Disordered Personalities 2ed

Disordered Personalities — Second Edition
Theoretital Printiples
This chapter provides a introduction to the theoretical principles and
concepts contained in the individual personality chapters that follow.
The first section provides a brief introduction to personality
development. This is a diverse field which encompasses many theories
and active areas of research that are beyond the scope of this book.
Following this, sections on ego psychology and ego defenses are
presented to give an appreciation of where and how personality
disorders are thought to develop. Defense mechanisms are crucial to
understanding the interpersonal behavior exhibited by those with
personality disorders. Defenses that are discussed in the later chapters
are introduced here by means of a definition and illustration. These
concepts can prove to be a challenge when learning about personality
disorders, so the extra dimension of a caricature has been added.
Following the ego defenses is a section introducing the major
psychodynamic principles. These key concepts form the building
blocks of many types of psychotherapy and are relevant to all
interactions with patients. Attachment theory and object relations
theory are also outlined to help understand the Psychodynamic
Aspects section in the individual personality disorder chapters.
Next, the tenets of cognitive, group and interpersonal psychotherapy
are presented. Psychotherapy, which is the major form of treatment
of personality disorders, can be defined as:
Treatment by communication for any form of mental illnesses, behavioral
maladaptations, and/or other problems that are of an emotional nature, in which
a trained person deliberately establishes a professional relationship with a patient
for the purpose of:
• removing, modifying, or reducing existing symptoms
• attenuating or reversing disturbed patterns of behavior
• promoting positive personality growth and development
(Campbell, 1996)
Inherent in this definition is the application of a set of theoretical principles
to the person’s difficulties. This provides the roadmap the therapist will
use to guide the therapy.
The chapter following this one presents an introduction to the genetic
aspects of personality (e.g. temperament) and the rationale for using
medications (psychopharmacology) in treating personality disorders.
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