Personality disorders

Question 1

What are the three clusters of personality disorders and what do they all have in common?

Answer 1

A= odd eccentric, B= dramatic, emotional, erratic, C= anxious, fearful. They all stem from disturbances in thinking about self and others. Issues surrounding self identity, directness, goals. Others- intimacy, cooperativeness, empathy.

Question 2

What are some major challenges with BPD?

Answer 2

Misdiagnosis is common- BP, PTSD, psychosis
Medication not recommended as primary treatment but often over medicated
Stigma around treating and dealing with those with BPD
Understaffed and underfunded healthcare services, punitive
Relationship deficits

Question 3

Explain the Project Air biopsychosocial model.

Answer 3

The model brings together understanding of factors and symptoms etc how manifest over lifetime. Begins with epigenetic processes of genetic inheritance and environmental factors that contribute to biological and social factors. These feed into the core mechanisms of affective, identity and relationship issues. These mechanisms inform symptoms.

Question 4

List five of the eight key recommendations for treatment of BPD.

Answer 4

1. Medication should not be primary treatment
2. Structured psychological therapies
3. BPD should be treated as legitimate diagnosis in health care system
4. Support for families and carers
5. Young people with emerging symptoms should be assessed for BPD