Abnormal Psychology Exam 4

Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal

Antisocial, Borderline, Histronic, Narcissistic

Avoidant, Dependent, OCPD

Continuum

It was there since birth and will always be there

Unlike other disorders, often feel consistent with one’s identity; patients don’t feel that treatment is necessary

Antisocial - more often male

Histronic - more often female

- Pervasive and unjustified mistrust and suspicion

- Biological and psychological contributions are unclear

- Early learning that people and the world are dangerous

- Pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships

- Very limites range of emotions

- Etiology is unclear

- Childhood shyness

- Preference for social isolation resembles autism

- Few week professional help

- Focus on the value of interpersonal relationships

- Building empathy and social skills

- Lack of good outcome studies

- Behavior and dress is odd and unusual

- Socially isolated and highly suspicious

- Magically thinking, ideas of reference, and illusions

- Many meet criteria for major depression

- A phenotype of a schizophrenia genotype?

- More generalized brain deficits

- 30 - 40% meet criteria for major depressive disorder

- Main focus is on developing social skills

- Address comorbid depression

- Medical treatment is similar to that used for schizophrenia

- Treatment prognosis is generally poor

- Failure to comply with social norms

- Violation is the rights of others

- Irresponsible, impulsive, and deceitful

- Lack of a conscience, empathy, and remorse

- “Sociopathy”, “Psychopathy” typically refer to this disorder or very similar traits

- May be very charming, interpersonally manipulative

Children who engage in behaviors that violate social norms

(Early history of this disorder in antisocial)

- Unstable moods and relationships

- Impulsivity, fear of abandonment, very poor self image

- Self-mutilation and suicidal gestures - very dangerous

- Comorbidity rates are high with other mental disorders, particularly mood disorders

- One of the poorer prognoses

- when emotions are high... self harm, binge drinking, drug use, dangerous social activity

- High emotional reactivity

- Runs in families

- May have impaired functioning of limbic system

- Early trauma/abuse play a casual role for some

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

(DBT)

Antidepressant medications provide some short term relief

- 3 hrs a week for 2 yrs

- Focus on dual reality of acceptance of difficulties and need for change

- Focus on interpersonal effectiveness

- Focus on distress tolerance to decrease dangerous behaviors

(Treatment for Borderline)

- Overly dramatic, sensational, and sexually provocative

- Often impulsive and need to be the center of attention

- Thinking and emotions are perceived as shallow

- More commonly diagnosed in females

- Etiology is largely unknown; variant of antisocial personality expressed in a feminine way

- Exaggerated and unreasonable sense of self-importance

- Preoccupation with receiving attention

- Lack sensitivity and compassion for other people

- Highly sensitive to criticism; envious, and arrogant

- Already have disposition for this disorder and it’s heightened by environment

- Extreme sensitivity to the opinion of others

- Highly avoidant of most interpersonal relationships

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- Reliance no others to make major and minor life decisions

- Unreasonable fear of abandonment

- Clingy and submissive in interpersonal relationships

- Excessive and rigid fixation on doing things the right way

- Highly perfectionistic, orderly, and emotionally shallow

- Obsessions and compulsions are rare

- There is ENJOYMENT

- Largely unknown

- Weak genetic link

- Data supporting treatment are limited

- Address fears related to the need for orderliness

- Rumination, procrastination, and feelings of inadequacy