Personality Disorders

I. General Issues

II. Definition of a Personality Disorder: Persistent, Pervasive, Pathological

III. Three clusters of Personality Disorders

A. Cluster A: odd & eccentric

1. Paranoid--pervasive pattern of distrust and suspiciousness

2. Schizoid--pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships; indifference to interpersonal relationships

3. Schizotypal--pervasive pattern of difficulties involving interpersonal relationships and cognitive/perceptual eccentricities

 B. Cluster B: dramatic & emotional--flamboyant

1. Antisocial--DSM's psychopathy

2. Borderline--pervasive pattern of INSTABILITY: of mood, interpersonal relationships, and identity

3. Histrionic--pervasive and excessive emotionality and attention seeking

4. Narcissistic--pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy; grandiose

Cluster C: anxious & fearful

1. Avoidant--pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy

2. Dependent--pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of

3. Obsessive-Compulsive--pervasive pattern of preoccupation with order, cleanliness, perfectionism

IV. Deleted from DSM-III-R

A. Passive Aggressive--passively resists demands for adequate social and work performance