Tutorial 9 - Personality Disorders

Question 1

diathesis-stress model?

Answer 1

people with an underlying vulnerability exhibit symptoms when under sufficient stress

Question 2

Psychological disorders - characterized by what?

Answer 2

1. distress
2. dysfunction
3. deviant - how many people have it (is it rare)

Question 3

generalised anxiety disorder?

Answer 3

persistent anxiety at a moderate but disturbing level and excessive and unrealistic worry about life circumstances

Question 4

compulsions are what (as in OCD)?

Answer 4

compulsions are voluntary behaviors or thoughts which calm you down from an obsession

Question 5

cyberchondria?

Answer 5

worrying that your behavior reflects a psychological disorder based upon using the internet/ repeated searches

Question 6

personality disorders - general definition?

Answer 6

• an enduring pattern of inner experience that deviates markedly from expectations of the individual’s culture
• impair functioning: dysfunctional style of behaving
• pervasive and inflexible: similar behavior across different situations
• has onset in adolescence or early adulthood
• is stable over time
• disorder is constantly having effect (unlike other disorders wherein individuals have an ‘episode’)

Question 7

t/f: personality disorders always cause a level of distress for a patient

Answer 7

false - ie. in borderline PD they would but in antisocial PD they often wouldn’t

Question 8

How many PD in DSM-5?

Answer 8

10 disorders, 3 clusters
Cluster A: Odd-eccentric

Question 9

How many PD in DSM-5?

Answer 9

10 disorders, 3 clusters
Cluster A: Odd-eccentric
- paranoid PD
- schizoid PD
- schizotypal PD

Cluster B: Dramatic-erratic
- histrionic PD
- narcissistic PD
- borderline PD
- anti-social PD

Cluster C: Anxious-fearful
- dependent PD
- obsessive-compulsive PD
- avoidant PD

Question 10

Borderline PD?

Answer 10

• unstable self-image and emotion –> lack of identity
• unstable interpersonal relationships –> relationships used as a form of identity
• impulsivity
• mood swings and outbursts
• fear of abandonment
• manipulative behavior

Question 11

treatment BPD?

Answer 11

CBT
dialectical BT (type of CBT) - a type of therapy which challenges thoughts and perceptions

Question 12

narcissistic PD?

Answer 12

• overestimate ability and achievement
• arrogant/ vain
• need attention and admiration
• exaggerated sensitivity for criticism
• extreme self-importance
• high entitlement
• lack empathy
• interpersonal difficulties
• actually have low and fragile self-esteem

Question 12

grandiose narcissism features?

Answer 12

(a way that narcissism manifests, not necessarily a disorder)
extraversion
dominance
attention seeking

Question 13

vulnerable narcissism features?

Answer 13

(a way that narcissism manifests, not necessarily a disorder)
reserved
strong sense of entitlement

Question 14

antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 14

• antisocial behavior without regret or shame
• superficial charm; intelligent
• poise, rationality, absence of neurotic personality
• manipulative/ insincere
• poor judgement; failure to learn from experience
• inability to establish lasting, close relationships
• lack of insight into personal motivations
• irresponsible and socially disruptive behavior

Question 15

APD diagnosis?

Answer 15

pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by 3 or more of the following:
- frequent lawbreaking/ lack of conforming to social norms
- deceitfulness - lying, conning, etc.
- impulsivity

Question 16

anxiety - general info

Answer 16

• most people experience it
• perception of threat underlies it
• anxiety disorder –> consistently overestimate threat in a particular type of situation

Question 17

obsession define?

Answer 17

• recurrent persistent thoughts that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate
• negative interpretation of it which causes anxiety or distress

Question 18

compulsion define?

Answer 18

• repetitive behaviors/ thoughts deliberately performed in response to an obsession
• aimed to reduce anxiety, aimed at preventing harm or negative outcomes

Question 19

OCD general info?

Answer 19

• obsessive-compulsive cycle
• compulsions do NOT RENDER ENJOYMENT (this is what makes it different to the personality disorder OCPD)
• compulsions become ritualistic
• individuals are aware that their compulsions are not actually logical, ie. they know that there is no causal relationship between tapping the foot 3 times and someone dying, whereas someone with actual delusions will genuinely think there is a causal link