Personality Disorder
Personality - answer temperament (genetics) + character (environment)
Factors Contributing to Personality - answer genetics, past experiences, present
experiences, view of future
Personality Traits - answer characteristic patterns of perceiving, interacting with and
thinking about one's environment
Personality Disorder - answer enduring, inflexible and maladaptive manner of
interacting with one's environment; code on axis II
Personality Disorder - Importance of Recognition - answer tailor treatment to patient's
coping style; increased morbidity and mortality; increased rates of separation and
divorce; affect course and prognosis of comorbid Axis I conditions; influence use of
medications; reactions evoked in health care professionals
Cluster A – answer odd, eccentric; paranoid; schizoid; schizotypical
Cluster B - answer dramatic, erratic, emotional; histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial,
borderline
Cluster C – answer anxious, fearful; dependent, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - answer characterized by odd, eccentric behavior,
perceptual distortions; 3-5%, may be more common in men; more common in biological
relatives of schizophrenics
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - clinical features - answermagical thinking -
clairvoyance, superstitious; peculiar appearance, speech; suspiciousness or paranoid
ideation; Ideas of reference - not delusions of reference; illusions; poor interpersonal
relationships --> few friends; eccentric speech; job instability; may decompensate under
stress and become overtly psychotic for brief time; 30-50% have major depressive
disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - answermay remain stable,
work, get married (not common); premorbid personality for schizophrenia; 10%
eventually commit suicide (related to the depression)
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Treatment - answerpsychotherapy - goal = social
skills training; pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants; medical - respect
need for privacy and distance
, Schizoid Personality Disorder - answerLifelong pattern of social withdrawal, discomfort,
with human interaction, eccentricity, isolation; 7.5% of population; male > female,
unknown etiology
Schizoid Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - answerappear apathetic and aloof,
unsociable, seclusive; restricted affect; gravitate toward solitary jobs; solitary interests;
no loss of capacity to recognize reality
Schizoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - answerWho cares what others think of me? I
enjoy doing things alone more than with others.
Schizoid Personality Disorders - prognosis - answeronset early childhood; may not last
entire life; may develop schizophrenia
Schizoid Personality Disorder - treatment - answerPsychotherapy - may become
devoted patients if seek treatment, may reveal their fantasies, fears of dependance,
group therapy may provide only social contact; Pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics,
antidepressants, as needed; Medical - respect need for privacy, may be suspicious of
authority figures (physicians)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - answerLong-standing suspiciosness and distrust of
people leading to false interpretations of motivations and actions of others; .5 to 2.5%,
male > female, higher incidence in: deaf, minorities, immigrants, relatives of
schizophrenics, etiology is unknown
Paranoid Personality Disorder - clinical features - answerexpect others to exploit or
harm them; interpret other's actions as deliberately threatening; question, without
justification, loyalty of friends, fidelity of spouse; hostile, irritable, angry; restricted affect
- appearance unemotional; pesistent grudges (litigious); ideas of reference, illusions;
75% have another personality disorder (usually schizotypal p.d.)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - answerOthers can't be trusted. People try to
annoy me.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - course and prognosis - answermay be lifelong, may be
progrome of schizophrenia or paranoid delusional disorder, may diminish with time,
lifelong problems living and working with others, difficulty with authority figures and
intimate relationships.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - treatment - answerpsychotherapy - difficult to engage,
treatment of choice; pharmacotherapy - for agitation and anxiety, may need
antipsychotics for delusional thoughts; medical - carefully explain procedures,
medications and test results
Personality - answer temperament (genetics) + character (environment)
Factors Contributing to Personality - answer genetics, past experiences, present
experiences, view of future
Personality Traits - answer characteristic patterns of perceiving, interacting with and
thinking about one's environment
Personality Disorder - answer enduring, inflexible and maladaptive manner of
interacting with one's environment; code on axis II
Personality Disorder - Importance of Recognition - answer tailor treatment to patient's
coping style; increased morbidity and mortality; increased rates of separation and
divorce; affect course and prognosis of comorbid Axis I conditions; influence use of
medications; reactions evoked in health care professionals
Cluster A – answer odd, eccentric; paranoid; schizoid; schizotypical
Cluster B - answer dramatic, erratic, emotional; histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial,
borderline
Cluster C – answer anxious, fearful; dependent, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - answer characterized by odd, eccentric behavior,
perceptual distortions; 3-5%, may be more common in men; more common in biological
relatives of schizophrenics
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - clinical features - answermagical thinking -
clairvoyance, superstitious; peculiar appearance, speech; suspiciousness or paranoid
ideation; Ideas of reference - not delusions of reference; illusions; poor interpersonal
relationships --> few friends; eccentric speech; job instability; may decompensate under
stress and become overtly psychotic for brief time; 30-50% have major depressive
disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - answermay remain stable,
work, get married (not common); premorbid personality for schizophrenia; 10%
eventually commit suicide (related to the depression)
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Treatment - answerpsychotherapy - goal = social
skills training; pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants; medical - respect
need for privacy and distance
, Schizoid Personality Disorder - answerLifelong pattern of social withdrawal, discomfort,
with human interaction, eccentricity, isolation; 7.5% of population; male > female,
unknown etiology
Schizoid Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - answerappear apathetic and aloof,
unsociable, seclusive; restricted affect; gravitate toward solitary jobs; solitary interests;
no loss of capacity to recognize reality
Schizoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - answerWho cares what others think of me? I
enjoy doing things alone more than with others.
Schizoid Personality Disorders - prognosis - answeronset early childhood; may not last
entire life; may develop schizophrenia
Schizoid Personality Disorder - treatment - answerPsychotherapy - may become
devoted patients if seek treatment, may reveal their fantasies, fears of dependance,
group therapy may provide only social contact; Pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics,
antidepressants, as needed; Medical - respect need for privacy, may be suspicious of
authority figures (physicians)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - answerLong-standing suspiciosness and distrust of
people leading to false interpretations of motivations and actions of others; .5 to 2.5%,
male > female, higher incidence in: deaf, minorities, immigrants, relatives of
schizophrenics, etiology is unknown
Paranoid Personality Disorder - clinical features - answerexpect others to exploit or
harm them; interpret other's actions as deliberately threatening; question, without
justification, loyalty of friends, fidelity of spouse; hostile, irritable, angry; restricted affect
- appearance unemotional; pesistent grudges (litigious); ideas of reference, illusions;
75% have another personality disorder (usually schizotypal p.d.)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - answerOthers can't be trusted. People try to
annoy me.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - course and prognosis - answermay be lifelong, may be
progrome of schizophrenia or paranoid delusional disorder, may diminish with time,
lifelong problems living and working with others, difficulty with authority figures and
intimate relationships.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - treatment - answerpsychotherapy - difficult to engage,
treatment of choice; pharmacotherapy - for agitation and anxiety, may need
antipsychotics for delusional thoughts; medical - carefully explain procedures,
medications and test results
