Personality Disorders: Cluster C

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Consistent discomfort in social situations, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation

Indicators of Avoidant

Fearful of rejection, believe they are inferior or unappealing to others

Difference between Avoidant and Social Anxiety

Avoidant is afraid of relationships, social anxiety is fear of social circumstances

Psychodynamic Theory of Avoidant

Focus on shame and insecurity from childhood, negative self-image

Cognitive-Behavioral Theory of Avoidant

Harsh criticism in early childhood, expected rejection, failure to develop social skills

Main Goal of Therapy for Avoidant

Focus on acceptance and affection

Patient-Therapist Relationship for Avoidant

Distrust therapist's sincerity, fear therapist's rejection

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Avoidant

Help individuals change distressing beliefs, carry on in face of painful emotions, improve self-image

Dependent Personality Disorder

Excessive need to be cared for

Indicators for Dependent

Clinging and obedient, fear separation, lack confidence in own abilities

Psychodynamic Theory for Dependent

Unresolved conflicts during oral stage, getting needs met right away

Object Relations Theory for Dependent

Early parental loss or rejection prevents normal attachment and separation

Cognitive Theory for Dependent

Maladaptive behaviors, inadequate and helpless to deal with the world

Behavioral Theory for Dependent

Unintentional clinging and loyal behavior rewarded by dependent parents

Patient-Therapist Relationship for Dependent

Place all responsibility and well-being on therapist

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Intense focus on orderliness, perfectionism, and control

Indicators of OCPD

Unreasonable high standards, afraid of making wrong decisions, rigid and stubborn morals

Freudian Theory of OCPD

Overly harsh toilet training during anal stage, trouble with control and independence

Cognitive-Behavioral Theory of OCPD

Illogical thinking processes, dichotomous thinking

Patient-Therapist Relationship for OCPD

Therapists feel they must 'win over' and engage clients in therapy process

Diagnosis of BPD Gender Bias

Reflection of traumas many women experience as children

BPD as a Reaction to

Persistent feelings of marginality, powerlessness, and social failure

Downside of Categorical Approach

Problems with validity and reliability, hard to diagnose and easy to misdiagnose

Benefit of Dimensional Approach

Personality disorders differ more in degree than in type of dysfunction

Basic Structure of Personality

5 'supertraits' or the Big 5

Personality Disorder - Trait Specified

Significant impairment in functioning due to problematic traits

Main Goal of PDTS

Diagnose significant impairment in functioning