DSM- Personality Disorders

What is the high-yield picture of Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Pervasive distrust and suspiciousness; interprets motives as malevolent.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster A.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Paranoid Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. delusional disorder: suspiciousness is broad/personality-based without a fixed psychotic delusion.

What is the high-yield picture of Schizoid Personality Disorder?

Pervasive detachment from social relationships and restricted emotional expression.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster A.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Schizoid Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Schizoid Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. avoidant PD: schizoid lacks desire for relationships; avoidant wants closeness but fears rejection.

What is the high-yield picture of Schizotypal Personality Disorder?

Social/interpersonal deficits plus cognitive/perceptual distortions and eccentric behavior.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster A.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Schizotypal Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Schizotypal Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. schizophrenia: odd beliefs and perceptual experiences without sustained psychosis.

What is the high-yield picture of Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Disregard for and violation of others' rights, deceit, impulsivity, aggression, irresponsibility, and lack of remorse.

Timeline/onset: Age 18+; conduct symptoms before 15

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Must be at least 18 with evidence of conduct disorder before 15.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Age 18+; conduct symptoms before 15

How do you differentiate Antisocial Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. conduct disorder: ASPD is adult diagnosis and requires developmental history.

What is the high-yield picture of Borderline Personality Disorder?

Instability in relationships, self-image, affect, and impulsivity; abandonment fears, self-harm, emptiness, anger, transient paranoia/dissociation.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster B.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Borderline Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. bipolar: BPD mood shifts are rapid/reactive and tied to relationships; bipolar episodes last days/weeks.

What is the high-yield picture of Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Excessive emotionality and attention seeking; theatrical, suggestible, impressionistic, and uncomfortable when not center of attention.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster B.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Histrionic Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. borderline: attention seeking without the same severe identity instability, abandonment panic, or self-harm pattern.

What is the high-yield picture of Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Grandiosity, need for admiration, entitlement, exploitiveness, and impaired empathy.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster B.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Narcissistic Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. mania: narcissistic traits are enduring, not episodic with increased energy/decreased sleep.

What is the high-yield picture of Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation despite desire for relationships.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster C.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Avoidant Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. social anxiety: avoidant PD is pervasive across relationships and identity.

What is the high-yield picture of Dependent Personality Disorder?

Excessive need to be cared for, submissive/clinging behavior, difficulty making decisions, and fear of separation.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster C.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Dependent Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Dependent Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. separation anxiety: dependent PD is a pervasive adult personality style.

What is the high-yield picture of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Preoccupation with order, perfectionism, control, work, rules, morality, and rigidity at the expense of flexibility.

Timeline/onset: Enduring pattern by early adulthood

Spectrum/severity: No

Important note: Cluster C; ego-syntonic.

What timeframe, age, or number is most important for Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Enduring pattern by early adulthood

How do you differentiate Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder on an exam vignette?

Vs. OCD: OCPD is a personality style; OCD involves intrusive obsessions and compulsions.