Personality/ Mood Disorders – Part 2
Mood swings are a feature of both disorders, it is the lengthiness by which the symptoms last and the frequency. These are both related to symptoms and patterns.
Mood Disorders - biological factors, highs, lows.
Personality Disorders – can trigger a mood disorder because personality disorder is developed during childhood. Depression typically develops within adulthood.
Bipolar disorder and Personality Disorder are the most often confused.
According to Mental Health America, personality disorders fall into three different categories:
- Cluster A: Odd or eccentric behavior
- Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional or erratic behavior
- Cluster C: Anxious fearful behavior
Multiple Personality Disorders (discussed as part of the previous Dissociative Identity Disorder blog (Series/ Part 1) also thought to be a psychological disorder since the 1800s
Borderline Personality Disorder (Cluster B) – patterns of instability, self-image, impulsive behaviors.
Paranoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A) – Does not trust others, very suspicious of other people’s actions and intentions. Believes others have disingenuous motives.
Schizoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A) – Restricted emotional expressions and social relationship detachment (a loner, chooses solidarity).
Schizotypal Personality Disorder (Cluster A) – Perceptional and cognitive distortions along with superstitions and the belief of magical powers or highly unusual ideas. Shows difficulty in relationships. Beliefs such as telepathy, clairvoyance, influence their behavior, making social skills exceptionally difficult.
Histrionic Personality Disorder (Cluster B)– Dramatization, inappropriate sexual or provocative behaviors. Seeks attention, often has a borderline personality disorder.
Dependent Personality Disorders (Cluster C) – Fears of separation and an intensified neediness and clinginess.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (anankastic) (Cluster C) – A person with OCD displays excessive orderliness patterns and perfection. This personality type is known to be frigid and inflexible. The disorder is difficult to avoid; objects must be in their proper place.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Cluster B) – Individuals are pre-occupied with unrealistic self-image, patterns of grandiose behaviors, they hold themselves inferior over others, never taking the blame or accepting responsibility for their mistakes or faults. These individuals often have borderline personality traits as well.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (Cluster B) – A complete violation and total disregard for others. The inability to conform to social events and normalcies. Lawbreaking is associated with males that have antisocial behavioral personalities. Individuals with antisocial personalities show a lack of remorse.
Avoidant Personality Disorder (Cluster C) – Involves feelings of heightened social inhibition behavioral patterns, fear, and rejection of others, complete inadequacy. Individuals with avoidant personalities do not accept negative criticism well.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder – Begins in childhood - Severe outbursts, tantrums, requires medical/ clinical attention.
Conduct Disorder – aggressiveness, fighting, bullying, cruelty to animals or individuals, destructive behaviors, vandalism, rule violations, shoplifting, habitual lying.
Factitious Disorder- This is another disorder that remains on the fence line between being a mood disorder and a mental disorder. It is classified as an individual which deceives someone else by being sick on purpose. A good example of this is Munchausen syndrome.
Depression Disorder – One of the most common mood disorders known. Depression can be triggered by many things, the loss of someone, the loss of something (a job, a pet). Depression is the feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness and the inability to feel pleasure or joy in experiences or things that one once enjoyed.
Bipolar Disorder – Bipolar I and bipolar II. Both are imbalances or abnormalities in the brain, there is proof of being hereditary. Stress, drugs, or alcohol may trigger these episodes.
Bipolar I – One manic episode (full of energy, on top of the world, elation) at the least, may not or may have major depressive episodes. Manic episodes also include or are characterized by poor sleep, risky behavior, sexual indiscretions, trouble focusing and concentrating, an exceptional amount of energy, euphoric feelings, bouts of restlessness. These can all happen without being influenced by drugs or alcohol.
Bipolar II – Hypomanic and depression, no manic episodes. Hypomanic is not a manic episode, it may be out of character for yourself. Friends or family may notice a change in behavior; however, it is not mania.
Dysthymia – A major depression that lasts more than two years.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – Depression affected by seasonal changes. The reduction in the sunlight of fall and winter trigger this type of depression.
All the above disorders are susceptible to rapid emotional and mood swings, aggression, difficulty with rejection, dependency tendencies as alcohol and substance abuse.
Therapies such as DBT can assist with helping to effectively treat borderline personality disorders. It is proven that the treatment shortens hospitalizations, there is a lesser risk of suicidal tendencies, a reduction in anger, social function is improved, patients are less likely to drop out of the programs for the treatment of their condition(s).
DBT ( Dialectical behavioral therapy) is an effective treatment not only for mood disorders but it can also help post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and binge eating.
Patients diagnosed with/ suffering from mood disorders have much difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships, healthy thinking patterns, self-image, consistent moods, emotions.
Dialectical behavioral therapy is a four-part therapy, due to patients typically having multiple diagnoses, the treatment focuses on high risk. The original design was for borderline personality disorder and suicidal tendencies and throughout the years, it has come to treat additional mental health problems/ conditions, which may threaten one’s well-being, employment, safety, and relationships.
The four parts are individual therapy, group skills training, phone coaching (if needed between sessions for crisis), and health care provider group consultation sessions to evaluate and discuss the patients continued care and case status.
I realize this is a ton of information to “try” to understand, much seems conflicting, or at least for me it does. During series/part 3, we may investigate the additional treatments, prognosis, etc., and even discuss my personal experiences with some of these personality/ mood disorders.
Thank you for reading and please share your stories with me!
DO NOT SELF DIAGNOSE PLEASE, SEE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AS MOST OF THESE DISORDERS REQUIRE PRESCRIPTIONS ALONG WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES
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