Topic 5 Personality Disorders

Suspicious

Paranoid personality disorder

Pattern of distrust or suspicion of people, whether known or unknown, without reason

Symptoms usually appear in teen years

• Find it hard to confide in people, even friends and family; being cold or distant
• Hyper-sensitive; unable to take criticism
• Read threats and danger into everyday situations, conversations; difficulty relaxing
• Unforgiving and hold grudges; always believing they are right

Schizoid personality disorder

A consistent pattern of detachment from and general disinterest in social relationship

Limited range of emotions and don’t realize their behaviour is problematic.

Commonly develops in teen years

• Difficulty forming close relationships with other people
• Choose to live their life without interference from others; prefer to be alone with their own thoughts
• Not experience pleasure from many activities; have little interest in sex or intimacy
• Have difficulty relating to or are emotionally cold, aloof, disengaged and distant from others.

Schizotypal personality disorder

A consistent pattern of intense discomfort with close relationships and social interactions

People with schizotypal personality disorder may later develop schizophrenia

Develops in teen years

• Distorted views of reality, superstitions and unusual behaviour
• Forming close relationships is extremely difficult
• Think and express oneself in ways that others find ‘odd’
• Believe that one possesses ‘magical powers’ such as reading minds and feeling tense with others who do not share these beliefs
• Feel very anxious and paranoid in social situations, difficult to relate to others

Emotional

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

Persons with ASPD are typically manipulative, deceitful and reckless and do not care about other persons feelings

Ranging in severity from occasional negative behaviour to persistent bad behaviour.

Psychopaths are considered to have a severe form of antisocial personality disorder

have had a diagnosis of conduct disorder before the age of 15

• Put oneself in dangerous or risky situations, often without thinking about the consequences for themselves or other people; behave aggressively or in ways that are unpleasant for others
• Usually have a history of committing crimes, substance abuse and/or disruptive or aggressive behaviours.
• Easily bored and act on impulse – eg difficult to hold down a job for long
• Do things even though it may hurt people to get what you want;
• Have problems with empathy – not feel or show any sense of guilt or remorse for mistreating others

Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

BPD impacts the way a person thinks and feels about themselves and others, causing problems functioning in everyday life.

BPD usually begins by early adulthood but can improve as one gets older.

• Intense fear of abandonment and either do anything to stop that happening or push them away
• Have very intense emotions that can change quickly
• Feeling directionless in life and follow others
• Difficulty making and keeping relationships or friendships
• Impulsive activity that are harmful
• Feeling lonely, aggressive and difficulty controlling aggression
• Suicidal thoughts, self-harm
• Struggle to trust other people
• Additional mental including PTSD, eating disorders, anxiety and depression 

Histrionic personality disorder

Unstable emotional disorder of having a constant need to be noticed by others

Self-esteem depends on the perceived opinions of others resulting in a distorted self-image

Usually appears in youth and more prominent in females and can be caused by behaviours of others eg family members

• Feel very uncomfortable if not the centre of attention
• Feel that they have to entertain people, constantly seek, or be dependent on the approval of others
• Make rash decisions
• Perceived as dramatic and over-emotional
• Easily influenced by others
• Manipulation of others by using good social skills

Narcissistic personality disorder

People have an inflated high opinion of themselves and their importance to others

• Believe that there are special reasons that make others different;
• Lying or exaggerating to make themselves out to better or more deserving than others
• Have fragile self-esteem, and rely on others to recognise their worth
• Feel dejected or upset if others ignore them and don’t get what they feel the deserve
• Jealous or resent other people’s successes
• Put their own needs above other people’s, and demand others to do the same; be seen as selfish and dismissive or unaware of other people’s needs.

Anxious

Avoidant personality disorder

Avoidance of social situations due to fear of rejection and being judged by others

Persistent feelings of nervousness and fear; chronic feelings of inadequacy; highly sensitive to being negatively judged by others

• Shyness, appearing ‘awkward’
• Worry constantly about being ‘found out’ and rejected and being ridiculed or shamed by others
• Avoid relationships, friendships and intimacy because you fear rejection
• Feel lonely and isolated, and inferior to others
• Be reluctant to try new activities in case you embarrass yourself.
• Expect disapproval and criticism and be very sensitive to it

Dependent personality disorder

An inability and fear of being alone and having an excessive need to be taken care of that can result in being ‘clingy’ or ‘needy’

Can emerge in youth and carry on into adulthood, moving from dependence on parents/family to friends

• Inability to make decisions on basic things such as what to eat or what to wear, without help or guidance from others
• Need others to assume responsibility for several areas of their life
• Agree to things they feel are wrong or disliked to avoid being alone
• Not wanting to or having a fear of being left to fend for themselves
• Low self-confidence
• Perceiving others as much more capable than themselves
• Unable to have independent thoughts and opinions unless they are the same as other peoples’

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)

Characterized with extreme order, neatness, perfectionism and control, from cleaning to work activities, regardless of the impact on others

• Need to keep everything in order and under control
• Set unrealistically high standards for themselves and others
• Think their way is the best way of doing things
• Worry about you or others making mistakes
• Feel very anxious if things aren’t ‘perfect’.
• Being inflexible