MikeLigalig.com

AXIS 1 Psychiatric Evaluation/ Didactics:

on

CLUSTER C PERSONALITY DISORDERS

-Anxious or fearful; genetic association with anxiety disorders

Types:
1) Avoidant: hypersensitive to rejection, socially inhibited, timid, feelings of inadequacy, desires relationship with others (vs. SCHIZHOID)
2) Obsessive Compulsive - Preoccupation with order, perfectionism, and control; ego syntonic: behavior consistent with one's own beliefs and attitudes (vs. OCD)
3) Dependent - Submissive and clinging, excessive need to be taken care of, low self-confidence



PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION; TREATMENT:
- Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy
- Neuroleptics for secondary psychomorphologies

CLUSTER B PERSONALITY DISORDERS

-Dramatic, emotional, erratic; genetic association with mood disorders and substance abuse

Types:
1) Antisocial - Disregard for and violation of rights of others, criminality; males > females; conduct disorders < 18 y/o
2)Borderline - Unstable mood and interpersonal relationships, impulsiveness, self-mutilation, sense of emptiness; females > males; splitting is a major defense mechanism

3) Histrionic - Excessive emotionality and excitability, sexually provocative, overly concerned with abnormal appearance

CLUSTER A PERSONALITY DISORDERS

-Odd or eccentric; inability to develop meaningful social relationships. No psychosis; genetic association with Schizophrenia

Types:
1) Paranoid: pervasive distrust and suspiciousness;
projection is a major immature defense mechanism

2) SCHIZOID : voluntary social withdrawal, limited emotional expression, content with social isolation (vs. avoidant)

3) Schizotypal: eccentric appearance, odd beliefs, or magical thinking, interpersonal awkwardness

Clinically speaking, the best way to treat patients with cluster personality disorders (A,B,C) is moreso through therapy rather than pharmacology.

Therapy vis-a-vis a Psychiatrist or a Clinical Psychologist is effective.