Personality disorders

Question 1

What is a personality disorder

Answer 1

Refers to a personality type where a person has an overabundance of negative personality traits which can negatively affect their life and how they interact socially

Question 2

How are personality disorders diagnosed

Answer 2

using the PDQ4 - 100 questions and 50/100 predicts a PD with marks in specific areas
Often difficult to pigeonhole into one category

Question 3

When is a persons personality developed by

Answer 3

Late teens/early 20s

Question 4

What are the features of a paranoid personality disorder

Answer 4

Suspicious of others
mistrusting
See hidden messages in comments

Question 5

What are the features of schizoid PD

Answer 5

Prefer not to interact with others 
Little/no interest in romantic relationships
Emotionally cold
limited ability to experience pleasure 
May have rich, fantasy life

Question 6

What are the features of schizotypal PD

Answer 6

Eccentric behaviour
May believe they have special powers
attach undue significance to everyday events
unusual speaking pattern

Question 7

What are the features of antisocial PD

Answer 7

impulsive/reckless behaviour
Puts own needs first
may be charming and manipulative
easy to make relationships but difficultly keeping them
No sense of guilt
easily bored
likely to be diagnosed with conduct disorder

Question 8

What are the features of Borderline PD/Emotionally Unstable PD

Answer 8

Lack of sense of self/bored/empty feelings
my have brief psychotic episodes
May act impulsively and later regret
Episodes of self harm/suicide attempts
Rocky relationships
Fear of abandonment - attachment seeking behaviour