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The Journal of Nervous and Mental... Apr 2023Ambition is a uniquely human, complex personality trait. Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition mentions ambition only once, in...
Ambition is a uniquely human, complex personality trait. Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition mentions ambition only once, in a peripheral comment concerning narcissistic personality disorder, psychopathological states associated with ambition are commonly encountered in everyday life. Ambition has been linked to narcissism, power, and dominance, but it is distinct from each of these concepts. Although the development of ambition is most strongly influenced by social, cultural, and demographic factors, evidence suggests that genetic and biological factors also contribute.This article describes how ambition-related psychopathologies can manifest as 1) misalignment of ambitions and capabilities; 2) "blind ambition"; 3) distortions associated with bipolar and other mood disorders; 4) amalgams of ambition with Machiavellian traits, psychopathy, narcissism, and sadism (i.e., dark triad/tetrad traits); and 5) amotivation/apathy syndrome deficits associated with general medical and psychiatric conditions.The field requires more robust measures for assessing ambition, further delineation of ambition-related psychopathologies, and effective treatments for these conditions.
Topics: Humans; Machiavellianism; Personality; Personality Disorders; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Sadism; Narcissism
PubMed: 36975544
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001644 -
Comprehensive Psychiatry Jan 2016The papers in this special issue offer evidence of personality disorder as a dysfunction of higher-order cognition, which is conceptualized variously as a disorder of... (Review)
Review
The papers in this special issue offer evidence of personality disorder as a dysfunction of higher-order cognition, which is conceptualized variously as a disorder of mentalizing, metacognition, mindfulness, social cognition and reflective function. While there may be differences in the scope of these concepts, they all imply that higher-order mental processing is at the core of personality function. In this commentary, the authors use mentalizing as an umbrella term for these concepts, and argue that it is the complex interaction of adversity, attachment and mentalizing that leads to the characteristic symptoms of borderline personality disorder and other personality disorders. Evidence is provided from the papers in this special issue, comments made on the findings and further avenues for research are recommended.
Topics: Borderline Personality Disorder; Cognition; Humans; Male; Metacognition; Mindfulness; Object Attachment; Personality Disorders; Theory of Mind
PubMed: 26654293
DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2015.11.006 -
Current Psychiatry Reports Oct 2018This review aims to give an overview on the current literature on sex differences in personality disorders and to highlight the potential of dimensional approaches. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This review aims to give an overview on the current literature on sex differences in personality disorders and to highlight the potential of dimensional approaches.
RECENT FINDINGS
Empirical findings on sex differences in personality disorders are inconsistent and appear to be highly dependent on study settings. Current studies have mainly focused on borderline and antisocial personality disorder and the question whether these are sex-specific representations of a common substrate. In general, sexes differ in the manifestation of personality disorders as well as in comorbidities. Criticism of the established categorical model led to an additional dimensional model of personality disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Investigations on sex differences in personality disorders are sparse and mainly limited to antisocial and borderline personality disorder. The introduction of a dimensional model offers the chance to re-think the construct of "personality disorder" and thereby also opens the possibility for a better understanding of sex differences.
Topics: Antisocial Personality Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Personality Disorders; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 30306417
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0975-y -
Personality and Mental Health Nov 2022Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) poses risk to the neurocognitive, emotional, and financial well-being of affected individuals. While aggression and impulsivity have...
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) poses risk to the neurocognitive, emotional, and financial well-being of affected individuals. While aggression and impulsivity have been examined in relation to mTBI, little work has been done to evaluate the relationship between history of mTBI and personality disorder (PD). The authors examined the associations between history of mTBI and PD in a control group without history of mTBI (N = 1189) and individuals with history of mTBI (N = 267). Results demonstrated that any PD diagnosis is a significant risk factor for mTBI (p < 0.001). Cluster B diagnoses, particularly borderline and antisocial PD, were independently significant risk factors for mTBI. These data suggest a role for screening for a history of mTBI in patients with PDs and associated traits.
Topics: Humans; Brain Concussion; Personality Disorders; Impulsive Behavior; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Aggression
PubMed: 35598165
DOI: 10.1002/pmh.1550 -
Current Opinion in Psychiatry Sep 2021The aim of this study was to review the recent literature on contemporary psychological perspectives of personality disorders, including novel psychotherapeutic... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The aim of this study was to review the recent literature on contemporary psychological perspectives of personality disorders, including novel psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at these vulnerable individuals.
RECENT FINDINGS
Among the various psychological theories and models of personality disorders, still the most popular and researched are psychodynamic, cognitive and interpersonal perspectives. More specifically, object relations theory, cognitive schema conceptualization and interpersonal circumplex model have produced the most empirical investigations of personality disorders in recent years. Latest work has suggested that all three perspectives have contributed to and are compatible with the dimensional personality disorders framework in DSM-5-AMPD and ICD-11 (including level of personality functioning and personality traits). These models have yielded specific psychological treatments of personality disorders; although most psychotherapies have been constructed for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), there is an increasing number of treatment modalities aimed at individuals with other forms of personality disorder, such as those with narcissistic or antisocial traits/disorders. More research into their effectiveness and long-term benefits is necessary.
SUMMARY
Novel research keeps updating our knowledge on the cause, manifestations and psychological treatments of personality disorders, particularly from psychodynamic, cognitive and interpersonal perspectives.
Topics: Antisocial Personality Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Humans; Narcissism; Personality Disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
PubMed: 34292181
DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000732 -
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the... Jul 2017Personality disorders commonly coexist with alcohol use disorders (AUDs), but there is conflicting evidence on their association with treatment outcomes.To determine the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Personality disorders commonly coexist with alcohol use disorders (AUDs), but there is conflicting evidence on their association with treatment outcomes.To determine the size and direction of the association between personality disorder and the outcome of treatment for AUD.We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials and longitudinal studies.Personality disorders were associated with more alcohol-related impairment at baseline and less retention in treatment. However, during follow-up people with a personality disorder showed a similar amount of improvement in alcohol outcomes to that of people without such disorder. Synthesis of evidence was hampered by variable outcome reporting and a low quality of evidence overall.Current evidence suggests the pessimism about treatment outcomes for this group of patients may be unfounded. However, there is an urgent need for more consistent and better quality reporting of outcomes in future studies in this area.
Topics: Alcoholism; Humans; Patient Compliance; Personality Disorders; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 28385703
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.116.194720 -
Current Opinion in Psychology Jun 2018The personality structure of persons within clinical populations may not be fundamentally different from the personality structure of persons who have not sought... (Review)
Review
The personality structure of persons within clinical populations may not be fundamentally different from the personality structure of persons who have not sought treatment for their maladaptive personality traits. Indeed, there has long been an interest in understanding personality disorders as maladaptive variants of general personality structure. Presented herein is an understanding of personality disorder from the perspective of basic personality research; more specifically, the five factor model (FFM) of general personality structure. Potential advantages of understanding personality disorders from the perspective of the FFM are provided.
Topics: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Humans; International Classification of Diseases; Models, Psychological; Personality; Personality Assessment; Personality Disorders
PubMed: 28957742
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.09.007 -
Current Opinion in Psychiatry Jan 2015The purpose of this article is to review recent literature examining the occurrence of psychotic experiences in normal population and those with personality disorders. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The purpose of this article is to review recent literature examining the occurrence of psychotic experiences in normal population and those with personality disorders.
RECENT FINDINGS
Up to 15% of individuals in the general population report some type or degree of psychotic experience. Most of these individuals function adequately, do not require psychiatric treatment and do not receive diagnosis of a psychotic illness. A significant number of individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (25-50%) also report psychotic symptoms. These are not easily differentiated from the psychotic symptoms reported by individuals with schizophrenia, nor are they always transient. However, emerging research has confirmed that individuals with schizotypal personality disorder are dimensionally related to those with schizophrenia and are at an increased risk of transition to psychosis.
SUMMARY
Psychotic symptoms are best considered as 'trans-diagnostic' entities on a continuum from normal to pathological. There is a large body of evidence for a dimensional relationship between schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia. There is also a significant amount of research showing that psychotic symptoms in borderline personality disorder are frequent, nontransient and represent a marker of illness severity. This review highlights the need to move beyond traditional assumptions and categorical boundaries when evaluating psychotic experiences and psychopathological phenomena.
Topics: Borderline Personality Disorder; Humans; Personality; Personality Disorders; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenic Psychology; Schizotypal Personality Disorder
PubMed: 25415496
DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000124 -
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Mar 2021
Topics: Borderline Personality Disorder; Humans; Personality Disorders
PubMed: 33432834
DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2021.1873277 -
Journal of Personality Assessment 2015The purpose of this article is to present an approach to defining, identifying, and assessing personality disorders, including the links between these definitions and... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this article is to present an approach to defining, identifying, and assessing personality disorders, including the links between these definitions and personality assessment, with a particular reference to the proposed revisions to the personality disorders section of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed. [DSM-5]; American Psychiatric Association, 2013 ). The article discusses measures of maladaptive variants of the Five-factor model (FFM) that are coordinated with both the traditional personality disorder syndromes as well as the DSM-5 dimensional trait model. Discussed as well is the assessment of the more psychodynamically oriented deficits in sense of self and interpersonal relatedness that are also included within the hybrid model proposed for DSM-5.
Topics: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Humans; Personality Assessment; Personality Disorders
PubMed: 26010493
DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2015.1041142