- NARCISSIST - SOCIOPATH - PSYCHOPATH
- NARCISSIST - SOCIOPATH - PSYCHOPATH
Cluster B Personality Disorders
Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior patterns. This cluster includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders. Individuals with Cluster B disorders often struggle with maintaining stable relationships, regulating emotions, and forming a consistent self-image.
According to Psychology Today, Cluster B disorders are taxonomically grouped together by the DSM-V because a single, clear-cut diagnosis is very rare, and patients often exhibit a number of overlapping symptoms. For example, someone with borderline tendencies (such as intense mood swings) may present with histrionic symptom overlap (for example, behaving erratically to garner attention). Similarly, someone who exhibits signs of both narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder is sometimes referred to as a “malignant narcissist.” (aka Narcopath)
Toxic relationships can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Constant criticism, manipulation, or belittlement can erode your sense of self-worth, inflict soul wounds, and leave your spirit in a state of brokenness. This can also occur growing up in a toxic family leading to a distorted self-image, fear of abandonment, trust issues, relationship problems, difficulty with boundaries, people-pleasing tendencies, difficulty with boundaries, substance abuse, and familiarity with toxic behaviors/environments.
A DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT BY A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL IS NEEDED TO MAKE A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS
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A DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT BY A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL IS NEEDED TO MAKE A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS 〰️
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and occurring in a variety of contexts. It is characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of disregard for the law and violation of the rights of others. They may lie, deceive or manipulate others, act impulsively, or disregard their or others’ safety. They may have problems with drug or alcohol use, may violate the law, and typically show no remorse or guilt. While antisocial personality disorder is only diagnosed in adults (age 18 or older), individuals show signs earlier and may be diagnosed with conduct disorder as a child or teen.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, along with marked impulsivity. A person must exhibit at least five of the following characteristics: frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, unstable and intense relationships, a markedly unstable self-image or sense of self, impulsivity in at least two areas, recurrent suicidal behavior or self-mutilation, affective instability, and chronic feelings of emptiness.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, often beginning in adolescence or early adulthood. Individuals with HPD may exhibit dramatic, attention-seeking behaviors and an exaggerated expression of emotions. They often seek reassurance and approval from others, and may feel uncomfortable when not the center of attention.
Dependent Personality Disorder (Cluster C Type)
Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) is a mental health condition characterized by an excessive need to be taken care of by others, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and a strong fear of abandonment. People with DPD often struggle to make independent decisions and may feel helpless or uncomfortable when alone.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder DSM-V-TR (full) Diagnostic Criteria
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (i.e,. exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should be associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
Requires excessive admiration.
Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations).
Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).
Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
A Narcissistic Personality Disordered person is a person who feels that they are superior to everyone else, that they are entitled to special treatment, that no one else is as good as they are, and who flies into rages, depressions, and destructive behaviors when confronted with their own limitations or failures.
Antisocial Personality Disorder DSM-V-TR (full) Diagnostic Criteria
(A. )Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.
Reckless disregard for safety or self or others.
Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.
Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
(B) The individual is at least 18 years old.
(C) There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years old.
(D) The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
The essential feature of Antisocial Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. This pattern has also been referred to as Psychopathy, Sociopathy, or Dyssocial (Dissocial)Personality Disorder.
An Antisocial Personality Disordered person is a person who feels that they are more clever and smart than other people, that other people are fools and suckers, that it is a “dog-eat-dog world”, that doing anything to get what you want is justified, and that other people will take advantage of you if you are not strong, tough, and independent.
Borderline Personality Disorder DSM-V-TR (full) Diagnostic Criteria
Borderline Personality Disorder (NPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. (Note: do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5).
A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (i.e. spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). (Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5).
Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (i.e. intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
Chronic feelings of emptiness.
Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (i.e. frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.
A Borderline Personality Disordered person is a person who feels that the world is dangerous and hurtful, that they have been mistreated, that other people are bad because they do not sufficiently meet their needs, that they are an unacceptable and bad person; they are erratic, unpredictable, overly intense, shifts between extreme states of mood, thinking, love, and hate, and lack a clear or stable sense of “who” they are.
Histrionic Personality Disorder DSM-V-TR (full) Diagnostic Criteria
(A. )Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionally and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
Is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention.
Interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior.
Displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions.
Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self.
Has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail.
Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion.
Is suggestible (i.e. easily influenced by others or circumstances).
Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are.
A Histrionic Personality Disordered person is a person who feels that the world exists to serve their needs and who is entitled to do whatever it takes to get their needs met, and who does so in a childlike manner with impressionistic thinking, provocativeness, melodramatic exaggerations, and throwing fits to get their way and make other people do things for them.
Dependent Personality Disorder DSM-V-TR (full) Diagnostic Criteria
Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) is defined as a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
Has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others.
Needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life.
Has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval. (Note: Do not include realistic fears of retribution).
Has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy).
Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant.
Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself.
Urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends.
Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself.
