Eleven Pervasive Personality Disorders

The American Psychiatric Association, in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), divides disorders into Axis I and Axis II, the first category including a wide range of clinical disorders and the second including personality disorders and mental retardation. Personality disorders are subdivided into three categories: odd or eccentric disorders; dramatic, emotional, or erratic disorders; and anxious or fearful disorders. To be diagnosed with a particular personality disorder, the patient must exhibit symptomatic behavior that is pervasive, follows a pattern, and is intense.

Personality disorder behavior does not come and go, depending on the circumstances of the patient's mood or age. It continues to be played out throughout the patient's life, unless treatment is sought and administered effectively. Its intensity causes discomfort, social dysfunction, and problems in in

. . .
rally, as unfortunate consequences of one's actions, but that is usually as far as insight penetrates (p. 188). The first of the Cluster B disorders is histrionic personality disorder, typified by excessive emotionality and attention seeking. More women than men tend to be diagnosed with this particular disorder; some feminists suggest that this diagnosis is especially suited to the way in which "difficult" female patients are sometimes treated by a predominantly male medical establishment, by being diagnosed as over-emotional and trying to get attention through their behavior. However, this is a real disorder and should not be taken lightly or dismissed out of hand. The second Cluster B diagnosis is narcissistic personality disorder, characterized by grandiosity in fantasy or behavior and a constant need for admiration. Narcissistic personalities tend to have a lack of empathy for others. They like looking at themselves in mirrors, and "their self-evaluations tend to become more positive by viewing themselves on videotape" (Bower, 1997, April 5, p. 212). Such apparent self-love often masks self-hatred. Denying this hatred can make the patient appear to have a very strong ego, when in fact this is not the case at all. Bor
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Steve Kisely, Frank Bruno, OCD OCD, Richard Neugebauer, BPD DBT, Philip Sugarman, Axis II, Marsha Linehan, Sigmund Freud's, Ian Deary, personality disorders, personality disorder, bruno 1993, disorder characterized, july 19, 1997 july, personality disorder characterized, 1997 july 19, experts disagree, british medical journal, borderline personality, marlowe 1997, chronic suicide, marlowe 1997 july, borderline personality disorder,
Approximate Word count = 2630
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Eleven Pervasive Personality Disorders