wk 10: personality disorders Flashcards
(11 cards)
what is a personality disorder?
A persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, and behaviour that results in enduring emotional distress for the person affected and/or for others and may cause difficulties with work and relationships
* pervasive, inflexible traits
* stable
* maladaptive
* Ego-syntonic: Unlike many other disorders, often feel consistent with one’s identity; don’t feel treatment is necessary
Overall prevalence?
Including for each cluster
10-12% population
* Cluster A – odd or eccentric cluster (4%)
* Cluster B – dramatic, emotional, erratic cluster (4%)
* Cluster C – fearful or anxious cluster (7%)
challenges with PDs?
- high comorbidity w other disorders + among PDs
- high heterogeneity
- highly subjective symptoms
- misdiagnosis common
- usually agreed personality is dimensional not categorical
Alternative model for Personality Disorders
Criterion A: impairment in personality functioning
Criterion B: pathological personality traits
What PDs are in Cluster A?
- Paranoid PD
- Schizoid PD
- Schizotypal PD
Paranoid Personality Disorder Criterion?
Pervasive and unjustified mistrust and suspicion (4+)
* Suspects without sufficient basis
* Preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty/ trustworthiness of friends/colleagues
* Reluctant to confide in others because others may use it against them
* Reads hidden, threatening meaning into benign events
* Persistently bears grudges
* Perceives attacks on their character/reputation that are not apparent to others and quick to counterattack
* Has recurrent suspicions regarding fidelity of spouse
Paranoid PD treatment, prevalence and causes?
Causes
* Modest genetic transmission
* Parental neglect/abuse
* Exposure to violent adults as children
* Traumatic brain injury
* Chronic cocaine use
Treatment
* cognitive therapy to counter negativistic thinking
Prevalence: 1-2% population, equal men and women
Not well studied
Schizoid Personality Disorder criterion?
Pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships AND Very limited range of emotions in interpersonal situations (4+)
* Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships
* Almost always chooses solitary activities
* Has little interest in sex
* Takes pleasure in few activities
* Lacks close friends
* Appears indifferent to praise or criticism
* Shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flat affect
Schizoid PD causes, treatment + prevalence?
Causal Factors
* genetics
* impairment in affiliative system
Treatment
* focus on value of interpersonal relationships
* build empathy and social skills
Prevalence
* 1%
* more common men than women
Overlaps w Autism SD, symptoms may precede a psychotic disorder
lack of research
Schizotypal Personality Disorder criterion?
Pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with close relationships AND cognitive/perceptual distortions AND eccentricities in behaviour (5+)
* ideas of reference
* odd beliefs or magical thinking
* unusual perceptual experiences
* odd thinking and speech
* suspiciousness or paranoid ideation
* inappropriate or restricted affect
* odd/eccentric behaviour or appearance
* lack of close friends
* excessive social anxiety that doesn’t diminish with familiarity
Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder with psychotic features, or autism
Schizotypal PD
better studied than other cluster A PDs
