How to Differentiate between Different Personality Disorders

It can be a daunting task to differentiate between personality disorders (PD). There is so much cross-over from one type to another that a person may appear to have multiple PD’s. While the DSM-V chose not to use the five model factor as described in Widiger and Costa’s book, Personality Disorders and the Five-Factor Model of Personality, that doesn’t mean it is not a useful tool for current diagnosing.

The table below summarizes the five model factor and the implications for each of the PD’s. In assessing a client, determine which of the factors apply and to which extreme the behavior is demonstrated. For instance, does the client present with anxiety or are they completely unconcerned. If neither is the case, move onto the next factor. For anxious clients, they may have Schizotypal, Borderline, Avoidant, Dependent, or Obsessive Compulsive PD. Unconcerned clients may have Anti-Social PD. At the end of the factor list, review each of the PDs to see which the right fit.

Clients who present in several of the categories but do not consistently fit into one, may have Other Specified or Unspecified PD. The purpose of diagnosis is to provide an accurate treatment for the PD. Anti-Social PD is not treated in the same manner as Borderline PD.

DSM-IV-TR Personality Disorders from the Perspective of the Five-Factor Model of General Personality Functioning

Factors

PPD

SzPD

StPD

ASPD

BPD

HPD

NPD

AvPD

DPD

OCPD

PAPD

DpPD

Neuroticism (vs. emotional stability)

Anxiousness (vs. unconcerned)

n/a

n/a

High

Low

High

n/a

n/a

High

High

High

n/a

n/a

Angry hostility (vs. dispassionate)

High

n/a

n/a

High

High

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

Depressiveness (vs. optimistic)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

Self-consciousness (vs. shameless)

n/a

n/a

High

Low

n/a

Low

Low

High

High

n/a

n/a

High

Impulsivity (vs. restrained)

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

High

High

n/a

Low

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Vulnerability (vs. fearless)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

High

n/a

n/a

High

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

Extraversion (vs. introversion)

Warmth (vs. coldness)

Low

Low

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

High

n/a

Low

Low

Gregariousness (vs. withdrawal)

Low

Low

Low

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

Assertiveness (vs. submissiveness)

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

High

Low

Low

n/a

Low

n/a

Activity (vs. passivity)

n/a

Low

n/a

High

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

Excitement seeking (vs. lifeless)

n/a

Low

n/a

High

n/a

High

High

Low

n/a

Low

n/a

Low

Positive emotionality (vs. anhedonia)

n/a

Low

Low

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Openness (vs. closedness)

Fantasy (vs. concrete)

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Aesthetics (vs. disinterest)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Feelings (vs. alexithymia)

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

High

High

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Actions (vs. predictable)

Low

Low

n/a

High

High

High

High

Low

n/a

Low

Low

n/a

Ideas (vs. closed-minded)

Low

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

Low

Low

Values (vs. dogmatic)

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Agreeableness (vs. antagonism)

Trust (vs. mistrust)

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

High

Low

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

Low

Straightforwardness (vs. deception)

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

Altruism (vs. exploitative)

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

Compliance (vs. aggression)

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

High

n/a

Low

n/a

Modesty (vs. arrogance)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

High

High

n/a

n/a

High

Tender-mindedness (vs. tough-minded)

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

n/a

Conscientiousness (vs. disinhibition)

Competence (vs. laxness)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

Low

n/a

Order (vs. disorderly)

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

Low

Dutifulness (vs. irresponsibility)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

Low

High

Achievement striving (vs. lackadaisical)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

n/a

Self-discipline (vs. negligence)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

n/a

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

Low

n/a

Deliberation (vs. rashness)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Low

Low

Low

n/a

n/a

n/a

High

n/a

High

Abbreviations used: PPD – Paranoid Personality Disorder, SzPD – Schizoid Personality Disorder, StPD – Schizotypal Personality Disorder, ASPD – Antisocial Personality Disorder, BPD – Borderline Personality Disorder, HPD – Histrionic Personality Disorder, NPD – Narcissistic Personality Disorder, AvPD – Avoidant Personality Disorder, DPD – Dependent Personality Disorder, OCPD – Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, PAPD – Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder, DpPD – Depressive Personality Disorder, n/a – not available. In the future, this model may become the more accepted method for diagnosis. In the meantime, it is very useful for differentiating PDs. Christine Hammond lives in Orlando and is the award-winning author of The Exhausted Woman’s Handbook available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.

from Psych Central Professional http://ift.tt/2c4mFt4
via https://ifttt.com/ IFTTT