Personality Disorders

Question 1

What is a personality disorder?

Answer 1

Pattern of experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the individual’s normal culture

Question 2

What are the 4 main aspects that are affected in personality disorder?

Answer 2

Cognition
Affectivity
Interpersonal functioning
Impulse control

Question 3

How is personality disorder distinguished from a trait?

Answer 3

Disorder is pervasive, enduring and inflexible and causes distress/impairment of functioning
Pattern is stable and of long duration
Onset can be traced back to adolescence/ early adulthood
Pattern not explained by another mental disorder, substance use or other medical condition

e.g. being a little shy sometimes isn’t a disorder

Question 4

What are the characteristics of cluster A personality disorder?

Answer 4

“Odd and eccentric”
Paranoia
Schizoid/schizotypal

Question 5

What are the characteristics of cluster B personality disorder?

Answer 5

"Dramatic and emotional"
Antisocial
Borderline (emotionally unstable)
Histrionic
Narcisstic

Question 6

What are the characteristics of cluster C personality disorder?

Answer 6

“Anxious and fearful”
Obsessive
Avoidant
Dependent

Question 7

Which cluster of personality disorder is most prevalent? Which subset of personality disorder is the most common?

Answer 7

Cluster C

Obsessive-compulsive

Question 8

Describe paranoid personality disorder

Answer 8

Pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, as if their motives are malevolent

Question 9

Describe schizoid personality disorder

Answer 9

Pervasive detachment from social relationships and restricted range of emotions in interpersonal settings

Question 10

Describe antisocial personality disorder

Answer 10

Pervasive pattern of disregard for rights of others

Question 11

Describe borderline (emotionally-unstable) personality disorder

Answer 11

Pervasive pattern of instability of relationships and self-esteem, affects and marked impulsivity

Question 12

What mental illness shares a lot of similarity with borderline personality disorder? How can they be distinguished?

Answer 12

Bipolar disorder
Symptoms of personality disorder are pretty consistent and ongoing; bipolar disorder appears to have “breaks” between extreme mood swings

Question 13

Describe histrionic personality disorder

Answer 13

Pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking

Question 14

Describe avoidant personality disorder

Answer 14

Pervasive social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy with hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

Question 15

Describe dependent personality disorder

Answer 15

Pervasive need to be taken care of, leading to clinging and submissive behaviour and fears of separation

Question 16

Describe obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Answer 16

Pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness/perfectionism, mental and interpersonal control at the expense of flexibility, openness and efficiency

Question 17

Antisocial personality disorder is equivalent to being a psychopath. True/False?

Answer 17

False
Antisocial PD is based on behaviour, whereas psychopathy describes emotional and cognitive deficit (almost no consideration for others)

Question 18

There is good treatment evidence for personality disorder. True/False?

Answer 18

False

Question 19

What is the main psychological treatment for borderline personality disorder?

Answer 19

Dialectical behavioural therapy first-line

Focuses on groups, firm boundaries and managing interpersonal issues

Question 20

List the 5 structures of personality

Answer 20

OCEAN
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism

Question 21

State one method that can be used in measuring personality

Answer 21

Rating scales e.g. Personality disorders questionnaire (PDQ4)

Question 22

What proportion of the general population are believed to have a personality disorder?

Answer 22

1 in 10

Question 23

How is OCD distinguished from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

Answer 23

OCD is an anxiety disorder and OCPD is a personality disorder. OCD involves obsessions and compulsions, and typically causes more distress.

Question 24

Treatment for personality disorder mainly focuses on…

Answer 24

Treatment of co-morbidity e.g. depression, anxiety

Question 25

List some management options for avoidant personality disorder

Answer 25

Social skills training

Some evidence for antidepressants

Question 26

List some management options for antisocial personality disorder

Answer 26

Psychological - group-based cognitive and behavioural therapy
Pharmacological treatment not used routinely

Question 27

What class of antidepressants may be used to treat both atypical depression and borderline personality disorder? Give an example

Answer 27

MAO inhibitors e.g. phenelzine

Question 28

List other medications that could be used in borderline personality disorder

Answer 28

Antipsychotics - olanzapine, haloperidol
Topiramate for anger and aggression
Lamotrigine for mood