What is involved in the assessment of personality?
Personality disorders are psychiatric conditions characterized by lifelong damage in everyday situations due to maladaptive personality traits or structures. Unlike other types of mental diseases, personality disorders are lifelong rather than episodic disorders. The assessment of personality disorders includes thorough psychiatric history, interaction with a healthcare worker and in some cases psychological testing.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Handbook (DSM-IV) is a book of instructions that experts in the field of mental health use to diagnose mental disorders. Specifies the necessary criteria for each type of personality disorder. These criteria must be met during the evaluation of personality disorders in order to diagnose a person with a personality disorder.
DSM-IV specifies that different types of mental diseases are listed on different "axes". Axis I is reserved for mental illness such as bipolar disorder, depression or schizophrenia. The axis is used to OZNand the ubiquitous mental disorders that have been present for a long time. Personality and mental retardation disorders are specified under the II axis.
Assessment of personality disorders is very difficult because personality disorders must affect the person throughout his life and in different situations. Extensive psychiatric history is necessary, with regard to traumatic events and everyday social functioning throughout life and in various situations. Psychosocial functioning can vary among different individuals with personality disorders.
Ko-Morbidity also complicates the assessment of personality disorders. A person with a personality disorder will also often suffer from another mental illness. The most common co -morbidity is abuse of addictive substances and depression.
There are several different types of personal persons disorder and are divided into clusters of similar disorders. Cluster and includes “strange” personality disorders, piluch, which are characterized by special behavior and manners. These disorders include paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders.
Cluster B includes personality disorders that interfere with impulses and social functioning, such as antisocial personality disorder or borderline personality disorder. Clump C includes personality disorders that include excessive dependence on some people or rituals such as avoidance, dependent or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. The personality disorder assessment must specify which personality disorder is present.
Assessment of personality disorders is the first step towards treatment. Psychotherapy is often the most effective and widely used personality disorder treatment. Cognitive psychotherapy of behavior can help a person change his unhealthy thinking and accepting behavior. Interpersonal psychotherapy can build social skills and improve everyday functioning. COMorbid disorders such as depression or abuseaddictive substances can be treated with drugs or therapy.