Any personality disorder includes a system of characteristics that violate the generally accepted behavioral standards of society. The patient in any situation experiences a negative attitude of society, the result of which are problems with adaptation. Such disorders can be treated poorly, because the individual transfers guilt to his environment, which does not perceive him, and does not feel the need for medical care. There are several types of personality disorders. This article is about infantile disorder.
Why arises?
ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) infantile personality disorder refers to the section “Other specific personality disorders” (F60.8). One of the most common factors in the occurrence of the disease is considered heredity. In addition to the presence of ancestors with pathologies of the psyche, alcoholic parents can be attributed to the reasons: sick children are most often born in such a family.
Uncontrolled anger and aggressiveness can provoke hormonal disorders. Often the cause of the tendency to depressive states is the insufficient production of the hormone of happiness - endorphin.
Some symptoms in children can be explained by inappropriate development conditions. For example, hyperactivity is a consequence of a lack of space, stiffness of movement. Emotionally unstable parents or other people who are constantly with a child are a cause for concern. But the balanced atmosphere in the family helps to reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disorder.
Signs of infantile personality disorder
The consciousness of a patient with this mental illness is extremely immature. Adaptation to stressful situations is not noted in him: like a child, a person with a diagnosis of "infantile personality disorder" is not able to plan, confused and shy.
You can detect the disease already in adolescence. The constant changes in hormonal levels in adolescents often provoke emotional leaps. Difficulties arise in identifying infantile disorders in children with some mental disorders, which can be taken as a justification for the diagnosis. It should be understood that it is optimal to set it when a person is already 16 years old.
Symptoms become more pronounced with age. The disorder manifests itself in the fact that the patient cannot possess any emotions: joy, fear, anger, anxiety.
Living in an imaginary world, a person with an infantile personality disorder cannot cope with cruel realities. Facing difficulties causes such people to panic. In addition, they are easily excitable, emotional, panicky and avoid responsibility, they often experience mood swings.
Such pathological manifestations are not included in the permissible norm, therefore, do not confuse the disorder with clearly manifested character traits (accentuation), which are on the border of the norm. The difference is that a person with accentuation does not have problems with adaptation.
Types of Infantile Disorders
Depending on the symptoms and emotional state of the patient, 4 types of infantile disorders can be distinguished:
- The border is a sharp mood swings. The disease persists most often after the puberty period.
- Antisocial disorder includes a complete reluctance to interact with society, to make partnerships and friendships.
- Narcissistic disorder is an unhealthy, uncontrolled penchant for power, authoritarianism.
- Theatrical disorder is expressed in envy, the desire to manipulate, attract attention with eccentric, overly emotional behavior.
Should a patient with infantile disorder serve in the army?
Due to the constant nervous tension, patients with infantile personality disorder are not allowed into the army. The same applies to any service in military conditions, work in law enforcement agencies.
General patterns of treatment
Treatment for infantile personality disorder is usually difficult. The complexity of the treatment can be explained by the fact that psychotherapists most often have to work with people who have an advanced stage of the disease with pronounced symptoms. The success of therapy also depends on a good diagnosis.
Most often, specialists carry out treatment with psychotherapeutic methods. When symptoms of other abnormalities are added to the infantile personality disorder, specialists treat with medication.
Treatment of infantile borderline disorder
Treatment for this type of deviation often involves a flexible plan that combines various techniques. The following methods may be used:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (aimed at eradicating negative thinking patterns from the patient’s mind).
- Dialectic behavioral therapy (develops skills to overcome adverse reactions).
- Cognitive - based on awareness (prevention of relapse by referring to the patient’s consciousness and thinking).
- Group therapy.
- Search for a point in the visual field of the patient, eye contact with which will lead to improvement (Brainspotting).
Theatrical-type infantile disorder treatment
The most effective method in the fight against this problem is group therapy. Communication with the team helps to build the atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding necessary for treatment. In combination with group therapy, other methods are also used:
- Awareness-based cognitive therapy.
- Yoga and meditation.
- Psychotherapy based on social interaction.
- Brainspotting.
Treatment of infantile narcissistic disorder
Therapy largely depends on whether the patient is aware of the problem and is ready to deal with it. Psychotherapists most often use:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy;
- Dialectical behavioral.
- Group therapy.
Treatment of infantile antisocial type disorder
Antisocial disorder is difficult to treat. Doctors often use psychotherapy, but this method is rarely effective. He is powerless if the symptoms of the disease are severe or the patient does not want to admit that he has serious problems. Often, the diagnosis of the disease is possible only by clarifying the patient’s attitude to loved ones.
There are no specific medications available to treat antisocial disorder. Psychotherapists prescribe medications only to relieve certain symptoms, such as aggression, anxiety, or depression.
Antisocial personality disorder in most cases brings a lot of suffering to people around. Support groups for families and friends of people with antisocial disorders exist to overcome aggression and protect against violence and anger. If you have a loved one with such a personality disorder, it is very important that you also receive psychological help.
Until now, the diagnosis of infantile personality disorders is extremely difficult, since it is impossible to bring all patients under one scheme for the development of the disease. The most important thing in treatment is to find a qualified doctor who can draw up an individual treatment plan that takes into account all the features of the course of the disease.