Personality Disorders: Biological and Psychological Factors

Biological Factors

• Genetics influence the development of personality disorders
• Neurobiological factors, such as neurotransmitter imbalance, can regulate and influence personality

Psychological Factors

• Learning and cognitive theories suggest that children develop maladaptive responses based on modelling and reinforcement from important persons in their childhood
• Family environment and beliefs influence emotional and behavioral responses

Environmental Factors

• Family environment influences personality development
• Other environmental factors outside of the family, such as no two siblings being raised the same way, also shape an individual's personality

Risk Factors

• Family history of personality disorders or other mental illness
• Abusive, unstable, or chaotic family life during childhood
• Being diagnosed with childhood conduct disorder
• Variations in brain chemistry and structure

Paranoid Personality Disorder

• Characterized by envy, jealousy, rigidity, blaming others, hypersensitivity, unwarranted suspicion, excessive self-importance, and ascribing evil motives to others

Schizoid Personality Disorder

• Characterized by shyness, eccentricity, daydreaming, seclusiveness, oversensitivity, ability to recognize reality, and ability to express hostility and aggression

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

• Similar to schizoid personality disorder, with features such as brain tumor or unspecified personality disorder

Management

• Managed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of social workers, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and pharmacists
• Treatment approaches include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and client and family education

Psychotherapy

• Includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Pharmacotherapy

• Treats symptoms arising from the personality disorder, such as aggression, psychosis, anxiety, mood swings, and depression

Client and Family Education

• Educates clients and families about the disorder, identifies troublesome behaviors, and assists clients in developing impulse control strategies and alternative behaviors

Objectives

• Define personality and personality disorder
• State the characteristics of personality disorders
• Identify the causes of personality disorders
• Identify the ten types of personality disorders
• Discuss the management of clients with personality disorders
• Create a plan of care for a client diagnosed with a personality disorder

Definitions

• Personality is a person's characteristic behavior in response to experiences
• Personality disorder results when the behavior interferes with or complicates social and interpersonal function

Characteristics of Personality Disorders

• Inflexible and maladaptive ways of relating to and perceiving the world
• Affects occupational, personal, and social areas of life
• Pattern lasts over a period of time and can be traced to adolescence and early adulthood

Etiology

• Complex biological and psychosocial occurrences influenced by many variables, including genetics, neurobiology, chemistry, and environmental factors

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Characterized by conflict with society, disloyalty, selfishness, irresponsibility, impulsiveness, and lack of guilt or ability to learn from experiences

Borderline Personality Disorder

• Characterized by instability, chaotic sexuality, self-mutilating behavior, ambivalence, feelings of emptiness and boredom, impulsiveness, suicidal acts, and identity problems

Histrionic Personality Disorder

• Characterized by vanity, over reactivity, immaturity, dependency, emotional instability, excitability, low frustration tolerance, and self-dramatization

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• Characterized by envy, manipulation, lack of empathy, grandiose feelings, sense of entitlement, and need for attention and admiration

Avoidant Personality Disorder

• Characterized by low levels of energy, easily fatigued, lack of enthusiasm, inability to enjoy life, and oversensitivity to stress

Dependent Personality Disorder

• Characterized by passive and submissive behavior, uncertainty, and entire dependence on others

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

• Characterized by excessive concern with conformity, rigidity in performing tasks, over conscientiousness, over inhibition, and inability to relax

Other Personality Disorders

• Personality change due to another medical condition
• Alterations to a person's personality due to a medical condition

This quiz covers the biological and psychological factors that contribute to the development of personality disorders, including genetics, neurobiological influences, and learning and cognitive theories.