. SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER & HSTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER

responsible agents but genetic. constitutional. endocrinal and metabolic dastutbances also contribute to the development of these candhions. In an individual case, one or more of these factors may be of greater importancethen the others. It is the complex interactions of all these varied etiological factors which result in a psychosomatic condition. This view has a very important bearing in the treatment procedures of these diseases. Treatment Careful attention has to be given to the emotional and the psychological factors contributing to these illnesses or better therapeutic results, short term as well as long term In this respectT an internist with good orientation Inthe principles of psychological medicine will prove a better physician tothese sutteters. A psychiatrist would have to be included In the medical team managing these patients Paychiatric treatment of the underlying emotional and personality factors may necessitate the use of psychotropic drugs, psychotherapy, behaviour therapy, biofeadback. etc. Treatment of the organic dysfunction by appropriate mathods should be undertaken concurrently. 5 PERSONALITY DISORDERS Definition: The term personality refers to the unique characteristics of an indvidual which predispose to his typical or recurring patterns of behaviour. The presence of certain personality traits make some individuals more vulnerable to develop behavioural abnormalities when faced with stressful events With this degree of vulnerability, abnormal behaviour occurs only in response to environmental stress. In certain other personalities, unusual behaviour occurs even in the absence of stressful events. The latter group is referred to as personality disorders Central to this concept of personality disorders is the duration of abnormal or unusual behaviour. in question. if a person has behaved normally previously. and then show behavioural abnormalities. he is more likely to have an illness. On the other hand, if his behaviour has always been unusual or abnormal he is said to have a personality disorder. Types of personality disorders: 1 PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER - Characteristics are - (a) Pervasive and unwarranted suspicousness and mistrust of others. (b) being 'cold' and humourless. 2. SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER - The most striking feature is the lack of emotional warmth Indvidual with the disorder appears reserved, detached, introspective and aloof. They do not make intimate friendships and their hobbies and interest do not involve other people HSTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER - A personality that is dramatic and attention-seeking. The interpersonal relationships of people with the disorder are charactaerised by their being vain, egocentric, manipulative, and dependent Such indviduals are viewed by others as being shallow and lacking genuineness. 4. ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER - (a) Presence of antisocial Traits before age of 15 years, e.g. truancy fromschool. delinquency. vagrancy. belligerencyr persistent lying, substance abuse. thefts. chronic violation of rules and repeated sexual intercourse In a casual relationship. (b) Disruption in multiple areas of life such as work, friendship, marriage, finance etc. 5. BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDERS - The long-term functioning of such persons is characterised by preserve of self-damaging impulsivity. unstable interpersonal relationships, undue and inappropriate outbursts of anger, doubts about one's personal identity, variable moods or aftective instability, intoleranca of being left alona, and chronic feelings of emptiness or boredom. 6. SCHlZOTYPICAL PERSONALITY DISORDER - Characteristics include - (a) Magical thinking (superstioness. clairvoyance telepathy. etc.) (b) Social isolation. (c) Referantial thinking in sispiciousness (d)Oddspeech -vague, digressive. overelaborate or metamorphical (e) Recurrent illusions, (f) Undue social anxiety or hypersensitivity to real or imagined critism and (g) being emotionally 'cold' 7. NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER - Grandiose sense of salt importance and preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power or intellectual brillance. They seek attention from others but show few warm Feelings in return These individuate tend to exploit othars for their own salfish needs and seek favours which they do not retum. 8 DEPENDENT PERSONALITY DISORDER - Such persons suffer from lack d self-confidence and passively allow others to assunme responsibillity for major areas of Iife because of their inabillty to functlon Independently Such people appear weak-willed and unduly compliant, falling in passively with the wishes of others. 9. AVOIDANT PERSONALITY DISORDER -Prominent features are - {a) Hypesensitivity to rejaction (b) Unwillingness to enter into Interpersonal relationships (c) Social withdrawal (d) Desire for affection and acceptance and (a) Low self -esteem. 10 COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER -Rigid, perfectionstic, unduly conventional. formal. sitngy, undecisive "they show excessive devotion to work to the exclusion of pleasure and the value of interpersonal relationships. 11. PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE PERSONALLY DISORDER - This term Is applied to those persons, who, when demands are made upon them for adequate performance respond with passive resistance.