Personality Disorders

Question 1

What is a personality disorder?

Answer 1

Chronic pattern of inner experience and behaviors that deviates from cultural expectations

Question 2

what are the areas personality disorders affect?

Answer 2

must affect 2 or more of 
cognition (perception of self or others)
Affectivity (range, intensity, ability)
Interpersonal Functioning
Impulse Control

Question 3

what are characteristics of personality disorders?

Answer 3

Inflexibility and pervasive
Long duration
onset in adolescence.
Difficult to tx

Question 4

what is a hallmark sign of personality disorders?

Answer 4

Negatively affect relationships and work

don’t see interpersonal problems as their fault and blame others

Question 5

what are the genetic factors?

Answer 5

individuals with personality disorders are more likely to have relatives with the same or from the same cluster

Question 6

what are the biological factors?

Answer 6

impulsivity: higher testosterone

borderline PD: overactive amygdala, underactive prefrontal cortex

Question 7

what are the environmental factors?

Answer 7

abuse, physical and sexual, neglect

Question 8

what are the cluster A disorders?

Answer 8

Paranoid
Schizoid
Odd, eccentric, discomfort in social sit., Emo., Distant, Isolative, distrustful, Suspicious

Question 9

What are the cluster B disorders>

Answer 9

Histrionic
Narcissistic
Borderline
Antisocial
Dramatic, erratic expression of emotion, maladaptive interpersonal  relationships. Disregard of the right of others

Question 10

what are the cluster C disorders?

Answer 10

Avoidant
Dependent
Obsessive/Compulsive
Fearful of rejection, anxious,
Need to be taken care of,perfectionism

Question 11

key traits of paranoid PD?

Answer 11

Distrust and suspiciousness of others
Interpretation of others’ motives as malevolent
Hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

Question 12

key traits of schizoid PD?

Answer 12

Detachment from social relationships Restricted range of emotional expression

Question 13

key traits of schizotypal PD?

Answer 13

Discomfort with and reduced capacity for close relationships
Cognitive and perceptual distortions
Magical thinking (thoughts can change things in environment)
Eccentricities of behavior

Question 14

key traits of antisocial PD?

Answer 14

Disregard for the rights of others
Violation of the rights of others
cant be diagnosed prior to 15 years old. Must have Conduct disorder prior to ASPD

Question 15

key traits of borderline PD?

Answer 15

Instability of relationships
Instability of self-image
Instability of affect
Marked impulsivity

Question 16

key traits of Histrionic PD?

Answer 16

Excessive emotionality

Attention seeking

Question 17

key traits of narcissistic PD?

Answer 17

Grandiosity in fantasy or behavior
Need for admiration
Lack of empathy

Question 18

key traits of avoidant PD?

Answer 18

Social Inhibition
Feelings of inadequacy
Hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

Question 19

key traits of dependent PD?

Answer 19

Excessive need to be taken care of Submissive and clinging behavior
Fears of separation

Question 20

key traits of obsessive-compulsive PD?

Answer 20

Preoccupation w/orderliness/perfection
Preoccupation w/ mental and Interpersonal control
Restricted flexibility, openness, and efficiency

Question 21

what are the challenges of Borderline PD?

Answer 21

Most commonly diagnosed PD among patients in treatment
High rates of suicidal or other self-harm behaviors, and of hostile behaviors
High rates of drop-out or treatment failure

Question 22

what is the prevalence and look of Borderline PD?

Answer 22

1-2% of general population
Twice common in women than in men
Makes impulsive actions, and has an unstable mood and chaotic relationships

Question 23

what are the signs of Borderline PD?

Answer 23

Intense + unstable relationships
swing from love to hate
Avoid real or imagined abandonment.
Impulsive in areas of self-harm, i.e. drug use, drinking, and other risk-taking behaviors, reckless driving, binge eating

Question 24

Boderline PD diagnostic criteria?

Answer 24

1. Impulsivity in 2 or more (spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)
2. Recurrent suicidal behavior or self-mutilating
3. Instable affect (hours)
4. Chronic feelings of emptiness
5. Inappropriate, intense anger
6. Transient paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms

Question 25

what are the functional issues in PD?

Answer 25

Performance impaired primarily in social and work spheres
Functional impairments in ADLS
         i.e. Money problems
Social relationships
          Lack of depth and conscience

Question 26

when are clients usually diagnosed?

Answer 26

when they seek help for an axis I disorder

Question 27

what to caution against with PD?

Answer 27

Labels must not strip patient or client of individuality
Use derogatory labels cautiously
caring function is as important as ‘cure”
Reflect on own unrealistic expectations
Don’t blame the victims
Prevent burn out