RevisePsych

Personality Disorders

Diagnosis > Personality Disorders

• Deeply ingrained maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving and social functioning which are relatively inflexible.

• Developmental origin, tend to be lifelong.

• Cause clinically significant distress to self and others.

 

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Description:

• Suspicious,

• Jealous,

• Resentful,

• Bears grudges,

• Has excessive sensitiveness to setbacks,

• Has a high sense of personal rights and a sense of self importance

 

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Description:

• Emotionally cold,

• Detached and aloof,

• Lacks enjoyment and humourless,

• Prone to fantasy,

• Lack of intimate relationships,

• Solitary,

• Insensitive to social norms and indifferent to praise or criticism

 

Dissocial Personality Disorder

Description:

• Callous lack of concern for the feeling of others,

• Incapacity to maintain relationships,

• Irresponsibility,

• Disregard for social norms,

• Low tolerance to frustration,

• Low threshold for aggression,

• Lack of remorse or guilt,

• Failure to accept responsibility for actions

 

Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder

• Impulsive Type - Description:

  • Emotional instability and lack of impulse control,

  • Outbursts of violence or threatening behaviour are common, particularly in response to criticism by others.

• Borderline-Type - Description:

  • Several of the characteristics of emotional instability are present.

  • The patient's own self-image is often disturbed.

  • Chronic feelings of emptiness.

  • A liability to become involved in intense and unstable relationships.

  • Repeated emotional crises.

  • Excessive efforts to avoid abandonment and a series of suicidal threats or acts of self-harm.

 

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Description:

• Shallow,

• Labile Affect,

• Self-Dramatization,

• Suggestibility,

• Inappropriate Seductiveness,

• Seeks attention/excitement,

• Over-concern with physical attractiveness

 

Anankastic Personality Disorder

Description:

• Preoccupied with details,

• Inhibited by perfectionism,

• Over-conscientious,

• Excessively concerned with productivity,

• Rigid and stubborn,

• Pedantic,

• Has excessive doubt and caution,

• Expects others to submit to their ways

 

Anxious (Avoidant) Personality Disorder

Description:

• Persistent and pervasive tension,

• Feels socially inferior,

• Preoccupied with rejection/ being criticised,

• Avoids involvement with unfamiliar people,

• Restricts lifestyle due to need for security,

• Avoids social activity

 

Dependent Personality Disorder

Description:

• Allows others to make important life decisions,

• Unduly compliant,

• Unwilling to make reasonable demands on others,

• Feels unable to care for self,

• Fear being abandoned,

• Needs excessive help to make decisions