Psychological DisordersPersonality Disorders

Personality Disorders Inflexible and enduring patterns of behavior

that impair one’s social functioning

Cluster A: Eccentric behavior

Schizoid personality disorder detachment from social relationships and a restricted

range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings Schizotypal personality disorder

marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior

Paranoid personality disorder distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their

motives are interpreted as malevolent

Cluster B: Dramatic or Impulsive histrionic personality disorder

shallow, attention-getting emotions and goes to great lengths to gain others’ praise and reassurance

narcissistic personality disorder exaggerate their own importance, aided by success

fantasies borderline personality disorder

unstable identity, unstable relationships, and unstable emotions

Cluster C: Anxiety Avoidant personality disorder

social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

Dependent personality disorder excessive need to be taken care of that leads to

submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency

Antisocial Personality Disorder Formerly called a sociopath or a psychopath Typically male whose lack of conscience

becomes evident before age 15 “feel little and fear little” Express little regret over violating others’

rights Impulsive, uninhibited, low in anxiety A fearless approach to life

Antisocial Personality Disorder Behaviors in childhood

lying, stealing, fighting Behaviors in adulthood

unable to keep a job irresponsible spouse and parent assaultive or otherwise criminal when combined with a sharp intellect the result

may be a con artist

Antisocial Personality Disorders Biological and Psychological origins

Linked to lower levels of stress arousal tendency to be unconcerned with social rewards lacking a sense of social responsibility reduced activity in frontal lobe

Somatoform Disorders Distressing symptoms take a somatic (bodily)

form without apparent physical causes Conversion disorder Hypochodriasis

Dissociative Disorders Disorder of consciousness in which a person

appears to experience a sudden loss of memory or change in identity, often in response to an overwhelmingly stressful situation Amnesia Fugue Dissociative Identity Disorder

Mood Disorders Disorders characterized by emotional

extremes Major depressive disorder – prolonged

hopelessness and lethargy Bi-polar disorder – alternating between

depression and mania, an overexcited, hperactive state.

Schizophrenia A split from reality that shows itself in

disorganized thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions.