Introduction to Personality Disorder - Certificate

Here we begin to explore the different types of personality disorder and the student is encouraged to do some research on ten different categories of personality disorder.  Audio presentations towards the end of the course will clarify the diagnostic criteria for each of these ten personality disorders.  We also look at how personality disorders are assessed and diagnosed, we explore where the diagnostic criteria is laid down and can be accessed by the student.

Here we begin to look at what research tells us about some of the causes of personality disorders, including biological, social, cultural and childhood experiences.  It is important to point out that there is not one, distinct "cause" of personality disorder, but rather there are a number of influences that are known to play a part.

More on some of the factors that are known to play a part in the development of personality disorder then, with an emphasis on childhood experiences.

Finishing off on some of the known factors that play a part in the development of personality disorder, here we look at the range of influences that make up the Biopsychosocial approach.

Here we look at how our attachment during childhood can perhaps make us more prone to developing personality disorder.  Different family environments are explored with an emphasis on quality of attachment, love, care and support being important.  Myths around certain family types being negative, are dispelled.

We move on to look at what the evidence tells us about the role of trauma during childhood and the later development of personality disorder in adulthood, perhaps as a defense mechanism...the individual's bets way of surviving the trauma.

Here we explore 2 prominent schools of thought that attempt to explain personality disorder, behaviorism and humanism.  Each is described in terms of the development (as they would propose) of personality disorder.

Here we look at the diagnosis of personality disorder.  We explore how mental health clinicians and psychiatrists assess (through clinical interview, assessment, observation and feedback from families of the patient) the individual and seek to understand the nature of the symptoms they have been experiencing, in order to, hopefully, arrive at a clear cut, reliable, informed clinical diagnosis of the specific personality disorder that the patient has (if in-deed they do)

An important part of assessment of personality disorder is the exploration of thoughts (about self, the world and the future) and affect, i.e, how the individual expresses and deals with emotions.  Here we begin to explore these all important factors in the life of the patient.

Here we look at vulnerability factors in the development of personality disorder, what are some of the factors that [perhaps make us more likely to go on to develop and personality disorder.  These vulnerability factors have been explored and have been shown to be clinically important in pd development.

Here we look at resilience factors, these are the factors that are know to be protective, that (according to research) make us less likely to develop a personality disorder.

Here we explore the pros and cons of diagnosis of personality disorder.  We look at the arguments on both sides of the debate and the student is encouraged to reach their own conclusion o the issue.

More information here on the diagnosis of personality disorder and how the psychiatrist will look at a whole range of information, including the "cluster" of symptoms that the individual has been experiencing.  This along with the extensive clinical interview and the gathering of additional data leads to the successful diagnosis of the specific type of personality disorder that the individual is assumed to have.

Here the individual is encouraged to complete a research task.  Specifically, you are asked to research 4 specific assessment tools related to personality disorder assessment.

Here we begin to look at the concept of treatment and therapeutic interventions for personality disorder.

Continuing with the theme of interventions for people with personality disorder

A controversial phenomena in working with clients who have personality disorder is the concept of splitting, where staff are effectively "split" in their work with clients, affecting team dynamics and professional standards.

Professional Boundaries are the lines that are drawn between what is acceptable and unacceptable actions for staff members and professionals.  Here we look at what boundaries are, why we need to have them and how we can effectively implement and maintain them professionally and effectively.

Thank you so much for your dedication in completing the course, well done!  Hope to see you soon on one of my many other courses on Udemy!