Task 8

Question 1

What are personality disorders seen as?

Answer 1

Extreme levels of some personality characteristics that are maladaptive
-> stable and enduring patterns of thought, feeling and behavior
It must involve some negative consequences for the functioning and the happiness of the individual or of others around him or her

Question 2

What is Cluster A?

Answer 2

Odd, Eccentric
Behavior of persons diagnosed with these disorders seem strange or unusual
Schizotypal + Schizoid + Paranoid

Question 3

What is a schizoid personality disorders?

Answer 3

Involves an extreme degree of detachment from relationships

• > very limited expression of emotions in interpersonal settings + emotional detachment
• feel little joy or pleasure and prefer to be alone

Question 4

What is a schizotypal personality disorder?

Answer 4

Discomfort in close relationships, combined with eccentric behaviors and thought

• > odd thinking and behaviors + tend to be highly superstitious and have bizzare perceptual experiences
• extreme discomfort with social relationships

Question 5

What is a paranoid individual like?

Answer 5

Extreme distrust and suspiciousness of others

-> quick to take offense or to feel insulted and tend to hold grudges

Question 6

What is Cluster B?

Answer 6

Dramatic, Erratic
Behavior of persons diagnosed with these disorders seem impulsive and unstable
Antisocial + Borderline + Histrionic + Narcissistic

Question 7

What is the antisocial disorder like?

Answer 7

Disregard for and violation of the rights of others

Question 8

What is the histrionic disorder like?

Answer 8

Excessive attention seeking and exaggerated expression of emotions

Question 9

What is the narcissistic disorder like?

Answer 9

Excessive of self-importance and entitlement

Question 10

What is Cluster C?

Answer 10

Anxious and Fearful
Behavior of persons diagnosed with these disorders seems nervous and worried
Avoidant + Dependent + Obsessive-Compulsive

Question 11

What problems are there with the DSM-5?

Answer 11

1. Symptoms of a given disorder do not necessarily “go together”
2. Two disorders may have overlapping symptoms and may tend to be diagnosed together (comorbidity)
3. “Clusters” of disorders do not match factor analysis results
4. A personality disorder should be seen as a continuum, not as a category

Question 12

What are the two essential features of a personality disorder in the ICD-11?

Answer 12

Impaired personality functioning and the presence of pathological personality traits

Question 13

In what two kinds of problems in personality functioning is impaired personality functioning devided?

Answer 13

1. “Self” problems: involve impairment in one’s identity and one’s self direction
2. Interpersonal problems: involve impairments in empathy and intimacy

Question 14

What are identity and self-direction problems?

Answer 14

Identity problems: might not have sense of him/herself as a unique person, might be highly unstable
Self-direction problems: might lack internal standards for behavior and unable to reflect constructively on his or her own experiences

Question 15

What are empathy and intimacy problems?

Answer 15

Empathy problems: might be unable to understand experiences and motivation of other people
Intimacy problems: might be lacking in positive, sustained relationships in general

Question 16

When are personality traits pathological?

Answer 16

When a individual shows high levels of these traits: Negative Affectivity, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition, Psychoticism
-> there are 25 traits

Question 17

What are other essential features for the ICD-11?

Answer 17

Impaired personality functioning and pathological personality traits must

• be relatively stable across time and situations
• not be considered normal for the person’s stage of development
• not be due to the effects of some substance

Question 18

What are the different types of therapy?

Answer 18

1. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
3. Dialectical Behavior Theory (DBT)
4. Psychobiological Treatments

Question 19

How does the psychodynamic psychotherapy work?

Answer 19

Clinician tries to help the patient
- express his/her emotions
- identify recurring patterns in his/her behavior
Overarching aim:
- encouraging the patient to speak freely about what is on his/ her mind (incl. dreams and fantasies)
- improve self understanding

Question 20

How does the cognitive-behavioral therapy work?

Answer 20

Aim:

Understanding the irrational beliefs that a patient holds and to show the patient that those views are maladaptive

Question 21

How does the Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Answer 21

Developed as a treatments for Borderline Patients

• developing mindfulness
• making the patient more aware of what he/she is currently thinking and feeling

Question 22

How do psychobiological treatments look like?

Answer 22

Certain kinds of drugs could counteract the underlying imbalances and thereby reduce the symptoms