Pearls for Working with People Who Have Personality Disorder Diagnoses

Gene Combs; Lauren Oshman

doi:10.1016/j.pop.2016.02.001

Pearls for Working with People Who Have Personality Disorder Diagnoses

Prim Care. 2016 Jun;43(2):263-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2016.02.001.

Authors

Gene Combs¹, Lauren Oshman²

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Glenbrook Hospital, University of Chicago, Suite 200, 2050 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Electronic address: gcombs@northshore.org.
² Department of Family Medicine, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Glenbrook Hospital, University of Chicago, Suite 200, 2050 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

PMID: 27262006
DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2016.02.001

Abstract

Personality disorders are a group of diagnostic categories applicable when people show personality traits that are so extreme they cause clear difficulties in their lives and relationships. More widespread agreement is found on sorting by three broad categories (odd/eccentric, dramatic/emotional/erratic, and anxious/fearful) than by more specific subtypes. Primary care physicians need to recognize when extreme personality traits are causing difficulties in their relationships with patients and to have a way to approach these difficulties when they arise. This article reviews current thinking on the diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders, focusing especially on dramatic/emotional/erratic disorders, which are those most often problematic in clinical settings.

Keywords: Borderline personality disorder; Cluster B; Dialectical behavior therapy; Motivational interviewing; Personality disorder.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Behavior Therapy / methods
Humans
Motivational Interviewing / methods
Patient Care Planning
Personality Disorders / diagnosis*
Personality Disorders / therapy*
Primary Health Care / methods*
Self Care
Severity of Illness Index
Surveys and Questionnaires