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Jul 19, 2006
Passive Aggressive Personality Disorder
by SirGan
 Passive-aggressive personality disorder is a chronic condition in which a person passively accepts the desires and needs of others, but actually-passively resists them, becoming increasingly hostile and angry. It is about passive and obstructionist resistance to instructions in almost all interpersonal or occupational situations. Important thing about this disorder is that it sometimes is a method of dealing with stress or frustration, but - it results in the person attacking other people in indirect passive ways. There are several symptoms because this disorder can manifest itself as resentment, stubbornness, procrastination, sullenness, or intentional failure at doing requested tasks. The fact is that modern psychiatry no longer recognize this condition as an official diagnosis.These behaviors create many problems in the person's work and social lives. Unfortunately- passive-aggressive personality disorder lasts for life and the patient needs frequent monitoring by a healthcare professional. There are no established risk factors for passive-aggressive personality disorder; however, genetics may play a role.
Symptoms and signs of Passive-aggressive personality disorderImportant thing to know about this disorder is that people diagnosed with it- resent responsibility rather than by open expression of their feelings. In most cases- procrastination, inefficiency, and forgetfulness are behaviors commonly used to avoid doing what they need to do.
A person with this disorder may appear to comply with another's wishes, however problem is that the requested action is either performed too late or performed in a way that is useless.
There are certain behaviors that help identify passive-aggressive behavior.
Cause of Passive-Aggressive personality disorderThe causes are unknown, but, like most personality disorders, a combination of genetic and environmental factors are probably responsible.
According to most of the experts, behaviors of passive-aggressive personality disorder appear to have their origin in unending power struggles with parents. Reasonably- parental over-control, neglect, or favoring of a sibling can all contribute to the development of the silent protest and grudging obedience associated with this disorder!
Five-factor modelThere is one hypothetical model of personality which is suffering from Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder.
This line of character is accompanied with chronic negative affects, including anxiety, fearfulness, tension, irritability, anger, dejection, hopelessness, guilt, shame. Difficulty in inhibiting impulses is the predominant symptom: for example, to eat, drink, or spend money, as well as the irrational beliefs: for example, unrealistic expectations, and perfectionistic demands on self, unwarranted pessimism.
This line of character is characterized by excessive talking, leading to inappropriate self-disclosure and social friction and inability to spend time alone. All this is accompanied with dramatic expression of emotions; reckless excitement seeking; inappropriate attempts to dominate and control others.
This is resulting in difficulties with adapting to social or personal change; low tolerance or understanding of different points of view or lifestyles.
This line of character is characterized by cynicism and paranoid thinking. Everything is filled with inability to trust even friends or family; too ready to pick fights; exploitive and manipulative; lying; rude and inconsiderate manner alienates friends. Person has limited social support; lack of respect for social conventions can lead to troubles with the law; inflated and grandiose sense of self; arrogance.
Reasonably-these persons are recognizable by overachievement: workaholic absorption in job or cause to the exclusion of family, social, and personal interests; compulsiveness, including excessive cleanliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.
RelationshipsIt is proven that individuals with passive-aggressive personality disorder are ambivalent within their relationships. They are sometimes very complicate to understand because they are in doubt between expressing hostile defiance toward people they see and attempting to mollify these people by asking forgiveness. That’s why, they are sometimes very difficult to handle! It is characteristic that these individuals are noted for the stormy nature of their interpersonal relationships and they are resentfully quarrelsome and irritable. They often feel like a victim. People in relationships with them are just waiting for the next struggle and round of volatility and carping criticism. In most cases-they engage in grumbling, moody complaints, and sour pessimism. So, what happens with them? It’s easy- these socially maladaptive behaviors result in inevitable interpersonal conflict and frustration. These individuals can control others by forcing them into an uncomfortable anticipatory stance. Passive-aggressive individuals are able, within their relationships, to trap people into situations wherein whatever they do is wrong.
Long-term effects of the conditionThere is no doubt-a person with a passive-aggressive personality disorder with most probably have big problems at work and in relationships with others. The person's behavior makes him or her difficult to deal with.
Diagnosis of passive-aggressive personality disorderThe current criteria for the passive-aggressive personality disorder as proposed by the Personality Disorders Work Group for the DSM-IV includes:
Treatment of passive-aggressive personality disorder
Counseling may help a person with passive-aggressive personality disorder identify and change behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, or individual psychotherapy may be used. Treatment is aimed at helping the person better relate to others. Some experts say that counseling can just increase the person's irritability and anxiety. This happens when he or she is forced to look at the negative behavior.
Good thing is that group therapy could be extremely useful because it provides individuals with this personality disorder with an opportunity to learn how to manage their hostility.
Several researches done in the past have shown that medications may help reduce some symptoms. Medications used to treat depression, called antidepressants, may reduce irritability. Fluoxetine or sertraline are commonly used. Unfortunately- there is no cure for passive-aggressive personality disorder. Antidepressant medications may cause sleep disorders, drowsiness, or stomach upset.
Treatment TechniquesWhen assessing individuals with PAPD, following areas should be noticed:
Incidence of Co-Occurring Substance-Abuse-DisordersUnfortunately- the incidence of co-occurring substance abuse with PAPD is extremely high. The fact is that these individuals are prone to use drugs to regulate mood states. Reasonably- they believe they are entitled to an external solution to problems and are likely to use their addictions to justify their angry or violent behavior or to provide a rationale for nonperformance, incapacitation, or inaccessibility. Several researches done in the past have came to the conclusion that prescribed pain killers and anti-anxiety agents, in combination with alcohol, is probably the most common pattern of abuse.
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