Antisocial personality disorder........

[almaty 19]

The Mask of Sanity is a book written by Hervey Cleckley, M.D., first published in 1941, describing Cleckley's clinical interviews with adult male incarcerated psychopaths. It is considered a seminal work and the most influential clinical description of psychopathy in the 20th Century. The basic elements of psychopathy outlined by Cleckley are still relevant today.[1] The title refers to the normal "mask" that conceals the mental disorder of the psychopathic person in Cleckley's conceptualization.[2]

Cleckley describes the psychopathic person as outwardly a perfect mimic of a normally functioning person, able to mask or disguise the fundamental lack of internal personality structure, an internal chaos that results in repeatedly purposeful destructive behavior, often more self-destructive than destructive to others. Despite the seemingly sincere, intelligent, even charming, external presentation, internally the psychopathic person does not have the ability to experience genuine emotions. Cleckley questions whether this mask of sanity is voluntarily assumed to intentionally hide the lack of internal structure (a form of hypocrisy) or does the mask hide a serious, but yet unidentified, psychiatric defect?[3]

An expanded edition of the book was published in 1982, after the DSM, the manual used in the United States for categorizing psychiatric disorders, had changed the name and standards for the classification of psychopathy to Antisocial personality disorder, incorporating most of Cleckley's sixteen characteristics of a psychopath listed below

Characteristics

Cleckly introduced sixteen behavioral characteristics of a psychopath.[5]

Superficial charm and good "intelligence"

Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking

Absence of "nervousness" or psychoneurotic manifestations

Unreliability

Untruthfulness and insincerity

Lack of remorse and shame

Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior

Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience

Pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love

General poverty in major affective reactions

Specific loss of insight

Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations

Fantastic and uninviting behavior with drink and sometimes without

Suicide rarely carried out

Sex life impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated

Failure to follow any life plan

Treatment

As in his first edition, Cleckley makes no claim to offer an effective treatment for the condition in the 1982 edition

i agree...hard to treat any personality disorder...and if successful....take many years of counseling ....

Edited December 18, 2007 by almaty

[*julez* 124]

My ex was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. There's lots of good reasons listed up there as to why he's an ex.

[almaty 19]

My ex was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. There's lots of good reasons listed up there as to why he's an ex.

yikes..a borderline is usually female....i have had some males..most of them were gay....but of course, a few hetreos....a hard person to live with indeed...

[Nessa 23]

hey almaty, why don't you post something about borderline disorder?

[almaty 19]

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity. Originally thought to be at the "borderline" of psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder of emotion regulation. While less well known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), BPD is more common, affecting 2 percent of adults, mostly young women.1 There is a high rate of self-injury without suicide intent, as well as a significant rate of suicide attempts and completed suicide in severe cases.2,3 Patients often need extensive mental health services, and account for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations.4 Yet, with help, many improve over time and are eventually able to lead productive lives.

Symptoms

While a person with depression or bipolar disorder typically endures the same mood for weeks, a person with BPD may experience intense bouts of anger, depression, and anxiety that may last only hours, or at most a day.5 These may be associated with episodes of impulsive aggression, self-injury, and drug or alcohol abuse. Distortions in cognition and sense of self can lead to frequent changes in long-term goals, career plans, jobs, friendships, gender identity, and values. Sometimes people with BPD view themselves as fundamentally bad, or unworthy. They may feel unfairly misunderstood or mistreated, bored, empty, and have little idea who they are. Such symptoms are most acute when people with BPD feel isolated and lacking in social support, and may result in frantic efforts to avoid being alone.

People with BPD often have highly unstable patterns of social relationships. While they can develop intense but stormy attachments, their attitudes towards family, friends, and loved ones may suddenly shift from idealization (great admiration and love) to devaluation (intense anger and dislike). Thus, they may form an immediate attachment and idealize the other person, but when a slight separation or conflict occurs, they switch unexpectedly to the other extreme and angrily accuse the other person of not caring for them at all. Even with family members, individuals with BPD are highly sensitive to rejection, reacting with anger and distress to such mild separations as a vacation, a business trip, or a sudden change in plans. These fears of abandonment seem to be related to difficulties feeling emotionally connected to important persons when they are physically absent, leaving the individual with BPD feeling lost and perhaps worthless. Suicide threats and attempts may occur along with anger at perceived abandonment and disappointments.

People with BPD exhibit other impulsive behaviors, such as excessive spending, binge eating and risky sex. BPD often occurs together with other psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other personality disorders.

Treatment

Treatments for BPD have improved in recent years. Group and individual psychotherapy are at least partially effective for many patients. Within the past 15 years, a new psychosocial treatment termed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed specifically to treat BPD, and this technique has looked promising in treatment studies.6 Pharmacological treatments are often prescribed based on specific target symptoms shown by the individual patient. Antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers may be helpful for depressed and/or labile mood. Antipsychotic drugs may also be used when there are distortions in thinking.7

[*JG* 2]

Describes a whole lot of people I have met on the internet. Sometimes I wonder if some of them go outside at all.

[almaty 19]

allot of people...go on the internet and attempt to hide their personality or developed a new one..but, when you have issues, they bleed out over time

[GaryC 7]

My ex was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. There's lots of good reasons listed up there as to why he's an ex.

Yikes! Most of these describe my ex!

Superficial charm and good "intelligence" (yep)

Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking (absence? Doesn't that mean presence? In that case yep!)

Absence of "nervousness" or psychoneurotic manifestations ( see above, if it means presence then Yep again!)

Unreliability (Does a new job every 6 months count here? If yes, yep!)

Untruthfulness and insincerity (Untruthfulness no but insincerity yes)

Lack of remorse and shame (great big yes!!)

Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior (You have no idea!!)

Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience (Are they talking about my ex specifically? Sounds like it!)

Pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love (This is giving me flashbacks!)

General poverty in major affective reactions (Oh man! They nailed her!)

Specific loss of insight (Again, yes!)

Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations (Especially with me!!)

Fantastic and uninviting behavior with drink and sometimes without (she didn't drink, but she didn't need it to do this)

Suicide rarely carried out (attempted 2x)

Sex life impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated (What sex life?)

Failure to follow any life plan (Still doing the same thing she did 25 years ago when I met her, does that qualify?)

Add to that infidelity and the need to blame me for every problem in life whether I was involved or not and you have my ex.

It amazes me that I survived 21 years without going nuts myself!

Edited December 18, 2007 by GaryC

[*julez* 124]

So many of those remind me of my ex. He has a genius IQ but cannot hold a job. Very angry. Physically and emotionally abusive. Drugs, alcohol, compulsive gambler. Just plain awful.

[GaryC 7]

So many of those remind me of my ex. He has a genius IQ but cannot hold a job. Very angry. Physically and emotionally abusive. Drugs, alcohol, compulsive gambler. Just plain awful.

I hear you, 21 years of pain for me. Dealing with someone who is truly sick isn't a fun way to live life.

[Ban Hammer 13,673]

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity. Originally thought to be at the "borderline" of psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder of emotion regulation. While less well known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), BPD is more common, affecting 2 percent of adults, mostly young women.1 There is a high rate of self-injury without suicide intent, as well as a significant rate of suicide attempts and completed suicide in severe cases.2,3 Patients often need extensive mental health services, and account for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations.4 Yet, with help, many improve over time and are eventually able to lead productive lives.

Symptoms

While a person with depression or bipolar disorder typically endures the same mood for weeks, a person with BPD may experience intense bouts of anger, depression, and anxiety that may last only hours, or at most a day.5 These may be associated with episodes of impulsive aggression, self-injury, and drug or alcohol abuse. Distortions in cognition and sense of self can lead to frequent changes in long-term goals, career plans, jobs, friendships, gender identity, and values. Sometimes people with BPD view themselves as fundamentally bad, or unworthy. They may feel unfairly misunderstood or mistreated, bored, empty, and have little idea who they are. Such symptoms are most acute when people with BPD feel isolated and lacking in social support, and may result in frantic efforts to avoid being alone.

People with BPD often have highly unstable patterns of social relationships. While they can develop intense but stormy attachments, their attitudes towards family, friends, and loved ones may suddenly shift from idealization (great admiration and love) to devaluation (intense anger and dislike). Thus, they may form an immediate attachment and idealize the other person, but when a slight separation or conflict occurs, they switch unexpectedly to the other extreme and angrily accuse the other person of not caring for them at all. Even with family members, individuals with BPD are highly sensitive to rejection, reacting with anger and distress to such mild separations as a vacation, a business trip, or a sudden change in plans. These fears of abandonment seem to be related to difficulties feeling emotionally connected to important persons when they are physically absent, leaving the individual with BPD feeling lost and perhaps worthless. Suicide threats and attempts may occur along with anger at perceived abandonment and disappointments.

People with BPD exhibit other impulsive behaviors, such as excessive spending, binge eating and risky sex. BPD often occurs together with other psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other personality disorders.

Treatment

Treatments for BPD have improved in recent years. Group and individual psychotherapy are at least partially effective for many patients. Within the past 15 years, a new psychosocial treatment termed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed specifically to treat BPD, and this technique has looked promising in treatment studies.6 Pharmacological treatments are often prescribed based on specific target symptoms shown by the individual patient. Antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers may be helpful for depressed and/or labile mood. Antipsychotic drugs may also be used when there are distortions in thinking.7

this sounds like the entire office here.

[Carlawarla 1]

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity. Originally thought to be at the "borderline" of psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder of emotion regulation. While less well known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), BPD is more common, affecting 2 percent of adults, mostly young women.1 There is a high rate of self-injury without suicide intent, as well as a significant rate of suicide attempts and completed suicide in severe cases.2,3 Patients often need extensive mental health services, and account for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations.4 Yet, with help, many improve over time and are eventually able to lead productive lives.

Symptoms

While a person with depression or bipolar disorder typically endures the same mood for weeks, a person with BPD may experience intense bouts of anger, depression, and anxiety that may last only hours, or at most a day.5 These may be associated with episodes of impulsive aggression, self-injury, and drug or alcohol abuse. Distortions in cognition and sense of self can lead to frequent changes in long-term goals, career plans, jobs, friendships, gender identity, and values. Sometimes people with BPD view themselves as fundamentally bad, or unworthy. They may feel unfairly misunderstood or mistreated, bored, empty, and have little idea who they are. Such symptoms are most acute when people with BPD feel isolated and lacking in social support, and may result in frantic efforts to avoid being alone.

People with BPD often have highly unstable patterns of social relationships. While they can develop intense but stormy attachments, their attitudes towards family, friends, and loved ones may suddenly shift from idealization (great admiration and love) to devaluation (intense anger and dislike). Thus, they may form an immediate attachment and idealize the other person, but when a slight separation or conflict occurs, they switch unexpectedly to the other extreme and angrily accuse the other person of not caring for them at all. Even with family members, individuals with BPD are highly sensitive to rejection, reacting with anger and distress to such mild separations as a vacation, a business trip, or a sudden change in plans. These fears of abandonment seem to be related to difficulties feeling emotionally connected to important persons when they are physically absent, leaving the individual with BPD feeling lost and perhaps worthless. Suicide threats and attempts may occur along with anger at perceived abandonment and disappointments.

People with BPD exhibit other impulsive behaviors, such as excessive spending, binge eating and risky sex. BPD often occurs together with other psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other personality disorders.

Treatment

Treatments for BPD have improved in recent years. Group and individual psychotherapy are at least partially effective for many patients. Within the past 15 years, a new psychosocial treatment termed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed specifically to treat BPD, and this technique has looked promising in treatment studies.6 Pharmacological treatments are often prescribed based on specific target symptoms shown by the individual patient. Antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers may be helpful for depressed and/or labile mood. Antipsychotic drugs may also be used when there are distortions in thinking.7

this sounds like the entire office here.

You need a new then job charles!

Carla

[*julez* 124]

So many of those remind me of my ex. He has a genius IQ but cannot hold a job. Very angry. Physically and emotionally abusive. Drugs, alcohol, compulsive gambler. Just plain awful.

I hear you, 21 years of pain for me. Dealing with someone who is truly sick isn't a fun way to live life.

I had mine removed by court order after 7 years. I had been asking him to leave for a long time before that. He knew he didn't really want a family, but he also didn't want to admit that about himself. Thankfully, the courts intervened and got him out for me. I feel sad for my kids to have such a sh*t father, but am glad he is not allowed to be with them.

[almaty 19]

yikes brother charles....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the most crucial relationship in a person's life is a fairly healthy relationship with their mother ....that they feel loved, nurtured and protected by their mother. Aside from any chemical imbalances, I believe that most personality disorders stem from a breakdown of that crucial mother/child relationship in the developmental years (1-5).