Assessment 2: Personality Disorders
Name
Capella University
PSYC-FPX 2900
Instructor Name
July 2024
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are determined by maladaptive and persisting behavior that leads to social dysfunction (Jemal et al., 2022). It is different from other types of psychological disorders in the sense that personality disorders do not change with time and are present for a lifetime. However, their symptoms can be controlled to some extent. It is common to find when diagnosing or identifying personality disorders that it can be a hard task to do. According to Guillot et al. (2023), ten recognized personality disorders are grouped into three categories, i.e., clusters A, B, and C. The first diagnosis, cluster A, is defined by unusual or eccentric personality disorders, including symptoms such as paranoia (Katakis et al., 2023). According to Massaal et al. (2022), the illnesses in cluster C are anxiety-related, and their primary features include fearfulness and the display of avoidant behaviors.
This assessment will concentrate on Cluster B personality disorders. Cluster B is made up of disorders that involve impulsive, theatrical, or unpredictable behaviors. These disorders cause clients to have considerable problems in relating to other people in society or handling relationships in society. The approach to cluster B personality disorders must be sensitive, as these disorders are chronicle and manifest in the patient’s lifetime (Dacosta et al., 2021). Treatment aims to reduce the severity of symptoms, and a sufferer can lead a much better life, although these conditions cannot be cured completely.
Cluster B Personality Disorders
Cluster B personality disorders encompass antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality types (Jemal et al., 2022). Their behaviors are unpredictable, emotional, or antisocial, and people with these disorders demonstrate little empathy. Features of antisocial personality disorder include no guilt, lack of consideration for other people’s feelings, and disregard for the law and the norms of a specific culture (Massaal et al., 2022). Some of these symptoms include chronic lying to win over others, even when it is unnecessary. It is also worth mentioning that people diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder show intense emotions, anger, unhealthy self-identity, and self-mutilation, all of which cause problems with relationships (Xie et al., 2022). Identity crisis can be identified in many aspects, starting with self-mutilation, threats of suicide, drug dependency, and binge eating disorder. People with histrionic personality disorder act in a dramatically irritable manner, are sensitive, and actively improperly seek attention (Winsper et al., 2020). They allow others authority over them and cannot maintain dependent relationships without interesting changes. Narcissistic personality disorder is expressed by a patient’s lack of capacity to understand or empathize with the emotions of those around them, combined with the tendency to strive for admiration (Katakis et al., 2023). The selfish person in a relationship is largely out for their benefit only and does not care about their counterparts.
Genetic and Environmental Factors
The cause of personality disorders has been difficult for the researchers to identify. Traditionally, it was regarded that personality disorders are hereditary and stem from the person’s genes. A recent study by Winsper et al. (2020) indicates that genetics can play a significant role in developing these disorders, though the factor cannot be solely attributed to it. There is also evidence that certain environments around the affected people influence personality disorders. Patients with a certain genetic background could be more susceptible to such environmental stimuli that could lead to the development of such disorders (Lunghi et al., 2023).
Preti et al. (2020) found a link between the frontal lobe tissue volume and the extent of empathy, one of the executive functions. Lack of frontal lobe tissue can result in poor executive control and theory of mind (Massaal et al., 2022). Nowadays, the issues of personality disorders’ development and causes remain a focus of study and exploration.
Treatment
The intervention for personality disorders may be convoluted and differ in several ways. A significant issue that affects the treatment process is the heterogeneity of these disorders in patients since different persons may present different symptoms and signs that cannot be grouped into algorithms or categories (Xie et al., 2022). It is also crucial to take note of the fact that many times, the characteristics of cluster B personality disorders are themselves defined by the sufferers’ ignorance or denial of the condition. The patients are said to deny the disorder often and avoid treatment as a result of paranoia and mistrust in the medical fraternity (Dacosta et al., 2021). Another factor that makes diagnosis and treatment of these disorders quite challenging is that a large number of people are still with these conditions undiagnosed. Individuals diagnosed with cluster B personality disorders often exhibit co-occurring mental health conditions, which entails that patients receive treatment for other more overt symptoms or other mental disorders but not PD (Leichsenring et al., 2024).
Psychotherapy and Medication Approaches
Despite these challenges, there are some treatment options available. Medication can be combined with psychotherapy, but controlled trials have not brought concrete findings regarding such benefits (Hutsebaut et al., 2020). Two orientations within psychotherapy have been found to offer some utility in treating subjects diagnosed with PDs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) mainly focuses on altering prominent behaviors via specific and directional strategies (Lunghi et al., 2023). It also effectively treats behavioral patterns related to depression or suicidal thoughts. Another type of CBT is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which focuses on mindfulness and thought skills for regulating emotions and increasing the individual’s problem-solving approach (Leichsenring et al., 2024).
PSYC FPX 2900 Assessment 2 Conclusion
Cluster B personality disorders are obstinate to treat since they are pervasive and do not remit (Leichsenring et al., 2024). These disorders, which feature dramatic, emotional, and erratic behaviors, are best addressed tangibly and through an understanding of each patient’s situation. These are caused partially by inherited characteristics and partially by other circumstances; however, the treatment in psychotherapy, including CBT and DBT, can help the patient greatly enhance the quality of life. Therefore, though there is no cure for most of these complex disorders, constant studies and specific therapeutic approaches may one day provide comprehensive treatment or minimize the effects.
PSYC FPX 2900 Assessment 2 References
Dacosta, D., Díaz, C., Fernandez, F., & Lozano, Ó. M. (2021). Impact of cluster B personality disorders in drugs therapeutic community treatment outcomes: A study based on real-world data. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(12), 2572. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10122572
Guillot, R., Lucke, R., Ramsey, J., Kearns, T., Blumenthal, H., & Berman, E. (2023). Cluster-B personality disorder traits and impulsivity: Indirect associations with alcohol use severity through positive alcohol expectancies. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 31(2), 423–432. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000598
Hutsebaut, J., Willemsen, E., Bachrach, N., & Van, R. (2020). Improving access to and effectiveness of mental health care for personality disorders: The guideline-informed treatment for personality disorders (GIT-PD) initiative in the Netherlands. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 7, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-020-00133-7
Jemal, M., Tessema, W., & Agenagnew, L. (2022). Cluster B personality disorders and its associated factors among psychiatric outpatients in Southwest Ethiopia: Institutional-based cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1), 500. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04143-3
Katakis, P., Schlief, M., Barnett, P., Rains, S., Rowe, S., Pilling, S., & Johnson, S. (2023). Effectiveness of outpatient and community treatments for people with a personality disorder diagnosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04483-0
Leichsenring, F., Fonagy, P., Heim, N., Kernberg, O. F., Leweke, F., Luyten, P., Salzer, S., Spitzer, C., & Steinert, C. (2024). Borderline personality disorder: A comprehensive review of diagnosis and clinical presentation, etiology, treatment, and current controversies. World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association, 23(1), 4–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21156
Lunghi, C., Cailhol, L., Massamba, V., Laouan, E. A., Sirois, C., Rahme, E., Rochette, L., Renaud, S., Villeneuve, E., Koch, M., Biskin, R., Martineau, C., Vincent, P., David, P., & Lesage, A. (2023). Psychotropic medication use pre and post-diagnosis of cluster B personality disorder: A Quebec’s health services register cohort. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1243511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1243511
Massaal, L. Y., Eikelenboom, M., Hoogendoorn, W., Thomaes, K., & Marle, F. (2022). Cluster B versus cluster c personality disorders: A comparison of comorbidity, suicidality, traumatization, and global functioning. Behavioral Sciences, 12(4), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12040105
Preti, E., Pierro, R., Fanti, E., Madeddu, F., & Calati, R. (2020). Personality disorders in time of pandemic. Current Psychiatry Reports, 22(12), 80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-020-01204-w
Winsper, C., Bilgin, A., Thompson, A., Marwaha, S., Chanen, A. M., Singh, S. P., Wang, A., & Furtado, V. (2020). The prevalence of personality disorders in the community: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 216(2), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.166
Xie, Q., Torous, J., & Goldberg, S. B. (2022). E-mental health for people with personality disorders: A systematic review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(10), 541–552. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-022-01360-1
