Week 7 Lecture 11 - personality disorders Flashcards
In the DSM-IV, what was Axis II –> personality disorders?
- enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour
- deviate from cultural expectations
- are pervasive and inflexible
- cause distress and impairment
- not due to another disorder, drugs, intoxication etc.
- in past largely seen as untreatable
Why in the DSM-IV was personality disorders placed on a separate axis?
originally to increase clinical/research attention
In the DSM-V where are personality disorders placed?
DSM-V grouped axes I-III (clinical psychological disorders, personality disorders and intellectual disabilities and medical conditions and physical disorders) into a single axis
True or false?
Until recently, categorisation and understanding of personality disorders has been unrelated to empirical personality theories
True
How many clusters are personality disorders split into?
3
What does Cluster A of personality disorders represent? What disorders are included?
- “odd or eccentric’ disorders
- paranoid
- schizoid
- schizotypal
What does Cluster B of personality disorders represent? What disorders are included?
- ‘dramatic, emotional, or erratic’ disorders
- antisocial
- borderline
- histrionic
- narcissistic
What does Cluster C of personality disorders represent? What disorders are included?
- ‘anxious or fearful’ disorders
- avoidant
- dependent
- obsessive-compulsive
Is co-occurrence of PDs common?
- yes
- can occur within and across clusters
What is a criticism of the DSM-V clusters of PDs?
highly questionable validity and utility of diagnostic groups
What is paranoid PD?
- Paranoia; mistrust of others; has irrational suspicions.
- Pre-occupied with doubts; reluctance to confide; misinterprets innocent remarks, and holds grudges against people
How do the PDs in Cluster A differ from a full-blown psychotic disorder?
- greater maintenance of contact with reality
- narrower, more focussed set of symptoms
What is schizoid PD?
- Detachment from interpersonal relationships; emotional coldness; indifference to praise/criticism of others.
- Has few friends; chooses solitary activities.
What is Schizotypal PD?
- Distortions in thinking, feelings and perceptions e.g. ideas of reference, magical thinking, perceptual illusions.
- Discomfort in social situations; suspicions and paranoia.
What is antisocial PD?
- Lack of empathy and remorse; disregard for others.
- Failure to conform to norms/laws; impulsivity; deceitfulness; irresponsibility, and disregard for safety of self/others
What is histrionic PD?
- Excessive need for approval; need to be centre of attention.
- Shallow/over-dramatic emotions; sees relationships as more intimate than they are.
What is narcissistic PD?
- Inflated self-importance and sense of entitlement; belief they are special; seeks attention and admiration from others.
- Fantasises of success; arrogance; envy of others; low in empathy
What is borderline (emotionally unstable) PD?
- Unstable personal relationships; frantic attempts to avoid real/imagined abandonment; lack of well-formed identity; feelings of emptiness/ worthlessness; Instability of feelings
- Frequent suicidal, self-harming, self-mutilating behaviours; Impulsivity in self-damaging behaviours
Is BPD stigmatised?
yes
What is Avoidant PD?
- Social inhibition; avoids and withdraws from social situations.
- Low self-worth; fear rejection, disapproval and criticism; feel socially-inept; reluctant to engage in new things for fear of embarrassment
What is dependent PD?
- Persistent psychological dependence on others; lack confidence in ability to take responsibility; has difficulty doing things alone.
- Tends to agree with others; seeks out new relationships.
What is obsessive-compulsive PD?
- Preoccupation with orderliness, rules, moral codes, caution and perfectionism; excessive devoted to work; inflexibility and overly-conscientious.
What is the continuity hypothesis?
there is no discontinuity between normality and illness
Are there strong correlations between PDs and the Big 5?
- no
- while there are significant correlations they are all fairly weak
- suggests that we need to look at personality at a facet level rather than trait level when determining the relationship between PD and personality