Personality Disorders Essay Example
Criminal chosen: Andrew Cunanan, the guy who killed Gianni Versace
This needs to be someone high profile so that you can gather enough information to create this assessment. Be sure to look at the ten personality disorders and offer potential diagnoses for this person. Be sure to do the following:Personality Disorders Essay Example
1. Identify the person and their crimes
3. Background and relevant information
4. Review all 5 of the P’s and also discuss the context (precipitating factors- protective factors- predisposing factors- perpetuating factors- presenting factors)
4. Potential diagnoses – provide a justification for these; what criteria do the individual meet, and what evidence from the known information explains this?Personality Disorders Essay Example
5. Treatment – you may review the treatments administered, or, if this is unknown, you can formulate your own ideas and suggestions about the kinds of treatment methods what would be useful in remediating the person’s diagnoses.
6. Outcomes – what ultimately happened to this individual? Were there positive changes based on their treatment and remediation? Why do you think these outcomes occurred?
Your paper should be 2-3 pages, in APA formatting. Please be sure to rely on scholarly material and books for your information – no Wikipedia or pop psychology websites, please personality Disorders Essay Example
Personality disorders are a diagnostic category of psychiatric disorders that affect approximately 10% of the population (Torgersen, 2005). Since everyone has a personality, but not everyone has a personality disorder, these disorders are considered a variant form of normal, healthy personality. This group of disorders is characterized by problematic thinking patterns; problems with emotional regulation; and difficulty achieving a balance between spontaneity and impulse control. However, the most significant and defining feature of personality disorders is the negative effect these disorders have on interpersonal relationships. People with personality disorders tend to respond to differing situations and demands with a characteristically rigid constellation of thoughts, feelings, and behavior. This inflexibility and difficulty forming nuanced responses, represents the primary difference between healthy and disordered personalities.
The diagnosis of personality disorders is often very complex as these disorders frequently co-occur with each other and with other psychiatric categories of disorders. The current diagnostic system of the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) relies upon a categorical approach. An alternative to the categorical diagnostic approach, called a dimensional approach, was presented and discussed. Both methods were compared and contrasted. personality Disorders Essay Example
The exact cause of personality disorders remains uncertain. However, it is clear there are both biological and, psycho social factors that influence the development of personality and personality disorders. Several psychological theories of personality disorders attempt to explain the psycho social origins of personality disorders. The following psychological theories of personality disorders were reviewed: object relations theory, attachment theory (including mentalization), and cognitive-behavioral theory (including dialectical behavior theory and schema theory). In addition to these specific theories of personality disorder, the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) that codes social interactions was discussed as it applies to understanding personality disorders. The contributions of neuroscience were discussed as well.
At one time personality disorders were thought to be unrepeatable. This is no longer the case. There are now several highly effective treatments for personality disorders that derive from the same psychological theories previously reviewed. These treatments include: transference focused therapy (TFP), mentalization based therapy (MBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and schema therapy. Pharmacological interventions are considered an adjunct to treatment and were briefly reviewed as well.
In conclusion, recent technological advancements and improvements to diagnostic methodologies have enabled researchers to study personality and personality disorders as never before. As a result, we now have a much greater understanding of these disorders. Furthermore, this research has facilitated the development of several highly effective treatments for personality disorders that are evidenced-based. As research continues, these treatment approaches will be further refined. Therefore, we can state with confidence there is hope and relief for people affected by these disorders, including their family members and loved ones.personality Disorders Essay Example
The term “Personality Disorder” implies there is something not-quite-right about someone’s personality. However, the term “personality disorder” simply refers to a diagnostic category of psychiatric disorders characterized by a chronic, inflexible, and maladaptive pattern of relating to the world. This maladaptive pattern is evident in the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The most noticeable and significant feature of these disorders is their negative effect on interpersonal relationships. A person with an untreated personality disorder is rarely able to enjoy sustained, meaningful, and rewarding relationships with others, and any relationships they do form are often fraught with problems and difficulties.
To be diagnosed with a “personality disorder” does not mean that someone’s personality is fatally flawed or that they represent some freak of nature. In fact, these disorders are not that uncommon and are deeply troubling and painful to those who are diagnosed with these disorders. Studies on the prevalence of personality disorders performed in different countries and among-st different populations suggest that roughly 10% of adults can be diagnosed with a personality disorder (Torgersen, 2005).personality Disorders Essay Example
Many types of disorders are evidenced by a complete and total deviation from normal and healthy functioning (e.g., epilepsy). However, personality disorders cannot be understood independently from healthy personalities. Since everyone has a personality (but not everyone has epileptic seizures), personality disorders reflect a variant form of normal, healthy personality. Thus, a personality disorder exists as a special case of a normal, healthy personality in much the same way as a square is a special case of the more general construct of a rectangle. Therefore, it is useful for us to begin our discussion of personality disorders by first discussing the broader, more general construct of personality. personality Disorders Essay Example