personality disorders

Question 1

what are the “big five” dimensions of personality?

Answer 1

• openness
• conscientiousness
• extraversion
• agreeableness
• neuroticism

Question 2

which iteration of the DSM first formally introduced personality disorders? what were they called before?

Answer 2

• DSM-III (under Axis 2 disorders)
• previously called “character disorders”, and there was less of an attempt to differentiate between tonic and phasic behaviours

Question 3

at what age do personality disorders first appear?

Answer 3

must onset in adolescence or early adulthood

Question 4

which personality disorders fall under cluster A?

Answer 4

odd/eccentric
1. schizotypal
2. schizoid
3. paranoid

Question 5

which personality disorders fall under cluster B?

Answer 5

dramatic/emotional/erratic
1. antisocial
2. borderline
3. histrionic
4. narcissistic

Question 6

which personality disorder fall under cluster C?

Answer 6

anxious/fearful
1. avoidant
2. dependent
3. obsessive-compulsive

Question 7

what is the estimated prevalence of PDs in the population?

Answer 7

5-15%

Question 8

which types of disorders are most likely to be comorbid with PDs?

Answer 8

• other PDs
• axis I disorders

Question 9

what are the proposed revisions to the DSM-V relating to PDs?

Answer 9

• change from categorical model to hybrid categorical-dimensional model
• get rid of dependent, histrionic, schizoid, and paranoid PDs

Question 10

what are the two major gender bias in the diagnosis of PDs?

Answer 10

clinicians are reluctant to diagnose…
- women with ASPD
- men with histrionic PD

Question 11

what is the gender discrepancy in the prevalence of BPD?

Answer 11

80% of people with BPD are women

Question 12

which cluster of PDs is the least well-studied?

Answer 12

cluster A: odd and eccentric

Question 13

what are the main characteristics of paranoid PD?

Answer 13

• pervasive suspiciousness
• tendency to see the self as blameless
• on guard for perceived attacks from others

Question 14

is paranoid PD more likely to be diagnosed in men or women?

Answer 14

men

Question 15

what are the main characteristics of schizoid PD?

Answer 15

• near total lack of interest in intimate involvement with others
• limited emotional responsiveness
• often oblivious to social cues

Question 16

what are the main characteristics of schizotypal PD?

Answer 16

• cognitive distortions
• eccentricity of thought or behaviour
• mild version of schizophrenia; contact with reality maintained

Question 17

what are the main characteristics of histrionic PD?

Answer 17

• highly dramatic, lively, extraverted
• high excitement-seeking
• low self-consciousness
• preoccupation with physical appearance
• irritability and temper outbursts when attention-seeking is frustrated

Question 18

what are the main characteristics of narcissistic PD?

Answer 18

• grandiosity
• preoccupation with receiving attention
• self-promoting
• lack of empathy
• easily offended
• hypercritical and retaliatory towards others when not validated

Question 19

what is the etiology of narcissistic PD?

Answer 19

• sense of grandiosity is associated with parental overvaluation
• vulnerable presentation of narcissism is associated with childhood abuse and/or intrusive, controlling, or cold parenting styles

Question 20

what are the main characteristics of avoidant PD?

Answer 20

• extreme inhibition and persistent sense of inadequacy
• avoid interpersonal contact due to extreme sensitivity and criticism
• extreme loneliness, low self-esteem, excessive self-consciousness

Question 21

what are the main characteristics of dependent PD?

Answer 21

• inability to function independently, feel helpless when alone
• tend to adopt a submissive role in relationships to elicit a caregiving role from others
• allow others to assume responsibility for multiple aspects of their lives; passive in decision-making

Question 22

in what way is dependent PD culture-specific?

Answer 22

more common in highly individualistic cultures

Question 23

what are the main characteristics of OCPD?

Answer 23

• inflexibility and desire for perfection
• preoccupation with rules and order
• often moralistic and judgmental
• viewed by others as rigid, stubborn, cold

Question 24

how does Clark attempt to challenge the dominant view of personality?

Answer 24

personality continues to evolve into adulthood, and is much less stable than previously believed

Question 25

according to Clark, how could the diagnostic classification system for PDs be improved?

Answer 25

switch from categorical system to hybrid system with two components:
- level of social dysfunction (more stable)
- description of personality traits (less stable)

Question 26

according to Clark, what are the three ways in which personality stability/change can be conceptualized?

Answer 26

1. mean-level/developmental (the extent to which avg trait levels change within a pop cohort)
2. rank-order (the extent to which individuals maintain relative traits; dimensional)
3. diagnostic (whether or not individuals meet criteria for diagnostic categories over time; categorical)

Question 27

according to Clark, what factors influence stability and change in PDs?

Answer 27

1. relations with and stability of comorbid disorders
2. stability of functioning (level of dysfunction is more stable than adherence to diagnostic criteria)
3. variability in PD criteria (some criteria is more stable than others)