Disturbing the Disturbed

As I have hinted at, I have an interest in mental disorders above that of most people I know (i.e. more than no interest) and one thing I have discovered while researching these disorders is how many times fiction, and real people, get it wrong.

 

Over the next few weeks I will put up a post explaining some of the common misconceptions that appear in fiction. I anticipate that the series will last about 6 weeks, provided I don't have some sort of pressing rant I'd like to get off my chest. In that case I may post twice in a week to keep to schedule depending on how enthusiastic I'm feeling.

 

The first post of this series will be on Wednesday and it's sequals will also be posted on Wednesdays. After the series ends I shall return to posting on Mondays for the most part.
(Any Monday posts before the end will likely be an aforementioned "pressing rant".)

 

Anyway, so that is all for now.

 

ADDENDUM:

 

When I discuss any "personality disorders" (it will be stated in their name) they must first satisfy the following criteria before a specific disorder can be assigned:

 

Under the DSM-IV:

• An enduring pattern of psychological experience and behavior that differs prominently from cultural expectations, as shown in two or more of: cognition (i.e. perceiving and interpreting the self, other people or events); affect (ie. the range, intensity, lability, and appropriateness of emotional response); interpersonal functioning; or impulse control.
• The pattern must appear inflexible and pervasive across a wide range of situations, and lead to clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.
• The pattern must be stable and long-lasting, have started as early as at least adolescence or early adulthood.
• The pattern must not be better accounted for as a manifestation of another mental disorder, or to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. drug or medication) or a general medical condition (e.g. head trauma).

 

Under the ICD-10:

• markedly disharmonious attitudes and behaviour, involving usually several areas of functioning, e.g. affectivity, arousal, impulse control, ways of perceiving and thinking, and style of relating to others;
• the abnormal behaviour pattern is enduring, of long standing, and not limited to episodes of mental illness;
• the abnormal behaviour pattern is pervasive and clearly maladaptive to a broad range of personal and social situations;
• the above manifestations always appear during childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood;
• the disorder leads to considerable personal distress but this may only become apparent late in its course;
• the disorder is usually, but not invariably, associated with significant problems in occupational and social performance.

The ICD also adds that 'For different cultures it may be necessary to develop specific sets of criteria with regard to social norms, rules and obligations.'