Personality Disorders Flashcards
How are personality disorders on the whole characterised?
An enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture. This pattern is manifested in two (or more) of the following areas:
- Cognition
- Affectivity
- Interpersonal functioning
- Impulse control
The pattern is inflexible and pervasive.
It leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in a range of important areas of functioning.
The pattern is stable and can be traced back at least to early adulthood.
It is not better explained by another diagnosis.
It is not attributable to a physiological change.
What are the cluster A personality disorders?
Paranoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
Schizotypal personality disorder
What are the cluster B personality disorders?
Antisocial personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
Histrionic personality disorder
What are the cluster C personality disorders?
Obsessive compulsive personality disorder
Dependent personality disorder
Avoidant personality disorder
What are the characteristics of paranoid personality disorder?
Hypersensitivity and an unforgiving attitude when insulted
Unwarranted tendency to questions the loyalty of friends
Reluctance to confide in others
Preoccupation with conspirational beliefs and hidden meaning
Unwarranted tendency to perceive attacks on their character
What are the characteristics of schizoid personality disorder?
Indifference to praise and criticism Preference for solitary activities Lack of interest in sexual interactions Lack of desire for companionship Emotional coldness Few interests Few friends or confidants other than family
What are the characteristics of schizotypal personality disorder?
Ideas of reference (differ from delusions in that some insight is retained) Odd beliefs and magical thinking Unusual perceptual disturbances Paranoid ideation and suspiciousness Odd, eccentric behaviour Lack of close friends other than family members Inappropriate affect Odd speech without being incoherent
What are the characteristics of antisocial personality disorder?
Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;
More common in men;
Deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;
Impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead;
Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;
Reckless disregard for safety of self or others;
Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations;
Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
What are the characteristics of borderline personality disorder?
Efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
Unstable interpersonal relationships which alternate between idealization and devaluation
Unstable self image
Impulsivity in potentially self damaging area (e.g. Spending, sex, substance abuse)
Recurrent suicidal behaviour
Affective instability
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Difficulty controlling temper
Quasi psychotic thoughts
What are the characteristics of narcissistic personality disorder?
Grandiose sense of self importance Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, or beauty Sense of entitlement Taking advantage of others to achieve own needs Lack of empathy Excessive need for admiration Chronic envy Arrogant and haughty attitude
What are the characteristics of histrionic personality disorder?
Inappropriate sexual seductiveness
Need to be the centre of attention
Rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions
Suggestibility
Physical appearance used for attention seeking purposes
Impressionistic speech lacking detail
Self dramatization
Relationships considered to be more intimate than they are
What are the characteristics of obsessive compulsive personality disorder?
Is occupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or agenda to the point that the key part of the activity is gone
Demonstrates perfectionism that hampers with completing tasks
Is extremely dedicated to work and efficiency to the elimination of spare time activities
Is meticulous, scrupulous, and rigid about etiquettes of morality, ethics, or values
Is not capable of disposing worn out or insignificant things even when they have no sentimental meaning
Is unwilling to pass on tasks or work with others except if they surrender to exactly their way of doing things
Takes on a stingy spending style towards self and others; and shows stiffness and stubbornness
What are the characteristics of dependent personality disorder?
Difficulty making everyday decisions without excessive reassurance from others
Need for others to assume responsibility for major areas of their life
Difficulty in expressing disagreement with others due to fears of losing support
Lack of initiative
Unrealistic fears of being left to care for themselves
Urgent search for another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
Extensive efforts to obtain support from others
Unrealistic feelings that they cannot care for themselves
What are the characteristics of avoidant personality disorder?
Avoidance of occupational activities which involve significant interpersonal contact due to fears of criticism, or rejection.
Unwillingness to be involved unless certain of being liked
Preoccupied with ideas that they are being criticised or rejected in social situations
Restraint in intimate relationships due to the fear of being ridiculed
Reluctance to take personal risks doe to fears of embarrassment
Views self as inept and inferior to others
Social isolation accompanied by a craving for social contact
How can borderline personality disorder be managed?
Dialectic Behavioural Therapy
Mentalization-Based Treatment
Symptomatic Prescribing
Treatment of co-occurring Mental Illness
