Personality Disorders PDF

Personality Disorders Personality is the way of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes a person different from other people. Some people are easy-going whereas others are controlling and demanding. Some people are good at telling jokes, others do not like to be the center of attention but enjoy...

Personality Disorders Personality is the way of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes a person different from other people. Some people are easy-going whereas others are controlling and demanding. Some people are good at telling jokes, others do not like to be the center of attention but enjoy laughing at others telling jokes. Some people are carefree and fun-loving but may not be very responsible when it comes to being on time for an appointment. Others may be less emotional but can be counted on when they say they will do something. Having a bad temper. Being stuck up. Having a good sense of humor. Generous. Cheap. Perfectionistic. Careless. Reserved. Fun-loving. These are all descriptions of personality traits. When personality traits become extreme, when they are rigid and inflexible and make it difficult to deal with people and handle life’s problems, then the Personality refers to an individual’s pattern of behavior and traits that are long-standing and present since adolescence or early adulthood. Aspects of personality include the way people tend to think about themselves (e.g. self-confident or lacking confidence), how they relate to people (e.g. shy vs. friendly), how they interpret and deal with events in the environment (e.g. paranoid people believe that others are out to get them and may try to attack first before being attacked), and how they react emotionally to all of this. It is not easy to define a “healthy personality,” but in general it allows one to cope with the normal stress of life and develop and maintain satisfying friendships and intimate relationships.  Definition of Personality Disorders Personality Disorders are a category of mental health conditions characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that significantly deviate from cultural expectations. These patterns are pervasive, inflexible, and typically manifest in various personal and social situations, leading to distress or impairment in functioning. Key Features Enduring Patterns: Behaviors and thoughts that are stable over time. Cultural Deviance: Patterns that differ significantly from societal norms. Functional Impairment: Difficulty in relationships, work, and  Types of Personality Disorders Personality disorders are categorized into three clusters: Cluster A: Odd or eccentric disorders (e.g., Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal) Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, or erratic disorders (e.g., Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic) Cluster C: Anxious or fearful disorders (e.g., Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive) Cluster A: Odd or Eccentric Disorders Paranoid Personality Disorder: Distrust and suspicion of others. Schizoid Personality Disorder: Detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression. Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentric Paranoid personality disorder. Individuals with paranoid personality disorder are suspicious and distrustful of others. They think that others do things just to annoy or hurt them, and they read hidden threats or put downs in the comments of others. They worry that friends or coworkers are not really loyal or trustworthy, and they are reluctant to confide in others because they believe that there is a price to pay when something personal is shared. Paranoid people have problems with anger. They are easily slighted and hold grudges. They find that people say things to attack their character or ruin their reputation, even though it does not seem that way to others. Individuals with paranoid personality disorder read too much into things, take offense at things that were not meant to be critical, and often try to get back at the person they believe is attacking them. When involved in a relationship, they often Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by lack of emotionality and social relationships. Individuals with schizoid personality disorder are socially isolated, and this does not bother them. They prefer to work and do things alone. They are emotionally cold, and they are neither bothered by criticism from others nor joyful when complimented. Individuals with schizoid personality disorder get pleasure from few activities, and they have little interest in sexual experiences with Schizotypal personality disorder: Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder are odd and eccentric. They dress, act, or speak in a peculiar manner. They are suspicious and paranoid, and they feel anxious in social situations because of their distrust. Because of these beliefs they have few friends. People with schizotypal personality disorder feel that others are talking about them behind their back, and that strangers are taking special notice of them. When walking into a room they sometimes think that people start talking or acting differently because they are there. Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder misinterpret reality. They may mistake noises for voices, and shadows or objects for people. They may believe in ESP, hexes, telepathy, and superstitions more strongly than most people, and their behavior is influenced by these beliefs. Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Disorders Antisocial Personality Disorder: Disregard for the rights of others, impulsivity, and deceitfulness. Borderline Personality Disorder: Instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with impulsivity. Histrionic Personality Disorder: Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by selfish, irresponsible, unlawful, and impulsive behavior that shows a lack of regard for the rights of others. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder find it easy to lie if it serves their purpose. Physical aggression is common. Trouble at work can result from not arriving on time, missing too many days, not doing their work, or not following the rules. There is a general failure to conform to society’s rules either by engaging in illegal activities or not honoring obligations. Examples of antisocial behavior include quitting a job without other work in sight, spending money on things that one could do without thus being unable to pay Individuals withforantisocial household necessities personality such as disorder food, rent, usually do notor the feel utility bill. remorseful at having hurt others but instead justify or rationalize their behavior. Borderline personality disorder. A good way of thinking about borderline personality disorder is that it is a disorder of emotional regulation. People with borderline personality disorder have very strong and intense emotions, often in reaction to how they perceive and believe others are treating them, and these emotions are difficult to control. Not surprisingly, individuals who have strong emotional reactions that are difficult to control have problems in interpersonal relationships and self-image. Interpersonal relationships are affected by strong fears of being abandoned, and the individual with borderline personality disorder may go to extremes to keep others from leaving. At an extreme, suicide Individuals may with borderline be threatened personality to keep someone fromdisorder leaving. may make recurrent suicide attempts, suicide threats, or engage in self- harming behavior such as cutting or burning. Histrionic personality disorder. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder are loud, overly emotionally expressive, and attention seeking. They cry at weddings, embrace people upon greeting them, and act as if they are on stage. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder do not feel comfortable unless they are the center of attention. They may feel a close bond to someone they have just met, and they are quick to share personal details of their life with new acquaintances. They are often described by others as shallow. Narcissistic personality disorder. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder have an elevated opinion of themselves. They see themselves as accomplishing great things that establish their superiority over others. They view themselves as special and unique, and believe that only similarly special people could understand them. They are often so self- absorbed that they are intolerant of others, and they lack the capacity to understand how others feel. The admiration of others is important, and they dream of attaining status. They will take advantage of others, if necessary, to get what they desire. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder are envious of others who have more than them, and/or believe that that others are jealous of them. Cluster C: Anxious or Fearful Disorders Avoidant Personality Disorder: Social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. Dependent Personality Disorder: Excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control. Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by extreme shyness related to low self-esteem and sensitivity to rejection and criticism from others. Individuals with avoidant personality disorder have difficulty making friends and feel very uncomfortable in social situations. It is difficult to share personal feelings and thoughts in close relationships because of the fear of being put down. They worry about making a bad impression, and they believe that they are not interesting or fun to be with. Their fears of criticism and rejection can influence the type of career they choose (one that does not involve a lot of contact with people), or career advancement (turning down promotions or job opportunities that would require more contact with people).a pattern of extreme shyness, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to criticism. People with avoidant personality disorder may be unwilling to get involved with people unless they are certain of Dependent personality disorder. Individuals with dependent personality disorder have difficulty making everyday decisions on their own. They seek advice and reassurance for everyday decisions, and let others make decisions about important areas of their life. It is difficult for the person with dependent personality disorder to start projects on their own because they do not feel confident in their own abilities, and it is hard to disagree with others for fear of losing support or approval from others. Individuals with dependent personality disorder do not like being alone. They believe that they cannot care for themselves, and if a close relationship ends they may be desperate to get into another relationship quickly even if it was not the best person for them. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by a pattern of perfectionism, stinginess, stubbornness, and inflexibility. Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often spend so much time on small details that they lose sight of the main thing they were trying to do. They may be workaholics, who spend so much time working that they have little time for family activities, friendships, or entertainment. Words such as inflexible, stubborn and close-minded are used to describe individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. a pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfection and control. A person with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder may be overly focused on details or schedules, may work excessively, not allowing time for leisure or friends, or may be inflexible in their morality and values. (This is NOT the same as obsessive-compulsive disorder.)  Symptoms Common Symptoms: Difficulty in maintaining relationships Distorted self-image Impulsive behaviors Emotional instability Symptoms vary depending on the type of personality disorder. For example, a person with borderline personality disorder (one of the most common types) tends to have disturbed ways of thinking, impulsive behaviour and problems controlling their emotions. They may have intense but unstable relationships and worry about people abandoning them. A person with antisocial personality disorder will typically get easily frustrated and have difficulty controlling their anger. They may blame other people for problems in their life, and be aggressive and violent, upsetting others with their behaviour. Someone with a personality disorder may also have other mental health problems, such as depression and drug addiction. Other types of personality disorder will have different symptoms.  Causes It's not clear exactly what causes personality disorders, but they're thought to result from a combination of the genes a person inherits and early environmental influences – for example, a distressing childhood experience (such as abuse or neglect). Genetic Factors: Family history may increase risk. Environmental Influences: Childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect. Psychological Factors: Personality traits and coping mechanisms.  Treatment for a personality disorder 1.Psychotherapy: 1.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 2.Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Borderline Personality Disorder *Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a type of talking therapy. It's based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). But it's specially adapted for people who feel emotions very intensely. The aim of DBT is to help you: Understand and accept your difficult feelings. 2.Medication: 1.Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics may help manage symptoms. 3.Supportive Therapies: Understanding personality disorders is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment, as they can significantly impact an individual's quality of life and relationships.