Personality Disorders

Question 1

Criteria for personality disorder

Answer 1

• long standing/ inflexible pattern
• leads to social/ occupation impairment
• not explained by another mental disorder/ due to drug abuse/ physical condition

Question 2

cluster A personality disorders

Answer 2

‘the weird’

• paranoid
• schizoid

Question 3

cluster B personality disorders

Answer 3

‘the wild’

• borderline
• antisocial
• histrionic (dramatic)
• narcissistic (exaggerated self importance)

Question 4

cluster C personality disorders

Answer 4

‘the worried’

• avoidant
• dependent
• obsessive compulsive

Question 5

what is obsessional compulsive personality disorder also known as

Answer 5

anankastic personality disorder

Question 6

distrust + suspicion of others to such an extend that the individual suspects that others are exploiting, harming or deceiving them

what PD?

Answer 6

paranoid

Question 7

when does paranoid PD begin

Answer 7

early adulthood

Question 8

features of paranoid PD

Answer 8

reluctant to confide in others= doubts of trustworthiness/ fear info will be used against them
reads hidden threatening meanings into normal remarks
sees everything as a personal attack

Question 9

detachment from social relationships + restricted range of expression of emotions

what PD?

Answer 9

schizoid

Question 10

features of schizoid PD

Answer 10

neither desires nor enjoys close relationships
chooses solitary activities
takes pleasures in few activities
emotional coldness + detachment

Question 11

disregard for + violation of the rights of others. Repeated lying, reckless disregard for own safety/ safety of others, lack of remorse

which PD?

Answer 11

antisocial personality disorder

Question 12

when does antisocial PD begin

Answer 12

from age of 15

Question 13

features of antisocial PD

Answer 13

failure to conform to the law
lying
impulsive + reckless behaviour 
lack of remorse 
disregard for safety of self + others

Question 14

features of borderline personality disorder

Answer 14

instability of interpersonal relationships + self image/sense of self

impulsivity in at least 2 potentially damaging areas e.g. spending, sex, substance abuse, binge eating

chronic feeling of emptiness, recurrent suicidal behaviour

Question 15

what other conditions can be associated with borderline PD

Answer 15

ADHD

learning difficulty

Question 16

excessive attention seeking behaviour, use physical appearance to draw attention to themselves, exaggerated expression of emotions

which PD?

Answer 16

histrionic

Question 17

grandiose sense of self importance, fantasies of unlimited success/ power/ beauty, sense of entitlement, need for admiration, lack of empathy

which PD?

Answer 17

narcissistic

Question 18

excessive need to be taken care of that leads to clinging behaviour + fear of separation

which PD?

Answer 18

dependent

Question 19

features of dependent PD

Answer 19

difficulty making everyday decisions without excessive advice/reassurance
needs others to assume responsibility
difficult doing things on their own

Question 20

social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, over sensitive to negative evaluation

which PD?

Answer 20

avoidant

Question 21

features of avoidant PD

Answer 21

avoids interpersonal contact due to fear of criticism/ rejection

views self as socially inept, inferior to others + unappealing

does not take risks + do new activities due to fear of embarrassment

Question 22

treatment for borderline PD

Answer 22

dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)

Question 23

treatment for avoidant PD

Answer 23

social skills training

Question 24

what is malingering

Answer 24

faking an illness for secondary gain