Personality Disorders: Cluster A and More

Questions and Answers

Antisocial

Seclusion and isolation from others

Schizotypal

Lacking empathy Signup and view all the answers

Avoidant Signup and view all the answers

Attention seeking and emotional Signup and view all the answers

Obsessive compulsive Signup and view all the answers

Unstable and intense relationships Signup and view all the answers

Dependent Signup and view all the answers

Suspiciousness and mistrust of others Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Personality refers to an individual's enduring and habitual patterns of behavior, cognition, emotion, motivation, and ways of relating to others.
Disorders occur when these patterns become rigid, maladaptive, and impair functioning over time and across domains.

Paranoid Personality Disorder
Characterized by long-standing suspiciousness and mistrust of others
Individuals are guarded, hostile, angry, and unforgiving
They hold grudges and perceive threats in benign events
Suspect spousal infidelity and have a hard time confiding in others
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Characterized by being secluded, isolated, and inept at forming relationships
Individuals tend to be introverted, reclusive, and emotionally detached
They are unable to experience joy and pleasure in life
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Characterized by social and interpersonal deficits
Cognitive perceptual symptoms include magical beliefs and perceptual aberrations
Referential thinking and paranoia are common
Stress response may trigger transient psychotic episodes
Many individuals have co-occurring major depressive disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Characterized by a pattern of intense emotional dysregulation
Individuals have unstable relationships and a fear of abandonment
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
Characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others
Individuals fail to conform to society's rules and have a reckless disregard for safety
They lack remorse and have underhanded, impulsive, and irresponsible behavior
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Characterized by attention-seeking, emotional, and seductive behavior
Individuals have a need for attention and approval
They are moody, uncomfortable with single relationships, and have a lack of loyalty and fidelity
They are depressed when not the center of attention
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Characterized by grandiose, inexhaustible need for admiration
Individuals lack empathy and have feelings of superiority, specialness, or uniqueness
They have a self-centered view and sense of entitlement
They are unable to show empathy and have overlapping characteristics with BPD and ASPD

Avoidant Personality Disorder
Characterized by extensive avoidance of social situations
Individuals are timid, shy, and hesitant, with a fear of criticism and feelings of inadequacy
They perceive themselves as socially inept, inadequate, and inferior
They are reluctant to enter relationships unless given strong assurance of uncritical acceptance
Dependent Personality Disorder
Characterized by a clinging to others in a desperate attempt to keep them close
Individuals have an intense need to be taken care of and total submission
They have difficulty making decisions and withdraw from adult responsibilities
They are compliant, conciliatory, and placating
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Characterized by a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control
Individuals attempt to maintain control by paying attention to rules, trivial details, procedures, and lists
They are completely devoted to work and are uncomfortable with unstructured leisure time
They are rigid, stubborn, and perfectionistic
They need to control others and situations