Personality Disorders and

Adolescents

Tamara M. Miller

Personality DisorderO Has onset in adolescence or early

adulthood and is stable over time.O Deeply ingrained patterns of thinking

and behaving that generally leads to impaired relationships with others.

O Is pervasive and inflexibleO Grouped within three clusters under

Axis II of the DSM.

The ClustersO Cluster A (Odd/Eccentric):

includes the paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.

O Cluster B (Dramatic): includes the antisocial, narcissistic, borderline and histrionic personality disorders.

O Cluster C (Anxious): includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

The Odd and EccentricParanoid Personality Disorder

O Have you, a friend, or partner ever worried about a significant other cheating?

O Have you gotten upset when a friend or significant other doesn’t text back right away? After five minutes?

O Do you ever feel like you’re being watched?

O Feel like your teacher or boss is just out for you?

The Odd and EccentricParanoid Personality Disorder

A long-term mistrust and suspicion about the world and others.

O Can lead to other disorders such as agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, or depression.

O Believe others have hidden motivesO Have expectations others will exploit them.O Tend to be hostile, detached, and will isolate themselves.

Conspiracy Theory

The Odd and EccentricSchizoid Personality Disorder

A lifelong pattern of social indifference and social isolation with limited range of emotions.

O Lack of interest in social relationships.O Desire for secretiveness and solitary.O Tendency for apathy or emotional coldness.O Will avoid social activities that involve emotional intimacy.O They don’t enjoy close relationships, even with family members.

The Remains of the Day (2:48-5:34)

The Odd and EccentricSchizotypal Personality Disorder

A person who has trouble with relationships and disturbances in thought patterns, behavior, and

appearance.

O Belief in superstitions or paranormal is not uncommon.O Tend to feel uncomfortable in social situations and prefer isolation. O Have an odd pattern of speech, no close friends, inappropriate/odd displays of feelings and affect, and suspicions/paranoia.O Excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments about self.

DramaticsHistrionic Personality Disorder

A person who behaves in a very dramatic and emotional way to draw attention to themselves. This includes:

O Constant attention, reassurance or approval seeking, O Over-dramatic with exaggerate displays of emotionO Sensitivity to criticism/disapprovalO Inappropriate sexual/seductive behavior and dressO self-centeredness, and sexual seductiveness.

DramaticsHistrionic Personality Disorder

Continued…O Concern with physical appearanceO Blaming disappointment/failure on othersO Belief that relationships are more intimate than they really areO Easily influenced by othersO Low tolerance for frustration or delayed satisfactionO Rapid shift in emotional statesO Uncomfortable in situations where they are not center of attention

DramaticsNarcissistic Personality Disorder

The Social Network 9:07-9:56

O Inflated, false sense of self-importance. O Belief that the world revolves around

them (self-entitlement).O Lack of empathy for others.O Need for admiration and constant attention.

DramaticsNarcissistic Personality Disorder

Tend to…O Use others to advance themselvesO Reacts to criticism with rage, anger, or humiliationO Exaggerates own importance, talents, and achievementsO Easily jealousO Requires constant positive reinforcementO Has unreasonable expectations for favorable treatment

DramaticsAntisocial Personality Disorder

The Joker

O Individuals who tend to violate or disregard the rights of others.

O Intensity/severity varies There’s…O Disregard for society’s lawO Violation of other’s physical or emotional rightsO Manipulation/exploitation O Lack of remorse/guilt

DramaticsAntisocial Personality Disorder

The Joker

Continued…O Impulsivity and recklessnessO Tendency for substance abuseO Often displays anger or arroganceO Childhood diagnosis of misconductO Superficial wit and charm

DramaticsBorderline Personality Disorder

…A long-term pattern of turbulent, unstable emotions regarding feelings about themselves and others. Includes pervasive interpersonal relationships, moods, self-image, andbehavior.

O Can experience anger, depression, or anxiety for mere hours or at most a dayO Often uncertain about their own identityO Think in extremes

DramaticsBorderline Personality Disorder

…

O Fears of abandonment and intolerance of being aloneO Have feelings of emptiness and lonelinessO Frequent displays of inappropriate angerO ImpulsivenessO Sensitive to rejection and change in plansO Repeated crises and acts of self injury

AnxiousAvoidant Personality Disorder

…A person who has a lifelong pattern of extreme shyness,

feeling of inadequacy, and sensitivity to rejection.

O Easily hurt by criticism/disapprovalO Has no close friends and is reluctant to become involved

with peopleO Will avoid activities or occupations that involve contact with othersO Shy in social situations out of fear of doing something wrongO Exaggerates potential difficultiesO Shows excessive restraint in intimate relationshipsO Holds view that they are socially inept, inferior, or unappealing to others

AnxiousDependent Personality Disorder

…An overreliance on others to meet one’s physical and emotional needs. Includes a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that can lead to submissive and clinging behavior.

O Inability to make own decisionsO Can be upset by separation and lossO Have trouble disagreeing with othersO Have problems taking initiative and acting independentlyO Feel uncomfortable or helpless when alone

AnxiousDependent Personality Disorder

…Symptoms also include…O Willingness to do anything to stay in a relationship – tolerance of mistreatment or abuseO Extreme passivityO Avoidance of personal responsibilityO Inability to meet ordinary demands of life

AnxiousObsessive-Compulsive Personality

Disorder…

A condition in which a person is concerned with orderliness, control, and rules.

O Have sense of urgency about their actionsO Is angered should people interfere with their rigid routine – though, unable to express it directlyO Have symptoms of perfectionism that begin as early as childhoodO Will withdraw when not in control of situationO Excess devotion to workO Inability to throw away thingsO Lack of flexibility and generosityO Unwillingness to allow others to do thingsO Unwilling to show affection

References

http://counsellingresource.com

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus

http://www.psychologytoday.com/

http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-health/

personality-disorders.html