How does a Personality disorders differ from normal variation of personality?

interfere with normal function in life

What are the three broad categories which Personality disorders are grouped into?

• Cluster A: 'Odd or Eccentric'
• Cluster B: 'Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic'
• Cluster C: 'Anxious and Fearful'

What is the treatment for Personality disorders?

• Hard to treat
• Psychological therapies show some evidence

What are the characteristics of the Paranoid Personality disorder?

• Hypersensitivity and an unforgiving attitude when insulted
• Unwarranted tendency to questions the loyalty of friends
• Reluctance to confide in others
• Preoccupation with conspirational beliefs and hidden meaning
• Unwarranted tendency to perceive attacks on their character

What are the characteristics of the Schizoid Personality disorder?

• Indifference to praise and criticism
• Preference for solitary activities
• Lack of interest in sexual interactions
• Lack of desire for companionship
• Emotional coldness
• Few interests
• Few friends or confidants other than family

What are the characteristics of the Schizotypal Personality disorder?

• Ideas of reference (differ from delusions in that some insight is retained)
• Odd beliefs and magical thinking
• Unusual perceptual disturbances
• Paranoid ideation and suspiciousness
• Odd, eccentric behaviour
• Lack of close friends other than family members
• Inappropriate affect
• Odd speech without being incoherent

What are the characteristics of the Antisocial Personality disorder?

• Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviours as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;
• More common in men;
• Deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;
• Impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead;
• Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;
• Reckless disregard for the safety of self or others;
• Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behaviour or honour financial obligations;
• Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another

What are the characteristics of the Borderline Personality disorder?

• Efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
• Unstable interpersonal relationships which alternate between idealization and devaluation
• Unstable self image
• Impulsivity in potentially self damaging area (e.g. Spending, sex, substance abuse)
• Recurrent suicidal behaviour
• Affective instability
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Difficulty controlling temper
• Quasi psychotic thoughts

What are the characteristics of the Histrionic Personality disorder?

• Inappropriate sexual seductiveness
• Need to be the centre of attention
• Rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions
• Suggestibility
• Physical appearance used for attention seeking purposes
• Impressionistic speech lacking detail
• Self dramatization
• Relationships considered to be more intimate than they are

What are the characteristics of the Narcissistic Personality disorder?

• Grandiose sense of self importance
• Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, or beauty
• Sense of entitlement
• Taking advantage of others to achieve own needs
• Lack of empathy
• Excessive need for admiration
• Chronic envy
• Arrogant and haughty attitude

What are the characteristics of the Obsessive-compulsive Personality disorder?

• Is occupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or agenda to the point that the key part of the activity is gone
• Demonstrates perfectionism that hampers with completing tasks
• Is extremely dedicated to work and efficiency to the elimination of spare time activities
• Is meticulous, scrupulous, and rigid about etiquettes of morality, ethics, or values
• Is not capable of disposing worn out or insignificant things even when they have no sentimental meaning
• Is unwilling to pass on tasks or work with others except if they surrender to exactly their way of doing things
• Takes on a stingy spending style towards self and others; and shows stiffness and stubbornness

What are the characteristics of the Avoidant Personality disorder?

• Avoidance of occupational activities which involve significant interpersonal contact due to fears of criticism, or rejection.
• Unwillingness to be involved unless certain of being liked
• Preoccupied with ideas that they are being criticised or rejected in social situations
• Restraint in intimate relationships due to the fear of being ridiculed
• Reluctance to take personal risks due to fears of embarrassment
• Views self as inept and inferior to others
• Social isolation accompanied by a craving for social contact

What are the characteristics of the Dependent Personality disorder?

• Difficulty making everyday decisions without excessive reassurance from others
• Need for others to assume responsibility for major areas of their life
• Difficulty in expressing disagreement with others due to fears of losing support
• Lack of initiative
• Unrealistic fears of being left to care for themselves
• Urgent search for another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
• Extensive efforts to obtain support from others
• Unrealistic feelings that they cannot care for themselves