The vexing problems associated with these mental disorders and their profound impact on human relations are the basis of this educational program. You will learn about the definitions and types of personality disorders. Importantly, you will learn about anti-social personalities.
This program is rich with psychiatric nursing skills.
Find yourself immersed in a learning experience that contextualises this difficult mental illness and arms you with therapeutic strategies for your nursing 'tool box'. Don't miss this excellent opportunity to avail yourself of an unusual range of new nursing knowledge and skills.
If you have identified a professional need to improve your understanding of personality disorders as part of your planned learning activities, then this program will offer you an opportunity to gain continuing professional development (CPD) hours related to this topic.
Need for Program
Personality disorders are manifest in all walks of society and can be very disturbing. Assessment reveals aberrant behaviours ranging from superficially charismatic and highly manipulative to narcissistic and lacking in empathy. Such behaviours can cause disruption in the workplace for staff caring for, or working with, people who have the condition. There is a need for nurses to identify and clearly understand this complex mental illness and to update their knowledge on the best way to manage a person who has the condition.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this program is to provide nurses with up-to-date education about mental illness that relates to personality disorders, including: early identification and assessment, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and ongoing management.
At the conclusion of this program the participant will be able to:
Clearly describe the characteristics of personality disorder including the signs and symptoms of the condition.
Describe the best way to manage highly manipulative behavior in a person who is also superficially charismatic.
Discuss a range of treatments that can be used to care for a person who has a borderline personality and debate their relative merits.
Day 1
Day 2
Educators
8.30am Registration and Refreshments
9.00am Understanding Personality Disorder
Personality disorder is one of the most controversial psychiatric diagnoses. It is usually associated with substantially disturbed behaviour that signifacntly affect other people. This introductory session will review the condition and set the scene for the two day program
How are the terms "personality" and "personality disorder" defined?
Other foundation facts for developing an understanding of the differences between those who have normal or eccentric personalities and those assessed as having a diagnosable personality disorder.
Which types of personality disorders are detected in criminals?
9.45am Classifications
DSM1V – the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- will be used as the framework for this session.
The ten personality disorders described are paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, histrionic, narcissistic, anti-social, borderline, avoidant, dependent and obsessive compulsive.
Why is the much discussed multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder) classified as a dissociative rather than a personality disorder?
10.30am Morning Tea & Coffee
11.00am Borderline Personality Disorder
An exploration of the signs and symptoms of this psychiatric illness. These clients are notoriously difficult to keep in therapy, frequently fail to respond to therapeutic efforts and make considerable demands on the emotional resources of the therapist, particularly when self-harm and suicidal behaviours are prominent.
What do research findings reveal about the most effective treatment approaches?
Discussion of a solution-focused method of treatment designed to help this difficult group of clients in a way which is optimistic and which preserves the morale of the therapist.
12.30pm Lunch Break and Networking
1.30pm The Challenge of Persistent Unstable Behaviours
People who persistently manifest with unpredictable and unstable behaviours pose particular challenges for those working in health care. This interesting session examines some scenarios that will assist you to understand the identification and management of this condition.
Unmotivated for treatment and impervious to recovery–is this true?
An exploration of the complex problems encountered in those with a borderline personality disorder.
What can be done to help them help themselves to reduce or extinguish self-damaging behaviours?
What are the major elements which facilitate and sustain the therapeutic relationship?
2.30pm "She Gets Under My Skin…!" Dealing With Manipulation
Manipulative behavior is often associated with flattery and superficial niceness. Learning to identify this early and block the manipulation is a learned art.
What workable strategies can you use to respond to a variety of malfunctioning manipulations, used by those with personality disorders, to get their needs met?
Practical and useful communication approaches.
What works and what doesn't work?
3.00pm Afternoon Tea & Coffee
3.30pm The Use of Treatment Agreements
Understanding the role and purpose of behavioural agreements between clients and mental health workers?
What happens if agreement cannot be reached on mutual goals and boundaries?
Verbal versus written agreements.
Measurable outcomes and contingent rewards–getting the content right.
4.15 Close of Day One of Program
9.00am Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Mad, bad and dangerous to know? A snapshot of the person with an anti-social personality disorder— diagnostic characteristics, treatment approaches and prognosis.
10.30am Morning Tea & Coffee
11.00am Avoidance Doesn't Help
Occasionally, you may work alongside those who have an undiagnosed personality disorder. Such a circumstance can, be very destructive. This session examines such scenarios and offers constructive solutions.
What are the issues of concern when a co-worker displays marked anti-social personality symptoms?
What is meant by the term "psychopaths in suits"?
How do these behaviours impact on patient care activities and staff morale?
Communication approaches for persuading affected work colleagues to seek help.
12.00pm Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoia is a complex aberrant behavior that is associated with a range of mental illnesses.
What would make you think that someone is exhibiting patterns of paranoid thinking?
Where does paranoia come from and how do you classify it?
How does this condition interrelate with schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder or avoidant personality disorder?
Guidelines for coping with people who are paranoid.
12.30pm Lunch Break and Browse the Book Display
1.30pm Liaison Psychiatry in Acute Health Care Settings
A person who is physically ill may also have a personality disorder (diagnosed or not). The behaviours, emotions and ideations of these patients can present as markedly abnormal or even bizarre.
What assessment outcomes would encourage you to refer a person to a mental health team for further review?
2.15pm Dual Diagnosis Dilemma
Defining dual diagnosis - what are the challenges you could face when someone with a personality disorder has coexisting substance abuse dependencies? This session includes:
How to engage with people with a dual diagnosis.
A hypothetical case study will highlight the role of addiction in the lives of clients with complex personality functioning.
3.00pm Afternoon Tea & Coffee
3.30pm Case Scenario – Bringing it all Together
Presentation of a complex case scenario to illustrate key concepts and, workable strategies when those with personality disorders are the source of workplace disruptions.
