wk6: Personality Disorders & Suicide – Exam Notes

Vocabulary flashcards for Personality Disorders & Suicide – Exam Notes.

Suicidal Ideation

Thoughts or plans of taking one's own life.

Risk Factors for Suicide

Factors that increase the likelihood of suicide, such as mental illness, substance use, trauma, and social isolation.

Protective Factors Against Suicide

Factors that decrease the likelihood of suicide, such as:

• social support,

• access to care,

• coping skills, and

• strong therapeutic relationships.

Personality Disorders

are long-term patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating to others that are inflexible, distressing, and cause problems in daily life, especially in relationships and self-image.

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📚 Key Features:

• Begin in adolescence or early adulthood

• Are persistent over time

• Affect thinking, mood, interpersonal functioning, and impulse control

• Cause significant distress or impairment

🧾 Types of Personality Disorders (Grouped in 3 Clusters):

Cluster	Nickname	Examples
A	Odd/Eccentric	Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal
B	Dramatic/Emotional	Borderline (BPD), Narcissistic, Histrionic, Antisocial
C	Anxious/Fearful	Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive (OCPD)

💥 Common Example – Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):

• Fear of abandonment

• Intense, unstable relationships

• Emotional dysregulation

• Self-harm or impulsive behaviours

• Identity disturbance

👩‍⚕ Nursing Approach:

• Use clear boundaries and consistent care

• Apply trauma-informed care

• Encourage therapy (e.g., DBT)

• Support emotional regulation skills

• Avoid judgment; focus on trust-building

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)

An approach to care that recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals and seeks to avoid re-traumatization.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

A personality disorder characterized by emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and unstable relationships.

Self-Harm

Intentional injury to one's own body, often used as an emotional regulation tool.

Grounding Techniques

Techniques used to help individuals connect with the present moment and reduce feelings of distress.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

A type of therapy that focuses on teaching skills in distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and mindfulness.

CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)

A type of therapy that focuses on challenging negative thoughts and improving behavior.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events that occur in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, and violence, which can increase the risk of mental health issues.

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👩‍⚕ Nurse’s Role:

• Recognise signs of trauma or ACE history

• Use trauma-informed care principles

• Support early intervention and referrals

• Provide emotional safety, empowerment, and compassion

Therapeutic Relationship

A trusting and collaborative relationship between a healthcare provider and a patient.

Emotional Regulation

The ability to manage and control one's emotions in a healthy way.

Mindfulness

The practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment.

Psychoeducation

Providing information and education to individuals about their mental health condition and coping strategies.