Clinical-psychological structure of personality disorders

Abstract

Introduction. In recent decades there was considerable interest in psychiatrists, psychologists, and family physicians regarding personality disorders’ (PD) problem. Recent researches estimate that PD are an widespread psychopathological condition (the prevalence being estimated between 7.3% and 15.7% in general population). PD always starts during a young adult age. PD is not responding well to medication and is more effectively treated by psychotherapy. Patients rarely come for geting help to a specialist. According to DSM-5, PD is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment. Aim of the study. To evaluate the clinical-psychological structure of some variants and PD (paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, compulsive-obsessive personality disorder) we intended an one year follow up. Materials and methods. We proposed a study which includes these patients’ clinic and the psychological tests applied in order to diagnose those patients (Rorschach Test; Minnesota Multiphysical Personality Inventory — MMPI abbreviated form; Symptom Evaluation after DSM V; Personality Test (ETP Duo)). We selected a batch of 7 persons out of 20 with suspicion of PD or other types of PD,all of them between the age of 20-40 years. The clinical data about the psychiatric patients included in the study were selected by working with patients from the Clinical Psychiatric Hospital, Chisinau, during the period of 2019-2020. Results. Following the study we determinate 7 people with the following PD: one person with Paranoid PD (M,30 years old), one person with schizoid PD (M, 20 years old), 2 people with borderline PD (M/F, 22/28 years old), 2 people with avoidant PD (M/F, 24/26 years old) one person with compulsive-obsessive PD (F, 25 years old). Common features found in patients with PD would be: easy to get angry or jealous; disturbed social and occupational function; excessive dependence or independence; impulsive or compulsive; irritability; egocentrism; often resistant to treatment. Most types of PD that were included in the study co-exist with other disorders such as depression, anxiety, social dysfunction, sleep disorders, anger. From the clinical studies, stated by the patient, it was infered that symptoms of a single disorder are primary and those of others’ PD are secondary. Conclusions. PD start in young adult (20-40 years). Also clinical observations prove that psychopathies are more pronounced in the relatively young periods of life, whereas with age there is remission. The number of patients with PD is bigger than the actual official registred, that's because these people can live with such a pathology until they encounter a social difficulty.