SAN DIEGO — In the clinical experience of Mio Nakamura, MD, MS, providing dermatologic care to patients with personality disorders requires a certain level of flexibility and adaptability.
“You want to recognize the personality disorder, understand that there are underlying conflicts and needs, and adjust accordingly,” Nakamura, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Personality disorders, which she defined as enduring patterns of maladaptive thinking and behavior that deviate from the cultural norm, affect up to 15% of the general population and can be difficult “if not impossible to treat, which can be frustrating.” She shared her approach to providing dermatologic care for individuals with these three conditions:
Borderline personality disorder (BPD). This condition is marked by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions. Affected individuals are usually impulsive and often demonstrate self-injurious conduct such as risky sexual behaviors, cutting, or suicide attempts. “They often express feelings of emptiness, a fear of abandonment, and they are labile and sensitive to environmental circumstances,” Nakamura said. “They can be needy and display inappropriate, intense anger.”
In her clinical experience, a patient’s presenting dermatologic complaint is often a “screen” to hide a real, inner psychological problem, “a need to fill the emptiness,” she explained. “They’re kind of lonely, and there is a fear of abandonment. Rejection is frequently perceived as abandonment, creating intense anger and other negative emotions such as splitting.”
She advises against providing tests, treatments, or procedures for individuals with BPD that are not clinically indicated. “If the test is negative, such patients may ask for further testing,” she said. “Especially for cosmetic procedures, the patient may be more dissatisfied with the outcome of a procedure compared to before. Don’t let the patient’s emotions cloud your judgement. Trying to reason with the patient is often ineffective.”
To avoid saying “no” to such patients, Nakamura recommended discussing other treatment options so that they don’t feel abandoned. “Show that you care,” she said. “Meet the patient’s emotional needs, which may be the real agenda, and schedule regular follow-ups.”
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). This condition is characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control. “OCPD individuals are excessively concerned with details, rules, and organization to the extent that the major point of the activity is often lost,” Nakamura said. “They can be over-conscientious with excessive regard for morality and ethics.”
Such patients often fear losing control, she continued, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and sometimes anger. During office visits with patients with OCPD, she recommends that dermatologists “focus on facts and knowledge to replace or subdue emotions. Knowledge and information give a sense of control over illness.” Her approach involves professional, structured encounters that include detailed explanations and plans. “Provide step-by-step written instructions and give specific reasons for the prescribed treatment,” Nakamura advised. “Schedule regular follow-up appointments.”
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). This condition is characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, in which the person believes that they are special, unique, and superior to others. These individuals have a sense of entitlement, fantasize about unlimited success or power, display a lack of empathy toward others, and show a constant need for admiration. “The patient’s personality traits are often a ‘screen’ to hide a real, inner psychological problem such as unrecognized low self-esteem or insecurity,” Nakamura said. “These patients need praise and a sense of power.”
To provide patients with NPD with “a sense of uniqueness,” she recommended engaging with them at a medical level as one might with a work colleague. “Such patients often respond better to respect and concern rather than warmth and caring,” she said. Asking them to make decisions about their care can also give them a sense of power: asking them, for example, about which type of topical steroid they might prefer from those in the same class, whether they prefer creams or ointments, and that they can choose to follow up in 4 weeks or 6 weeks.
“Do not let the patient dictate the encounter [or] get under your skin,” Nakamura emphasized. “Be careful about rejecting the patient from your practice. Even though that is perfectly within your rights, it could lead to ‘narcissistic injury’ where the patient becomes very angry and wants to get back at you.”
Nakamura disclosed that she is an investigator for Amgen, argenx, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristo-Meyers Squibb, Pfizer, and Regeneron. She is also a member of the advisory board for argenx, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
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