Personality Disorders: Can they even exist? Orestis Zavlis

Orestis Zavlis is a PHD student at University College London. The main focus of his work has been an exploration of whether it even makes sense to say that a personality disorder exists. In fact, Orestis states, that if they do then all mental disorders can be cast as personality disorders.

In this conversation we explore some of the papers that Orestis has published from the 'Illusion of Personality' to 'A generative model of personality disorder as a relational disorder'

Orestis work draws on psychodynamic theory as well as computational theory to highlight that trait based and personality functioning accounts of personality disorders is illogical.

Orestis Zavlis is a PHD student at University College London. The main focus of his work has been an exploration of whether it even makes sense to say that a personality disorder exists. In fact, Orestis states, that if they do then all mental disorders can be cast as personality disorders.

In this conversation we explore some of the papers that Orestis has published from the 'Illusion of Personality' to 'A generative model of personality disorder as a relational disorder'

Orestis work draws on psychodynamic theory as well as computational theory to highlight that trait based and personality functioning accounts of personality disorders is illogical.

02:30 Orestis Introduces Himself
04:16 Orestis Zavlis initial PHD proposal
06:00 Could a personality disorder exist
07:50 Questions on Orestis Selection of Quotes
08:30 The Illusion of Knowledge & How do you define PDs
10:20 No evidence that there is such thing as a personality disorder
11:35 Every mental disorder is a personality disorder
12:25 Iain McGilchrist
14:00 There are no original ideas
18:20 Relational disorders and attachment
20:25 The Illusion of Personality Pathology
29:00 Starting from first principles
31:30 Kernberg definition
34:00 Personality traits versus functioning
36:05 Personality is anything
39:00 Conflation of traits, functioning and character
43:30 Agreement with Orestis
45:00 Disappointment with Psychoanalysts
49:00 Dictator as an example
51:00 Kernberg and character disorders
54:30 Treating the person
56:15 Kernberg framework versus trait based
01:00:20 Personality severity
01:04:15 Culture and personality functioning
01:05:40 Sensitivity and adversity in BPD
01:08:45 Object relations
01:08:40 Generative model paper
01:14:00: Everything has meaning: Defining PP and mentalising
01:17:40 Mentalisation based Theory as psychoanalysis?
01:20:50 Substack (put in link)
01:22:15 Simulations in generative model
01:27:10 Narcissism
01:29:30 Borderline Personality Disorder as traumatising
01:32:40: Orestis term
01:34:15- Winnicot- developmental failure
01:36:00- Developmental failure rather than trauma
01:37:30 Environment and trauma
01:39:00. Temperament exists
01:40:50 Personality traits change
01:42:00 Summarising the simulations
01:44:00 Mentalising challenges
01:46:56 Revitalising the self and others
01:51:20 Epistemic trust- change beyond the therapy
01:55:20 Orestis reflections
01:57:15 Both and/ not either or
02:01:00- Patient moving away
02:02:00 Epistemic justice
02:05:00 Agreeable with people and not ideas
02:06:40 BPD as a construct exists
02:15:00 Letter to the ICD
02:19:00 HiTop
02:22:45 Problems with classification
02:27:00 Orestis reflections
02:39:15 Limits of compassion
02:42:00 Change is always happening and futures
02:45:00 Challenge your ideas and readings