Clinical & Personality Disorders and Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention (p. 715 in the DSM-5)
The groups of mental health conditions that are characterized by atypical patterns of thinking, feeling, behavior, and inflexibility are referred to the personality disorders. People with these personality disorders find it difficult when it comes to relating to other individuals with no such health conditions as expected by the individual’s cultural group. This makes it more difficult for people with health conditions to realize the existence of the discrepancy that is found between their thoughts and behaviors which determines their acceptance by society (Kaya et al, 2020). The main cause of problems and limitations in relationships, school settings, work settings, and social encounters are the attitudes and the behaviors of the individuals. Personal disorders contribute to depression and anxiety when individuals feel isolated.
The specific cause of personality disorders has not yet been identified by the specialists; however, it has been believed that the environmental influence especially the trauma that is realized during childhood and genetics is what is known to trigger the personality disorder in the lives of individuals. This is because it has been observed that personality disorder normally occurs during the teenage years of the life of a human being (Kaya et al, 2020). Personality disorder symptoms vary which depends on the type of disorder that has been identified. Therefore, several types of personality disorders have been identified by the expertise in the health area. These types of disorders have different types of symptoms that can help in identifying the specific disorder or condition by showing their symptoms.
The types of disorders are grouped into clusters from A to C depending on their nature and the areas they most affect. The clusters can develop with one another when they are not identified early enough. The first type is Cluster A which is known as Suspicious (Kaya et al, 2020). It is a type of personality disorder that comprises paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal personality disorders. People with this cluster A disorder or condition are distrustful of other people and they are always suspicious of their motives. The second type is Cluster B referred to as the Emotional and impulsive personality disorder. It involves Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic personality disorders.
People with this type of health condition are identified when they treat others without not expressing remorse or not considering their actions. Their behaviors involve dishonesty as well as getting addicted to hard drugs (Niedtfield, 2017). The third type is Cluster C which is also known as the Anxious and it involves Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Other health conditions are also referred to as personality disorders and they involve Sleep-wake disorder, Elimination disorder, Feeding and eating disorders, somatic symptom and related disorders, sexual disfunction, Gender dysphoria, Substance-related and addictive disorders, Neurocognitive disorders, Paraphilic Disorders, and Dissociative disorders.
Diagnostic Information including all DSM-5 information
The main reference that most doctors and professionals use to diagnose conditions of mental health is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The professionals always ask the individual with symptoms some questions and then use the answers given to identify the type of the personality disorder through the symptoms and the answers to the posted questions (Niedtfield, 2017). The consistency of the life circumstances in behaviors and feelings contributes to the diagnosis of personality disorders. There are many areas that the personality disorders may cause impairment and significant distress to satisfy the areas. The areas involve the way an individual interprets himself or herself as well as others, how an individual reacts when dealing with other people, how appropriate is the emotional response of an individual and how well an individual can control his or her impulse.
Another way the diagnosis of personality disorder is through performing a blood test by the primary doctor or the professional to determine whether the symptoms are caused by a medical problem in an individual’s life (Lenzenweger et al, 2018). The professionals may also direct body screening to be able to have a test on the alcohol level of drugs in the body to determine whether the symptoms are caused by the level of alcohol or other drugs in the body. The change of Asperger syndrome from a distinct disorder to autism spectrum disorder in personality disorder has been triggered by the transformation of DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5 which has made the diagnosis so easier than before (Niedtfield, 2017). The change in DSN-5 has deleted some chapters in the sections that were being used during the diagnosis of the health condition. For example, section I DSM-5 chapter always describes the organization of the diagnostic and it changes from the multiaxial system which was section III of the dimensional assessment of the diagnostic.
The professionals or the primary doctors diagnostic of personality disorders, always try to understand the individuals and how to communicate to make sure they get the exact information on the type of personality disorder. This is done since the types of disorders almost have the same symptoms (Lenzenweger et al, 2018). They also try to understand how they get around with other people, how they carry themselves in terms of care, how the individuals get along with other people, their daily activities and school or work systems, and how they participate in society. Based on the score, the primary doctor or the professional will be able to diagnose the type of personality disorder.
Clinician Scores from the WHODAS 2.0 – DSM 5 p.747-748
Possible Etiology – 4-6 sentences
Personal disorders may have hidden symptoms that might make them difficult to diagnose, therefore, the possible etiology can be applied to make sure the type of disorder is diagnosed appropriately as per the requirement of the World Health Organization (Niedtfield, 2017). Individuals should avoid frequent and intense mood swings, erase the fear of abandonment, tend to maintain a good relationship with other people as well as avoid impulsive and dangerous behavior.
Prognosis – 4-6 Sentences
Personality disorder known as mostly mental disorder is comprised of pathophysiological etiology, pathogenetic as well as clinical aspects (Lenzenweger et al, 2018). The evaluation of the clinical presentation is carried out to determine the changes that are associated with the damage caused in both the neurons and glial cells in the body which is caused by the personality disorders. The expression of stress-sensitive genes and inflammation of glial cells and proteins are contributed by the oxidative damage which is caused by the disorders.
Treatment Recommendations
According to the symptoms that different types of personality disorders have, several treatments can be applied to the health conditions (Niedtfield, 2017). Personality disorders can be treated by using the psychiatric treatment approaches like psychotherapy as well as psychopharmacological treatment and electroconvulsive therapy are also other ways of treating the disorders or health conditions. The individuals with the schizophrenic disorder, the best treatment they can have to psychiatric which is considered more helpful to them than those who have depression.
References
Kaya S., Yildirim H., Atmaca Murad. (2020). Reduced Hippocampus and Amygdala Volumes in Antisocial Personality Disorder: Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 75(1), 199-203
Lenzenweger M. F., Clarkin J. F., Caligot E., Cain N. M., Kernberg O. F. (2018). Malignant Narcissism in Relation to Clinical Change in Borderline Personality Disorder: An Exploratory Study. Psychopathology. 51(5), 318-325
Niedtfield I. (2017). Experimental Investigation of Cognitive and Effective Empathy in Borderline Personality Disorder: Effects of Ambiguity in Multimodal Social Information Processing. Psychiatry Research. 251(2), 58-63