Personality Disorders

Question 1

What are the core features of personality disorders?

Answer 1

functional inflexibility, self defeating behaviour patterns, tenuous stability under stress

Question 2

What are personality disorders

Answer 2

Occur when pervasive patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour differ markedly from social/cultural expectations and cause significant distress and impaired functioning

Question 3

What is Schizotypal PD?

Answer 3

pervasive pattern of inhibited/innappropriate behaviour anf abnormal cognitions/disorganised speech (less severe pos and neg symptoms of schizophrenia) Often includes magical thinking and illusions

Question 4

What is Paranoid PD?

Answer 4

pervasive, unwarrented mistrust, and suspition of others (old, sensitive to critisism)

Question 5

What is Schizoid PD?

Answer 5

pervasive pattern of lack of interest and avoidance of interpersonal r/ships and emotional coldness when interacting (preference to detach)

Question 6

What are the aetiological facts about Cluster A personality disorders?

Answer 6

genetic contribution same as schizophrenia, similar brain deficits and attention probems, high dopamine, frontal abnornalities

Question 7

What are the treatment options for Cluster A?

Answer 7

CBT (with thought/mood monitoring), exposure therapy, low dose of antipsychotics)

Question 8

What is Narcissistic PD?

Answer 8

pervasive pattern of experiencing inflated thoughts of one’s worth as well as an obliviousness to others needs and exploitative arrogant demeanor

Question 9

What does the limited aetiology tell us about Narcissistic PD?

Answer 9

cold care givers, high heritability, early failure to learn empathy

Question 10

What is Histrionic PD?

Answer 10

pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and intense need for attention and approval which is saught by means of overly dramatic, seductive behaviour

Question 11

What is the aetiology of Histrionic PD?

Answer 11

inconsistent parent child interactions, “active dependent”, often misdiagnosed

Question 12

What are the treatment options for Histrionic PD?

Answer 12

CBT to assist with identification and challenging assumptions

Question 13

What is Borderline PD?

Answer 13

pervasive pattern of unstable mood/self concept/interpersonal r/ships/impulse control

Question 14

What is the aetiology of Borderline PD?

Answer 14

genetics (neurotisism), core elements linked to prefrontal cortex deficits, childhood trauma, insecure attachment, HPA hyperactivity due to trauma

Question 15

What are the treatment options for Borderline PD?

Answer 15

psychodynamic and schema therapy, cognitive analytic therapy, DBT

Question 16

What is Antisocial PD?

Answer 16

pervasive pattern of criminal, impulsive, callous, ruthless behaviour predicted upon violation of others rights and absence of respect for social norms

Question 17

What is the Somatic Marker Hypothesis?

Answer 17

ppl form associations between emotions and behaviours during environmental experience (somatic markers); when similar encounters are experienced again associations are reexperiencd

Question 18

What is the violence inhibition mechanism?

Answer 18

assumes activated whenever distress cues are present to inhibit aggressive behaviour (dysfunction to amygdala)`

Question 19

What is the difference between antisocial PD and psychopathy?

Answer 19

Psychopathy also involves antisocial behaviours, but is also concerned more with emotional attachment (lack of empathy)

Question 20

What can treatment for Antisocial PD focus on?

Answer 20

comorbid disorders and risk managment (meds can be used to manage impulsivity and aggression)

Question 21

What is Dependent PD?

Answer 21

pervasive need to be cared for and fear of rejection which leads to total dependence/submission to others

Question 22

What are the treatment options for Dependent personality disorder?

Answer 22

behavioural strategies for anxiety managmentt and cognitive techniques to challenge dysfunctional beliefs

Question 23

What is Avoidant PD?

Answer 23

pervasive anxiety, sense of inadequacy and fear of being critisised that leads to avoidance, restraint and anxiety in social situations

Question 24

What is the aetiology of Avoidant PD?

Answer 24

temperament, early development (social withdrawal, negative reactions strengthened), neglect, schemas in relation to defeatedness and abandonment

Question 25

What is Obsessive Compulsive PD?

Answer 25

pervasive rigidity in ones activities and relationships (emotional constriction, perfection, anxiety from slight interuptions in routine, high standards)

Question 26

What is the aetiology of OCPD?

Answer 26

moderate genetics (nigh neurotisism, consientiousness, agreeableness), negative interpersonal experience, tasks to avoid punishment, perfection striving

Question 27

What are the treatment options for OCPD?

Answer 27

CBT (challenging dysfunctional beliefs, graded homework, exposure)

Question 28

Explain Young’s Schema Therapy Model

Answer 28

Schemas are organised information in memory that once established operate automatically to influence info processing and responses. Early maladaptive schemas form from failure to meet child’s core emotional needs. The therapy involves an extensive assessment phase focusing on identifying early maladaptive schemas, how they are managed and then education and change can occur

Question 29

Explain Linehan’s Biosocial Model.

Answer 29

dysfunction in emotional regulation system as a result of interaction and cumulative effects overtime of a biologically based emotional vulnerability and negative experience.

Question 30

What is Dialectual Behaviour Therapy

Answer 30

addresses dysregulation with an inititial focus on engagement and commitment to therapy. It involves mindfulness, distress tolerance skills, interpersonal effectivness, and emotional regulation skills

Question 31

Explain Ryle’s Cognitive Analytic Therapy

Answer 31

integrative approach combining cognitive psychology and object relations. internal dynamic relational patterns shape the way a child relates to the world (neurological factors + early trauma/neglect = maladaptive ways of relating

Question 32

What does the multiple states model state?

Answer 32

focus on dissasociation between different aspects of self, deficient capacity for self reflection