Personality Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #34

CrashCourse
14 Oct 201410:58
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video explores personality disorders, which are enduring and disruptive behavior patterns that impair functioning. Unlike other disorders, patients often don't recognize issues with their behavior. The DSM-5 categorizes ten distinct personality disorders into three clusters: odd/eccentric, dramatic/emotional/impulsive, and anxious/fearful/avoidant. These categories overlap, making diagnosis tricky. Borderline personality disorder involves dysfunctional ways of getting needs met, often stemming from childhood trauma. Antisocial personality disorder manifests as a lack of conscience and empathy. Causes are a mix of genetic, biological and environmental factors. Though treatment is difficult, identifying issues early in kids shows promise for prevention.

Takeaways
  • 😱 Personality disorders are psychological conditions marked by enduring, inflexible behavior patterns that impair functioning.
  • 😵‍💫 Unlike many disorders, personality disorders are often ego-syntonic - sufferers don't recognize they have a problem.
  • 🧠 The DSM-5 categorizes 10 distinct personality disorders into 3 clusters: odd/eccentric, dramatic/emotional, and anxious/fearful.
  • 👥 Many argue the categories overlap too much to distinguish, so most diagnoses are PDNOS ('not otherwise specified').
  • ⚖️ An alternative is the Dimensional Model which rates patients on a spectrum of traits rather than discrete categories.
  • 😢 Borderline Personality Disorder involves learned, dysfunctional ways of getting needs met, like outbursts or self-harm.
  • 😈 Antisocial Personality Disorder shows lack of conscience and empathy, sometimes with criminal behavior.
  • 🧬 Causes likely involve biological and psychological factors, both genetic and environmental.
  • 🧠 Brain imaging shows antisocial patients have less frontal lobe tissue and don't register others' distress.
  • 🏥 Best treatment may be early intervention in kids to correct behavior before it solidifies.
Q & A
  • What are some key differences between ego-dystonic and ego-syntonic disorders?

    -Ego-dystonic disorders cause distress to the person experiencing them, who is usually aware something is wrong. Ego-syntonic disorders often don't distress the person or make them feel like something is wrong - they think the problem is with everyone else.

  • What are the three clusters of personality disorders in the DSM-5?

    -The three clusters are: Cluster A - Odd/eccentric disorders like paranoid and schizoid personality disorders; Cluster B - Dramatic/emotional/impulsive disorders like narcissistic and histrionic personality disorders; Cluster C - Anxious/fearful disorders like avoidant and dependent personality disorders.

  • Why is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) considered a complex set of learned behaviors?

    -People with BPD often learned dysfunctional ways to get their needs met when growing up in traumatic or neglectful environments. Their emotional responses and behaviors were ways to cope at the time, but become problematic in non-traumatic situations later in life.

  • What are some classic symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder?

    -Lack of conscience, remorse, or empathy, destructive behavior in childhood or adolescence like excessive lying or stealing, inability to keep jobs, violent criminal tendencies, or becoming a charming con-artist who manipulates their way into power.

  • What causes Antisocial Personality Disorder?

    -It likely involves a combination of genetic predispositions, biological factors like low reactivity, and environmental factors like childhood abuse or trauma. The genes make some people more sensitive to negative environments.

  • Why don't people with personality disorders often seek treatment?

    -Since the disorders are ego-syntonic, people don't recognize or acknowledge the problematic behaviors - they think others are the problem. This makes them unlikely to feel a need for treatment.

  • What brain abnormalities are linked to Antisocial Personality Disorder?

    -Reduced frontal lobe activity associated with impulse control, 11% less frontal lobe tissue in violent criminals, unresponsive facial reactions showing lack of empathy, and overly reactive dopamine reward systems.

  • How could treating conduct disorder help prevent adult Antisocial Personality Disorder?

    -Many kids with conduct disorders are at high risk for developing antisocial personalities. Early intervention correcting behavior and removing bad influences could channel their tendencies in healthier directions.

  • What is the Dimensional Model approach to diagnosing personality disorders?

    -Instead of discrete categories, it rates people along dimensions of different traits/symptoms. So it would measure how narcissistic or avoidant someone is, rather than trying to fit them into specific disorder diagnoses.

  • How has the concept of personality disorders evolved over time?

    -It was initially studied as 'psychopathy' in the early 1900s based on work by German psychiatrist Kurt Schneider. Categories have been controversial and may be replaced by dimensional models. Understanding is still evolving.

Outlines
00:00
😦 Personality disorders can be difficult to diagnose and cause distress

Paragraph 1 discusses the nature of personality disorders, how they are ego-syntonic so sufferers may not recognize issues. It covers how they are chronic, ranging from narcissism to lack of empathy. Diagnosis is challenging despite categories, with overlap across types.

05:01
😢 Borderline personality disorder involves learned dysfunctional behaviors

Paragraph 2 focuses on borderline personality disorder (BPD), which involves learned inappropriate behaviors to meet needs. It notes BPD was seen as attention-seeking but is now understood as a trauma response. Therapy has helped even severe cases.

10:06
😈 Antisocial personality disorder shows lack of conscience and empathy

Paragraph 3 examines antisocial personality disorder/psychopathy. Those with it lack remorse and empathy, exhibiting antisocial behavior from childhood. Causes are genetic and environmental. Early intervention shows promise for conduct disorder children at risk of developing this personality disorder.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡personality disorders
Psychological disorders marked by inflexible, disruptive behavior patterns that impair functioning. They are considered chronic and people experiencing them may not think they have a problem. Examples from the script include paranoid, schizoid, narcissistic, and antisocial personality disorders.
💡ego-dystonic
A term used to describe disorders where the person is aware they have a problem and is distressed by the symptoms, like in bipolar disorder or OCD. This is contrasted with ego-syntonic disorders like personality disorders where the person does not recognize the problem.
💡DSM-5
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition - the handbook used by health care professionals to diagnose mental disorders. It contains criteria for diagnosing 10 distinct personality disorders grouped into 3 clusters.
💡cluster A
The first of three clusters used to classify personality disorders in the DSM-5. It includes paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders featuring odd, eccentric behavior.
💡borderline personality disorder (BPD)
A personality disorder characterized by emotional instability, impulsive behavior, unstable relationships and identity issues. People with BPD use dysfunctional ways like rage and self-harm to get psychological needs met.
💡antisocial personality disorder
A personality disorder characterized by lack of conscience, remorselessness and lack of empathy. Also known as psychopathy/sociopathy. Associated with criminal behavior, but many with criminal records don't qualify for this diagnosis.
💡conduct disorder
A disorder diagnosed in childhood that involves repetitive behavior violating rights of others or social norms. Considered a precursor diagnosis to antisocial personality disorder.
💡empathy
The ability to sense and understand others' emotions. Research shows those with antisocial personality disorder display less activity in brain areas linked to empathy when shown evocative images depicting suffering.
💡frontal lobe
Region of the brain associated with functions like impulse control and emotion regulation. Studies show violent offenders display less frontal lobe activity and lower frontal lobe tissue volume.
💡psychopathy
An outdated term previously used to describe antisocial personality disorder. Implies traits like lack of empathy, remorse, and manipulative behavior.
Highlights

Personality disorders are chronic, enduring syndromes that create noticeable problems in life.

The Dimensional Model assesses patients by rating them on a range of personality traits rather than diagnosing discrete disorders.

Borderline Personality Disorder involves dysfunctional behaviors like rage outbursts or self-injury learned as coping mechanisms.

Antisocial Personality Disorder involves a lack of conscience, empathy, and remorse, often leading to manipulation or crime.

Only 1% of people have Antisocial Personality Disorder, but they make up 16% of the prison population.

Childhood abuse or trauma can interact with genetic factors to influence the development of personality disorders.

Those with antisocial traits show less neurological response to distressing images.

Violent criminals tend to have less frontal lobe tissue, which regulates behavior.

Treating conduct disorder may prevent some at-risk kids from developing antisocial personality disorder.

Personality disorders likely stem from a combination of genetic, neural, and environmental factors.

Ego-dystonic disorders cause distress to the sufferer, while ego-syntonic disorders do not.

The DSM-5 categorizes personality disorders into 3 clusters based on symptoms.

Many researchers argue that personality disorder categories overlap significantly.

PDNOS is the most commonly diagnosed personality disorder due to unclear boundaries.

Adults with antisocial personality disorder rarely acknowledge having a problem or seek treatment.

Transcripts
Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating: