CLUSTER A

THE ODD AND ECCENTRIC CLUSTER

 PARANOID
PERSONALITY
DISORDER
PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER

Is one of a group of conditions called "Cluster A" personality

disorders which involve odd or eccentric ways of thinking. People
with PPD also suffer from paranoia, an unrelenting mistrust and
suspicion of others, even when there is no reason to be suspicious.
People with PPD are always on guard, believing that others are
constantly trying to demean, harm, or threaten them.
People with this disorder:
• Doubt the commitment, loyalty, or trustworthiness of
others, believing others are using or deceiving them
• Are reluctant to confide in others or reveal personal
information due to a fear that the information will be
used against them.
• Are generally cold and distant in their relationship
with others, and might become controlling and
jealous.
• They will not confide in others due to the belief that
their confidence will be betrayed.
• They will interpret ambiguous or benign remarks as
hurtful or threatening.
 Schizoid
Personality
Disorder
Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is a
chronic and pervasive condition
characterized by social isolation and feelings
of indifference toward other people. Those
who live with this disorder are often
described as distant or withdrawn and tend
to avoid social situations that involve
interaction with other people.
Diagnosis

The DSM-5 diagnostic

criteria state that people
must display at least
four of the following
symptoms in order to be
diagnosed with SPD:
• Always chooses solitary activities
• Emotional detachment and lack of emotional
expression.
• Experiences little pleasure from activities.
• Indifference to criticism or praise.
• Lack of desire or enjoyment for close
personal relationships.
• Little or no interest in sex with other people.
• No close friends other than immediate
• family.
 Schizoid Personality Disorder vs.
Schizophrenia

While schizoid personality Those with SPD rarely experience

disorder is considered one of the paranoia or hallucinations. Also,
schizophrenia spectrum disorders while they may seem aloof and
and shares some common distant during conversations, they
symptoms with schizophrenia and do make sense when they speak,
schizotypal personality disorder, which differs from the difficult to
there are important distinctions follow speech patterns that often
that separate SPD from those two demonstrated by people with
disorders. schizophrenia.
SCHIZOTYPAL PERSONALITY
DISORDER
 Schizotypal Personality Disorder
■ People with schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) are typically socially
isolated, like those with schizoid personality disorder. In addition, they also
behave in ways that would seem unusual to many of us, and they tend to be
suspicious and to have odd beliefs. (Rosell, Futterman, McMaster, & Siever,
2014; Chemerenski, Triebwasser, Roussos, & Siever, 2013).

■ Schizotypal personality disorder is considered by some to be on a continuum

(the same spectrum) with schizophrenia but without some of the more
debilitating symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.
 Signs and Symptoms
■ Ideas of reference (excluding delusions of reference).
■ Odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is inconsistent with
subcultural norms (e.g., superstitiousness, belief in clairvoyance, telepathy, or “sixth
sense”; in children and adolescents, bizarre fantasies or preoccupations).
■ Unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions.
■ Odd thinking and speech
■ Suspiciousness or paranoid ideation.
■ Inappropriate or constricted affect.
■ Behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar.
■ Lack of close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives.
■ Excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated
with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments about self.
 CLUSTER B
THE DRAMATIC, UNPREDICTABLE CLUSTER
 A n t i - s o c i a l
P e r s o n a l i t y
D e v e l o p m e n t
 Anti-Social
Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder
(ASPD) is a condition characterized by
a lack of empathy and regard for other
people. People who have antisocial
personality disorder have little or no
regard for right or wrong. They
antagonize and often act insensitively
or in an unfeeling manner. Individuals
with this disorder may lie, engage in
aggressive or violent behavior, and
participate in criminal activity.

2/1/20XX PRESENTATION TITLE 15

 DIAGNOSIS
• Symptoms of antisocial personality disorder
often begin during childhood although the
condition is often not diagnosed until later in
life.
• Disregard for the safety of the self and others
• Failure to obey laws
• Impulsive behavior
• Irritability and aggression
• Lack of remorse for actions
• Lying or manipulating others for profit or
amusement
• Pattern of irresponsibility

2/1/20XX PRESENTATION TITLE 16

Borderline Personality Disorder
• Borderline personality disorder is a mental health disorder that impacts the
way you think and feel about yourself and others, causing problems
functioning in everyday life.

• It includes self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions and behavior, and

a pattern of unstable relationships.

• With borderline personality disorder, you have an intense fear of

abandonment and you may have difficulty tolerating being alone. Yet
inappropriate anger, impulsiveness and frequent mood swings may push
others away, even though you want to have a loving and lasting relationships.

• Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. The

condition seems to be worse in young adulthood and may gradually get
better with age.
Symptoms

• An intense fear of abandonment, even going to extreme measures to

avoid real or imagined separation or rejection.

• Impulsive and risky behavior, such as gambling, reckless driving, unsafe

sex, spending sprees, binge eating or drug abuse, or sabotaging
success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship

• Wide mood swings lasting from a few hours to a few days, which can
include intense happiness, irritability, shame or anxiety

• Ongoing feelings of emptiness

• Inappropriate, intense anger, such as frequently losing your temper,

being sarcastic or bitter, or having physical fights.
Complications
• Borderline personality disorder can damage many areas of
your life. It can negatively affect intimate relationships, jobs,
school, social activities and self-image, resulting in:

1.Repeated job changes or losses.

2.Not completing an education.
3.Multiple legal issues, such as jail time.
4.Self-injury, such as cutting or burning, and frequent
hospitalizations.
5.Involvement in abusive relationships
6.Attempted or completed suicide
Reference:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/
borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-
20370237
Histrionic Personality
Disorder
 Histrionic Personality Disorder

• Individuals with histrionic personality disorder tend to be overly

dramatic and often seem almost to be acting, which is why the term
histrionic, which means theatrical in manner, is used.

• People with histrionic personality disorder tend to be vain, extravagant,

and seductive. People with histrionic personality disorder are inclined to
express their emotions in an exaggerated fashion, for example, hugging
someone they have just met or crying uncontrollably during a sad movie
(Ferguson & Negy, 2014; Blashfield, Reynolds, & Stennett, 2012).
• They also tend to be vain, self-centered, and uncomfortable when
they are not in the limelight. They are often seductive in appearance
and behavior, and they are typically concerned about their looks.

• The cognitive style associated with histrionic personality disorder is

impressionistic (Beck, Freeman, & Davis, 2007), characterized by a
tendency to view situations in global, black-and-white terms. Speech
is often vague, lacking in detail, and characterized by exaggeration
(APA, 2013; Nestadt et al., 2009).
Diagnostic Criteria for Histrionic Personality
Disorder
A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning
by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or
more) of the following:
1.Is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention.
2. Interaction with others is often appropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior.
3.Displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions.
4. Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self.
5. Has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail.
6. Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion.
7. Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are.
 Treatment

• Although a great deal has been written about ways of helping people
with histrionic personality disorder, little of the research demonstrates
success (Cloninger & Svakic, 2009).
• Some therapists have tried to modify the attention-getting behavior.
Kass, Silvers, and Abrams (1972) worked with five women, four of
whom had been hospitalized for suicide attempts and all of whom
were later diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder. The women
were rewarded for appropriate interactions and fined for
attentiongetting behavior. The therapists noted improvement after an
18-month follow up, but they did not collect scientific data to confirm
their observation.
 REFERENCE

• David H. Barlow, V. Mark Durand, Stefan G. Holfmann. (2018).

Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach 8th Edition (8th ed.).
Cengage Learning.
 Narcissistic
Personality Disorder
 Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• We all know people who think highly of themselves—perhaps exaggerating their

real abilities. They consider themselves somehow different from others and
deserving of special treatment. In narcissistic personality disorder, this
tendency is taken to its extreme.
• People with narcissistic personality disorder have an unreasonable sense of self-
importance and are so preoccupied with themselves that they lack sensitivity and
compassion for other people (Caligor, Levy, & Yeomans, 2015; Ronningstam,
2012).
 Diagnostic Criteria for Narcissistic Personality
Disorder

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for

admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present
in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
• Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents,
expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
• Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal
love.
• Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should
associate with, other special or high status people (or institutions).
 Diagnostic Criteria for Narcissistic Personality
Disorder

• Requests excessive admiration.

• Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable
treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations).
• Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her
own ends).
• Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of
others.
• Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
• Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
 Treatment

• Cognitive therapy strives to replace their fantasies with a focus on the

day-to-day pleasurable experiences that are truly attainable. Coping
strategies such as relaxation training are used to help them face and
accept criticism. Helping them focus on the feelings of others is also a
goal.
• Because individuals with this disorder are vulnerable to severe depressive
episodes, particularly in middle age, treatment is often initiated for the
depression. It is impossible to draw any conclusions, however, about the
impact of such treatment on the actual narcissistic personality disorder.
 Reference

• David H. Barlow, V. Mark Durand, Stefan G. Holfmann. (2018).

Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach 8th Edition (8th ed.).
Cengage Learning.