Personality Disorders

Question 1

Personality Disorders

Answer 1

• Patterns of relating to and understanding others that are so maladaptive, inflexible, and deeply ingrained that they produce significant social impairment.
• Usually recognizable in adolescence, but are typically diagnosed in adulthood.

Question 2

“Odd and Eccentric Behavior” - Paranoid Personality Dx, Schizoid Personality Dx, and Schizotypal Personality Dx

Answer 2

• Paranoid Personality Dx - non-delusional paranoia, unjustified doubts, misreads harmless remarks or events, quick angry rxns, holds grudges, expects exploitation, unjustified questions (e.g. partner’s fidelity)
• Schizoid Personality Dx - detachment from social relationships, prefers being alone, e.g. loner, but doesn’t feel lonely b/x it’s their preference, restricted range of affect, lack of close friends, flat affect, emotionally cold, lack of desire for relationships or sex, indifference to opinion of others, lack of pleasure in activities.
• Schizotypal Personality Dx: inappropriate or constricted affect, irrational beliefs, magical thinking, ideas of reference, extreme social anxiety, unusual perceptual experiences (illusions), lack of close friends, paranoid ideation, eccentric appearance.

Question 3

“Dramatic-Erratic Behavior” - Histrionic Personality Dx, Narcissistic Personality Dx, Borderline Personality Dx, and Antisocial Personality Dx

Answer 3

• Histrionic Personality Dx - constant demands for approval/praise, exaggered emotion, discomfort when not the center of attention, sexual seductiveness, use of physical appearance to draw attention, content of speech lacks detail, suggestibility, rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emos, belief that relationships are more intimate than they really
  are, glamorous and impressive view of self
• Narcissistic Personality Dx - sense of entitlement, believes rules don’t apply to them, uses others for personal gain, grandiosity, belief they’re special/unique, need for excessive admiration, lack of empathy, envious of others and belief that others are envious of them, fantasies of success/power/love, arrogance.
• Borderline Personality Dx - unstable relationships, alternation b/w idealization and devaluation (good object-bad object/push-pull), feelings of emptiness, mood reactivity, angry outbursts followed by shame/guilt, impulsivity that’s self-damaging, avoidance of
  abandonment (real or perceived), suicidal threats, self-mutilating behaviors, identity disturbance,
  transient paranoia or dissociation.
• Antisocial Personality Dx: frequent physical fights or assaults, irresponsibility,
  deceitfulness, reckless disregard for safety, impulsive behavior, lack of remorse, disregard for
  and violate the rights of others.

Question 4

“Anxious and Fearful Behavior” - Avoidant Personality Dx, Dependent Personality Dx, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Dx

Answer 4

• Avoidant Personality Dx - fear of being ridiculed, social inhibition, poor self-image,
  preoccupation w/ being criticized or rejected in social situations, avoidance of new activities, reluctant to take personal risks, restraint in intimate relationships, desire for social relationships, feelings of loneliness.
• Dependent Personality Dx - need for excessive advice or reassurance, need for others to assume responsibility, difficulty doing things independently, lack of self-confidence, goes to great lengths to be nurtured/supported, feelings of helplessness, moves from one relationship to the next to receive care and support, difficulty disagreeing with others, need for approval,
  preoccupied w/ being left to take care of oneself.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Dx (OCPD) - preoccupation w/ details, rules, lists, or organization, perfectionism, stubbornness, insistence that others do things “their way,” overly
  conservative with money, excessive devotion to work or productivity, reluctant to delegate to others, inflexibility around morals, ethics, values, etc., difficulty throwing things out (even when useless or lacking in sentimental value).