Personality and Impulse Control Disorders

Personality

A complex pattern of characteristics, largely outside of the person’s awareness, that comprise the individual’s distinctive pattern of perceiving, feeling, thinking, coping, and behaving

Personality Traits

Prominent aspects of personality exhibited in a wide range of social and personal contexts

Personality Disorder

Diagnosis is based on abnormally inflexible behavior patterns of long duration, traced to adolescence or early adulthood, that deviate from acceptable cultural norms

When does the onset of a personality disorder usually occur?

Adolescence or early adulthood; leads to distress and social impairment

Why do those with personality disorders often not seek help?

They do not perceive themselves as having a problem

What are the characteristics of cluster B personality disorders?

Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior

What personality disorders fall into cluster B?

Borderline, antisocial, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders

What are the characteristics of cluster C personality disorders?

Often appear anxious or fearful

What personality disorders fall into cluster C?

Avoidant and dependent personality disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Disruptive pattern of instability related to self-identity, interpersonal relationships, and affect, combined with marked impulsivity and destructive behavior.

Dichotomous Thinking

Characteristic of BPD. Evaluation and placing of experiences, people, and objects in terms of mutually exclusive categories. This results in extreme interpretation of events that would normally be viewed as including both positive and negative.

Splitting

Characteristic of BPD. The viewing of world in absolutes (all good and all bad)

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)

Marked pattern of disregard for an violation of the rights of others. Have no empathy for other human beings. Arrogant, self-centered, feel privileged and entitled, are deceitful and manipulative

What is the diagnostic criteria for ASPD?

Must be at least 18 years old and must have exhibited one or more childhood behavioral characteristics of conduct disorder before 15 years old

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Attention seeking, excitable, emotional, insatiable need for attention and approval. Often have a sense of helplessness when others become disinterested. May be flirtatious or sexually seductive

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Grandiose with an inexhaustible need for admiration. View self as superior or special; self-centered, entitled, arrogant, unable able to show empathy, and avoid self-reflection

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidance of social situation. Timid, shy, hesitant, afraid of criticism, and feelings of inadequacy. Perceive self as socially inept, inadequate, or inferior

What are nursing interventions for people with Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Avoid negative criticism, help patient identify positive responses from others, explore previous achievements, explore reasons for self criticism, and social skill training

Dependent Personality Disorder

Cling to others in a desperate attempt to keep them close; intense need to be taken care of. Total submission and disregard for self. Decision making difficult or nonexistent. Withdrawal from adult responsbilities

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control; may be completely devoted to work; uncomfortable with unstructured with unstructured leisure time; formalized leisure activities, serious approach to hobbies. Have a tendency to be rigid and stubborn

Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

Conditions involving problems in the self-control of emotions and behaviors. Manifested by behaviors that violate the rights of others and/or lead to significant conflict with societal norms or authority figures

Kelptomania

Repeated failure to resist impulses to steal objects

Pyromania

Irresistible impulse to start fires