Personality Disorders Cluster A - "MAD"

Personality disorders are unique among the psychiatric diagnoses. They do not have a clear physiologic etiology. Unlike many psychiatric disorders encountered by PMHNPs, they do not respond to pharmacotherapy. Equally challenging is that people with personality disorders often do not recognize a problem! The 10 personality disorders are commonly categorized as MAD, BAD, and SAD. This program presents the MAD disorders; schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder. Case study approach is used to illustrate patient presentation, analyze diagnostic criteria, differentiate these diagnoses from psychotic disorders, and evaluate effective treatment modalities.