Dvm-Iv G

Appendix G / The DSM-IV

Jennifer Vickers

PSY/270

04/14/2015

Rosa Federico-Ochoa

1. Some criteria used for reaching a diagnosis cannot be observed directly.

Clinicians using the DSM-IV alone cannot gather subjective information on patients that is needed to make a proper diagnoses. A patient in a social setting may react differently than they would in a one on one clinical situation. For example; a person who suffers from an antisocial personality disorder, (ASPD), may not display antisocial symptoms in a one on one clinical setting.

2. Personality disorders can be similar to each other.

Personality disorders, like bi-polar disorder and depression are comparable to each other and have similar symptoms, so might be mistaken for one other. In the instance of a

misdiagnoses, a person suffering from one, but actually suffers from the other runs the risk of improper treatment and could suffer adverse complications.

3. People with different personalities can be given the same diagnosis

One with a schizoid personality disorder, which is characterized as a long-standing

pattern of detachment from social associations, could be given the same diagnosis as and

person suffering from paranoid personality disorder, is usually characterized as having a

long-standing pattern of pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others. Since both

disorders fall under the Cluster A personality disorders. Cluster A has a grouping of

paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. A common feature of Cluster A

is socially awkwardness, odd, eccentric behavior and thought process.

4. Do you think that personality disorders are true mental illnesses? Why or why not?

I believe that some personality disorders can be classified as a mental illness, but not all. Personality disorders and mental illness do not have all that many differences. In the DSM-IV, personality disorders are grouped into three clusters, based on similar...