Module 8: Personality Disorders PDF

MODULE8: PE R S O N A L I T Y DISORDERS D R. L EIG H HA RK IN S AB N O R M A L P SYC H O LO GY P SYC 2 0 3 0 PERSONALITY Personality – a set of uniquely expressed characteristics that influence our behaviours, emotions, thoughts, and interpretations PERSONALITY DISORDERS Per...

MODULE8: PE R S O N A L I T Y DISORDERS D R. L EIG H HA RK IN S AB N O R M A L P SYC H O LO GY P SYC 2 0 3 0 PERSONALITY Personality – a set of uniquely expressed characteristics that influence our behaviours, emotions, thoughts, and interpretations PERSONALITY DISORDERS Personality disorders – persistent patterns of emotions, cognitions, and behaviour that result in enduring emotional distress for the person affected and for others, and it may cause difficulty with work and relationships to others Overly rigid and maladaptive patterns of behavior and ways of relating to others that reflect extreme variations on underlying personality traits, such as undue suspiciousness, excessive emotionality, and impulsivity Adolescence or early adulthood Warning signs in childhood Ego Syntonic – behaviour or feelings that are perceived as natural or compatible parts of the self Ego Dystonic – behaviour or feelings that are perceived to be foreign or alien to one’s self-identity Many PDs tend to be ego syntonic PERSONALITY DISORDERS— CATEGORIES OR DIMENSIONS? Categorical, assumes: 1. Problematic personality traits are either present or absent in people 2. A personality disorder is either displayed or not displayed by a person, and 3. A person who suffers from a personality disorder is not markedly troubled by personality traits outside of the disorder. Problems distinguishing personality disorders from other clinical syndromes Overlap among disorders Difficulty in distinguishing between normal and abnormal behavior Confusing labels with explanations ADVANTAGES OF A DIMENSIONAL MODEL Some believe PDs differ more in degree than kind Advantages: Retains more information about the individual More flexible because it can allow for categorical or dimensional differentiation Avoids the arbitrary decision of assigning someone to a diagnostic category Model being considered (APA, 2022): focus on continuum of 1) the self (i.e., how you view yourself and your ability to be self-directed) and 2) interpersonal functioning (i.e., your ability to emphathize and be intimate with other Others have suggested using the Big 5 model of personality  DSM-5TR GENERAL PERSONALIT Y DISORDER CLUSTERS OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS Cluster A – characterized by odd or eccentric behaviour Paranoid, Schizoid, & Schizotypal Cluster B – characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviour Anti-social, Borderline, Histrionic, & Narcissistic Cluster C – characterized by anxious or fearful behaviour Avoidant, Dependent, & Obsessive-Compulsive CLU STER A PERSONALIT Y DISORDERS  CLUSTER A: PARANOID PERSONALIT Y DISORDER Characteristics Suspicious of others Expect to be mistreated or exploited by others Reluctant to confide in others Tend to blame others Can be extremely jealous Differential Diagnosis and Comorbidity Hallucinations and full-blown delusions are not present Less impairment in social and occupational functioning than paranoid schizophrenia Comorbid with schizotypal, avoidant, and borderline personality disorders Etiology & Treatment Genetics, childhood trauma, schemas, cultural Cognitive therapy to change mistaken assumptions about others. CLUSTER A: SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER Characteristics No desire for or enjoyment of social relationships Appear dull, bland, and aloof Rarely report strong emotions Have no interest in sex Experience few pleasurable activities Indifferent to praise and criticism Loners with solitary interests Prevalence and Comorbidity Prevalence < 1% Comorbid with schizotypal, avoidant, and paranoid personality disorders Etiology & Treatment Childhood shyness, abuse, neglect, low density dopamine receptors Social skills training (i.e., role-playing) CLUSTER A: SCHIZOTYPAL PERSONALITY DISORDER Characteristics Similar interpersonal difficulties (social detachment and restricted affect) of schizoid personality Eccentric thinking (considered identical to non-acute phases of schizophrenia) Odd beliefs or magical thinking (e.g., belief they have telepathic powers) Recurrent illusions (e.g., sense the presence of a force not actually there) Odd speech (using words in unusual or unclear fashion) Ideas of reference (misinterpret event as having particular personal meaning) Suspiciousness Paranoid ideation Eccentric behaviour and appearance Prevalence and Comorbidity Prevalence