PERSONALITY D*

PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Personality is the sum total of a person’s characteristics – Physical, Physiological, Psychological and Behavioral – which makes him unique from the rest.

Basic Personality Traits:

• Impulsiveness
• General activity or drive
• Masculinity – femininity
• Dominance – submission
• Emotional stability
• Sociability and reflectiveness

      Extroversion versus introversion

      Neuroticism (Emotionally stable versus Over active)

      Conscientiousness (Conscientiousness versus Impulsive)

      Agreeableness (Agreeableness versus Antagonistic)

      Openness (Openness versus Closed to new experiences)

The assessment of personality is a routine step during the examination of a patient.  It gives an idea of how the patient will behave when he becomes ill. The personality modifies the clinical features of the illness as they develop against the background of the personality. Also the assessment helps in the prediction of the outcome of the treatment. The prognosis is worse when certain personality disorders co-exist with the illness.

Classification

DSM IV

Cluster A:       (Odd or Eccentric) Paranoid Schizoid and schizotypal.

Cluster B:       (Dramatic, Emotional or Erratic) Anti social, Borderline, Historic and Narcissistic

Cluster C:       (Anxious or Fearful) Avoidant, dependant and obsessive compulsive.