DEFINITIONS
What is a Personality Disorder?
An enduring pattern of maladaptive behavior
It there a cure for personality disorders?
No, but therapy can help teach people skills to be able to function better in live and medication can help with symptoms
What are the two main characteristics of Cluster A?
Eccentric & Withdrawal Behavior
What are the 4 main disorders of Cluster B?
Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, & Narcissistic
Name one of the three disorders of Cluster C
Avoidant, Dependent, or Obsessive Compulsive
How are the personality disorders categorized to help us better understand them?
In clusters A, B & C
What is one of the type of therapy that can be used to treat personality disorders like BPD
What is DBT (Dialectical behavior therapy)
How is Paranoid Personality Disorder different from normal paranoia?
Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) is different from normal paranoia in that it is a long-term pattern of distrust and suspicion of others without adequate reason to be suspicious
List characteristics of Cluster B
Dramatic, unpredictable behavior and intense emotional responses. Traits associated with Cluster B disorders include:
Characteristics of Cluster C include...
Anxious, Fearful
What is personality?
The characteristics and behavior that comprise a person's unique adjustment to life, including major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and emotional patterns.
Is medication helpful for treating personality disorders? explain why or why not?
Yes! Because medication can help treat symptoms that depression and anxiety that a person might also experience in addition to a personality disorder
Is Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia the same?
They are similar but not the same. Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by disorganized thinking, severe anxiety, unfounded paranoia, odd beliefs, feelings of derealization and, in some cases, psychosis.
If someone is self-absorbed does that make them a narcissist?
While self-absorption is a trait, narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental illness characterized by a pattern of behavior affecting all areas of a person's life. Narcissists often lack empathy, feel special, and disregard others
Examples of Avoidant Personality Disorder include...
symptoms involve being extremely shy and a fear of rejection or being ridiculed.
The individual may experience feelings of:
How many personality disorders are there that we know of?
10~
(there are other unspecified personality disorders as well)
How might someone develop a personality disorder?
Personality disorders can develop due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Stress, Family dynamics, Childhood Trauma, etc.
Name one disorder that belongs in Cluster A.
Paranoid, Schizoid or Schizotypal
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way people feel about themselves and others, making it hard to function in everyday life. It includes a pattern of unstable, intense relationships, as well as impulsiveness and an unhealthy way of seeing themselves.
What is Dependent Personality Disorder?
Excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior
Why do clinicians generally don't diagnosis personality disorders until someone is 18+?
Because personality is considered fluid and still developing during adolescence and early adulthood. Additionally, it can be harmful to diagnosis because of stigma but that is something that we beginning to reduce.
If therapy isn't and option what else can someone with a personality disorder get help?
Are people with cluster A personality disorder dangerous?
It can be difficult to be friends with someone with a cluster A personality disorder because of the persistent lack of social skills but they are NOT inherently dangerous.
Are people with cluster B personality disorder dangerous?
someone with a cluster b personality disorder is NOT inherently dangerous.
Is Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder the same as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
No