xNR 607 CEA - Comprehensive Overview of Somatic and Personality Disorders

Diagnosis Why It’s Not the Best Fit Involves intentional Malingering fabrication for gain (e.g., avoiding jail, getting drugs)—no sign of external incentives here. Involves loss of function (e.g. Conversion Disorder blindness, paralysis) with symbolic psychological connection—not vague pain complaints. Symptoms are intentionally Factitious Disorder created to assume a sick role — there’s no evidence she’s trying to deceive for attention or care. Flight of Rapid shifts between loosely related ideas topics without returning to a central theme—often seen in mania. Tangential The speaker never returns to the original point—ideas veer off and remain off course. Loose Thoughts are illogically connected, with associations minimal or no meaningful linkage— standard in schizophrenia or disorganized speech. Circumstantiality involves a lengthy, overly detailed speech pattern where the individual goes off-topic but eventually returns to the original point. Diagnosis Huntington’s Disease Involves movement abnormalities and cognitive decline, but hallucinations and A pervasive pattern consisting of attention seeking and excessive emotionality is the core feature of Histrionic Personality Disorder, Why Not the Other Options? • Bipolar II Disorder: Requires hypomania, not full mania. His past behavior suggests mania (significant impairment and risky behavior), which rules out bipolar II. • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Doesn’t account for the history of manic behavior — MDD excludes a history of mania or hypomania. • Narcissistic Personality Disorder: While affairs and grandiosity could suggest narcissism, the cyclical mood changes (manic and depressive episodes) strongly point to a mood disorder, not a personality disorder. Key Diagnostic Criterion (DSM-5): Bipolar I disorder = At least one manic episode (which may be followed or preceded by hypomanic or major depressive episodes). Antisocial Personality Characterized by disregard for others’ rights and Disorder deceit — not shown here Borderline Personality Defined by unstable relationships, identity Disorder disturbance, impulsivity — not attention-seeking alone Narcissistic Personality Involves grandiosity and entitlement, but typically less Disorder flamboyant or theatrical than histrionic behavior Conversion disorder—also known in DSM-5 as Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder—involves neurological-like symptoms that are not explained by medical conditions, and often occur in response to psychological stress. Therapy Reason It’s Less Suitable in This Context Best for trauma-related disorders (e.g. PTSD)—not EMDR Therapy standard for sexual dysfunction without trauma history ar of Borderline HPD individuals may fear neglect, abandonment Personality but abandonment sensitivity and Disorder identity diffusion are core to BPD Grandiosity & need for Narcissistic HPD seeks attention through admiration Personality emotion and charm, not superiority Disorder Clinging behavior Dependent HPD may seem socially active but & Personality lacks the submissive dependency overdependence Disorder seen in Dependent PD GABA Mainly released by inhibitory interneurons and in the thalamus Norepinephrine Released from the locus coeruleus, not the Raphe Glutamate The brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter, but not associated with the Raphe nuclei specifically Parietal lobe Sensory integration and spatial awareness Doesn’t govern behavior or impulse control Broca's area Language production (speech) Affects expressive language—not personality Wernicke's Responsible for understanding language—not area Language comprehension regulating judgment or social behavior Nucleus Accumbens Involved in reward and pleasure pathways—more relevant in