MH- Exam 2 (Personality Disorders)
Questions and Answers
Which approach should the nurse use to maintain a therapeutic relationship with a
client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
a. Being firm, consistent, and empathic while addressing specific client behaviors
b. Promoting client self-expression by implementing laissez-faire leadership
c. Using authoritative leadership to help clients learn to conform to society norms
d. Overlooking inappropriate behaviors to avoid providing secondary gains -
ANSWER-a. Being firm, consistent, and empathic while addressing specific client
behaviors
(The best nursing approach when working with a client diagnosed with borderline
personality disorder is to be firm, consistent, and empathetic while addressing
specific client behaviors. Individuals with borderline personality disorder always
seem to be in a state of crisis and can often have negative patterns of interaction,
such as manipulation and splitting.)
Which physically healthy adult client should a nurse identify as exhibiting the
characteristics of a dependent personality disorder?
a. Meets social needs by contact with 15 cats
b. Has a history of depending on intense relationships to meet basic needs
c. Lives with parents and relies totally on public transportation
d. Is serious, inflexible, and lacks spontaneity - ANSWER-c. Lives with parents and
relies totally on public transportation
(An adult client who lives with parents and totally relies upon public transportation
exhibits signs of dependent personality disorder. Dependent personality disorder is
characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to
submissive behaviors.)
The client expresses low self-worth, has much difficulty making decisions, avoids
positions of responsibility, and has a behavioral pattern of "suffering" in silence.
Which information best explains the childhood nurturance of this client's personality
disorder?
a. Was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors were encouraged
b. Was provided exclusively from one source, and independent behaviors were
discouraged
c. Was provided exclusively from one source, and independent behaviors were
encouraged
d. Was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors were discouraged -
ANSWER-b. Was provided exclusively from one source, and independent behaviors
were discouraged
, (The behaviors presented in the question represent symptoms of dependent
personality disorder. Nurturance provided from one source and discouragement of
independent behaviors can contribute to the development of this personality
disorder. Dependent behaviors may be rewarded by a parent who is overprotective
and discourages autonomy.)
Family members of a client ask the nurse to explain the difference between schizoid
and avoidant personality disorders. Which nursing response is appropriate?
a. Clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder desire intimacy but fear it,
and clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone.
b. Clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder exhibit delusions and
hallucinations, while clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder do not.
c. Clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder are eccentric, and clients
diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder are dull and vacant.
d. Clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder have a history of psychosis,
while clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder remain based in reality. -
ANSWER-a. Clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder desire intimacy but
fear it, and clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone.
(The nurse should educate the family that clients diagnosed with avoidant
personality disorder desire intimacy but fear it, while clients diagnosed with schizoid
personality disorder prefer to be alone.)
Which nursing diagnosis should a nurse identify as appropriate when working with a
client diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder?
a. Altered thought processes R/T increased stress
b. Risk for suicide R/T loneliness
c. Risk for violence: directed toward others R/T paranoid thinking
d. Social isolation R/T inability to relate to others - ANSWER-d. Social isolation R/T
inability to relate to others
(An appropriate nursing diagnosis when working with a client diagnosed with
schizoid personality disorder is social isolation R/T inability to relate to others. These
clients avoid close or romantic relationships, interpersonal attachments, and intimate
sexual relationships.)
Looking at a slightly bleeding paper cut, the client screams, "Somebody help me
quick! I'm bleeding. Call 911!" The nurse should identify this behavior as
characteristic of which personality disorder?
a. Schizoid
b. Obsessive-compulsive
c. Histrionic
d. Paranoid - ANSWER-c. Histrionic
(The nurse should identify this behavior as characteristic of histrionic personality
disorder. Individuals with this disorder tend to be self-dramatizing, attention seeking,
over-gregarious, and seductive.)
When planning care for a client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which
self-harm behavior should a nurse expect the client to exhibit?
Questions and Answers
Which approach should the nurse use to maintain a therapeutic relationship with a
client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
a. Being firm, consistent, and empathic while addressing specific client behaviors
b. Promoting client self-expression by implementing laissez-faire leadership
c. Using authoritative leadership to help clients learn to conform to society norms
d. Overlooking inappropriate behaviors to avoid providing secondary gains -
ANSWER-a. Being firm, consistent, and empathic while addressing specific client
behaviors
(The best nursing approach when working with a client diagnosed with borderline
personality disorder is to be firm, consistent, and empathetic while addressing
specific client behaviors. Individuals with borderline personality disorder always
seem to be in a state of crisis and can often have negative patterns of interaction,
such as manipulation and splitting.)
Which physically healthy adult client should a nurse identify as exhibiting the
characteristics of a dependent personality disorder?
a. Meets social needs by contact with 15 cats
b. Has a history of depending on intense relationships to meet basic needs
c. Lives with parents and relies totally on public transportation
d. Is serious, inflexible, and lacks spontaneity - ANSWER-c. Lives with parents and
relies totally on public transportation
(An adult client who lives with parents and totally relies upon public transportation
exhibits signs of dependent personality disorder. Dependent personality disorder is
characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to
submissive behaviors.)
The client expresses low self-worth, has much difficulty making decisions, avoids
positions of responsibility, and has a behavioral pattern of "suffering" in silence.
Which information best explains the childhood nurturance of this client's personality
disorder?
a. Was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors were encouraged
b. Was provided exclusively from one source, and independent behaviors were
discouraged
c. Was provided exclusively from one source, and independent behaviors were
encouraged
d. Was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors were discouraged -
ANSWER-b. Was provided exclusively from one source, and independent behaviors
were discouraged
, (The behaviors presented in the question represent symptoms of dependent
personality disorder. Nurturance provided from one source and discouragement of
independent behaviors can contribute to the development of this personality
disorder. Dependent behaviors may be rewarded by a parent who is overprotective
and discourages autonomy.)
Family members of a client ask the nurse to explain the difference between schizoid
and avoidant personality disorders. Which nursing response is appropriate?
a. Clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder desire intimacy but fear it,
and clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone.
b. Clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder exhibit delusions and
hallucinations, while clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder do not.
c. Clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder are eccentric, and clients
diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder are dull and vacant.
d. Clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder have a history of psychosis,
while clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder remain based in reality. -
ANSWER-a. Clients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder desire intimacy but
fear it, and clients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone.
(The nurse should educate the family that clients diagnosed with avoidant
personality disorder desire intimacy but fear it, while clients diagnosed with schizoid
personality disorder prefer to be alone.)
Which nursing diagnosis should a nurse identify as appropriate when working with a
client diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder?
a. Altered thought processes R/T increased stress
b. Risk for suicide R/T loneliness
c. Risk for violence: directed toward others R/T paranoid thinking
d. Social isolation R/T inability to relate to others - ANSWER-d. Social isolation R/T
inability to relate to others
(An appropriate nursing diagnosis when working with a client diagnosed with
schizoid personality disorder is social isolation R/T inability to relate to others. These
clients avoid close or romantic relationships, interpersonal attachments, and intimate
sexual relationships.)
Looking at a slightly bleeding paper cut, the client screams, "Somebody help me
quick! I'm bleeding. Call 911!" The nurse should identify this behavior as
characteristic of which personality disorder?
a. Schizoid
b. Obsessive-compulsive
c. Histrionic
d. Paranoid - ANSWER-c. Histrionic
(The nurse should identify this behavior as characteristic of histrionic personality
disorder. Individuals with this disorder tend to be self-dramatizing, attention seeking,
over-gregarious, and seductive.)
When planning care for a client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which
self-harm behavior should a nurse expect the client to exhibit?
