MNEMONICS FOR DIAGNOSING PERSONALITY DISORDERS
From MDedge.com
| Paranoid personality disorder SUSPECT Spousal infidelity suspected Unforgiving (bears grudges) Suspicious Perceives attacks (and reacts quickly) Enemy or friend? (suspects associates and friends) Confiding in others is feared Threats perceived in benign events |
Schizotypal personality disorder ME PECULIAR Magical thinking Experiences unusual perceptions Paranoid ideation Eccentric behavior or appearance Constricted or inappropriate affect Unusual thinking or speech Lacks close friends Ideas of reference Anxiety in social situations Rule out psychotic or pervasive developmental disorders |
Borderline personality disorder IMPULSIVE Impulsive Moodiness Paranoia or dissociation under stress Unstable self-image Labile intense relationships Suicidal gestures Inappropriate anger Vulnerability to abandonment Emptiness (feelings of) |
Histrionic personality disorder PRAISE ME Provocative or seductive behavior Relationships considered more intimate than they are Attention (need to be the center of) Influenced easily Style of speech (impressionistic, lacking detail) Emotions (rapidly shifting, shallow) Make up (physical appearance used to draw attention to self) Emotions exaggerated |
Narcissistic personality disorder GRANDIOSE Grandiose Requires attention Arrogant Need to be special Dreams of success and power Interpersonally exploitative Others (unable to recognize feelings/needs of) Sense of entitlement Envious |
Dependent personality disorder RELIANCE Reassurance required Expressing disagreement difficult Life responsibilities assumed by others Initiating projects difficult Alone (feels helpless and uncomfortable when alone) Nurturance (goes to excessive lengths to obtain) Companionship sought urgently when a relationship ends Exaggerated fears of being left to care for self |
| Schizoid personality disorder DISTANT Detached or flattened affect Indifferent to criticism or praise Sexual experiences of little interest Tasks done solitarily Absence of close friends Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships Takes pleasure in few activities |
Antisocial personality disorder CORRUPT Cannot conform to law Obligations ignored Reckless disregard for safety Remorseless Underhanded (deceitful) Planning insufficient (impulsive) Temper (irritable and aggressive) |
Borderline personality disorder DESPAIRER* Disturbance of identity Emotionally labile Suicidal behavior Paranoia or dissociation Abandonment (fear of) Impulsive Relationships unstable Emptiness (feelings of) Rage (inappropriate) * Created by Jason P. Caplan, MD |
Histrionic personality disorder ACTRESSS* Appearance focused Center of attention Theatrical Relationships (believed to be more intimate than they are) Easily influenced Seductive behavior Shallow emotions Speech (impressionistic and vague) * Created by Jason P. Caplan, MD |
Avoidant personality disorder CRINGES Criticism or rejection preoccupies thoughts in social situations Restraint in relationships due to fear of shame Inhibited in new relationships Needs to be sure of being liked before engaging socially Gets around occupational activities with need for interpersonal contact Embarrassment prevents new activity or taking risks Self viewed as unappealing or inferior |
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder SCRIMPER* Stubborn Cannot discard worthless objects Rule obsessed Inflexible Miserly Perfectionistic Excludes leisure due to devotion to work Reluctant to delegate to others * Created by Jason P. Caplan, MD |