CCFP 105 Topics: Personality Disorders

This podcast episode explores the difficulties family physicians encounter when treating patients with personality disorders, particularly focusing on Cluster B disorders like narcissistic, borderline, antisocial, and histrionic types. It highlights the critical need to manage countertransference, establish firm boundaries, and create a crisis management plan collaboratively with the patient. Listeners will find practical tips for crisis situations, including careful, short-term use of benzodiazepines for medication management. The episode also stresses the importance of distinguishing personality disorders from co-occurring mood disorders, emphasizing psychotherapy and appropriate medications for conditions such as depression or anxiety. Ultimately, it advocates for a holistic approach that takes into account both medical and social factors in addition to the personality disorder diagnosis.