Personality Disorders

Question 1

What are the categories of personality disorders

Answer 1

Cluster A, B, C

Question 2

Conditions in cluster A of personality disorders

Answer 2

Paranoid,
Schizoid,
Schizotypical

Question 3

Conditions in cluster B

Answer 3

Antisocial,
Borderline,
Histrionic,
Narcissistic

Question 4

Personality disorders in cluster c

Answer 4

Avoidant,
Anankastic,
Dependent

Question 5

Summarise signs of paranoid personality disorder?

Answer 5

Suspicious,
Defence mechanism,
Projection

Question 6

Summarised signs of schizoid personality disorder?

Answer 6

Social withdrawal,

Social isolation

Question 7

Summarised signs of schizotypal personality disorder?

Answer 7

Eccentric behaviour,

Magical thinking

Question 8

Summarised signs of antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 8

M>F
Criminal behaviour,
Disregards for other members of society

Question 9

Summarised signs of borderline personality disorder?

Answer 9

F>M
Associated depression, 
Associated self harm, 
Feelings emptiness, 
Unstable interpersonal relationships,
Black and white thinking, 
Impulsive behaviour

Question 10

Summarised symptoms of histrionic personality disorder

Answer 10

Attention seeking,
Very flirtatious
Sexually provocative

Question 11

Symptoms narcissistic personality disorders?

Answer 11

M>F
Grandiose delusions,
lack empathy,
Loves admiration and loathes criticism

Question 12

Avoidant personality disorders

Answer 12

Very sensitive to reject

Avoids social situations

Question 13

Anakastic personality disorders

Answer 13

Associated with OCD,

Perfectionist personalities

Question 14

Dependent personality disorders

Answer 14

Low self esteem
Clingy
Can’t see themselves left alone

Question 15

To diagnose a personality disorder what criteria must be present?

Answer 15

1- be present wide range of social and personal situations
2- manifestations appear <18 years and continue into adulthood
3- considerable personal distress caused by these patterns of behaviour
4- markedly disharmonious attitudes and behaviour involving usually several areas of functioning
5- prevailing, chronic, abnormal behaviour patterns not limited to discrete episodes
6- associated with significant problems in occupation and social performance

Question 16

Define schizotypal personality disorder

Answer 16

“Pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with and reduced capacity for close relationships
As well by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behaviour
Beginning early adulthood and present in variety of contexts
Ideas of reference (excluding delusions of reference)
Odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behaviour and is inconsistent with subcultural norms
Unusual perceptual experiences including body illusions
Odd thinking and speech
Suspiciousness or paranoid ideation
Inappropriate or constricted affect
Behaviour or appearance that is odd, eccentric or peculiar
Lack of close friends or confidants other than first degree relatives
Excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgements about self “

Question 17

Antisocial personality disorder define

Answer 17

“Pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others
Occurring since age 15 as indicated by 3 or more of following
Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviours as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
Deceitfulness as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning of others for personal profit or pleasure
Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
Irritability and aggressiveness as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
Consistent irresponsibility as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behaviour or honor financial obligations
Lack of remorse as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated or stolen from another “

Question 18

Borderline personality disorders

Answer 18

“A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonalrelationships,self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity
Beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not includesuicidalor self-mutilating behaviour covered in Criterion 5.
a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation
identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self- image or sense of self
impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending,sex,substance abuse, reckless driving,binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behaviour covered in Criterion 5.
recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behaviour
affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, oranxietyusually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)
chronic feelings of emptiness
inappropriate, intenseangeror difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
transient,stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms
“

Question 19

Histrionic personality disorder

Answer 19

“A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking,
Beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
(1) is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the centre of attention
(2) interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behaviour
(3) displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions
(4) consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self
(5) has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail
(6) shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion
(7) is suggestible, i.e., easily influenced by others or circumstances
(8) considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are
“

Question 20

Narcissistic personality disorder

Answer 20

“A pervasive pattern ofgrandiosity(in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

(1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
(2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
(3) believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
(4) requires excessive admiration
(5) has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
(6) is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
(7) lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
(8) is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
(9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

”

Question 21

Avoidant personality disorder

Answer 21

“A pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation,
Beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
(1) avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection
(2) is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked
(3) shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed
(4) is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations
(5) is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy
(6) views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others
(7) is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing
“

Question 22

Anakastic personality disorders

Answer 22

“A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
Is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, orschedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost
Shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., isunable to complete a project because his or her own overly strictstandards are not met)
Is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion ofleisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obviouseconomic necessity)
Is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters ofmorality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural orreligious identification)
Is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when theyhave no sentimental value
Is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless theysubmit to exactly his or her way of doing things
Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes
Shows significant rigidity and stubbornness

”

Question 23

Dependent personality disorders

Answer 23

“A pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation,
Beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
(1) has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others
(2) needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life
(3) has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval.
Note:Do not include realistic fears of retribution.
(4) has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy)
(5) goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant
(6) feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself
(7) urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
(8) is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself
“