Understanding Personality Disorders: Characteristics, Diagnosis, and Clinical Features

4. Personality Dynamic and organized set ofcharacteristics possessed by aperson that uniquely influenceshis or her cognitions, motivationsand behavior in various situation

5. Definition American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines as "an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it"

6. The onset of these patterns of behavior can typically be traced back to late adolescence and the beginning of adulthood and, in rarer instances, childhood.

7. Classification • F60.) Specific personality disorders • (F60.0) Paranoid personality disorder • (F60.1) Schizoid personality disorder • (F60.2) Antisocial personality disorder • (F60.3) Borderline personality disorder

8. (F60.4) Histrionic personality disorder • (F60.5) Anankastic personality disorder • (F60.6) Anxious (avoidant) personality disorder

9. (F60.7) Dependent personality disorder • (F60.8) Other specific personality disorders • Narcissistic personality disorder • Passive-aggressive personality disorder • (F60.9) Personality disorder, unspecified (F61.) Mixed and other personality disorders

10. Diagnosis According to ICD-10, the diagnosis of a personality disorder must satisfy the following general criteria, in addition to the specific criteria listed under the specific personality disorder under consideration:

11. There is evidence that the individual's characteristic and enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior as a whole deviate markedly from the culturally expected and accepted range (or "norm"). Such deviation must be manifest in more than one of the following areas:

12. cognition (i.e., ways of perceiving and interpreting things, people, and events; forming attitudes and images of self and others) • affectivity (appropriateness of emotional arousal and response);

13. control over impulses and gratification of needs • manner of relating to others and of handling interpersonal situations.

14. The deviation must manifest itself pervasively as behavior that is inflexible, maladaptive, or otherwise dysfunctional across a broad range of personal and social situations (i.e., not being limited to one specific "triggering" stimulus or situation).

15. There is personal distress, or adverse impact on the social environment, or both. • There must be evidence that the deviation is stable and of long duration, having its onset in late childhood or adolescence.

16. The deviation cannot be explained as a manifestation or consequence of other adult mental disorders • Organic brain disease, injury, or dysfunction must be excluded as the possible cause of the deviation.

17. Clinical features

19. Irrational suspiciousness and mistrust of others • Suspicious • Mistrustful • Hypersensitive

20. Habitually relate to the world by vigilant scanning of the environment for clues or suggestions to validate their prejudicial ideas or biases • Stubborn • Self important

21. Schizoid personality disorder

22. Definition Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, a tendency towards a solitary lifestyle, secretiveness, and emotional coldness. There is increased prevalence of the disorder in families with schizophrenia.

24. Clinical features • Cold and indifferent, introspective • Difficulty establishing personal relationships or expressing their feelings in a meaningful way, and may remain passive in the face of unfavorable situations

26. Unsociability, quietness, reservedness, seriousness, and eccentricity • Timidity, shyness with feelings, sensitivity, nervousness, excitability, and fondness of nature and books

29. Antisocial personality disorder is sometimes known as sociopathic personality disorder. It's also sometimes referred to as psychopathy. • More common in females. It is higher among patients in alcohol or other drug abuse and in prisoners.

30. Persistent lying or stealing • Apparent lack of remorseor empathy for others • Cruelty to animals • Poor behavioral controls — expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper

31. A history of childhood conduct disorder • Recurring difficulties with the law • Tendency to violate the boundaries and rights of others • Aggressive, often violent behavior; prone to getting involved in fights

32. Inability to tolerate boredom • Disregard for right and wrong • Poor or abusive relationships • Irresponsible work behavior • Disregard for safety

34. Emotionally unstable personality disorder.

35. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person (generally over the age of eighteen years, although it is also found in adolescents), characterized by depth and variability of moods.

37. “Borderline” has been used to identify clients who seem to fall on the border between the standard categories of neuroses or psychoses.

38. A BPD sees a mirror in the people around him. If a person smiles, the BPD smiles back. If the person ignores, the BPD sufferer feels ignored and he or she would go into a deeper phase of mental trauma and transient psychotic phases. 

39. Individuals with BPD are at high risk of developing other psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression.

43. Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, including an excessive need for approval and inappropriate seductiveness, usually beginning in early adulthood. These individuals are lively, dramatic, enthusiastic

45. Dramatic emotionality • Craving for novelty and excitement • Attention seeking behavior • Easily influenced by others • Impressionistic style • Low tolerance for frustration or delayed gratification • Common in women

48. D – Difficulty making everyday decisionsE – Excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from othersP – Preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of selfE – Exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herselfN – Needs others to assume responsibility for his or her life

49. D – Difficulty expressing disagreement with othersE – End of a close relationship is the beginning of another relationshipN – Noticeable difficulties in initiating projects or doing things on his or her own T – ‘take care of me’ is his /he motto

50. Dependent personality disorder (DPD), formerly known as asthenic personality disorder, is a personality disorder that is characterized by a pervasive psychological dependence on other people.