Aniban, George Jr., Jr., C.
Prof. Serafina Maxino
BS Psychology 3-3
Abnormal Psychology Personality Disorder
Definition
A personality isorer is a type of mental isorer in !hich yo" ha#e a rigi an "nhealthy pattern of thin$ing, f"nctioning an beha#ing. A person !ith a personality isorer has tro"ble percei#ing an relating to sit"ations an people. %his ca"ses significant problems an limitations in relationships, social acti#ities, !or$ an school. &t is an en"ring pattern of inner experience an beha#io"r that e#iates mar$ely from the expecta expectati tions ons of the ini#i ini#i"a "al' l'ss c"lt"re c"lt"re,, is per#as per#asi#e i#e an inflex inflexibl ible, e, has an onset onset in aolescence or early a"lthoo, is stable o#er time, an leas to istress or impairment. &n some cases, yo" may not reali(e that yo" ha#e a personality isorer beca"se yo"r !ay of thin$ing an beha#ing seems nat"ral to yo". An yo" may blame others for the challenges yo" face. Common feat"res of a person !ith personality isorer incl"e)
Being o#er!helme by negati#e feelings s"ch as istress, anxiety, !orthlessness or anger A#oiing other people an feeling empty an emotionally isconnecte *iffic"lty managing negati#e feelings !itho"t self-harming +for example, ab"sing r"gs an alcohol, or ta$ing o#eroses or, in rare cases, threatening other people beha#io"r *iffic"lty maintaining stable an close relationships, especially !ith partners, chilren an professional carers Sometimes, perios of losing contact !ith reality
Characteristics
A. An en"ri en"ring ng patter pattern n of inner inner experi experienc encee an beha#i beha#ior or that that e#iat e#iates es mar$el mar$ely y from from the expectations of the ini#i"al's c"lt"re. %his pattern is manifeste in t!o +or more of the follo!ing areas) . Cognition +i.e., !ays of percei#ing an interpreting self, other people, an e#ents. e# ents. /. Affect Affecti#i i#ity ty +i.e., +i.e., the range, range, intens intensity ity,, liabil liability ity,, an approp appropria riaten teness ess of emotio emotional nal response. 3. &nterpersonal f"nctioning. 0. &mp"lse control. B. %he en"ring pattern is inflexible an per#asi#e across a broa range of personal an social sit"ations.
C. %he %he en"r en"rin ing g patt patter ern n lea leass to clin clinic ical ally ly signi signifi fica cant nt ist istre ress ss or impai impairm rment ent in soci social al,, occ"pational, or other important areas of f"nctioning. *. %he pattern is stable an of long "ration, an its onset can be trace bac$ at least to aolescence or early a"lthoo. 1. %he en"ring pattern is not better explaine as a manifestation or conse2"ence of another mental isorer. isorer. . %he en"ring pattern is not attrib"table to the physiological effects of a s"bstance +e.g., a r"g of ab"se, a meication or another meical conition +e.g., hea tra"ma. Cluster A Personality Disorder
A person !ith a cl"ster A personality isorer tens to ha#e iffic"lty relating to others an "s"ally sho!s patterns of beha#io"r most people !o"l regar as o an eccentric. thers may escribe them as li#ing in a fantasy !orl of their o!n. Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoi personality isorer is a pattern of istr"st an s"spicio"sness s"ch that others4 moti#es are interprete as male#olent. Characteristics:
&ni#i"als !ith this isorer ass"me that other people !ill exploit, harm, or ecei#e them, e#en if no e#ience exists to s"pport this expectation. 5hile it is fairly normal for e#eryone to ha#e some egree of paranoia abo"t certain sit"ations in their li#es +s"ch as !orry abo"t an impening set of layoffs at !or$, people !ith paranoi personality isorer ta$e this to an extreme 6 it per#aes #irt"ally e#ery professional an personal relationship they ha#e. &ni#i"als !ith Paranoi Personality *isorer are generally iffic"lt to get along !ith an often ha#e problems !ith close relationships. %heir excessi#e s"spicio"sness an hostility may be expresse in o#ert arg"mentati#eness, in rec"rrent complaining, or by 2"iet, apparently hostile aloofness. Beca"se they are hyper#igilant for potential threats, they may act in a g"are, secreti#e, or e#io"s manner an appear to be 7col8 an lac$ing in tener feelings. Altho"gh they may appear to be ob9ecti#e, rational, an "nemotional, they more often isplay a labile range of affect, !ith hostile, st"bborn, an sarcastic expressions preominating. %heir combati#e an s"spicio"s nat"re may elicit a hostile response in others, !hich then ser#es to confirm their original expectations. Beca"se ini#i"als !ith Paranoi Personality *isorer lac$ tr"st in others, they ha#e an excessi#e nee to be self-s"fficient an a strong sense of a"tonomy. %hey also nee to ha#e a high egree of control o#er those aro"n them. %hey are often rigi, critical of others, an "nable to collaborate, an they ha#e great iffic"lty accepting criticism.
Clinical signs and Symptoms:
A. A per#asi#e istr"st istr"st an s"spicio"sn s"spicio"sness ess of others others s"ch that their nfioti#es nfioti#es are interprete interprete as male#olent, beginning by early a"lthoo an present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fo"r +or more of the follo!ing) . S"spects, !itho"t s"fficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or ecei#ing him or her. /. &s preocc"pie !ith "n9"stifie " n9"stifie o"bts abo"t the loyalty or tr"st!orthiness of friens or associates. 3. &s rel"ctant to confie in others beca"se of "n!arrante fear that the information !ill be "se malicio"sly against him or her. her. 0. :eas hien emeaning or threatening meanings into benign remar$s or e#ents. ;. Persistently bears gr"ges +i.e., is "nforgi#ing of ins"lts, in9"ries, or slights. <. Percei#es attac$s on his or her character or rep"tation that are not apparent to others an is 2"ic$ to react angrily or to co"nterattac$. =. >as rec"rrent s"spicions, s"spicions, !itho"t 9"stification 9"stification,, regaring regaring fielity of spo"se spo"se or sex"al partner. partner. B. *oes *oes not occ" occ"rr excl excl"s "si# i#el ely y "ri "ring ng the co"r co"rse se of schi schi(o (ophr phreni enia, a, a bipol bipolar ar iso isor rer er or epressi#e isorer !ith psychotic feat"res, or another psychotic isorer an is not attrib"table to the physiological effects of another meical conition. Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schi(oi personality isorer is a pattern of etachment from social relationships an a restricte range of emotional expression. Characteristics:
A person !ith this isorer may appear to lac$ a esire for intimacy, an !ill a#oi close relationships !ith others. %hey may often prefer to spen time !ith themsel#es rather than sociali(e or be in a gro"p of people. &n laypeople terms, a person !ith schi(oi personality isorer might be tho"ght of as the typical 7loner.8 &ni#i"als !ith Schi(oi Personality *isorer may ha#e partic"lar iffic"lty expressing anger, e#en in response to irect pro#ocation, !hich contrib"tes to the impression that they lac$ emotion. %heir li#es sometimes seem irectionless, an they may appear to 7rift8 in their goals. S"ch ini#i"als ini#i"als often react passi#ely passi#ely to a#erse a#erse circ"mstance circ"mstancess an ha#e iffic"lt iffic"lty y responing responing appropriately to important life e#ents. Beca"se of their lac$ of social s$ills an lac$ of esire for sex"al experiences, ini#i"als !ith this isorer ha#e fe! frienships, ate infre2"ently, an often o not marry. 1mployment
or !or$ f"nctioning may be impaire, partic"larly if interpersonal in#ol#ement is re2"ire, b"t ini#i"als !ith this isorer may o !ell !hen they !or$ "ner conitions of social isolation. Clinical signs and symptoms:
A. A per#as per#asi#e i#e patter pattern n of etachm etachment ent from from social social relati relations onship hipss an a restri restricte cte range range of expression expression of emotions emotions in interperso interpersonal nal settings, beginning beginning by early a"lthoo a"lthoo an present present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fo"r +or more of the follo!ing) . ?either esires nor en9oys close relationships, incl"ing being p art of a family. /. Almost al!ays chooses solitary acti#ities. 3. >as little, if any, interest in ha#ing sex"al experiences !ith another person. 0. %ales pleas"re in fe!, if any, acti#ities. ;. @ac$s close friens or confiants other than first-egree relati#es. <. Appears inifferent to the praise or criticism of others. =. Sho!s emotional colness, etachment, or flattene affecti#ity. affecti#ity. B. *oes *oes not occ" occ"rr excl excl"s "si# i#el ely y "ri "ring ng the co"r co"rse se of schi schi(o (ophr phreni enia, a, a bipol bipolar ar iso isor rer er or epressi#e epressi#e isorer isorer !ith psychotic feat"res, feat"res, another another psychotic psychotic isorer isorer,, or a"tism a"tism spectr"m spectr"m isorer an is not attrib"table to the physiological effects of another meical co nition. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Schi(otypal personality isorer is a pattern of ac"te iscomfort in close relationships, cogniti#e or percept"al istortions, an eccentricities of beha#ior beha# ior.. Characteristics
Schi(otypal personality isorer is characteri(e by someone someone !ho has great iffic"lty iffic"lty in establ establish ishing ing an mainta maintaini ining ng close close relati relations onship hipss !ith !ith others others.. A person person !ith !ith schi(o schi(otyp typal al personality isorer may ha#e extreme iscomfort !ith s"ch relationships, an therefore ha#e less of a capacity for them. Someone !ith this isorer "s"ally has cogniti#e or percept"al istortions as !ell as eccentricities in their e#eryay beha#ior beha# ior.. &ni#i"als !ith Schi(otypal Personality *isorer often ha#e ieas of reference +e.g., they ha#e incorrect interpretations of cas"al incients an external e#ents as ha#ing a partic"lar an "n"s"al meaning specifically for the person. People !ith this isorer may be "n"s"ally s"perstitio"s or preocc"pie !ith paranormal phenomena that are o"tsie the norms of their s"bc"lt"re. Clinical signs and symptoms:
A. A per#asi#e pattern of social an interpersonal eficits mar$e by ac"te iscomfort !ith, an re"ce capacity for, close relationships as !ell as by cogniti#e or percept"al istortions an
eccentricities of beha#ior, beginning by early a"lthoo an present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fi#e +or more of the follo!ing) . &eas of reference +excl"ing el"sions el"sions of reference. /. beliefs or magical thin$ing that infl"ences beha#ior an is inconsistent !ith s"bc"lt"ral norms +e.g., s"perstitio"sness, belief in clair#oyance, telepathy, or 7sixth sense8) in chilren an aolescents, bi(arre fantasies or preocc"pations. 3. n"s"al percept"al experiences, incl"ing boily ill"sions. 0. thin$ing an speech +e.g., #ag"e, circ"mstantial, metaphorical, o#erelaborate, or stereotype. ;. S"spicio"sness or paranoi ieation. <. &nappropriate or constricte affect. =. Beha#ior or appearance that is o, eccentric, or pec"liar. . @ac$ of close friens or confiants co nfiants other than first-egree relati#es. . 1xcessi#e social anxiety that oes not iminish !ith familiarity an tens to be associate !ith paranoi fears rather than negati#e 9"gments abo"t self. B. *oes not occ"r excl"si#ely "ring the co"rse of schi(ophrenia, a bipolar isorer or epressi#e epressi#e isorer isorer !ith psychotic feat"res, feat"res, another another psychotic psychotic isorer isorer,, or a"tism a"tism spectr"m spectr"m isorer. Cluster B Personality Disorder
A person !ith a cl"ster B personality isorer str"ggles to reg"late their feelings an often often s!ings s!ings bet!ee bet!een n posit positi#e i#e an negati negati#e #e #ie!s #ie!s of others others.. %his %his can lea lea to patter patterns ns of beha#io"r others escribe as ramatic, "npreictable an ist"rbing. Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality isorer is a pattern of isregar for, an #iolation of, the rights of others. Characteristics:
&ni#i"als !ith Antisocial Personality *isorer fre2"ently lac$ empathy an ten to be callo"s, cynical, an contempt"o"s of the feelings, rights, an s"fferings of others. %hey may ha#e an inflate an arrogant self-appraisal +e.g., feel that orinary !or$ is beneath them or lac$ a realis realistic tic concern concern abo"t abo"t their their c"rren c"rrentt problem problemss or their their f"t"re f"t"re an may be excess excessi#e i#ely ly opinionate, self-ass"re, or coc$y. %hey may isplay a glib, s"perficial charm an can be 2"ite #ol"ble an #erbally facile +e.g., "sing technical terms or 9argon that might impress someone !ho is "nfamiliar !ith the topic.
@ac$ of empathy, inflate self-appraisal, an s"perficial charm are feat"res that ha#e been comm common only ly incl incl"e "e in trai traiti tiona onall conce concept ptio ions ns of psyc psycho hopat pathy hy an an may may be parti partic"l c"lar arly ly isting"is isting"ishing hing of Antisocial Antisocial Personalit Personality y *isorer *isorer in prison prison or forensic forensic settings settings !here criminal, elin2 elin2"en "ent, t, or aggress aggressi#e i#e acts are li$ely li$ely to be nonspec nonspecifi ific. c. %hese %hese ini#i ini#i"a "als ls may also also be irresponsible an exploitati#e in their sex"al relationships. Clinical signs and symptoms:
A. A per#asi#e pattern of isregar for an #iolation of the rights of others, occ"rring since age ; years, as inicate by three +or more of the follo!ing) . ail"re to conform to social norms !ith respect to la!f"l beha#iors, as inicate by repeately performing acts that are gro"ns for arrest. /. *eceitf"lness, as inicate by repeate lying, "se of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleas"re. 3. &mp"lsi#ity or fail"re to plan ahea. 0. &rritability an aggressi#eness, as inicate by repeate ph ysical fights or assa"lts. ;. :ec$less isregar for safety of self or others. <. Consistent irresponsibility, as inicate by repeate fail"re to s"stain consistent !or$ beha#ior or honor financial obligations. =. @ac$ of remorse, as inicate by being inifferent to or rationali(ing ha#ing h"rt, mistreate, or stolen from another. B. %he ini#i"al is at least age years. C. %here is e#ience of con"ct con"c t isorer !ith onset before age ; years. *. %he %he occ" occ"rr rren ence ce of anti antiso soci cial al beha# beha#io iorr is not not excl excl"s "si# i#el ely y "ri "ring ng the the co"r co"rse se of schi(ophrenia or bipolar isorer. Borderline Personality Disorder
Borerline personality isorer is a pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, an affects, an mar$e imp"lsi#ity. Characteristics:
%he main feat"re of borerline personality isorer +BP* is a per#asi#e pattern of instab instabili ility ty in interp interpers ersona onall relati relations onship hips, s, self-i self-imag magee an emotio emotions. ns. People People !ith !ith borer borerlin linee personality isorer are also "s"ally #ery imp"lsi#e, oftentimes emonstrating self-in9"rio"s beha#iors +ris$y sex"al beha#iors, c"tting, s"icie attempts. %hese ini#i"als ini#i"als are #ery sensiti#e sensiti#e to en#ironmental en#ironmental circ"mstances circ"mstances.. %he perception perception of impening separation or re9ection, or the loss of external str"ct"re, can lea to profo"n changes in self-image, affect, cognition, an beha#ior. %hey experience intense abanonment fears an
inappropriate anger, e#en !hen face !ith a realistic time-limite separation or !hen there are "na#oiable changes in plans +e.g., s"en espair in reaction to a clinician's anno"ncing the en of the ho"rD panic or f"ry !hen someone important to them is 9"st a fe! min"tes late or m"st cancel an appointment. %hey may belie#e that this 7abanonment8 implies they are 7ba.8 %hese abanonment fears are relate to an intolerance of being alone an a nee to ha#e other people !ith them. :elationships an the person's person's emotions may sometimes be seen by others or characteri(e as being shallo!. Clinical signs and symptoms:
A per#asi#e pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, an affects, an mar$e imp"lsi#ity, beginning by early a"lthoo an present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fi#e +or more of the follo!ing) . rantic efforts to a#oi real or imagine abanon ment. /. A patt patter ern n of "nst "nstab able le an inte intens nsee inte interp rper erso sonal nal rela relati tions onshi hips ps chara charact cteri eri(e (e by alternating bet!een extremes of ieali(ation an e#al"ation. 3. &entity ist"rbance) mar$ely an persistently "nstable self-image or sense of self. 0. &mp"lsi#ity in at least t!o areas that are potentially self-amaging +e.g., spening, sex, s"bstance ab"se, rec$less ri#ing, binge eating. ;. :ec"rrent s"icial beha#ior, gest"res, or threats, or self-m"tilating beha#ior. <. Affecti Affecti#e #e instabi instabilit lity y "e to a mar$e mar$e reacti reacti#it #ity y of moo moo +e.g., +e.g., intens intensee episo episoic ic ysphoria, irritability, or anxiety "s"ally lasting a fe! ho"rs an only rarely more than a fe! ays. =. Chronic feelings of emptiness. . &nappropria &nappropriate, te, intense intense anger or iffic"l iffic"lty ty controlling controlling anger +e.g., fre2"ent isplays of temper, constant anger, rec"rrent physical fights. . %ransient, stress-relate stress-relate paranoi ieation or se#ere issociati#e issociati#e symptoms. Histrionic Personality Disorder
>istri >istrioni onicc person personali ality ty isor isorer er is a patter pattern n of excessi excessi#e #e emotio emotional nality ity an attent attention ion see$ing. Characteristics:
&ni#i"als !ith >istrionic Personality *isorer may ha#e iffic"lty achie#ing emotional intimacy in romantic or sex"al relationships. 5itho"t being a!are of it, they often act o"t a role +e.g., 7#ictim8 or 7princess8 in their relationships to others. %hey may see$ to control their partner thro"gh emotional manip"lation or se"cti#eness on one le#el, !hereas isplaying a mar$e epenency on them at another le#el.
&ni#i"als !ith this isorer often ha#e impaire relationships !ith same-sex friens beca"se their sex"ally pro#ocati#e interpersonal style may seem a threat to their friens' relationsh relationships. ips. %hese ini#i"als ini#i"als may also alienate friens !ith emans for constant attention. attention. %hey often become epresse an "pset !hen they are not the center of attention. Peopl Peoplee !ith !ith hist histri rioni onicc perso persona nali lity ty iso isor rer er may may cra# cra#ee no#e no#elt lty y, stim stim"la "lati tion on,, an an excitement an ha#e a tenency to become bore !ith their "s"al ro"tine. %hese ini#i"als are often intolerant of, or fr"strate by, sit"ations that in#ol#e elaye gratification, an their actions are often irecte at obtaining immeiate satisfaction. Altho"gh they often initiate a 9ob or pro9ect !ith great enth"siasm, their interest may may lag 2"ic$ly. Clinical signs and symptoms:
A per#asi#e per#asi#e pattern pattern of excessi#e emotionality emotionality an attention attention see$ing, beginning by early a"lthoo an present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fi#e +or more of the follo!ing) . &s "ncomfortable in sit"ations in !hich he or she is not the center of attention. /. &nteraction !ith others is often characteri(e by inappropriate sex"ally se"cti#e or pro#ocati#e beha#ior. 3. *isplays rapily shifting an shallo! expression of emotions. 0. Consistently "ses physical appearance to ra! attention to self. ;. >as a style of speech that is excessi#ely impressionistic an lac$ing in etail. <. Sho!s self-ramati(ation, theatricality, an exaggerate expression of emotion. =. &s s"ggestible +i.e., easily infl"ence by others or circ"mstances. . Consiers relationships to be more intimate than they act"ally are. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
?arcissistic personality isorer is a pattern of graniosity, nee for amiration, an lac$ of empathy. Characteristics:
&ni#i"als !ith this isorer ha#e a graniose sense of self-importance. %hey ro"tinely o#erestimat o#erestimatee their abilities abilities an inflate inflate their accomplishments accomplishments,, often appearing boastf"l an pretentio"s. %hey may blithely ass"me that others attrib"te the same #al"e to their efforts an may be s"rprise !hen the praise they expect an feel they eser#e is not forthcoming. ften impl implic icit it in the the infl inflat ate e 9"g 9"gme ment ntss of thei theirr o!n o!n accom accompl plis ishm hmen ents ts is an "ner "neres esti tima mati tion on +e#al"ation of the contrib"tions of others. &ni#i"als !ith narcissistic personality isorer are often preocc"pie !ith fantasies of "nlimite s"ccess, po!er, brilliance, bea"ty, or ieal lo#e. %hey may r"minate abo"t E4long o#er"eE amiration an pri#ilege an compare themsel#es fa#orably !ith famo"s or pri#ilege people.
Clinical signs and symptoms:
A per#asi#e pattern of graniosity +in fantasy or beha#ior, nee for amiration, an lac$ of empathy, beginning by early a"lthoo an present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fi#e +or more of the follo!ing) . >as a graniose sense of self-importance +e.g., exaggerates achie#ements an talents, expects to be recogni(e as s"perior !itho"t commens"rate achie#ements. /. &s preocc"pie !ith fantasies of "nlimite s"ccess, po!er, brilliance, bea"ty, or ieal lo#e. 3. Belie#es that he or she is 7special8 an "ni2"e an can only be "nerstoo by, or sho"l associate !ith, other special or high-stat"s people +or instit"tions. 0. :e2"ires excessi#e amiration. ;. >as a sense of entitlement +i.e., "nreasonable expectations of especially fa#o"rable treatment or a"tomatic compliance !ith his or her expec tations. <. &s interpersonally exploitati#e +i.e., ta$es a#antage o f others to achie#e his or her o!n ens. =. @ac$s empathy) is "n!illing to recogni(e or ientify !ith the feelings an nees of others. . &s often en#io"s of others or belie#es that others are en#io"s of him or her. . Sho!s arrogant, ha"ghty beha#iors b eha#iors or attit"es.
Cluster C Personality Disorder
A pers person on !ith !ith a cl"s cl"ste terr C pers person onal alit ity y iso isor rer er str" str"gg ggle less !ith !ith pers persis iste tent nt an an o#er!helming feelings of fear an anxiety. %hey may sho! patterns of beha#io"r most people !o"l regar as antisocial an !ithra!n. Avoidant Personality Disorder
A#oiant personality isorer is a pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inae2"acy, an hypersensiti#ity to negati#e e#al"ation. Characteristics:
&ni#i &ni#i"al "alss !ith !ith a#oian a#oiantt person personali ality ty isor isorer er a#oi a#oi !or$ !or$ acti#i acti#itie tiess that that in#ol# in#ol#ee significant interpersonal contact beca"se of fears of criticism, isappro#al, or re9ection. ffers of 9ob promotions may be ecline beca"se the ne! responsibilities might res"lt in criticism from co-!or$ers. %hese ini#i"als a#oi ma$ing ne! friens "nless they are certain they !ill be li$e an accepte accepte !itho"t !itho"t criticism criticism.. ntil they pass stringent stringent tests pro#ing the contrary contrary,, other
people are ass"me to be critical an isappro#ing. &ni#i"als !ith this isorer !ill not 9oin in gro"p gro"p acti#i acti#itie tiess "nless "nless there there are repeat repeate e an genero" genero"ss offer offerss of s"ppor s"pportt an n"rt"r n"rt"rance ance.. &nterpersonal intimacy is often iffic"lt for these ini#i"als, altho"gh they are able to establish intimate relationships !hen there is ass"rance of "ncritical acceptance. %hey may act !ith restraint, ha#e iffic"lty tal$ing abo"t themsel#es, an !ithhol intimate feelings for fear of being expose, riic"le, or shame Clinical signs and symptoms:
A per#asi#e pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inae2"acy, an hypersensiti#ity to negati#e e#al"ation, beginning by early a"lthoo an present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fo"r +or more of the follo!ing) . A#ois occ"pational acti#ities that in#ol#e significant interpersonal contact beca"se of fears of criticism, isappro#al, or re9ection. /. &s "n!illing to get in#ol#e !ith people peo ple "nless certain of being li$e. 3. Sho!s restraint !ithin intimate relationships beca"se of the fear of being shame or riic"le. 0. &s preocc"pie !ith being critici(e or re9ecte in social sit"ations. ;. &s inhibite in ne! interpersonal sit"ations beca"se of feelings o f inae2"acy. <. Fie!s self as socially inept, personally "nappealing, or inferior to others. =. &s "n"s"ally rel"ctant to ta$e personal ris$s or to engage in any ne! acti#ities beca"se they may pro#e embarrassing. Osessive!compulsive personality
bsessi#e-comp"lsi#e personality isorer is a pattern of preocc"pation !ith orerliness, perfectionism, an control. Characteristics:
&ni#i"als !ith epenent personality isorer ha#e great iffic"lty ma$ing e#eryay ecisions +e.g., !hat color shirt to !ear to !or$ or !hether to carry an "mbrella !itho"t an excessi#e amo"nt of a#ice an reass"rance from others. %hese ini#i"als ten to be passi#e an to allo! other people +often a single other person to ta$e the initiati#e an ass"me responsibility for most ma9or areas of their li#es. A"lts !ith this isorer typically epen on a parent or spo"se to ecie !here they sho"l li#e, !hat $in of 9ob they sho"l ha#e, an !hich neighbors to befrien. Aolescents !ith this isorer may allo! their parent+s to ecie !hat they sho"l !ear, !ith !hom they sho"l associate, ho! they sho"l spen their free time, an !hat school or college they sho"l atten. %his nee for others to ass"me responsibility goes beyon age-appropriate an sit"ation-appropriate re2"ests for assistance from others +e.g., the specific nees of chilren, elerly persons, an hanicappe persons. *epenent personality isorer may occ"r in an ini#i"al !ho has a serio"s meical conition or isability, isability, b"t in s"ch
cases the iffic"lty in ta$ing responsibility m"st go beyon !hat !o"l normally be associate !ith that conition con ition or isability. Clinical signs and symptoms:
A per#asi#e an excessi#e nee to be ta$en care of that leas to s"bmissi#e an clinging beha#ior an fears of separation, beginning by early a"lthoo an present in a #ariety of contexts, as inicate by fi#e +or more of the follo!ing) . >as iffic"lty ma$ing e#eryay ecisions !itho"t an excessi#e amo"nt of a#ice an reass"rance from others. /. ?ees others to ass"me responsibility for most ma9or areas of his or her life. 3. >as iffic"lty expressing isagreement !ith others beca"se of fear of loss of s"pport or appro#al. 0. >as iffic"lty initiating pro9ects or oing things on his or her o!n beca"se of a lac$ of self-confience in 9"gment or abilities rather than a lac$ of moti#ation or energy. energy. ;. Goes to excessi#e lengths to obtain n"rt"rance an s"pport from others, to the point of #ol"nteering to o things that are "npleasant. <. eels "ncomfortable or helpless !hen alone beca"se of exaggerate fears of being "nable to care for himself or herself. =. rgently see$s another relationship as a so"rce of care an s"pport !hen a close relationship ens. . &s "nrealistically preocc"pie !ith fears of being left to ta$ e care of himself or herself.
