Abstract
All previous chapters exploring pathological mental disorders have represented symptom oriented conditions, often characterized by their intermittent course with periods of remission and exacerbation and described by clinicians as “medical conditions.” Schizophrenia and bipolar illness, for instance, often develop in early adulthood, and result in acute periods of severe symptoms at different points in the course of the disorders that respond to therapeutic intervention, whether through medication or psychotherapy. The DSM-IV-TR lists these disorders on Axis I in the multiaxial system and notes that they are the focus of our clinical treatment. In contrast to the Axis I disorders described in earlier chapters, personality disorders are diagnosed on Axis II; they are always chronic, unremitting, develop in childhood and adolescence and are highly resistant to any kind of therapeutic intervention. Many clinical disorders, from major depression and panic disorder to substance use disorders, often affect more well- circumscribed areas of daily functioning than personality disorders that tend to impact every area of one’s life. As one might expect, clinical disorders like depression, schizophrenia, or hypochondriasis cause the patient significant distress and psychological pain. In contrast, individuals diagnosed with a personality disorder are generally free of significant anxiety, depression, or other subjective distress, but more commonly cause conflict and distress to others who must interact with them.
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(2007). The Personality Disorders. In: First Responder’s Guide to Abnormal Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35465-1_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35465-1_8
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