Search results for ‘Subject term:"personality disorders"’ Sort:
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Pharmacotherapy of personality disorders
- Authors:
- TREIBWASSER Joseph, SIEVER Larry J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 16(1), February 2007, pp.5-50.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Personality disordered individuals, especially those with severe cluster B disorders, are prescribed psychotropic medications with greater frequency than almost any other diagnostic group. However, prescribing practices in this population often are based on hunches or anecdotal evidence rather than on rigorous or widely replicated data. The authors have attempted to provide comprehensive review of randomized trials of the pharmacotherapy of personality disorders. Pubmed searches using various combinations of the terms “pharmacotherapy”, “psychopharmacology”, “medication”, “personality disorder” and “Axis II.” Approximately 40 published randomized trials were found and summarized. The vast majority concern borderline personality disorder (BPD); these studies cover almost every known class of psychotropic medications. Most published BPD studies show efficacy for at least one target symptom, with some studies identifying multiple areas of drug response. Medications seem most useful in treating circumscribed symptom areas and to induce only partial improvements. Much work remains to be done in finding wholly effective pharmacological strategies for treating personality disorders. The development of rational pharmacotherapy will require increasing our knowledge of the neurobiological underpinnings of the disorders themselves and of their component dimensions.
Reliability, validity, and factor structure of the Swedish Youth Psychopathic Trait Inventory in a UK sample of conduct disordered boys
- Authors:
- DOLAN Maired, RENNIE Charlotte E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 17(2), June 2006, pp.217-229.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The Swedish Youth Psychopathy Traits Inventory (YPI) is a newly developed self-report measure of psychopathy. Currently, there are no studies looking at the reliability, validity, and factor structure of this measure in conduct disordered adolescents in the UK. A sample of 115 male adolescents (mean age 16.22) with a range of conduct problems on the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) completed the YPI. The YPI had reasonable internal consistency and the data supported a three-factor structure. The YPI showed the expected correlations with a variety of conduct problems and antisocial/offending behaviours. These findings are comparable with those found in the Swedish development sample. This work adds weight to the evidence base that the YPI may prove a useful adjunct to the assessment of complex personality traits associated with antisocial behaviour.
Serious violence by people with mental illness: national clinical survey
- Authors:
- FLYNN Sandra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29(8), 2014, pp.1438-1458.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study estimates the prevalence of mental disorder in offenders convicted of serious violence, examines their social and clinical characteristics, and compares them with patients convicted of homicide. The study examined a national clinical survey of all people convicted of serious violence in England and Wales in 2004. Mental disorder was measured by contact with mental health services within 12 months of the offence. Of the 5,966 serious violent offenders, 293 (5%) had been in recent contact with mental health services. Personality disorder (63, 22%) and schizophrenia (55, 19%) were the most common diagnoses. Most had previous convictions for violence (168, 61%). Seventy-two (25%) patients were at high risk of violence and 34 (49%) were not subject to the Care Programme Approach. Compared with serious violence offenders, homicide offenders were more likely to have been patients. The study concludes that patients were responsible for a small proportion of serious violent offences; however, high-risk patients require closer supervision, and regular inquiry about changing delusional beliefs, thoughts of violence, and weapon carriage. (Edited publisher abstract)
Research watch: art therapy: a dose of treatment, an aid to social inclusion or an unnecessary indulgence?
- Author:
- HOLTTUM Sue
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 17(2), 2013, pp.64-69.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose – This Research Watch aims to summarise two recent and very different research publications on art therapy and comments on their ability to shed light on the usefulness of art therapy to address mental distress and enhance social inclusion. Design/methodology/approach – The author discusses a recent edition of a UK art therapy journal in which research papers focus on art therapy with people who have been given a diagnosis of personality disorder. The main methodologies are qualitative describing participants’ and/or therapists’ experiences and the role of art therapy in addressing serious mental distress. The second publication is a recent report of a large randomised controlled trial of art therapy for people given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The author assesses the value of both publications in informing us about the usefulness of art therapy in addressing mental distress and enhancing social inclusion. Findings – In the author's view, neither publication establishes definitively how or whether art therapy might address serious mental distress, whether labelled personality disorder or schizophrenia. However, the qualitative articles provide insight into possible helpful (and less helpful) aspects of therapy. The randomised trial should have been able to establish general principles about the effectiveness of art therapy for a specific group of people in specified contexts, but instead exemplifies many problems inherent in the pervasive research culture of putting numbers onto complex human interactions and calculating their value for money, sometimes at the expense of really understanding what is going on. Originality/value – The author draws upon these two very different examples of research to reflect a current dilemma in UK art therapy research, and tentatively looks at possible ways forward. (Publisher abstract)
Are abnormal premorbid personality traits associated with Alzheimer's disease? A case-control study
- Authors:
- NICHOLAS Helen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(4), April 2010, pp.345-351.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined the association between premorbid personality traits, social networks and Alzheimer’s disease, using a case-control design, and two informant-based retrospective assessments of premorbid personality. The cases examined consisted of 217 subjects, 160 females and 57 males, diagnosed with probable late onset Alzheimer's disease, with participants from both community and nursing home settings, and a control group of 76 unaffected siblings of patients with Alzheimer’s was used as a comparison. Both participants and the control group received informant ratings of premorbid personality. Findings showed that a selection of abnormal personality traits were over represented in the Alzheimer's group and Alzheimer's disease was particularly associated with personality disorder traits such as being paranoid, schizoid or schizotypal. It was also shown that Alzheimer’s disease cases had correspondingly fewer social networks. The authors concluded that there is an association between abnormal personality traits and Alzheimer’s disease, with individuals with Alzheimer’s also appearing to have had lower levels of social interactivity.
Psychophysiological and behavioural characteristics of individuals comorbid for antisocial personality disorder and schizophrenia-spectrum personality disorder
- Authors:
- SCHUG Robert A., RAINE Adrian, WILCOX Rand R.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 191(11), November 2007, pp.408-414.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Studies have examined people with comorbid schizophrenia-spectrum personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder, a subgroup who may differ psychophysiologically and behaviourally from those with either condition alone. The aim was to test whether individuals with both types of personality disorder are particularly characterised by reduced orienting and arousal and by increased criminal offending. In a community adult sample, self-reported crime and skin conductance orienting were collected on four diagnostic groups: schizophrenia-spectrum personality disorder only; antisocial personality disorder only; comorbidity of the two disorders; and a control group. The comorbid group showed significantly higher levels of criminal behaviour than the other three groups. They also showed reduced skin conductance orienting to neutral tones compared with the other groups, and significantly reduced arousal and orienting to significant stimuli compared with the control group. Reduced orienting may reflect a neurocognitive attentional risk factor for both antisocial and schizotypal personality disorders that indirectly reflects a common neural substrate to these disorders.
Effectiveness of Changing Minds campaign factsheets in reducing stigmatised attitudes towards mental illness
- Authors:
- LUTY Jason, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 31(10), October 2007, pp.377-381.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
The aim was to assess the effect of factsheets from the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Changing Minds campaign on stigmatised attitudes of members of the general public towards those with mental illness. Participants were recruited at random from a panel of over 1200 members of the general population and presented with questionnaires containing single-page factsheets adapted from the Changing Minds campaign describing schizophrenia or substance use disorders. The Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) was used to measure the effect on stigmatised attitudes. In total 200 questionnaires were distributed; 158 completed questionnaires were received (response rate 79%). The AMIQ scores for the alcoholism and schizophrenia vignettes did not differ between experimental and control groups. Fidelity questions included in the questionnaire indicated that participants had read and understood the factsheets. Didactic factsheets produced for the Changing Minds campaign were largely ineffective at changing stigmatised attitudes towards schizophrenia and alcoholism.
Theory of mind function, motor empathy, emotional empathy and schizophrenia: a single case study
- Authors:
- ADDY Karen, SHANNON Karen, BROOKFIELD Kevin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 18(3), September 2007, pp.293-306.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
It has been proposed that theory of mind dysfunction contributes to the development of paranoid schizophrenia. The inability to represent others' thoughts and feelings has implications for the type of behaviour expressed by people with delusional beliefs. Evidence has shown that a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia is associated with an increased risk of violence. This case study explores the role of theory of mind and emotional processing in the violent index offence of a 33-year-old man (SB) with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Neuropsychological and theory of mind assessment measures were administered during SB's admission to medium secure services. SB was found to be within the average range on standardised neuropsychological assessment measures but was found to be significantly impaired on measures examining theory of mind and various aspects of emotional functioning. The implications of SB's emotional deficits within the context of his index offence are discussed.
Interpersonal violence and mental illness: a review
- Authors:
- GILLIES Donna, O’BRIEN Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Contemporary Nurse, 21(2), May 2006, pp.277-286.
- Publisher:
- eContent Management Pty Ltd
- Place of publication:
- Queensland
There is a public perception that people with mental illness are dangerous, but arguments persist in the research literature as to whether this is truly the case. This review of reviews and single studies with samples over 250 identifies good evidence of an association between a diagnosis of serious mental health problems such as schizophrenia or personality disorder and an increased risk of violence. It also shows that substance abuse and younger age are significant factors. The risk of violence appears to be higher among community-dwelling than in-patients, with most violence among the former directed against family and friends. Among inpatients, nurses are the most frequent victims of assault. The overall magnitude of risk in both in-patient and community settings is difficult to estimate because of the use of different research methods and definitions of violence, and the authors call for a meta-analysis of the data to develop a clearer picture of the risk of violence in this population.
Relationships between the personality beliefs questionnaire and self-rated personality disorders
- Authors:
- JONES Steven H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46(2), June 2007, pp.247-251.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
One hundred and sixty-four clinical psychology out-patients completed the Personality Beliefs Questionnaire (PBQ) and Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory-III (MCMI-III): 155 completed both. Avoidant, dependent, passive-aggressive and schizoid personality disorders (PD), and relevant PBQ subscales were studied. Presence or absence of PD was predicted by scores on the index PBQ subscale. This pattern has previously been reported for PDs diagnosed by structured interview only. PBQ relationships with passive-aggressive and schizoid PD have not previously been reported.