Personality Disorders

Question 1

Define personality

Answer 1

The more or less stable, internal factors that make one person’s behaviour consistent from onetime to another, and different from the behaviours other people would manifest in comparable situations

Question 2

Define a personality disorder

Answer 2

Characteristic and enduring patterns of inner experience and behaviours that deviate markedly from the cultural ‘norm’ in more than one area of:
1. Cognition
2. Affectivity
3. Impulse/gratification
Pervasively inflexible, maladaptive or dysfunctional behaviour across multiple areas

They have issues with interpersonal relationships.

Question 3

what is a projection defence mechanism?

Answer 3

o Unacceptable part of yourself that you dislike that you project onto others and then perceive it as coming from them

Question 4

What is projective identification?

Answer 4

o Projected out

o Then constrained others to see it too and give him that role

Question 5

What is splitting ?

Answer 5

o Separating others as a way of breaking them down

o Should be working together but figure out that they may do better if they divide teams

Question 6

Describe anti-social PD

Answer 6

• More common in men
• Must be preceded by a history of conduct disorder
• Three or more of the following are present after the age of 15 years:
• Deceitfulness
• A history of repeated aggression
• Repeatedly engaging in criminal activity
• Impulsivity/failure to plan ahead
• A reckless disregard for one’s own safety and/or the safety of others
• A failure to fulfil work-related or financial obligations
• A lack of remorse and/or emotional indifference to the plight of others

Question 7

Describe borderline personality disorder

Answer 7

-	3 of: 
o	Impulsive
o	Quarrels/conflicts (required) (start fight in an empty house)
o	Angry outbursts 
o	Limited perseverance 
o	Emotional instability 
-	Plus 2 of: 
o	Uncertainty re: identity/preferences 
o	Intense, unstable relationships 
o	Excessive efforts to avoid abandonment 
o	Self-harm emptiness

Question 8

How is borderline personality disorder treated?

Answer 8

o Dialectical behaviour therapy

Question 9

Describe obsessive compulsive PD, and say how it is different to OCD

Answer 9

• Perfectionism and obsession with control that is often egosyntonic (in contrast to obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is typically egodystonic)
• Rigid routines
• Features often occur at the expense of occupational success (e.g., missing deadlines), social relationships (e.g., excluding social activities to complete tasks), and pleasurable activities (e.g., not taking vacation)
• In contrast to OCD, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours are not present.