Personality Disorders

Characteristics

n   Enduring patterns of problematic relationships

n   Fairly intense

n   Undesirable to be around

n   Three Clusters of Characteristic patterns

Cluster A

n Characterized by oddities and eccentricness

n Paranoia

n Schizoid

n Schizotypal

Paranoia

n  Unwarranted suspiciousness

n  Hypersensitivity

n  Unwillingness to confide in others

Schizoid

n Socially isolated

n Emotionally cold

n Indifferent to others

Schizotypal

n Peculiar thoughts and behaviors

n Poor interpersonal relationships

n Wants relationship but lacks communication skills

Cluster B

n   Characteristics:drama, charisma, irratic, emotional behavior

n  Borderline Personality Disorder

n  Histrionic

n  Narcissistic Personality

n  Antisocial Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

n   Intense fluctuations in mood

n   Fluctuations in self image

n   Fluctuations in interpersonal relationships

n   Switch radically and quickly

n   Become very angry when told NO

n   Inability to have stable trusting relationships

n   Never take on more than one borderline at a time

Histrionic

n   Characterized by self dramatization

n   Exaggerated emotional expressions

n   Perform lots of attention seeking behaviors

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

n   Exaggerated sense of self-importance

n   Exploitive

n   Lacks empathy and understanding of how behavior affects others

n   Tend to be impulsive

n   Often caught up in self-gratification

Antisocial Personality Disorder

n   Failure to conform to social or legal codes

n   Lack anxiety

n   Frontal Cortex of brain matures much slower

n   Cannot keep a job more than 3 months

n   Constantly looking for Stimulation/arousal

n   Diagnosed with conduct disorder prior to 18 years of age

Cluster C

n Characterized by anxiety and fearfulness

n Avoidant

n Dependant

n Obsessive/Compulsive Personality Disorder

Avoidant

n Fear of rejection & humiliation

n Reluctant to enter into social relationships

Dependant Personality Disorder

n Rely on others to make decisions that they are capable of making

n Attempt to present as if they are unable to carry out responsibilities

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

n   Characterized by:

n Perfectionism

n Interpersonally controlling

n Excessive devotion to details

n Very rigid – purpose of this behavior is to control internal anxiety, fear, stress

n   Most people have adult personality by 6-8 years of age

n   Personality Disorder is difficult to diagnose due to unstable personality traits

n   Individuals resistant to treatment