Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders Overview

  • Personality disorders are characterized by a persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, and behavior that cause enduring emotional distress for the affected individual and/or others, potentially leading to difficulties in work and relationships.

  • High comorbidity is often observed among personality disorders.

  • They typically have a poorer prognosis compared to other mental disorders.

  • Therapist reactions, including countertransference, can occur when working with individuals with personality disorders.

  • There are 10 specific personality disorders recognized, which are organized into 3 clusters.

Categorical and Dimensional Models

  • Categorical vs. dimensional models represent different approaches to understanding personality disorders.

    • Categorical models classify individuals into distinct categories or types.

    • Dimensional models, on the other hand, view personality traits as existing on a continuum.

  • The distinction between "Kind" vs. "Degree" highlights the difference between categorical and dimensional models.

  • Dimensional models emphasize dimensions instead of categories.

  • In a dimensional model, individuals receive categorical diagnoses and are rated on personality dimensions.

  • The "Emerging measures and models" reflects the ongoing evolution of diagnostic approaches.

Five-Factor Model of Personality ("Big Five")

  • The Five-Factor Model of personality, also known as the "Big Five", is a dimensional model that describes personality traits along five broad dimensions:

    • Openness to experience

    • Conscientiousness

    • Extraversion

    • Agreeableness

    • Emotional stability

  • Cross-cultural research supports the universal nature of these five dimensions.

Personality Disorder Clusters

  • Personality disorders are grouped into three clusters (A, B, and C) based on descriptive similarities.

  • Cluster A: Odd or Eccentric Disorders

    • Characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors.

    • Includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.

  • Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional, Erratic Disorders

    • Characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors.

    • Includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders.

  • Cluster C: Fearful or Anxious Disorders

    • Characterized by fearful or anxious behaviors.

    • Includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Table 12.1: Personality Disorders

  • Cluster A - Odd or Eccentric Disorders

    • Paranoid personality disorder: A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, interpreting their motives as malevolent.

    • Schizoid personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression in interpersonal settings.

    • Schizotypal personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with reduced capacity for close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behavior.

  • Cluster B - Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Disorders

    • Antisocial personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others.

    • Borderline personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affects, and control over impulses.

    • Histrionic personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of excessive emotion and attention seeking.

    • Narcissistic personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

  • Cluster C - Anxious or Fearful Disorders

    • Avoidant personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.

    • Dependent personality disorder: A pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation.

    • Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.

Statistics and Development

  • The prevalence of personality disorders is estimated to be around 6%, but may be closer to 10%.

  • Origins and course:

    • Personality disorders typically begin in childhood.

    • They often have a chronic course.

    • In some cases, one personality disorder may remit, but be replaced by another.

  • High comorbidity is common among personality disorders and with other mental disorders.

Statistics and Development of Specific Personality Disorders (Table 12.2)

  • Paranoid Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Insufficient information.

    • Gender Differences: Approximately equal among men and women.

    • Course: Chronic; some may develop schizophrenia.

  • Schizoid Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 1.4%-1.9%; General population: 0.9%-1.2%.

    • Gender Differences: Slightly more common among men.

    • Course: Insufficient information.

  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 6.4%-5.7%; General population: 0.7%-1.1%.

    • Gender Differences: Slightly more common among men.

    • Course: Chronic; some may develop schizophrenia.

  • Antisocial Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 3.9%-5.9%; General population: 1.0%-1.8%.

    • Gender Differences: Much more common among men.

    • Course: Dissipates after age 40.

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 28.5%; General population: 1.4%-1.6%.

    • Gender Differences: Approximately equal among men and women.

    • Course: Symptoms gradually improve if individuals survive into their 30s; approximately 6% die by suicide.

  • Histrionic Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 8.0%-9.7%; General population: 1.2%-1.3%.

    • Gender Differences: Slightly more common among women.

    • Course: Chronic.

  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 5.1%-10.1%; General population: 0.1%-0.8%.

    • Gender Differences: Slightly more common among men.

    • Course: May improve over time.

  • Avoidant Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 21.5%-24.6%; General population: 1.4%-2.5%.

    • Gender Differences: Slightly more common among women.

    • Course: Insufficient information.

  • Dependent Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 13.0%-15.0%; General population: 0.9%-1.0%.

    • Gender Differences: Much more common among women.

    • Course: Insufficient information.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

    • Prevalence: Clinical population: 6.1%-10.5%; General population: 1.9%-2.1%.

    • Gender Differences: Slightly more common among men.

    • Course: Insufficient information.

Gender Differences

  • Men diagnosed with a personality disorder tend to display traits characterized as more:

    • Aggressive, structured, self-assertive and detached

  • Women tend to present with characteristics that are:

    • More submissive, emotional and insecure

Gender Differences: Potential Biases

  • Clinician bias may influence diagnoses.

  • Assessment bias in the tools used to evaluate personality disorders.

  • Criterion gender bias: Some disorders may be defined in ways that align with gender stereotypes.

    • Histrionic personality disorder may exemplify extreme "stereotypical female" traits.

    • The absence of a "macho" disorder.

  • Ford and Widiger (1889) investigated gender bias in personality disorder diagnoses.

Comorbidity

  • Comorbidity is common, with approximately 10% of individuals having multiple personality disorders.

Personality Disorders Under Study

  • Sadistic personality disorder

  • Passive-aggressive personality disorder

Table 12.3: Diagnostic Criteria for "Independent" (Example)

  • Puts work (career) above relationships with loved ones (e.g., travels a lot for business, works late at night and on weekends).

  • Is reluctant to consider others' needs when making decisions, especially concerning career or leisure time (e.g., expects spouse and children to relocate due to individual's career plans).

  • Passively allows others to assume responsibility for major areas of social life because of inability to express necessary emotion (e.g., lets spouse assume most childcare responsibilities).

Table 12.4: Diagnostic Overlap of Personality Disorders

  • The table presents odds ratios indicating the likelihood of co-occurrence of different personality disorders.

  • An odds ratio greater than 1 suggests a higher likelihood of the two disorders co-occurring.

  • Odds ratios with an asterisk (*) indicate statistically significant associations.

Table 12.5: Main Beliefs Associated with Specific Personality Disorders

  • Paranoid: I cannot trust people.

  • Schizotypal: It's better to be isolated from others.

  • Schizoid: Relationships are messy, undesirable.

  • Histrionic: People are there to serve or admire me.

  • Narcissistic: Since I am special, I deserve special rules.

  • Borderline: I deserve to be punished.

  • Antisocial: I am entitled to break rules.

  • Avoidant: If people knew the "real" me, they will reject me.

  • Dependent: I need people to survive, be happy.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive: People should do better, try harder.

Cluster A: Paranoid Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Mistrust and suspicion of others.

    • Pervasive and unjustified.

    • Few meaningful relationships.

    • Volatile and tense.

    • Sensitive to criticism.

Cluster A: Paranoid Personality Disorder: Causes

  • Possible relationship to schizophrenia.

  • Possible role of early experience:

    • Trauma

    • Learning: Belief that people are malevolent and deceptive.

  • Cultural factors: Higher prevalence in prisoners, refugees, people with hearing impairments, and older adults.

Cluster A: Paranoid Personality Disorder: Treatment

  • Individuals are unlikely to seek treatment on their own, unless in crisis.

  • Focus on developing trust in therapy.

  • Cognitive therapy to address maladaptive assumptions.

  • No empirically-supported treatments with demonstrated efficacy.

  • Poor improvement rate.

Cluster A: Paranoid: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A. A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

  1. Suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her.

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

  3. Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her.

  4. Reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events.

  5. Persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights.

  6. Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack.

  7. Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.

B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a bipolar disorder or depressive disorder with psychotic features, or another psychotic disorder and is not attributable to the physiological effects of another medical condition.

Note: If criteria are met prior to the onset of schizophrenia, add "premorbid," i.e., "paranoid personality disorder (premorbid)."

Cluster A: Schizoid Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Appear to neither enjoy nor desire relationships.

    • Loner.

    • Limited range of emotions.

    • Appear cold, detached.

    • Appear unaffected by praise or criticism.

    • Unable or unwilling to express emotion.

    • No thought disorder.

Cluster A: Schizoid Personality Disorder: Causes

  • Limited research.

  • Possible precursor: childhood shyness.

  • Possibly related to:

    • Abuse/neglect

    • Autism

Cluster A: Schizoid Personality Disorder: Treatment

  • Unlikely to seek treatment on own, unless in crisis.

  • Focus on relationships.

    • Social skills therapy.

    • Empathy training.

    • Role playing.

    • Social network building.

  • Empirically-supported treatments are limited.

Cluster A: Schizoid: Grouping Schema (Table 12.6)

  • Paranoid: Yes (Psychotic-Like Symptoms - Positive), Yes (Psychotic-Like Symptoms - Negative)

  • Schizoid: No (Psychotic-Like Symptoms - Positive), Yes (Psychotic-Like Symptoms - Negative)

  • Schizotypal: Yes (Psychotic-Like Symptoms - Positive), No (Psychotic-Like Symptoms - Negative)

Cluster A: Schizoid: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A. A pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

  1. Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family.

  2. Almost always chooses solitary activities.

  3. Has little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences with another person.

  4. Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities.

  5. Lacks close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives.

  6. Appears indifferent to the praise or criticism of others.

  7. Shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened affectivity.

B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a bipolar disorder or depressive disorder with psychotic features, another psychotic disorder, or autism spectrum disorder and is not attributable to the physiological effects of another medical condition.

Note: If criteria are met prior to the onset of schizophrenia, add "premorbid," e.g., "schizoid personality disorder (premorbid)."

Cluster A: Schizotypal Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Psychotic-like symptoms:

      • Magical thinking

      • Ideas of reference

      • Illusions

    • Odd and/or unusual:

      • Behavior

      • Appearance

    • Socially isolated

    • Suspicious

Cluster A: Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Causes

  • Schizophrenia phenotype?

    • Lacking full biological or environmental contributions.

  • Cognitive impairments:

    • Left hemisphere

    • More generalized.

Cluster A: Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Treatment

  • Treatment of comorbid depression (30-50%).

  • Multidimensional approach:

    • Social skill training

    • Antipsychotic medications

    • Community treatment

Cluster A: Schizotypal: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A. A pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships, as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  1. Ideas of reference (excluding delusions of reference).

  2. Odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is inconsistent with subcultural norms (e.g., superstitiousness, belief in clairvoyance, telepathy, or "sixth sense"; in children and adolescents, bizarre fantasies or preoccupations).

  3. Unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions.

  4. Odd thinking and speech (e.g., vague, circumstantial, metaphorical, overelaborate, or stereotyped).

  5. Suspiciousness or paranoid ideation.

  6. Inappropriate or constricted affect.

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

  8. Lack of close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives.

  9. Excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments about self.

B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a bipolar disorder or depressive disorder with psychotic features, another psychotic disorder, or autism spectrum disorder.

Note: If criteria are met prior to the onset of schizophrenia, add "premorbid," e.g., "schizoid personality disorder (premorbid)."

Cluster B: Antisocial Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Noncompliance with social norms.

    • "Social Predators".

    • Violate rights of others.

    • Irresponsible.

    • Impulsive.

    • Deceitful.

    • Lack a conscience, empathy, and remorse.

Cluster B: Antisocial: Nature of Psychopathy

  • Glibness/superficial charm

  • Grandiose sense of self-worth

  • Pathological lying

  • Conning/manipulative

  • Lack of remorse

  • Callous/lack of empathy

Cluster B: Antisocial: More Trait-Based Approach

  • Overlap with ASPD, criminality

  • Intelligence

Cluster B: Antisocial: Developmental Considerations

  • Early histories of behavioral problems:

    • Conduct disorder

      • Childhood-onset type

      • Adolescent-onset type

  • Families history of:

    • Inconsistent parental discipline

    • Variable support

    • Criminality

    • Violence

Cluster B: Antisocial: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A. A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

  1. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.

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

  3. Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.

  4. Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.

  5. Reckless disregard for safety of self or others.

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

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

B. The individual is at least age 18 years.

C. There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.

D. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Causes of Antisocial Personality Disorder

  • Gene-environment interaction:

    • Genetic predisposition

    • Environmental triggers

  • Arousal hypotheses:

    • Underarousal

    • Fearlessness

Causes of Antisocial Personality Disorder: Gray’s Model of Brain Functioning

  • Behavioral inhibition system (BIS): Low

  • Reward system: High

  • Fight/flight system

Causes of Antisocial Personality Disorder: Interactive, Integrative Model

  • Genetic vulnerability

    • Neurotransmitters

  • Environmental factors

    • Family stress and dysfunction

    • Reinforcement of antisocial behaviors

    • Alienation from good role models

    • Poor occupational/social function

Antisocial Personality Disorder: Treatment

  • Unlikely to seek treatment on own.

  • High recidivism.

  • Incarceration.

  • Early intervention & Prevention:

    • Parent training

    • Rewards for pro-social behaviors

    • Skills training

    • Improve social competence

Cluster B: Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • 1-2% of population.

    • Patterns of instability:

      • Intense moods

      • Turbulent relationships

    • Impulsivity

    • Very poor self-image

    • Self-mutilation

    • Suicidal gestures

Cluster B: Borderline: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. (Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.)

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

  3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.

  4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). (Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in criterion 5.)

  5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.

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

  7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.

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

  9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.

Cluster B: Borderline: Comorbid Disorders

  • Depression – 20%

  • Suicide – 6%

  • Bipolar – 40%

  • Substance abuse – 67%

  • Eating disorders

    • 25% of bulimics have BPD

Cluster B: Borderline: Causes

  • Genetic/biological components:

    • Serotonin

    • Limbic network

  • Cognitive biases

  • Early childhood experience:

    • Neglect

    • Trauma

    • Abuse

  • An Integrative Model

Cluster B: Borderline: Treatment

  • Highly likely to seek treatment

  • Antidepressant medications

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT):

    • Reduce "interfering" behaviors:

      • Self-harm

      • Treatment

      • Quality of life

    • Outcomes

Cluster B: Histrionic Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Center of attention

    • Sexually provocative

    • Shallow shifting emotions

    • Physical appearance-focused

    • Impressionistic

    • Overly dramatic

    • Suggestible

    • Misinterprets relationships

Cluster B: Histrionic: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  1. Is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention.

  2. Interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior.

  3. Displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions.

  4. Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self.

  5. Has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail.

  6. Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion.

  7. Is suggestible (i.e., easily influenced by others or circumstances).

  8. Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are.

Cluster B: Histrionic: Causes

  • Little research

  • Links with antisocial personality

    • Sex-typed alternative expression

Cluster B: Histrionic: Treatment

  • Problematic interpersonal relationships:

    • Attention seeking

    • Long-term consequences of behavior

  • Little empirical support

Cluster B: Narcissistic Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Exaggerated and unreasonable sense of self-importance.

    • Grandiosity.

    • Require attention.

    • Lack sensitivity and compassion.

    • Sensitive to criticism.

    • Envious.

    • Arrogant.

Cluster B: Narcissistic: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).

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

  3. Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).

  4. Requests excessive admiration.

  5. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations).

  6. Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).

  7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.

  8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.

  9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.

Cluster B: Narcissistic: Causes

  • Deficits in early childhood learning:

    • Altruism

    • Empathy

  • Sociological view:

    • Increased individual focus

    • "Me generation"

Cluster B: Narcissistic: Treatment

  • Treatment focuses on:

    • Grandiosity

    • Lack of empathy

    • Hypersensitivity to evaluation

    • Co-occurring depression

  • Little empirical support

Cluster C: Avoidant Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Extreme sensitivity to opinions.

    • Avoid most relationships.

    • Interpersonally anxious.

    • Fearful of rejection.

Cluster C: Avoidant: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

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

  2. Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked.

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

  4. Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations.

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

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

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

Cluster C: Avoidant: Causes

  • Schizophrenia-related disorders

  • Difficult temperament

  • Early parental rejection

  • Interpersonal isolation and conflict

Cluster C: Avoidant: Treatment

  • Similar to social phobia

  • Increase social skills

  • Therapeutic alliance

  • Moderate empirical support

Cluster C: Dependent Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Rely on others for major and minor decisions

    • Unreasonable fear of abandonment

    • Clingy

    • Submissive

    • Timid

    • Passive

    • Feelings of inadequacy

    • Sensitivity to criticism

    • High need for reassurance

Cluster C: Dependent: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  1. Has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others.

  2. Needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life.

  3. Has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval. (Note: Do not include realistic fears of retribution.)

  4. Has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy).

  5. Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant.

  6. Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care of himself or herself.

  7. Urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends.

  8. Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself.

Cluster C: Dependent: Causes

  • Little research

  • Early experience

    • Death of a parent

    • Rejection by caregiver

    • Attachment

  • Genetic influences

Cluster C: Dependent: Treatment

  • Limited empirical support

  • Caution: dependence on therapist

  • Gradual increases in:

    • Independence

    • Personal responsibility

    • Confidence

Cluster C: Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

  • Clinical description:

    • Fixation on doing things the “right way”

    • Rigid

    • Perfectionistic

    • Orderly

    • Preoccupation with details

    • Poor interpersonal relationships

    • Obsessions and compulsions are rare

Cluster C: Obsessive-Compulsive: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

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

  2. Shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met).

  3. Is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity).

  4. Is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification).

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

  6. Is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things.

  7. Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes.

  8. Shows rigidity and stubbornness.

Cluster C: Obsessive-Compulsive: Causes

  • Limited research

  • Weak genetic contributions

  • Predisposed to favor structure?

Cluster C: Obsessive-Compulsive: Treatment

  • Similar to OCD

  • Address fears related to the need for orderliness

  • Limited efficacy data