Psychiatric Nursing Exam Review: Personality Disorders, Cluster A, B, C, Schizoid,
Schizotypal, Paranoid, Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, Avoidant,
Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive, Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia
Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Panic
Disorder, Phobias, OCD, PTSD, Acute Stress Disorder, Dissociative Disorders,
Somatic Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Tic Disorders, Oppositional
Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Intellectual Development Disorder, Abuse,
Intimate Partner Violence, Child Abuse, Rape and Sexual Assault, Grief, Kubler-
Ross, Bowlby, Engel, Horowitz, Worden, Complicated Grieving, Therapeutic
Interventions, Nursing Assessment, Psychopharmacology, CBT, DBT, EMDR,
Trauma-Informed Care, Crisis Intervention, Patient Education, Self-Awareness
Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales
Latest Updated 2026
Personality
ingrained, enduring pattern of behaving and relatingto self, others, and environment
Perceptions, attitudes, emotions
Usually not consciously aware of their own personality
Personality disorders
Impairment of personality functioning
,Personality traits that are maladaptive
Identity problems
Dysfunctional relationships
Maladaptive or Dysfunctional Personality Traits
Negative behavior toward others
Anger and/or hostility
Irritable/labile moods
Lack of guilt, remorse, or being emotionally cold and uncaring
Impulsive, poor judgment
Irresponsible, not accountable fort heir own actions
Risk-taking, thrill-seeking behaviors
Mistrust
Exhibitionism
Entitlement
Dependency, insecurity
Eccentric perceptions
Cluster A—odd or eccentric behaviors
Paranoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
,Schizotypal personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
a personality disorder characterized by persistent avoidance of social relationships and little
expression of emotion
do not need people or interactions
emotionally detached
Schizotypal personality disorder
A person has several traits that cause, including inappropriate affect, paranoid/magical thinking,
and odd beliefs
corky
prefer fantasy to reality
When these individuals are under stress, they can develop hallucinations and delusions
paranoid personality disorder
A person mistrusts and misinterprets others' motives and actions without sufficient cause
Cluster B—erratic or dramatic behaviors
Antisocial personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
, Histrionic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of success
or power, and a need for constant attention or admiration
entitled "victim"
very good at manipulation
Assertive communication needs to be on point
SET BOUNDARIES
key component in dealing with manipulation
consistency- answer has to be the same across the board
Borderline Personality Disorder
condition marked by extreme instability in mood, identity, and impulse control
will hurt themselves; they feel abandonment
SAFETY is #1
dialectical behavior therapy needed (emotional regulation and assertive communication)
Schizotypal, Paranoid, Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, Avoidant,
Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive, Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia
Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Panic
Disorder, Phobias, OCD, PTSD, Acute Stress Disorder, Dissociative Disorders,
Somatic Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Tic Disorders, Oppositional
Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Intellectual Development Disorder, Abuse,
Intimate Partner Violence, Child Abuse, Rape and Sexual Assault, Grief, Kubler-
Ross, Bowlby, Engel, Horowitz, Worden, Complicated Grieving, Therapeutic
Interventions, Nursing Assessment, Psychopharmacology, CBT, DBT, EMDR,
Trauma-Informed Care, Crisis Intervention, Patient Education, Self-Awareness
Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales
Latest Updated 2026
Personality
ingrained, enduring pattern of behaving and relatingto self, others, and environment
Perceptions, attitudes, emotions
Usually not consciously aware of their own personality
Personality disorders
Impairment of personality functioning
,Personality traits that are maladaptive
Identity problems
Dysfunctional relationships
Maladaptive or Dysfunctional Personality Traits
Negative behavior toward others
Anger and/or hostility
Irritable/labile moods
Lack of guilt, remorse, or being emotionally cold and uncaring
Impulsive, poor judgment
Irresponsible, not accountable fort heir own actions
Risk-taking, thrill-seeking behaviors
Mistrust
Exhibitionism
Entitlement
Dependency, insecurity
Eccentric perceptions
Cluster A—odd or eccentric behaviors
Paranoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
,Schizotypal personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
a personality disorder characterized by persistent avoidance of social relationships and little
expression of emotion
do not need people or interactions
emotionally detached
Schizotypal personality disorder
A person has several traits that cause, including inappropriate affect, paranoid/magical thinking,
and odd beliefs
corky
prefer fantasy to reality
When these individuals are under stress, they can develop hallucinations and delusions
paranoid personality disorder
A person mistrusts and misinterprets others' motives and actions without sufficient cause
Cluster B—erratic or dramatic behaviors
Antisocial personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
, Histrionic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of success
or power, and a need for constant attention or admiration
entitled "victim"
very good at manipulation
Assertive communication needs to be on point
SET BOUNDARIES
key component in dealing with manipulation
consistency- answer has to be the same across the board
Borderline Personality Disorder
condition marked by extreme instability in mood, identity, and impulse control
will hurt themselves; they feel abandonment
SAFETY is #1
dialectical behavior therapy needed (emotional regulation and assertive communication)
