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To: sageb1
Be careful with personality diagnoses. A laundry list such as yours is full of pejorative descriptions such that a diagnosis can become a "sh*t label" just like calling him a MFing SOB.

The real test for a personality diagnosis is how this person functions in work, love (family relationships) and in social living. A pathological diagnosis implies an inability to function by the nature of the disorder. IMHO President Clinton fails to meet this test and is not easily diagnosed as suffering from a personality disorder.

Also, look at your list again. Aside from the antisocial aspects many of the characteristics are that of very masculine young men who lose these characteristics as they enter their thirtys.
333 posted on 09/24/2006 6:27:59 PM PDT by shrinkermd
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To: shrinkermd
>"A pathological diagnosis implies an inability to function by the nature of the disorder. IMHO President Clinton fails to meet this test and is not easily diagnosed as suffering from a personality disorder.

Well did clinton's pathological disorder cause him to fail to be able to function? IMHO, today's interview demonstrates this very thing, without a doubt.

335 posted on 09/24/2006 6:30:57 PM PDT by A Citizen Reporter
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To: shrinkermd

Except for one thing. I lived with such an individual. BPD (no cutting, just loaded guns). Brilliant, multi-talented, highly personable. But. I know what I'm talking about, believe me.

Ironically, I couldn't get therapy for him. Only visits to the psychiatrist to renew his meds. His meds kept me sane.


354 posted on 09/24/2006 6:52:11 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: shrinkermd
"A laundry list such as yours is full of pejorative descriptions such that a diagnosis can become a "sh*t label" just like calling him a MFing SOB."

And by the way, I used to joke with his shrink, "Thank God, he's BPD, otherwise his narcissism would make him a real SOB." ;)

359 posted on 09/24/2006 6:59:12 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: shrinkermd
Aside from the antisocial aspects many of the characteristics are that of very masculine young men who lose these characteristics as they enter their thirtys.

That's like saying "Aside from the murder rate, Detroit has little crime." The Hare PCL-R checklist is the most widely used and probably most valid measure of psychopathy today, and does not require direct personal testing. While there are detailed criteria for scoring, it is not hard, and pretty much yields to plain English application. Nor does it imply the kind of conventional dysfunctions assumed to be characteristic of personality disorders. Highly narcissistic psychopaths often can be well organized, intelligent, and successful in manipulating and evading the usual limits and consequences on their behavior. They seldom show up in psychiatrists' offices exactly for this reason. Hare's classic book "Without Conscience" includes numerous illustrations, as well as the frequency with which these guys sucker women into believing in them, their stories and scams.

On the PCL btw, Clinton stacks up with a score equivalent to that of the average incarcerated felon. Which is where he belongs.

428 posted on 09/24/2006 11:25:35 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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