Personality Disorders; Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Question 1

What is antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 1

sociopathy - a lack of remorse and no concern for others

• a disregard for and violation of rights of others with lack of remorse which commonly results in criminality
• males > females
• conduct disorder if < 18 years
• rule of substance use, sexual abuse, and possible normal behavior
• classic triad: set fires, torture animals, bed wetting

Question 2

What is avoidant personality disorder?

Answer 2

a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts

• patients tend to be hypersensitive to rejection and socially inhibited resulting from feelings of inadequacy
• desires relationships with others (vs. schizoid)

Question 3

What is body dysmorphic disorder?

Answer 3

a beautiful woman is noted to complain that her hands are too big, yet they appear well-formed and appropriate

• preoccupation with an imagined defect in physical appearance/exaggerated distortion of a minor flaw
• common concerns - face/hair/skin/breasts/genitalia
• high comorbidity with depressive/anxiety disorders; linked to psychotic disorder and OCD
• stereotypes of beauty may play a role

Question 4

What is borderline personality disorder?

Answer 4

black and white perception, unstable interpersonal relationship

• borderline personality disorder presents with emotional instability, unstable relationships, and self-harming behavior
• females > males
• splitting is a major defense mechanism
• relationships are either all good (“my boyfriend is a perfect angel”) or all bad (“my boyfriend is evil and I hate him”)

Question 5

What is dependent personality disorder?

Answer 5

submissive and clingy with an excessive need to be taken care of resulting from a low self-esteem

Question 6

What is histrionic personality disorder?

Answer 6

attention seeking dramatic seductive behaviors

• needs to be the center of attention, very dramatic, dresses for attention, very shallow, seductive and flirtatious
• a large concern with appearance

Question 7

What is narcissistic personality disorder?

Answer 7

concerned what others think of them and need admiration

• need for admiration, grandiose thoughts, concerned about what others think yet lack empathy
• sense of entitlement
• lacks empathy
• reacts to criticism with rage

Question 8

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Answer 8

focus on obsessions repetition of compulsive behaviors

• two components
• obsessions: recurring, intrusive thoughts that cause severe distress and impairment
• compulsions: performance of repetitive actions (rituals) in an attempt to neutralize the obsessions
• e.g hand washing, checking - the primary goal is to not lose control
• the disorder is ego-dystonic behavior inconsistent with one’s own beliefs and attitudes - separates OCD from obsessive compulsive personality disorder
• associated conditions - Tourette’s disorder

Question 9

What is obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

Answer 9

patients tend to be preoccupied with order, perfectionism, and control
-ego-syntonic: the patient is not aware of their behavior causing issues vs. OCD which is ego dystonic

Question 10

What is paranoid personality disorder?

Answer 10

paranoid personality disorder is characterized by persistent feelings of suspiciousness and mistrust of other people

• excessive distrust and suspicion
• higher incidence in families with schizophrenia

Question 11

What is schizoid personality disorder?

Answer 11

patients tend to have emotional aloofness, indifferent to praise and criticism, without bizarre or idiosyncratic thinking

• exhibit voluntary social withdrawal
• content with social isolation (vs avoidant)
• limited emotional expression
• no associated with schizophrenia

Question 12

What is schizotypal personality disorder?

Answer 12

odd eccentric behavior and discomfort with social relationships

• a pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships
• presents with eccentric behavior, magical thoughts, odd beliefs, and perceptual distortion
• these patients are able to function in society, though struggle to maintain social relationships
• patients may develop schizophrenia