality traits are enduring characteristics of an individual that shape their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. When these traits become extreme, inflexible, and lead to distress or impairment in functioning, they constitute a personality disorder.
What are the key manifestations of personality disorders (PD)?
Personality disorders manifest as problems in: cognition (how a person perceives themselves and others), affect (range and appropriateness of emotions), and behaviour (interpersonal, occupational, and impulse control).
Explain how historical figures like Pinel and Prichard contributed to the understanding of personality disorders.
Pinel introduced the concept of “manie sans délire,” describing individuals with disturbed behaviour without psychosis. Prichard coined the term “moral insanity,” encompassing individuals with atypical psychological functioning, including those with personality disorders and affective disorders.
Describe the role of childhood experiences and genetics in the aetiology of personality disorders.
Adverse childhood experiences, like abuse or neglect, are significant risk factors for developing personality disorders. Additionally, there is a moderate genetic contribution to personality traits and some personality disorders, particularly anankastic and dissocial types.
What are the three clusters of personality disorders in the DSM-5, and what are their defining characteristics?
Cluster A (odd, eccentric): Characterized by social awkwardness, withdrawal, and distorted thinking. Includes Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders. Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, erratic): Marked by instability in emotions, relationships, and identity. Includes Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, and Antisocial Personality Disorders. Cluster C (anxious, fearful): Dominated by anxiety, fear, and a need for control or reassurance. Includes Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders.
Compare and contrast Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders.
Both Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders feature social isolation and limited emotional expression. However, Schizotypal PD also includes cognitive and perceptual distortions, odd beliefs, and eccentric behavior, potentially linking it to schizophrenia.
Briefly outline the core features of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by:
Intense, unstable emotions and moods
Impulsive behaviours (e.g., substance abuse, self-harm)
Unstable sense of self and relationships
“Black-and-white” thinking
Fear of abandonment and intense efforts to avoid it
What are the key differences between the DSM-5 and ICD-11 approaches to classifying personality disorders?
The DSM-5 uses a categorical approach, classifying personality disorders into distinct types. The ICD-11 takes a dimensional approach, focusing on the severity of personality dysfunction and using trait qualifiers (negative affectivity, detachment, dissociality, etc.) to describe the specific characteristics.
Outline the general principles for treating personality disorders.
Treatment of personality disorders generally aims to:
Reduce subjective distress
Help patients understand their problems are internal
Decrease maladaptive behaviours
Modify problematic personality traits. Psychotherapy is the gold standard treatment, often focusing on developing coping mechanisms, improving interpersonal skills, and addressing underlying emotional issues.
