Professionals who participate in this training will benefit from learning about the symptoms, characteristics, biopsychosocial causes & risk factors, and complications of the personality disorder as we discuss literature and case studies.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Define personality and describe the diagnostic features of Cluster C personality disorders.
- Distinguish between Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders using DSM-5 criteria.
- Identify psychological, environmental, and genetic factors contributing to the development of these disorders.
- Evaluate evidence-based treatment goals and psychotherapeutic approaches for Cluster C personality disorders.
- Recognize functional impairments, co-morbidities, and challenges associated with diagnosis and intervention.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: Understanding Personality and Personality Disorders
- Definition and components of personality
- Historical context and early psychiatric theories
- Distinction between healthy personality traits and maladaptive patterns
- Core features of personality disorders: early onset, pervasiveness, functional impairment
Objective #2: Etiology and Risk Factors
- Genetic predispositions and neurobiological influences
- Psychological theories (e.g., Freud’s psychosexual development)
- Environmental contributors: childhood trauma, verbal abuse, high reactivity
- Epidemiological data on prevalence and gender differences in diagnosis
Objective #3: Cluster C Personality Disorders Overview
- General features of “fearful” disorders: anxiety-driven behaviors, rigidity, avoidance
- Comorbidity with depressive, anxiety, and substance use disorders
- Onset patterns and prognosis across the three disorders
Objective #4: Avoidant Personality Disorder (AVPD)
- Key diagnostic criteria and behavioral patterns
- Differentiation from Social Anxiety Disorder
- Treatment goals: increasing socialization, reducing avoidance, managing feelings of inadequacy
- Therapeutic approaches: CBT, schema therapy, pharmacologic symptom management
Objective #5: Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)
- Diagnostic features: excessive need to be taken care of, fear of separation
- Clinical presentation: passivity, lack of self-confidence, relationship overdependence
- Treatment goals: fostering independence, reducing fear of abandonment
- Considerations for therapy: boundary-setting, short-term interventions, co-morbidity awareness
Objective #6: Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
- Differences between OCD and OCPD
- Key traits: perfectionism, rigidity, control, over commitment to work
- Five personality subtypes (e.g., puritanical, parsimonious, bureaucratic)
- Treatment goals: increasing flexibility, improving relational skills, reducing preoccupation with rules
- Psychotherapy options: CBT, DBT, psychoanalytic interventions, supportive medications
Objective #7: Treatment Planning and Therapeutic Strategies
- Overview of evidence-based treatments for Cluster C disorders
- Psychoeducation and client insight development
- Cognitive-behavioral tools: Socratic questioning, exposure therapy, journaling
- Medication management: SSRIs, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety prescriptions
Social workers completing this course receive 3 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 3 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Shannon McCabe, MA, LCAS, CCS, CCJP, CPS
Recording Date: June 17, 2024
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2026 - 08/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3hrs Clinical continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com