Section 9: Personality Disorders

1. Section 9: Personality Disorders

2. Personality Disorders • Inflexible traits that disrupt social life • Appear by late adolescence • Can’t be distinguished from personality like other mental disorders – is their personality • Pleading insanity because of a personality disorder won’t work in court

3. Cluster A Personality Disorders • Odd, eccentric thinking and behavior • Paranoid • Schizoid • Schizotypal

4. Paranoid Personality Disorder • Distrustful and suspicious of others • Interpret motives as harmful / evil • Lead isolated lives • Argumentative • Not confused about reality, but have distorted view • Suspicion of doctors may keep them from getting treatment

5. Schizoid Personality Disorder • No interest with relationships with others • No emotions, no attachment • No delusions or hallucinations • Not as disabling as schizophrenia

6. Schizotypal Personality Disorder • Trouble with relationships & disturbances in thought patterns, appearance, and behavior • May have brief delusions or hallucinations, but not as intense as with Schizos • Can distinguish between reality and distortions • Usually also have major depression • Have unusual beliefs (aliens)

7. Cluster B Personality Disorders • Dramatic, overly emotional thinking and behavior • Antisocial • Borderline • Histrionic • narcissistic

8. Antisocial • Not someone who avoids social interaction • Persistent behavior pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others • No guilt or remorse • No drugs or therapy will help

9. Continue behavior even if threat of social rejection or punishment • Kids: run away, hurt others / animals / lie / steal • Fearless, unconcerned with rewards, unusually calm • Unrestrained sexual behavior • When combined with high intelligence = dangerous • Adults: aggressive, no job, don’t pay bills

10. Acting like a criminal • Lack of conscious • Don’t even abide by rules usually followed by criminals • Smooth and agreeable on outside • Repeatedly in conflict with law

11. Why? • Biological reasons • Premature birth • Reduced activity in frontal lobe • No significant genetic patterns / body chemistry found • Environmental issues • Poverty, unstable family • Family history of neglect / rough treatment • Alcoholic & abusive parents

12. Borderline Personality Disorder • Long-term patterns of turbulent or unstable emotions • Causes impulsive actions & chaotic relationships • Respond with rage and emptiness • Symptoms: uncertain of identity, see things in terms of extremes, suicidal behavior • Causes: abuse, abandonment, unstable family

13. Histrionic • Being overly dramatic and emotional • To draw attention to self • Starts in early adulthood • Could lead to depression

14. Narcissistic • Inflated self-esteem, extreme preoccupation with self • Need constant attention • Exaggerate talents and achievements • Selfish • Disregard other’s feelings, no empathy

15. Cluster C Personality Disorders • Fearful thinking and behavior • Avoidant • Dependent • Obsessive-Compulsive

16. Avoidant Personality Disorder • Social inhibition • Feelings of inadequacy • Would rather be alone than risk trying to connect • Avoid work, school functions • Treatment: antidepressants help, but therapy is ultimate idea • If untreated, could become mood disorder or substance abuser

17. Dependent Personality Disorder • One of most common personality disorders • Excessive dependence on others • Tolerant of abusive treatment • Passive, needy, naive • Different from Borderline P.D. • Respond with submissiveness and monkey bar theory in relationships

18. Obsessive-Compulsive (OCPD) • Many similar symptoms to OCD but: • No obsessions or compulsions • Seek treatment because of conflicts with those close (not because of anxiety like OCD) • Perfectionist, controlling, obsessed with orderliness