NR 547 Week 7: (Latest 2026/2027 Update) Personality Disorders - Clusters A,
B, C | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified Answers) – Champion Nursing
Program
Subject: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Personality Disorders: Paranoid,
Schizoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-
Compulsive
Source: NR 547 Week 7 / DSM-5-TR / Clinical Practice Guidelines (2026/2027 Update)
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationales | Grade A Guaranteed
1. What are personality disorders according to DSM-5?
Correct Answer: An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from
cultural expectations. Pervasive unhealthy patterns of thinking, functioning, and behaving, usually
beginning by late adolescence or early adulthood. Affects at least two of: way of thinking about oneself
and others, way of responding emotionally, way of relating to other people, way of controlling one's
behavior. Diagnosed only in individuals 18 or older. Occurs in 10-20% of general population and about
50% of psychiatric clients.
1. Personality disorders are ego-syntonic; patients often do not perceive their traits as
problematic.
2. Diagnosis requires that symptoms are long-standing and impact functioning.
2. What are the three clusters of personality disorders?
Correct Answer: Cluster A (odd/eccentric): paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal. Cluster B
(dramatic/emotional/erratic): antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic. Cluster C (anxious/fearful):
avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive.
1. Cluster A is often described as the "odd" cluster; Cluster B as "dramatic"; Cluster C as
"anxious."
3. Describe Paranoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A).
Correct Answer: Long-standing, pervasive mistrust or suspicion of others and their motives. May
refuse to take responsibility for their feelings, assigning responsibility to others. May appear angry,
irritable, or hostile, perceiving innocent remarks as personal insults.
1. Different from paranoid schizophrenia: no fixed delusions or hallucinations.
4. Describe Schizoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A).
Correct Answer: Lifelong pattern of social withdrawal, introversion, and discomfort with social
interaction. Difficulty reading social cues; inability to find pleasure in most activities. Affect is bland
and constricted; others perceive behaviors as cold, indifferent, lonely, or isolated.
1. Unlike avoidant PD, individuals with schizoid PD do not desire social relationships.
, 5. Describe Schizotypal Personality Disorder (Cluster A).
Correct Answer: Appear odd to others; may dress peculiarly and exhibit magical thinking, odd notions,
illusions, ideas of reference, and derealization. Emotional responses may be flat or inappropriate.
1. Schizotypal PD has psychotic-like symptoms but not full-blown psychosis.
6. Rico, age 30, has been accusing his wife of cheating for the past year, taking her phone, and
starting arguments. Does he meet criteria for paranoid personality disorder?
Correct Answer: No. Although he has preoccupation with wife's loyalty, symptoms developed within
the past year. Paranoid PD requires symptoms by early adulthood and in a variety of contexts.
1. Alternate diagnostic considerations: substance use disorder, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder
with psychotic features.
7. Crispin, age 33, has auditory hallucinations, no hobbies, prefers to be alone, no interest in dating
or sex since adolescence. What is the most appropriate diagnosis?
Correct Answer: Schizoid Personality Disorder
1. He meets criteria: detachment from social relationships, prefers solitary activities, lacks close
friends, lacks interest in sexual experiences since adolescence. Clients with schizoid PD may
have brief psychotic episodes when stressed.
8. Heloise, age 27, believes she caused a wildfire to spread by thinking about it, hears animals
crying, has no friends, was teased as a "weirdo." What is the most appropriate diagnosis?
Correct Answer: Schizotypal Personality Disorder
1. She exhibits ideas of reference, magical thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, odd
appearance/speech patterns, social anxiety, and lack of close friends since high school.
9. Describe Antisocial Personality Disorder (Cluster B).
Correct Answer: Inability to conform to social norms typical of adolescent or adult behavior. Disregard
for needs, feelings, rights, or safety of others. Recurring problems with the law, criminal acts such as
lying, stealing, or conning others without remorse.
1. Requires evidence of conduct disorder before age 15. Diagnosis not used in individuals under
18.
10. Describe Borderline Personality Disorder (Cluster B).
Correct Answer: Stand on the border between neurosis and psychosis. Unstable affect, mood,
behaviors, object relations, and self-image. Engage in risky behaviors, intensely fearful of
abandonment, intense and unstable relationships. Stress-related mood swings and paranoia, suicidal
behavior or self-harm common.
1. May last from only a few hours to days. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is first-line
psychotherapy.
B, C | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified Answers) – Champion Nursing
Program
Subject: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Personality Disorders: Paranoid,
Schizoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-
Compulsive
Source: NR 547 Week 7 / DSM-5-TR / Clinical Practice Guidelines (2026/2027 Update)
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationales | Grade A Guaranteed
1. What are personality disorders according to DSM-5?
Correct Answer: An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from
cultural expectations. Pervasive unhealthy patterns of thinking, functioning, and behaving, usually
beginning by late adolescence or early adulthood. Affects at least two of: way of thinking about oneself
and others, way of responding emotionally, way of relating to other people, way of controlling one's
behavior. Diagnosed only in individuals 18 or older. Occurs in 10-20% of general population and about
50% of psychiatric clients.
1. Personality disorders are ego-syntonic; patients often do not perceive their traits as
problematic.
2. Diagnosis requires that symptoms are long-standing and impact functioning.
2. What are the three clusters of personality disorders?
Correct Answer: Cluster A (odd/eccentric): paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal. Cluster B
(dramatic/emotional/erratic): antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic. Cluster C (anxious/fearful):
avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive.
1. Cluster A is often described as the "odd" cluster; Cluster B as "dramatic"; Cluster C as
"anxious."
3. Describe Paranoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A).
Correct Answer: Long-standing, pervasive mistrust or suspicion of others and their motives. May
refuse to take responsibility for their feelings, assigning responsibility to others. May appear angry,
irritable, or hostile, perceiving innocent remarks as personal insults.
1. Different from paranoid schizophrenia: no fixed delusions or hallucinations.
4. Describe Schizoid Personality Disorder (Cluster A).
Correct Answer: Lifelong pattern of social withdrawal, introversion, and discomfort with social
interaction. Difficulty reading social cues; inability to find pleasure in most activities. Affect is bland
and constricted; others perceive behaviors as cold, indifferent, lonely, or isolated.
1. Unlike avoidant PD, individuals with schizoid PD do not desire social relationships.
, 5. Describe Schizotypal Personality Disorder (Cluster A).
Correct Answer: Appear odd to others; may dress peculiarly and exhibit magical thinking, odd notions,
illusions, ideas of reference, and derealization. Emotional responses may be flat or inappropriate.
1. Schizotypal PD has psychotic-like symptoms but not full-blown psychosis.
6. Rico, age 30, has been accusing his wife of cheating for the past year, taking her phone, and
starting arguments. Does he meet criteria for paranoid personality disorder?
Correct Answer: No. Although he has preoccupation with wife's loyalty, symptoms developed within
the past year. Paranoid PD requires symptoms by early adulthood and in a variety of contexts.
1. Alternate diagnostic considerations: substance use disorder, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder
with psychotic features.
7. Crispin, age 33, has auditory hallucinations, no hobbies, prefers to be alone, no interest in dating
or sex since adolescence. What is the most appropriate diagnosis?
Correct Answer: Schizoid Personality Disorder
1. He meets criteria: detachment from social relationships, prefers solitary activities, lacks close
friends, lacks interest in sexual experiences since adolescence. Clients with schizoid PD may
have brief psychotic episodes when stressed.
8. Heloise, age 27, believes she caused a wildfire to spread by thinking about it, hears animals
crying, has no friends, was teased as a "weirdo." What is the most appropriate diagnosis?
Correct Answer: Schizotypal Personality Disorder
1. She exhibits ideas of reference, magical thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, odd
appearance/speech patterns, social anxiety, and lack of close friends since high school.
9. Describe Antisocial Personality Disorder (Cluster B).
Correct Answer: Inability to conform to social norms typical of adolescent or adult behavior. Disregard
for needs, feelings, rights, or safety of others. Recurring problems with the law, criminal acts such as
lying, stealing, or conning others without remorse.
1. Requires evidence of conduct disorder before age 15. Diagnosis not used in individuals under
18.
10. Describe Borderline Personality Disorder (Cluster B).
Correct Answer: Stand on the border between neurosis and psychosis. Unstable affect, mood,
behaviors, object relations, and self-image. Engage in risky behaviors, intensely fearful of
abandonment, intense and unstable relationships. Stress-related mood swings and paranoia, suicidal
behavior or self-harm common.
1. May last from only a few hours to days. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is first-line
psychotherapy.
