Controversy Associated with Personality and Paraphilic Disorders
Personality disorders like Schizoid Personality Disorder have wide controversies surrounding them. Three common controversies surround these personality disorders. They include disagreements among scholars regarding ways of understanding these disorders; personality disorders often come with stigmatization, and there is no account for social contexts (Mind Charity Organization, 2019). First, scholars disagree because many individuals diagnosed with these disorders may not fall into a single category, and the diagnosis may reveal more than one disorder. Consequently, several scholars feel that the emphasis should focus on what every individual requires to face their difficulties and find alternative means of life rather than their categorization (Mind Charity Organization, 2019). Secondly, another controversy is that few social contexts are observed among these personality disorders. For example, various social contexts like poverty, racism, sexism, prejudice, social deprivation, homophobia, or culture change may play a part in personality disorders (Mind Charity Organization, 2019). Other social context examples include child neglect and abuse, traumatic experiences, and poor parenting experience. Lastly, stigmatization is another controversy surrounding personality disorders (Mind Charity Organization, 2019). For example, individuals may feel very upset and shameful for being labeled with a certain personality disorder, indicating something wrong about them and who they think they are or what they represent (Mind Charity Organization, 2019). Therefore, in the future, practitioners and scholars should find effective ways to address these controversies to deliver quality treatment, leading to positive health outcomes.
Professional Beliefs about the Disorder
Regarding my professional beliefs, I argue that every disease or disorder must fall into a category, as indicated in the DSM-5 manual, for easier diagnosing and treating the patients. Presenting with the problem (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Since mental health covers many manifestations relating to the differences in effects that patients witness, it is essential to categorize these personality disorders to have a quick reference for assessing clients’ symptoms (Greco, 2015). According to the DSM-5 manual, a schizoid personality disorder relates to a chronic tendency of alienation from and broad indifference to societal and interpersonal connections and a restricted spectrum of feelings in human interactions (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In another research, the researchers found that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most preferred treatment approach when working with schizoid personality disorders because CBT patients may learn and acquire social skills (Devany & Poerwandari, 2020). Therefore, through the above existing professional details, I believe that following the DSM-5 manual helps condense problems more easily and arrive at the final intervention described in these studies. For example, many people may associate this disorder with being naturally cold; however, through these professional studies and the DSM-5 manual, we now understand that such coldness may be a condition that needs immediate attention rather than judging based on societal norms.
Strategies for Maintaining Therapeutic Relationship with Patients
After applying the above professional beliefs supported by scientific evidence relating to helping clients with schizoid personality disorders, it would be essential to establish various strategies for maintaining therapeutic relationships with these patients. According to existing research, various strategies for maintaining therapeutic relationships with patients with mental illnesses or disorders increase trust, hope, respect, and gratitude (Pullen & Mathias, 2010). It is important o understand that efficient physical and verbal communication is crucial in connecting the health practitioner and patients, along with delivering treatment in a way that allows the patients to be active participants in reaching desired health outcomes. Therefore, some strategies when working with patients with schizoid personality disorder include establishing a rapport, keeping professional boundaries, and active listening, as proposed by Pullen and Mathias (2010). First, an introduction involving handshaking, name-mentioning, and using the clients’ names when conversing would be necessary to establish a rapport. Secondly, keeping professional boundaries would involve protecting and honoring the patient’s right to privacy by not doing things against their will, enhancing trust. Lastly, practicing active listening would be essential to understand all the patients’ problems and views. Thus, through the above strategies, these patients would develop trust, which is necessary for helping them achieve the most desirable health outcomes.
Ethical and Legal Considerations Associated with the Disorder
The ethical and legal issue when dealing with patients with schizoid personality disorder is the data privacy and confidentiality dilemma. Since these clients already face possible stigmatization in their societies and local communities, protecting their privacy while offering quality treatment services is essential. Privacy starts by protecting patients’ data and records to avoid leakage of any kind, which would lead to access by third parties. According to existing research, the mental health department is responsible for ensuring patient confidentiality and privacy because these concerns relate to therapy effectiveness (Lustgarten et al., 2020). The research also points out that the therapist-to-client privilege is enshrined in the US Constitution, which means that any violations are punishable by law. Consequently, adopting effective ways of sharing information more securely is essential to avoid any confidentiality and privacy breaches. Thus, I would observe these issues to avoid any legal problems or ethical breaches, which may also affect service quality and health outcomes.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association. http://repository.poltekkes- kaltim.ac.id/657/1/Diagnostic%20and%20statistical%20manual%20of%20mental %20disorders%20_%20DSM-5%20%28%20PDFDrive.com%20%29.pdf
Devany, K., & Poerwandari, E. K. (2020). Integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy and gratitude therapy for treating somatic symptom disorder with schizoid-avoidant personality features: A case report. Indonesian Journal of Indigenous Psychology, 7(2), 113–121. https://publication.k-pin.org/index.php/jpu/article/view/127
Greco, M. (2015). What is the DSM? Diagnostic manual, cultural icon, political battleground: an overview with suggestions for a critical research agenda. Psychology & Sexuality, 7(1), 6–22. https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/17494/1/Greco%20-%20What%20is%20the %20DSM%20for%20GRO.pdf
Lustgarten, S. D., Garrison, Y. L., Sinnard, M. T., & Flynn, A. W. (2020). Digital privacy in mental healthcare: Current issues and recommendations for technology use. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 25–31. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7195295/#:~:text=Mental%20healthcare %20has%20long%20held,not%20be%20effective%20%5B4%5D.
Mind Charity Organization. (2020). Personality disorders: Why is it controversial? Mind. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health- problems/personality disorders/why-is-it-controversial/
Pullen, R. L., & Mathias, T. (2010). Fostering therapeutic nurse-patient relationships. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 8(3), 4. https://journals.lww.com/nursingmadeincrediblyeasy/fulltext/2010/05000/fostering_thera peutic_nurse_patient_relationships.1.aspx
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Question 
TO PREPARE
Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights they provide on assessing, diagnosing, and treating personality and paraphilic disorders.
Controversy Associated With Personality And Paraphilic Disorders
Select a specific personality or paraphilic disorder from the DSM-5-TR to use for this Assignment.
Use the Walden Library to investigate your chosen disorder further, including controversial aspects of the disorder, maintaining the therapeutic relationship, and ethical and legal considerations.
THE ASSIGNMENT
In 2–3 pages:
Explain the controversy that surrounds your selected disorder.
Explain your professional beliefs about this disorder, supporting your rationale with at least three scholarly references from the literature.
Explain strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a patient who may present with this disorder.
Finally, explain ethical and legal considerations related to this disorder that you need to bring to your practice and why they are important.