Essentials of Abnormal Psychology

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Essentials of Abnormal Psychology

• Chapter 7
• Personality Disorders

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Personality Disorders

• Personality the unique patterns of traits and
  behaviors that characterize individuals
• Involve inflexible and persistently maladaptive
  patterns of behavior, resulting in maladaptive
  ways of perceiving, thinking about and reacting
  to the world.
• Significantly impair at least one aspect of
  functioning
• Cause substantial distress
• Extremely resistant to treatment
• Often comorbid with Axis I disorders

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DSMIV Criteria for a Personality Disorder

• Enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior
  that differs markedly from the expectations of
  the individuals culture.
• Obvious in at least 2 of these areas cognition,
  affectivity, interpersonal functioning or impulse
  control
• inflexible and pervasive in multiple situations
• Leads to clinically significant distress
• Stable and long duration onset adolescence or
  early adulthood
• The pattern is not a result of another disorder

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Categories of Personality Disorders

• Cluster A Odd or Eccentric Paranoid, Schizoid
  and Schizotypal
• Cluster B Dramatic, Emotional and Erratic
  Histrionic, Narcissistic, Antisocial and
  Borderline
• Impulsive, colorful behavior likely to come in
  contact with mental health or legal authorities
• Cluster C Anxious and fearful Avoidant,
  Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive
• These individuals are more likely to seek help

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Paranoid Personality Disorder

• Pervasive suspiciousness and distrust of others
• Constantly expect trickery
• See self as blameless blame others
• Preoccupied with doubts of others
• Likely to maintain grudges
• Not usually psychotic, thought they may
  experience transient psychotic symptoms
• Hypersensitive to perceived threats from others

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Schizoid Personality Disorder

• Inability to form social relationships
• Lack of interest in forming social relationships
• Tend not to have good friends, except family
• Unable to express feelings seem cold and distant
• Lack social skills seen as loners/introverts
• Tend not to find many activities pleasurable,
  including sexual activity
• Appear Indifferent to praise or criticism

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Schizotypal Personality Disorder

• Odd (peculiar) thought, perception and speech
• Generally in touch with reality, but tend to have
  unusual and superstitious thoughts
• May experience transient psychoses
• Often believe they have magical powers or engage
  in magical thinking or ideas of reference
• Genetically and biologically associated with
  schizophrenia, without the pervasive psychoses
• Tend to have problems socializing

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Histrionic Personality Disorder

• Excessive attention seeking behavior
• Excessive emotionality
• Tend to feel unappreciated if they are not the
  center of attention
• Excessively dramatic, extraverted and sexual
• Highly suggestible and consider relationships to
  be closer than they really are
• Self-centered and vain unstable relationships

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Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• Exaggerated sense of self-importance
• Preoccupation with being admired
• Lack of empathy for others
• Grandiose overestimate their accomplishments and
  underestimate those of others
• Sense of entitlement
• Attempt to associate with high status people
• Likely to take advantage of others

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Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Continually violate and show disregard for the
  rights of others through deceit and aggression
• Loyal to no one generally irresponsible
• Must have occurred since age 15 with conduct
  disorder present before age 15 must be 18 to be
  diagnosed likely to engage in criminal activity
• Little regard for safety little or no remorse
• May be superficially charming

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Borderline Personality Disorder

• Instability and impulsivity in interpersonal
  relationships, self-image and moods
• Serious disturbance in identity (sense of self)
• Frantic efforts to avoid abandonment
• History of intense, stormy relationships
• Low tolerance for frustration
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Suicide attempts and self mutilation possible

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Avoidant Personality Disorder

• Extreme social inhibition and introversion
• Lifelong pattern of limited social relationships
• Reluctance to enter into social interactions
• Hypersensitivity and fear of criticism
• Desire affection and are often lonely or bored
• Low self-esteem, excessive self-consciousness
• Extreme need to avoid potentially embarrassing
  situations

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Dependent Personality Disorder

• Extreme dependence on other people
• Need to be taken care of clingy and submissive
• Unable to tolerate separation or being alone
• May form unhealthy relationships to avoid being
  alone may function well if not on their own
• Lack self confidence and may be unable to make
  even simple decisions without assistance
• Center their lives around other people

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Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

• Perfectionism and excessive concern with order
• NOT obsessions and compulsions
• Preoccupied with mental and interpersonal control
• Vigilant about avoiding mistakes careful
  attention to rules and schedules
• Excessively conscientious deliberate,
  disciplined, competent, achievement oriented,
  organized
• Difficulty getting rid of old items stingy,
  miserly

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Treatment and Cause

• Increasing evidence for genetics for some
• Abuse and neglect may be a factor though most
  children who experience abuse and neglect do not
  develop personality disorders
• Little is known about causal factors
• Very resistant to treatment Important to tailor
  the therapy to fit the particular type of
  characteristic of each personality.
• Cognitive approaches are promising