Personality Disorders - Cluster A Flashcards
What are the 3 personality disorders in cluster A (MAD)?
paranoid
schizoid
schizotypal
what is the pattern that describes paranoid personality disorder?
a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness such that others’ motives are interpreted as malevolent
“long standing suspiciousness & mistrust”
what is the pneumonic for paranoid personality?
GET FACT
how many of the DSM-IV criteria (out of 7) are needed for paranoid personality disorder?
at least 4 out of the 7
what are the criteria extracted from the GET FACT pneumonic for paranoid personality?
GRUDGES for long periods (is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights)
EXPLOITATION expected (without sufficient basis)
TRUSTWORTHINESS of others doubted
FIDELITY of sexual partner questioned
ATTACKS on character are perceived
CONFIDES in others rarely (if at all)
THREATENING meanings read into events (reads hidden meaning)
Scenario: a 50 yo office worker tells you that he has never been promoted bc his coworkers frequently claim his ideas as their own. when he is fired for poor performance, he files a lawsuit against the company.
what type of patient does this describe?
a typical paranoid patient
what are the characteristics of a paranoid patient?
suspicious, mistrustful, litigious, attributes responsibility for problems to others.
what are 2 major psychodynamic defense mechanisms used in paranoid patients?
projection and denial
what does paranoid personality disorder lack?
a fixed delusion or a true thought disorder
how does paranoid personality differ from schizophrenia? hint: there are 2 out of 5 things that you need to have for schizophrenia…
- delusions
- hallucinations
- disorganized speech
- grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
- negative symptoms
what populations are commonly seen in paranoid personality disorder?
minorities, immigrants, deaf
M>F
what is the typical course of paranoid personality disorder?
- no change (c/w personality disorder)
- harbinger to schizophrenia
- reaction formation
what is reaction formation (seen in paranoid personality disorder)?
taking up the opposite position/emotion to hide how you really feel
Ex: rejecting relationships when in reality, it is what you desire the most.
contact tips for the paranoid patient:
- difficulty with trust and tolerating intimate relationships
- be professional (not overly warm/touchy)
- trying to interpret behavior in front of patient can result in mistrust.
treatment of choice for the paranoid patient?
psychotherapy.
they don’t do well with group therapy though, since they don’t trust others
pharmacotherapy for the paranoid patient?
antianxiety agents
OR
antipsychotics and/or haldol for severe agitation or delusions.