The Definition of sanity

[C Elegans]

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn

Hmm...that's actually pretty accurate, except for part of their definition of Antisocial(unless you include the online RPGs I participate in ). As for Narcissistic, what do you expect when I've taken a test that told me I'm Legolas.

LOL Since you were Legolas in the LotR test, you should be sky high on Narcissistic in this test

Seriously though, it's a bit contradictory to be high on both Schizotypal and Histrionic, as you were. Schizotypal personality traits are characterised by withdrawal, introversion and not caring or not liking to have relations with other people, whereas histrionic personality traits include being highly extrovert, overly social, flirtatious and focusing a lot on what other people think of you.

posted by VoodooD

I took the test. Seems to be a bad version of the MMPI (which I did take years ago for fun). On the MMPI I scored high on the unconventional/anti-authority scale and was otherwise normal.

I haven't seen the MMPI, I have consciously avioded it because I plan to take it (for fun of course, one of my friends is using it clinically so she has promised to give it to me).

The test Dottie linked to also resembles a very short and bad version of the SCID II-screening self-report questionnare. Have you used SCID? It's the diagnostic tool connected to the DSM-IV, it consists of the questionnare that is constructed to be overinclusive (as to be sure not to miss anything) and the long, structured interview which helps the clinician to investigate whether a person fulfills a certain critera or not. SCID I is for axis one, SCID II for axis II, ie the personality disorders.

CE--have you ever taken the newer version of the Rorschach? It was the most revealing test I ever took. One of the psychology PhD candidates administered it to me for practice. It was given in the usual way, I had to look at the blots and then he wrote down everything I said. But now there is a computerized part of it that he filled out that compares your answers to thousands of other people's answers. I was found in that one to have something in common with schizophrenics in my thinking--since I'm known to have a lot of loose associations when just rambling on--I'm just a very lateral thinker. That psychologist was really helpful to me--he taught me to explain to people how I got to the subject I was on so they wouldn't be going "Huh?" when I talked to them. Perhaps that explains why I was a good therapist with schizophrenics--I had no trouble following their train of thought. At the time, I was publishing a good bit of poetry, and I think that poets have a lot in common with the thought-disordered people.

No, I haven't taken the Rorschach test, but I think it's a good idea with this new computerised version. In the bad old days, the Rorschach test was far too subjective, now it actually says something although the validity of the test is of course still discussed. A friend of mine took the test when we were students, but he thought the result didn't match him at all.
It is interesting that your thinking share some properties of the fragmented thinking and speaking typical in schizophrenic patients. I'm sure this helps you to understand the way many of those patients communicate. I often found it difficult and exhausting to communicate with my patients, obviously I wasn't bad at it since they seemed to like me and trust me a lot, but it made me very, very tired. That's why I abandoned my clinical career (for now, at least), I found it impossible to combine my research with seeing patients.

I actually think artists in general can benefit from tendecies towards unusal experiences and thinking, although very severe versions of this thinking may be pathological conditions. One such example is synesthesia, in severe forms it usually includes a lot of suffering from the patient, whereas studies show that milder forms are much more frequent among artists than in the normal population.

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by C Elegans
Seriously though, it's a bit contradictory to be high on both Schizotypal and Histrionic, as you were. Schizotypal personality traits are characterised by withdrawal, introversion and not caring or not liking to have relations with other people, whereas histrionic personality traits include being highly extrovert, overly social, flirtatious and focusing a lot on what other people think of you.

Well, I am a highly contradictory person.

Actually, I'm serious about my paradoxical nature. "Withdrawn" and "introvert"—these both describe me very accurately. However, at the same time, "extrovert" and "flirtatious" both describe me as well, especially the latter, as all those I chat with via IM can confirm. And none of those traits are limited to how I act online. They all apply to my offline life as well.

One of my friends is also convinced I have OCD. She showed me a checklist deal of symptoms. I filled it out and it said I had 24 symptoms. My friend is convinced this means I have OCD because she's positive that she has OCD and I have more symptoms than she does. When she was telling me about a lot of the "obsessive compulsive" things she does, I found that I do a lot of those things, too; but I also noticed that most of the things were the type of thing we get into the habit of doing(if we do it) for some reason or other. I think that she got worried she might have OCD, read a lot about the symptoms and such, then looked at the stuff she does and started subconciously making it obsessive compulsive. I was wondering if this how likely this is? I know hypocondriacs(sp?) who do this with diseases, but I don't know how possible it is with disorders.

[VoodooDali]

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn


Well, I am a highly contradictory person.

Actually, I'm serious about my paradoxical nature. "Withdrawn" and "introvert"—these both describe me very accurately. However, at the same time, "extrovert" and "flirtatious" both describe me as well, especially the latter, as all those I chat with via IM can confirm. And none of those traits are limited to how I act online. They all apply to my offline life as well.

One of my friends is also convinced I have OCD. She showed me a checklist deal of symptoms. I filled it out and it said I had 24 symptoms. My friend is convinced this means I have OCD because she's positive that she has OCD and I have more symptoms than she does. When she was telling me about a lot of the "obsessive compulsive" things she does, I found that I do a lot of those things, too; but I also noticed that most of the things were the type of thing we get into the habit of doing(if we do it) for some reason or other. I think that she got worried she might have OCD, read a lot about the symptoms and such, then looked at the stuff she does and started subconciously making it obsessive compulsive. I was wondering if this how likely this is? I know hypocondriacs(sp?) who do this with diseases, but I don't know how possible it is with disorders.

Sounds like a bit of "Medical Student Syndrome"--medical students often start feeling like they have the diseases they are reading about.

Everyone has all or most of the symptoms of all the mental disorders from time to time. What sets "normal" (I hate that word) people apart from the mentally ill is the frequency and degree. It's one thing to have some compulsive habits--it's another thing entirely to not be able to leave the house because your rituals take up so much of your time you cannot accomplish anything. If your friend is functioning in the world--going to school, has friends like you, etc., I would say it's doubtful she has OCD. Sure, she may be perfectionistic or rigid, but that only means she's eccentric or neurotic, not mentally ill. Also, OCD is also more than just compulsive actions, it's also obsessive thoughts--usually disturbing, forbidden thoughts that won't go away.

Just in case you're wondering how it's diagnosed--here's the criteria from the DSM IV:
A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost

shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)

is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity)

is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification)

is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value

is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things

adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes

shows rigidity and stubbornness

Associated Features
Depressed Mood
Somatic or Sexual Dysfunction
Guilt or Obsession
Anxious or Fearful or Dependent Personality

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by VoodooDali
Sounds like a bit of "Medical Student Syndrome"--medical students often start feeling like they have the diseases they are reading about.

Everyone has all or most of the symptoms of all the mental disorders from time to time. What sets "normal" (I hate that word) people apart from the mentally ill is the frequency and degree. It's one thing to have some compulsive habits--it's another thing entirely to not be able to leave the house because your rituals take up so much of your time you cannot accomplish anything. If your friend is functioning in the world--going to school, has friends like you, etc., I would say it's doubtful she has OCD. Sure, she may be perfectionistic or rigid, but that only means she's eccentric or neurotic, not mentally ill. Also, OCD is also more than just compulsive actions, it's also obsessive thoughts--usually disturbing, forbidden thoughts that won't go away.

Just in case you're wondering how it's diagnosed--here's the criteria from the DSM IV:
A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost

shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)

is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity)

is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification)

is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value

is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things

adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes

shows rigidity and stubbornness

Associated Features
Depressed Mood
Somatic or Sexual Dysfunction
Guilt or Obsession
Anxious or Fearful or Dependent Personality

I'm now even more positive that my friend doesn't have OCD. Though, at the rate she's going, she's gonna work herself into having OCD. Hopefully, I can help her see that she doesn't have OCD. We've all got enough problems already; no sense in adding new ones.