3MB Psychiatry: Personality Disorders
This flashcard set defines personality disorder as a pervasive pattern of behaviour and experience that deviates from cultural norms, highlights the main areas affected (cognition, emotions, impulse control, interpersonal functioning), and distinguishes a disorder from a personality trait by its impact on distress and daily functioning.
What is a personality disorder?
Pattern of experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the individual’s normal culture
Key Terms
What is a personality disorder?
Pattern of experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the individual’s normal culture
What are the 4 main aspects that are affected in personality disorder?
Cognition
Emotions
Impulse control
Interpersonal functioning
How is personality disorder distinguished from a trait?
Disorder is pervasive and causes distress/impairment of functioning
e.g. being a little shy sometimes isn’t a disorder
What are the characteristics of cluster A personality disorder?
“Odd and eccentric”
Paranoia
Schizoid/schizotypal
What are the characteristics of cluster B personality disorder?
"Dramatic and emotional"
Histrionic
Antisocial
Narcisstic
Borderline (emotionally unstable)
What are the characteristics of cluster C personality disorder?
“Anxious and fearful”
Obsessive
Avoidant
Dependent
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What is a personality disorder? | Pattern of experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the individual’s normal culture |
What are the 4 main aspects that are affected in personality disorder? | Cognition |
How is personality disorder distinguished from a trait? | Disorder is pervasive and causes distress/impairment of functioning |
What are the characteristics of cluster A personality disorder? | “Odd and eccentric” |
What are the characteristics of cluster B personality disorder? | "Dramatic and emotional" Histrionic Antisocial Narcisstic Borderline (emotionally unstable) |
What are the characteristics of cluster C personality disorder? |
|
Which cluster of personality disorder is most prevalent? | Cluster C |
Describe paranoid personality disorder | Pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, as if their motives are malevolent |
Describe schizoid personality disorder | Pervasive detachment from social relationships and restricted range of emotions |
|
|
Describe borderline (emotionally-unstable) personality disorder | Pervasive pattern of instability of relationships and self-esteem |
What mental illness shares a lot of similarity with borderline personality disorder? | Bipolar disorder |
Describe histrionic personality disorder | Pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking |
Describe avoidant personality disorder | Pervasive social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy with hypersensitivity to negative evaluation |
Describe dependent personality disorder | Pervasive need to be taken into care, leading to clinging and submissive behaviour and fear of separation |
Describe obsessive-compulsive personality disorder |
|
Antisocial personality disorder is equivalent to being a psychopath. True/False? | False Antisocial PD is based on behaviour, whereas psychopathy describes emotional and cognitive deficit |
There is good treatment evidence for personality disorder. True/False? | False |
What is the main psychological treatment for borderline personality disorder? | Dialectical behavioural therapy |