So when will we get Dr. Fu's course on personality, attachment, dynamics, etc., on the website? Loving the content, guys! Also, we all know that even though Dr. Fu wants to keep their identity secret, they are secretly Nancy McW with an AI voice changer.
Personality is just so highly abstracted, or really, I'd rather say, emergent, that it, like so many analogously emergent traits, characteristics, or properties, is really best defined in whatever way yields the most clinical utility. Is writing highly compound sentences personality? Plausibly. If it helps solve the problems of someone who does so by defining it that way, a putatively reasonable one, and more so than by defining it any other way, then yes.
On PDs being petite versions of REAL MH disorders, ADPD when? ASPD*? DIPD? Reminds of discussions of nonepileptic seizures. But not as hopeless. Lots of fun terminology has come from clinicians and researchers trying to figure out what to call them, or what they even are. *Edit: I realized during sleep paralysis ASPD already exists, but I mean autism spectrum personality disorder.
Hello I noticed that Dr Fu seemed to dismiss cluster A personality disorders and I had a question/comment... me and my therapist have found Zachary Wheeler's dissertation on the treatment of schizoid personality disorder from a psychodynamic perspective to be helpful in understanding me and outlining my treatment, but looking at the literature on schizoid personality seems extremely mixed and to describe a pretty diverse group of people. One type is conceptualized as an extreme introverted/avoidant type of borderline personality organization, another as a prodromal/lesser psychotic disorder, and another as autistic people who weren't diagnosed in childhood and aren't very friendly. It seems like a major problem is that clinicians can't really get past the flat affect and other possible defenses. I guess my question was about whether the first type has any merit and if it does, would recognizing it as such be too much of a tall order for clinicians who have such high acting-out standards for considering personality pathology anyway.
Your question raises some important points about the varied conceptualizations of schizoid personality disorder, which is exactly why it's so difficult to come to a consensus on it. Dr. Fu's comment on cluster A reflects a broader challenge in psychiatry-it's an area where opinions can vary widely, as much of the theory is abstract and not yet fully supported by empirical research. In response to your concern about clinicians struggling to see beyond flat affect and defenses, I agree with your observation. Schizoid personality can often be misunderstood due to these surface-level characteristics, leading to an oversimplified view that may miss the underlying complexity. That said, I think there's value in recognizing that schizoid presentations can range from avoidant-borderline overlap to a subsyndromal psychosis to undiagnosed autism spectrum condition, to something totally different. I recommend checking out Nancy McWilliams' work (i'll link an essay below) that offers a deeply empathetic and nuanced view of schizoid personality, and her insights have resonated with many individuals who feel "seen" by her formulation. This is why I continue to find schizoid personality a useful category, not just as a lesser form of schizophrenia, but as its own unique and complex experience. While formal research has yet to fully capture these subtleties, I don't think we should dismiss conceptualizations that resonate deeply with patients, even if they're not universally accepted in the literature. So, if you or your therapist have found something helpful, such as Zachary Wheeler's dissertation, that’s what matters. As long as it aids in understanding and treatment, it’s valid, even in the absence of widespread agreement. Recognizing the diversity within schizoid presentations is essential, and though it's challenging for clinicians who often lean on clear criteria, this kind of thoughtful, individualized perspective can lead to more meaningful care. Nancy's paper: www.researchgate.net/publication/7142775_Some_Thoughts_about_Schizoid_Dynamics
Very interesting reorganizing the personality disorders.
So when will we get Dr. Fu's course on personality, attachment, dynamics, etc., on the website? Loving the content, guys!
Also, we all know that even though Dr. Fu wants to keep their identity secret, they are secretly Nancy McW with an AI voice changer.
@@Goodpsychiatry lol Dr. Fu is a lot meaner than Nancy
@@PsychoFarm 😂
As a PMHNP student, I am extremely thankful for channels like yours that can simplify content as well as make it enjoyable.
great episode! thank you for humanizing this so beautifully with personal examples of how we all exist on this spectrum. Can't wait for part two!!
Such great content, thank you for spending the time to share your knowledge!
Thanks sunnygem! Friend of the podcast
Love this discussion. Perfect level of wonkyness says I
@@jamiesmith9943 thanks!
Personality is just so highly abstracted, or really, I'd rather say, emergent, that it, like so many analogously emergent traits, characteristics, or properties, is really best defined in whatever way yields the most clinical utility. Is writing highly compound sentences personality? Plausibly. If it helps solve the problems of someone who does so by defining it that way, a putatively reasonable one, and more so than by defining it any other way, then yes.
This is a mere proposition. I have no idea what I'm talking about.
On PDs being petite versions of REAL MH disorders, ADPD when? ASPD*? DIPD?
Reminds of discussions of nonepileptic seizures. But not as hopeless. Lots of fun terminology has come from clinicians and researchers trying to figure out what to call them, or what they even are.
*Edit: I realized during sleep paralysis ASPD already exists, but I mean autism spectrum personality disorder.
Dang I missed it by 14 minutes. My favorite psych channel
@@fricklesoup2350 better late than never
Hello I noticed that Dr Fu seemed to dismiss cluster A personality disorders and I had a question/comment... me and my therapist have found Zachary Wheeler's dissertation on the treatment of schizoid personality disorder from a psychodynamic perspective to be helpful in understanding me and outlining my treatment, but looking at the literature on schizoid personality seems extremely mixed and to describe a pretty diverse group of people. One type is conceptualized as an extreme introverted/avoidant type of borderline personality organization, another as a prodromal/lesser psychotic disorder, and another as autistic people who weren't diagnosed in childhood and aren't very friendly. It seems like a major problem is that clinicians can't really get past the flat affect and other possible defenses. I guess my question was about whether the first type has any merit and if it does, would recognizing it as such be too much of a tall order for clinicians who have such high acting-out standards for considering personality pathology anyway.
Your question raises some important points about the varied conceptualizations of schizoid personality disorder, which is exactly why it's so difficult to come to a consensus on it. Dr. Fu's comment on cluster A reflects a broader challenge in psychiatry-it's an area where opinions can vary widely, as much of the theory is abstract and not yet fully supported by empirical research.
In response to your concern about clinicians struggling to see beyond flat affect and defenses, I agree with your observation. Schizoid personality can often be misunderstood due to these surface-level characteristics, leading to an oversimplified view that may miss the underlying complexity. That said, I think there's value in recognizing that schizoid presentations can range from avoidant-borderline overlap to a subsyndromal psychosis to undiagnosed autism spectrum condition, to something totally different.
I recommend checking out Nancy McWilliams' work (i'll link an essay below) that offers a deeply empathetic and nuanced view of schizoid personality, and her insights have resonated with many individuals who feel "seen" by her formulation. This is why I continue to find schizoid personality a useful category, not just as a lesser form of schizophrenia, but as its own unique and complex experience. While formal research has yet to fully capture these subtleties, I don't think we should dismiss conceptualizations that resonate deeply with patients, even if they're not universally accepted in the literature.
So, if you or your therapist have found something helpful, such as Zachary Wheeler's dissertation, that’s what matters. As long as it aids in understanding and treatment, it’s valid, even in the absence of widespread agreement. Recognizing the diversity within schizoid presentations is essential, and though it's challenging for clinicians who often lean on clear criteria, this kind of thoughtful, individualized perspective can lead to more meaningful care.
Nancy's paper: www.researchgate.net/publication/7142775_Some_Thoughts_about_Schizoid_Dynamics