Diagnosing a Personality Disorder

Diagnosing a personality disorder can be extremely challenging and individuals with personality disorders are frequently misdiagnosed. In this Discussion, you will examine a diagnosis for a client with a personality disorder and discuss the factors that complicate that diagnosis.

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources.
• Focus on the reasons diagnosis of personality disorders is difficult.
• Review the section on personality disorders in the DSM.
• Select a personality disorder from the DSM for the focus of your Discussion post.
• Put the name of the diagnosis you chose in the subject line of your post.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 a summary of the personality disorder you selected, as well as a brief description of a treatment approach you would recommend. Then, explain why giving this diagnosis may be complicated.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

Read a sampling of your colleagues’ postings. Consider how your colleagues’ postings match or differ from your own perceptions or analysis.

Respond by Day 6 to at least one posting that used a different case study from the one you chose in any of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.