Personality Disorders

Paranoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A)

Pervasive distrust & suspiciousness of others such that their motives are malevolent, beginning by early adulthood & present in a variety of contexts, 4 (or more) out of 7:

1. suspects, without sufficient evidence that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving them

2. preoccupied with unjustified doubts about loyalty or trustworthiness of friends/associates

3. reluctant to confide in others because of fear that info will be used maliciously against them

4. reads hidden demeaning or threating meanings into benign remarks or events

5. persistently bears grudges

6. perceives attacks on their character or reputation that are not apparent to others & quick to react angrily or to counterattack

7. recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of partner

Schizoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A)

Pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships & a restricted range of expression of emotions, beginning in early adulthood, 4 (or more) out of 7:

1. neither desires or enjoys close relationships, including being part of family

2. almost always chooses solitary activities

3. little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences

4. takes pleasure in few, if any, activities

5. lacks close friends or confidants other than 1st degree relatives

6. appears indifferent to the praise of criticism of others

7. shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened affect

Schizotypal Personality Disorder (Cluster A)

Pervasive pattern of social & interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with, & reduced capacity form close relationships as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions & eccentricities of bx, beginning in early adulthood, 5 (or more) out of 9:

1. ideas of reference (excluding delusions of reference)

2. odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences bx & is inconsistent with subcultural norms (i.e. superstition, telepathy)

3. unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions

4. odd thinking & speech (i.e. vague, metaphorical)

5. suspiciousness or paranoid ideation

6. inappropriate or constricted affect

7. bx or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar

8. lack of close friends or confidants other than 1st degree relatives

9. excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity & tends to be associated w/ paranoid fears rather than negative judgements about self

Antisocial Personality Disorder (Cluster B)

Pervasive pattern of disregard for & violation of the rights of others, occurring since 15 y/o, 3 (or more) of 7:

1. failure to conform to social norms w/ respect to lawful bx, indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are arrestable

2. deceitfulness, indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit/pleasure

3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead

4. irritability & aggressiveness, indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults

5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others

6. consistent irresponsibility, indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work bx or honor financial obligations

7. lack of remorse, indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another

B) at least 18 years of age

C) evidence of conduct disorder with onset before 15 y/o

Borderline Personality Disorder (Cluster B)

Pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, & affects, & marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood, 5 (or more) of 9:

1. frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment

2. pattern of unstable & intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization & devaluation

3. identity disturbance; markedly & persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

4. impulsivity in at least 2 areas that are self-damaging (i.e. spending, sex, substance abuse, driving, binge eating)

5. recurrent suicidal bx, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating

6. affective instability due to marked reactivity of mood (i.e. intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours & rarely more than a few days)

7. chronic feelings of emptiness

8. inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (i.e. frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)

9. transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or dissociative sx

Histrionic Personality Disorder (Cluster B)

Pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality & attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood, 5 (or more) of 8:

1. uncomfortable in situations in which they are not the center of attention

2. interaction w/ others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative bx

3. displays rapidly shifting & shallow expression of emotions

4. consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention

5. style of speech that is excessively impressionistic & lacking in detail

6. shows self-dramatization, theatricality, & exaggerated expression of emotion

7. is suggestible

8. considers relationships to be more intimate that they are

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Cluster B)

Pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or bx), need for admiration, & lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood, 5 (or more) of 9:

1. grandiose sense of self-importance (i.e. exaggerates achievements & talents, expects to be recognized as superior)

2. preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

3. believes they are "special" & unique & can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

4. requires excessive admiration

5. sense of entitlement (i.e. unreasonable expectations of especially favorable tx or automatic compliance w/ their expectations)

6. interpersonally exploitative

7. lacks empathy; unwilling to recognize or identify w/ the feelings/needs of others

8. often envious of others or believes that others are envious of them

9. shows arrogant, haughty bx or attitudes

Avoidant Personality Disorder (Cluster C)

Pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, & hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early adulthood, 4 (or more) of 7:

1. avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection

2. unwilling to get involved w/ people unless certain of being liked

3. shows restraint within intimate relationships because of fear of being shamed or ridiculed

4. preoccupied w/ being criticized or rejected in social situations

5. inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy

6. views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others

7. unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing

Dependent Personality Disorder (Cluster C)

Pervasive pattern & excessive need to be taken care that leads to submissive & clinging bx & fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood, 5 (or more) of 8:

1. difficulty making everyday decisions w/o an excessive amount of advice & reassurance from others

2. needs other to assume responsibility for most major areas of life

3. difficulty expressing disagreement w/ others because of fear of loss of support or approval (not realistic fears or retribution)

4. difficulty initiating projects or doing things on their own (because of a lack of self-confidence, not motivation)

5. goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance & support from others, volunteering to do things that are unpleasant

6. uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for self

7. urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care & support when a close relationship ends

8. unrealistically preoccupied w/ fears of being left to take care of self

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (Cluster C)

Pervasive pattern of preoccupation w/ orderliness, perfectionism, & mental & interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, & efficiency, beginning by early adulthood, 4 (or more) of 8:

1. preoccupied w/ details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost

2. shows perfectionism that interferes w/ task completion (i.e. unable to complete a project because their own overly strict standards are not met)

3. excessively devoted to work & productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities & friendships (not due to economics)

4. overconscientious, scrupulous, & inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not due to cultural/religious)

5. unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value

6. reluctant to delegate tasks or to work w/ others unless they submit to exactly their way of doing things

7. adopts a miserly spending style toward both self & others; money viewed as something be hoarded for future catastrophes

8. shows rigidity & stubbornness