module 33: dissociative disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders

What are dissociative disorders?

Disorders in which the sense of self has become separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, or feelings

What are the two different types of dissociative disorders?

Dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder

What is dissociative amnesia?

Loss of memory in reaction to a traumatic event

• serious personal threats are the most common cause

What is dissociative fugue?

Loss of identity and desire to travel to a new location

• an extended form of dissociative amnesia

• may develop a new identity/begin a new life

  • can last a few hours, days, months, or even years

What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

A rare and controversial dissociative disorder in which an individual exhibits 2 or more distinct and alternating personalities

• formerly called multiple personalities

What is schizophrenia?

Disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perception, and inappropriate emotions/behaviors

• not one disorder but a family of disorder

  • NOT “split personality”

What are the 4 major types of schizophrenic delusions?

• grandeur

• persecution

• sin/guilt

• influence

What are delusions of grandeur?

False beliefs that a person is more important than they really are

What are delusions of persecution?

False beliefs that people are out to get the person (believing they’re being followed, that their phone is tapped, etc)

What are delusions of sin/guilt?

False beliefs that the person is responsible for some misfortune

What are delusions of influence?

False beliefs of being controlled by outside forces

What are hallucinations?

False perceptions that are symptoms of schizophrenia/other serious psychological disorders

What are the different types of schizophrenic hallucinations?

• auditory

• visual

• tactile

  • smell/taste

What are the different inappropriate schizophrenic emotions/behaviors?

• flat effect

  • showing little/no emotional response

• word salad

  • nonsense talk

• waxy flexibility

  • person’s arms/legs will remain in place after being moved there

What are personality disorders?

Psychological disorders characterized by rigid and lasting behavior patterns that disrupt social functioning

What are the three clusters of personality disorders?

• anxiety

• odd/eccentric

• dramatic/impulsive

What is avoidant personality disorder?

• anxiety cluster

• sensitive about being rejected to the point where personal relationships become difficult

What is dependent personality disorder?

• anxiety cluster

• behaving in clingy, submissive ways and displaying a strong need to have others take care of them

What is paranoid personality disorder?

• odd/eccentric cluster

• shows deep distrust of other people which gets in the way of personal relationships

• different than paranoid delusions

What is schizoid personality disorder?

• odd/eccentric cluster

• detached from social relationships

• “true hermits”, preferring life alone and avoiding intimate interactions at all costs

What is borderline personality disorder?

• dramatic/impulsive cluster

• exhibits instability of emotions, self image, behavior, and relationships

What is antisocial personality disorder?

• dramatic/impulsive cluster

• the person (normally a man) shows a lack of conscience for wrongdoing and a lack of respect for the rights of others