Personality Disorders

Definition : An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of individuals culture and is manifested at-least in two of the following areas : cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning and impulse control.

Its better to use key words,historic personalities,videos and movie examples to remember the Personality disorder diagnostic characteristics.

there are 10 types which can be easily divided into 3 clusters

Cluster A : "odd and eccentric behavior "

1. Paranoid: http://www.mentalhealth.com/home/dx/paranoidpersonality.html

key words:

suspicion, mistrust in people, always on guard since they believe poeple want to deceive or demean them, reluctance to give data due to mistrust, nondelusional paranoia, unjustified doubts, misreading
harmless remarks or events, quick reactions of anger, holding grudges, expectation of being exploited, unjustified questions.

intervention : Psychotherapy - improving coping mechanisms and social interraction

 2. Schizoid

key words : detachment from social relationships, cold, restricted range of affect, lack of close friends, solitary, lack of desire of relationship, lack of sexual desire, indifference to opinion of others, lack of pleasure in activities.

while paranoid personality lacks in trust, schizoid personality lacks in relationship and emotional responsiveness.
Movie example : Batman, Mad max, zero effect

3. Schizotypal

key words :

detachment from social relationships, magical thinking, restricted range of affect, rather be alone, eccentric, paranoidideation an exaggerated, sometimes grandiose, belief or suspicion, usually not of a delusional nature, that one is being harassed,persecuted, or treated unfairly.), lack of close friends, extremely anxious in social situations, ideas of reference (Example: A woman rarely leaves her house, because she experiences all conversation or laughter she hears as directed at herself.), unusual perceptual experiences, irrational beliefs. 

Cluster B : "Dramatic, emotional, erratic behavior"

1. anti social

key words:
frequent physical fights or assaults, irresponsibility, deceitfulness, reckless regard for others rights and safety, impulsive behavior, lack of remorse. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.

key point to remember : There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years
scale : Hare psychopathology checklist

2.borderline

key words :
unstable relationships, alteration between idealization and devaluation , feelings of emptiness, easily bored, mood reactivity, angry outbursts followed by shame or guilt, impassivity that is self damaging, avoidance of abandonment (real/imaginary), suicidal threats, self mutilation, identity disturbance, transient paranoia  or dissociation. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. 

intervention : dialectical behavior therapy

3. histrionic

key words: attention seeking, constant demands for approval, seductive, need praise, dramatic/theatrical, exaggeration of emotion, discomfort when there is no attention, sexual seductiveness, use of physical appearance to draw attention, content of speech lacks detail, suggestibility, rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions, belief that relationships are more intimate than they are, view of themselves as glamorous and impressive.

4. Narcissistic 

key words :

sense of entitlement, using others for personal gain, grandiosity, belief that they are special and unique, need for excessive admiration, lack of empathy, envious of others and belief that others are envious of them, fantasies of success /power/love/arrogant

eg : Hitler

Cluster C : "anxious or fearful "

1. Avoidant,

key words :

fear of being ridiculed/hypersensitive to rejection, social inhibition, poor self image, pre occupation with being criticized or rejected in social situation, avoidance of new activities, reluctance to take personal risk, restraint in intimate relationships, desire for social relationships, feelings of loneliness.

 2. Dependent

key words:
need for excessive advice or reassurance, need for others to assume responsibility, difficulty doing things independently, lack of self confidence, going to great lengths to be nurtured/supported, feelings of helplessness, moving from one relationship to next to receive care and support, difficulty disagreeing with others, need for approval, preoccupation with being left to take care of oneself.

 3. Obsessive compulsive

key words :
pre occupation with details, rules,lists, perfectionism, stubborn, insistence that others do things their way, overly conservative with money, excessive devotion to work or productivity, reluctance to delegate to others, inflexibility around morals, ethics, values etc difficulty throwing things out even when useless or lacking in sentimental values.

Reference  :

 http://www.mentalhealth.com/home/dx/borderlinepersonality.html

DSM