Chapter 12: Personality Disorders

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering DSM-5 personality disorder clusters, diagnostic models, neurobiological theories, clinical features, and treatments based on Chapter 12 lecture notes.

How are personality disorders defined in general clinical psychology?

A persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, and behavior that results in enduring emotional distress for the person affected and/or for others and may cause difficulties with work and relationships.

What does it mean that personality disorders are typically "ego-syntonic"?

Unlike other disorders, they feel consistent with one's identity, meaning patients often do not feel that treatment is necessary.

How does the dimensional model of personality disorders differ from the traditional categorical model?

The categorical model classifies disorders into all-or-nothing categories ("kind"), whereas the dimensional model rates individuals on the degree to which they exhibit various personality traits ("degree").

Which personality dimensions constitute the universal Five Factor Model ("Big Five")?

Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

What primary descriptive characteristics define Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C personality disorders in the DSM-5?

Cluster A represents the odd or eccentric cluster; Cluster B represents the dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster; Cluster C represents the fearful or anxious cluster.

What is the general prevalence and typical developmental course of personality disorders?

They affect about $10\text{\%}$ of the general population, are thought to begin in childhood, and tend to follow a chronic course if left untreated.

Which two specific personality disorders are listed as being "under study"?

Sadistic personality disorder (enjoy inflicting pain) and passive-aggressive personality disorder (defiant, undermine authority).

What are the core clinical features of paranoid personality disorder (Cluster A)?

Pervasive and unjustified mistrust and suspicion of others, having few meaningful relationships, sensitivity to criticism, and poor quality of life.

Which cultural and demographic groups are more likely to experience paranoid personality disorder due to circumstances fostering mistrust?

Prisoners, refugees, people with hearing impairments, and older adults.

What are the defining clinical features of schizoid personality disorder (Cluster A)?

A pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a very limited range of emotions in interpersonal situations, showing significant overlap with the autism spectrum.

What are the primary clinical features of schizotypal personality disorder (Cluster A)?

Odd or unusual dress and behavior, social isolation, high suspiciousness, magical thinking, ideas of reference, and perceptual illusions.

What are the primary clinical features of antisocial personality disorder (Cluster B)?

Failure to comply with social norms, violation of the rights of others, irresponsible, impulsive, and deceitful behavior, and a marked lack of conscience, empathy, and remorse.

Which childhood disorder and specific subtype are particularly likely to evolve into antisocial personality disorder?

Conduct disorder, especially the "callous-unemotional" type.

What pattern of prison incarceration across age periods is depicted here for psychopaths compared to nonpsychopaths?

Psychopaths have high incarceration rates exceeding $80\%$ from ages $16$ through $40$ (peaking around $90\%$ at ages $21\text{--}25$), followed by a sharp decline to under $60\%$ in the $41\text{--}45$ age period.

What four prevailing neurobiological hypotheses explain antisocial personality disorder?

The underarousal hypothesis (cortical arousal is too low), the cortical immaturity hypothesis (cerebral cortex is not fully developed), the fearlessness hypothesis (failure to respond to danger cues), and Gray's model (inhibition signals are outweighed by reward signals).

How does impaired fear conditioning contribute to antisocial personality development?

Children who develop antisocial personality disorder may not adequately learn to fear the aversive consequences of negative actions (such as punishment for setting fires).

What are the primary clinical features of borderline personality disorder (Cluster B)?

Unstable moods and relationships, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, very poor self-image, self-mutilation, and suicidal gestures.

What are the major psychiatric comorbidity statistics associated with borderline personality disorder?

$80\%$ have major depression, $10\%$ have bipolar disorder, $10\%$ make suicide attempts, $67\%$ have a substance use disorder, $25\%$ of bulimia patients have BPD, and $20\%$ of anorexia patients have BPD.

How does the "triple vulnerability" model explain borderline personality disorder?

It results from the combination of generalized biological vulnerability (emotional reactivity), generalized psychological vulnerability (lashing out when threatened), and specific psychological vulnerability (stressors that elicit borderline behavior).

What is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and what does it focus on for borderline personality disorder?

The most promising treatment for BPD, focusing on the dual reality of accepting difficulties and the need for change, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance to decrease reckless and self-harming behavior.

What are the central clinical features of histrionic personality disorder (Cluster B)?

Overly dramatic and sensational behavior, sexually provocative actions, impulsivity, an intense need to be the center of attention, and thinking and emotions that are perceived as shallow.

What are the main clinical features of narcissistic personality disorder (Cluster B)?

An exaggerated and unreasonable sense of self-importance, preoccupation with receiving attention, a lack of sensitivity and compassion for others, hypersensitivity to criticism, and arrogance.

What are the defining characteristics of avoidant personality disorder (Cluster C)?

Extreme sensitivity to the opinions of others, high avoidance of most interpersonal relationships, interpersonal anxiety, fear of rejection, and low self-esteem.

What are the primary clinical features of dependent personality disorder (Cluster C)?

Reliance on others to make major and minor life decisions, an unreasonable fear of abandonment, and clingy, submissive interpersonal behavior.

What are the core clinical features of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (Cluster C), and how does it differ from OCD?

An excessive and rigid fixation on doing things the right way, extreme perfectionism, orderliness, and reluctance to delegate; unlike obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), actual obsessions and compulsions are rare.