PERSONALITY TYPES

TYPE CHARACTERI MEANING OF COUNTERTRANSFE TIPS OF

STICS ILLNESS RENCE MANAGEME
NT
DEPENDE Needy, clingy, Threat of Positive: Doctor feels -Reassure
NT demanding, abandonment powerful and needed within limits
unable to -Schedule
reassure self, Negative: visits
seeks overwhelmed and -Mobilize
reassurance annoyed. May try to other support
from others, avoid patient -Reward
fear efforts
helplessness,
great need for
personal care
OBSESSIO Meticulous, Loss of control over May admire patient -Try to set
NAL orderly, likes body/emotions/impul routine
to feel in ses In extreme: battle of -Give px
control, very wills choices to
concerned with increase
right or wrong sense of
control
-Provide
detailed info
-Foster
collaborative
approach
HISTRIONI Entertaining, Loss of love Anxiety, impatience -Strike
C melodramatic, Loss of Erotic- finds patient balance
seductive, attractiveness attractive between
flirtatious warmth and
formality
-Maintain
clear
boundaries
-Encourage
to discuss
fears
MASOCHIS “Perpetual Ego-syntonic Anger -Avoid
TIC victim” Conscious or Hate excessive
Self-sacrificing unconscious Frustration encouragem
martyr punishment Helplessness ent
Expiation of guilt Self-doubt -Share px’s
pessimism
-Suggest
considering
another
treatment as
another
burden
PARANOID Guarded, Proof that the world Anger, feeling -Avoided
distrustful, is against px attacked or accused, defensive
quick to blame, may become stand
sensitive Medical care is defensive -
exploitative and Acknowledge
invasive px’s feelings
w/o disputing
them
-Maintain
interpersonal
distance
NARCISSIS Arrogant, Threat to self Anger, desire to -Resist desire
TIC devaluing, concept of perfection counterattack, to challenge
vain, activation of feelings entitlement
demanding, Shame evoking of inferiority -Refrain
grandiose, entitlement
 want to be -Take a
important, humble
powerful stance
SCHIZOID Aloof, remote, Fear of intrusion Little connection to -Respect
socially patient privacy
awkward, -Prevent px
inhibited from
completely
withdrawing
-Maintain
gentle quiet
interest