Case Study 1: Schizoid Personality Disorder “People with schizoid personality disorder persistently avoid and are removed from social relationships and demonstrate little in the way of emotion (APA, 2000)” (Comer, p. 398, 2005). Psychodynamic theorists believe schizoid personality disorder is caused by something that happened through a person’s childhood. They have been unaccepted by their parents or even abused as a young child, which causes a person to avoid all relationships. Cognitive theorists believe the way a person thinks is the cause of schizoid personality disorder. They believe people with this disorder have empty thoughts and cannot answer correctly to other peoples emotions (Comer, 2005). Since people with this disorder separate themselves from others, therapy is not a likely choice of treatment because they remain closed off and distant from their therapist. Cognitive-behavioral therapists have found progress when it comes to treating people with this disorder. They help them experience positive feelings and use certain techniques to help them experience different emotions and develop better social skills.
Case Study 2: Narcissistic Personality Disorder People with narcissistic personality disorder show no empathy towards others, but expect constant admiration from the people who surround them. Psychodynamic theorists believe the cause of this disorder is by rejection form parents at a young age. On the other hand, cognitive-behavioral theorists believe people with this disorder are treated too positively versus negatively. They believe they are taught this personality be their parents by having an attitude that everyone admires them. This disorder is very difficult to treat and is usually only treated when another disorder is present, like depression (Comer, 2005). The psychodynamic therapists approach for treatment is having the person recognize their insecurities, where as cognitive therapists try to have them