Personality disoders - Cluster A Notes

NOTES NOTES PERSONALITY DISORDERS: CLUSTER A GENERALLY, WHAT ARE THEY? PATHOLOGY & CAUSES ▪ Deviations from cultural expectations → worsens day-to-day life, relationships. ▪ Paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal personality disorders TREATMENT PSYCHOTHERAPY ▪ Focused on supporting individual, not challenging beliefs ▫ Challenging beliefs often elicits negative responses, affects treatment CAUSES ▪ May be genetic, environmental ▪ Linked to schizophrenia (esp. schizotypal) SIGNS & SYMPTOMS ▪ Unusual behavior ▪ Poor relationships DIAGNOSIS ▪ Unusual behaviors/traits ▪ Not explained by other condition/substance Figure 98.1 Illustration depicting different types of cluster A personality disorders. 720 OSMOSIS.ORG

Chapter 98 Personality Disorders: Cluster A PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER osms.it/paranoid-personality-disorder PATHOLOGY & CAUSES DIAGNOSIS ▪ Overlaps with schizotypal personality disorder ▪ Generally distrustful of others; demands loyalty of family, friends ▪ Individual harbors grudges if feeling lied to/ slighted ▪ Suspiciousness damages relationships ▪ ≥ four of following ▫ Irrational belief that others are harmful/ deceptive ▫ Doubts trustworthiness of close individuals ▫ Reluctance to confide in others, fearing it may be used against oneself ▫ Sees hidden threats in everyday scenarios ▫ Holds prolonged grudges ▫ Constantly feels attacked ▫ Suspicion of partner’s fidelity ▫ Not explained by other condition/ substance CAUSES ▪ May be genetic, environmental SIGNS & SYMPTOMS ▪ Excessive distrust of others ▪ Prolonged grudges, superficial relationships, isolation TREATMENT PSYCHOTHERAPY ▪ Aimed at improving social understanding; can be challenging due to trust issues Figure 98.2 Illustration depicting thoughts and symptoms of paranoid personality disorder. OSMOSIS.ORG 721

SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER osms.it/schizoid-personality-disorder PATHOLOGY & CAUSES DIAGNOSIS ▪ Overlaps with negative symptoms of schizophrenia (blunted emotions/flat affect) ▪ Disinterested in, avoids social interaction ▫ Not caused by paranoia/social anxiety ▪ Dislikes physical contact ▪ ≥ four of following ▫ Does not want/enjoy close relationships ▫ Prefers solitude ▫ Lack of interest in sexual activities ▫ Hard to please ▫ Lacks close friends ▫ Unbothered by others’ comments ▫ Flat affect/emotional blunting ▫ Not explained by other condition/ substance CAUSES ▪ May be genetic, environmental SIGNS & SYMPTOMS ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Flat affect/blunted emotions Lack of desire for intimacy Chooses solitary activities Takes pleasure in few activities TREATMENT PSYCHOTHERAPY ▪ Aimed at improving social understanding; can be challenging due to trust issues Figure 98.3 Illustration depicting thoughts and symptoms of schizoid personality disorder. 722 OSMOSIS.ORG

Chapter 98 Personality Disorders: Cluster A SCHIZOTYPAL PERSONALITY DISORDER osms.it/schizotypal-personality-disorder PATHOLOGY & CAUSES DIAGNOSIS ▪ Overlaps with paranoid personality disorder ▪ Excessive magical thinking (linking unrelated events) ▪ Ideas of reference (believes everything relates to personal destiny) ▪ Beliefs cause overconfidence, self-centered thinking ▪ Poor at gauging how others perceive them ▪ Maintain desire for relationships (unlike schizoid) ▫ schizoiD = “Distant” ▫ schizoTypal = “magical Thinking” ▪ ≥ five of following ▫ Ideas of reference ▫ Magical thinking that changes behavior ▫ Altered perception ▫ Unusual thinking/talking ▫ Suspiciousness/paranoia ▫ Inappropriate/flat affect ▫ Eccentric/unusual behavior ▫ Lack of close friends ▫ Social anxiety (related to paranoia, not fear of judgment) ▪ Not explained by other condition/substance CAUSES ▪ May be genetic, environmental ▪ Linked to schizophrenia SIGNS & SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PSYCHOTHERAPY ▪ Aimed at improving social understanding; can be challenging due to trust issues ▪ Ideas of reference ▪ Altered perception ▪ Unusual thinking/talking (vague, not incoherent) ▪ Paranoia/anxiety Figure 98.4 Illustration depicting thoughts and symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder. OSMOSIS.ORG 723