Eating, Substance Abuse, Personality Disorders

Eating, Substance Abuse, Personality Disorders

Personality disorders have elicited different meanings over the years. The concept was used to describe a person who exhibited 'antisocial or socially damaging behavior' (as cited in Blackburn, 2007, 8). As such, persons with personality disorders were also labeled as 'dangerous offenders' but this idea was debunked as even the most seemingly normal, law-abiding citizens were diagnosed with a personality disorder (Blackburn, 2007). However, as heterogeneous as this group of disorders may be they may all be identified as 'long-standing, pervasive, and inflexible patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate from the expectations of a person's culture' (Kring, et.al. 2007, 387). As classified in the matrix, personality disorders are grouped into three clusters (Kring, et.al. 2007). Cluster a or the odd or eccentric group includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal disorders; Cluster B is the dramatic or erratic group and is composed of anti-social, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic disorders; and Cluster C or the anxious or fearful group include avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive disorders (Kring, et.al., 2007, 388). Such problems are seen in at least two of the following areas: cognition, emotions, relationships, and impulse control.

Sex / Gender / Sexual Impulse Control Disorders. Sexuality is a normal, personal but healthy part of a person's life (Kring, et.al. 2007). Sexual preferences and fantasies are differing and may even be shocking to some but are all part of a normal sexual functioning individual (Kring, et.al. 2007). However, once these desires or fantasies begin to harm ourselves or even others, then they may be classified as abnormal (Kring, et.al, 2007, 413). This group is comprised of the following disorders, as defined in the matrix above: sexual dysfunctions, gender identity disorder and paraphilias.

Substance Abuse. The DSM-IV-TR has identified the pathological use of substances fall under the following classifications: substance abuse and tolerance. Substance abuse, which is also called addiction or using the substance more than needed, trying then to quit but having physical or psychological problems that were worsened by the drug, and having problems at work or with loved ones (Kring, et.al. 2007, 297). Tolerance is when a person needs higher doses of the drug to feel the effects or the lack of effect on the person when the drug is taken in its usual dosage (Kring, et.al. 2007). Withdrawal symptoms or negative physical and psychological effects occur when a person decides to lessen the intake of the drug or quit the drug altogether (Kring, et.al. 2007). Such symptoms include alcohol withdrawal delirium (Kring, et.al. 2007).