Session 08 - Personality Disorders Flashcards
Define personality.
The range of characteristic behavioural responses that a person deploys in order to negotiate the challenges produced by the outside world, and their internal feelings.
What are the four components of personality?
- cognition
- impulse control
- social communication
- affect / emotions
In order to be classified as a personality disorder, the trait must:
- be pathological, pervasive and persistent (3Ps)
- lead to stereotypes responses, which can be traced to childhood
- be quantitatively significantly different from others of a similar background
- lead to distress or impair social function for the patient
- not be due to another mental disorder or medical condition.
Biological causes of personality disorder.
Genetics: twin studies have shown large concordance in personality disorder.
Psychological causes of personality disorder.
Personality: higher association with low self-esteem who internalise their stresses.
Social causes of personality disorder.
Childhood: sexual and emotional abuse and insecure family relationships.
Outline the secure attachment model of EUPD.
First thing you learn as a child is how to form a secure attachment, usually to a parent.
EUPD patients do not experience this, and so form relationships which are very doubtful. They form very fast and intense relationships, but these do not last as they are insecure.
Outline the distress tolerance model of EUPD.
Children as they develop learn how to manage their emotions to distressing stimuli.
EUPD patients instead do not learn to manage emotions appropriately. In response to stress, they instead engage in unhelpful behaviours like self-harm.
Outline the emotion literacy model of EUPD.
Adolescents learn to be aware of their emotions, and control them in social situations.
EUPD patients do not learn to be aware of their emotions, and so react inappropriately in social situations.
Outline the self-identity model of EUPD.
By the end of adolescence, we have a stable sense of who we are as individuals.
EUPD patients do not have a stable sense of their own identity.
Diagnostic criteria for EUPD.
- intense interpersonal relationships, alternating between love and hate
- huge fear of abandonment
- unstable image of self
- difficulty controlling temper
- unstable affect
- impulsive behaviour in 2 different domains (sex, gambling, drugs)
- recurrent suicidal behaviour
- persistent feeling of emptiness and low mood
- psychotic thoughts
EUPD is split into borderline type and impulsive type.
BPD: very emotionally unstable with repeated acts of self-harm.
IPD: display high impulsive behaviours (e.g. gambling) without the repeated acts of self-harm.
Differences between BPD and bipolar disorder.
What are the traits of antisocial / dissocial personality disorder?
Impaired impulse control, leading to high aggressiveness and insensitivity.
The patient has no regard for the rights or safety of others, is irresponsible, breaks the law and blames others for their actions.
What are the traits of avoidant / anxious personality disorder?
Impaired emotional confidence, leading to high anxiety and tension in relationships.
The patient avoids activities with social contact due to fear of not being liked, and have a huge inferiority complex.
What are the traits of dependent personality disorder?
Impaired emotional confidence, giving submissive or clinging behaviour.
Excessive need to be taken care of, with the need for others to take responsibility for their life decisions. They will cling to their partners due to the fear of being left alone, and will go out of their way to get support.
Traits of narcissistic personality disorder.
Impaired sense of self which leads to a perceived self-importance.
Patient has constant fantasies of success and power, feeling self-entitled and will take advantage of others to achieve their own goals.
