Personality Disorders Flashcards
What is the general criteria for a personality disorder?
Pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from individual’s culture
Cluster A
Odd and eccentric - Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal
Cluster B
Dramatic, emotional and erratic - Anti-Social, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic
Cluster C
Anxious and fearful - Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive Compulsive PD
What is generally associated with a personality disorder?
Abuse - emotional, physical or sexual
What are some characteristics of personality disorder?
- Pt has “always been this way”
- High degree of chaos in pt’s life
- Pt doesn’t see his/her behavior as problematic
- Externalizes and blames others for his/her problems
Paranoid PD
- Pervasive mistrust & suspiciousness
- Reluctant to confide in others with fear the information will be used against him/her
Schizoid PD
- Loners
- Emotionally / socially detached
- Restricted range of emotional expression
- Indifferent to praise or criticism
Schizotypal PD
- Odd thinking and magical beliefs
- Superstitious
- Suspicious
- Loners
The pt has unusual ideas about the cause of his symptoms
The pt is a loner
The pt is superstitious and suspicious
Overall, the encounter with the pt seems odd
— Make the diagnosis
Schizotypal PD
Antisocial PD
- Disregard for the rights of others
- Socially irresponsible
- Impulsive, irritable, can be aggressive
- Lack empathy & remorse
- Can be glib and charming
Borderline PD
- Instability in relationships and self-image
- Impulsivity
- Suicidal behavior
Histrionic PD
- Dramatic! Attention seeking
- Entertaining…”the life of the party”
- Rapidly shifting, shallow emotions
- May be provocative, seductive
What gender is histrionic PD more often seen in?
Females
What gender is antisocial PD more often seen in?
Males
What gender is borderline PD more often seen in?
Females
What gender is narcissistic PD more often seen in?
Males
Narcissistic PD
- Pathological sense of self-importance
- Sense of entitlement, “special”
- Interpersonally exploitative
- Lack empathy, arrogant
- Fragile self-esteem
What are some behavior patterns that are common in Cluster B PD?
- Self injury
- Acting out
- Controlling
The pt thinks they are better than most other people
The pt manipulates others to achieve what s/he wants
The pt thinks they deserve special treatment
The pt looks down on others
–Make the diagnosis?
Narcissistic PD
Avoidant PD
- Socially inhibited
- Hypersensitive to negative evaluation
- Low self esteem
- Feels socially inadequate
Dependent PD
- Great difficulty making decisions
- Difficulty expressing disagreement with others
- Urgently seeks new relationship when close relationship ends
- Feels unable to care for self, helpless
Obsessive Compulsive PD (different than OCD!)
- Preoccupied with rules, details, order
- Perfectionism, inflexibility & high need for control
- Over conscientious, micromanagers
- Rigidity and stubbornness
What is the difference in OCD and OCPD?
OCD has to do with obsession and compulsions and is egodystonic - symptoms make patient UNCOMFORTABLE
OCPD has to do with order, rules and perfectionism and is egosyntonic - symptoms are OKAY to patient
The pt has a lot of trouble making decisions
The pt rarely voices an opinion that is at odds with what others think
The pt elicits feelings of protectiveness from his/her physician
The pt has low self efficacy
– Make the diagnosis?
Dependent PD
What are some possible medical causes of a PD?
- Temporal lobe epilepsy
- Head trauma
- Brain tumor
- Huntington’s
