Personality Disorder Exam Questions
and Answers
Schizoid Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-appear apathetic and
aloof, unsociable, seclusive; restricted affect; gravitate toward solitary jobs; solitary
interests; no loss of capacity to recognize reality
Schizoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Who cares what others think of
me? I enjoy doing things alone more than with others.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - goal =
social skills training; pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants; medical -
respect need for privacy and distance
Schizoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Lifelong pattern of social withdrawal,
discomfort, with human interaction, eccentricity, isolation; 7.5% of population; male >
female, unknown etiology
Schizoid Personality Disorders - prognosis - ANSWER-onset early childhood; may
not last entire life; may develop schizophrenia
Schizoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-Psychotherapy - may become
devoted patients if seek treatment, may reveal their fantasies, fears of dependance,
group therapy may provide only social contact; Pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics,
antidepressants, as needed; Medical - respect need for privacy, may be suspicious
of authority figures (physicians)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Long-standing suspiciosness and distrust
of people leading to false interpretations of motivations and actions of others; .5 to
2.5%, male > female, higher incidence in: deaf, minorities, immigrants, relatives of
schizophrenics, etiology is unknown
Paranoid Personality Disorder - clinical features - ANSWER-expect others to exploit
or harm them; interpret other's actions as deliberately threatening; question, without
justification, loyalty of friends, fidelity of spouse; hostile, irritable, angry; restricted
affect - appearance unemotional; pesistent grudges (litigious); ideas of reference,
illusions; 75% have another personality disorder (usually schizotypal p.d.)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Others can't be trusted. People
try to annoy me.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - course and prognosis - ANSWER-may be lifelong,
may be progrome of schizophrenia or paranoid delusional disorder, may diminish
, with time, lifelong problems living and working with others, difficulty with authority
figures and intimate relationships.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - difficult to
engage, treatment of choice; pharmacotherapy - for agitation and anxiety, may need
antipsychotics for delusional thoughts; medical - carefully explain procedures,
medications and test results
Histrionic Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior in
emotional people, 2-3% female > male
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-attention-seeking,
seductive behavior; exaggerated thoughts and feelings; temper tantrums; constant
need for praise and approval; excessive concern about physical attractiveness;
superficial relationships; reality testing can become imparied under stress
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Typical Thoughts - ANSWER-To be happy, ohters
must be paying attention to me. Feelings are more important than being rational.
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - ANSWER-show less
symptoms as they age; may have problems with lay, promiscuity, substance abuse;
somatization and conversion disorders common
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-Psychotherapy;
pharmacotherapy - for depression and anxiety; medical - try to be respectful and
professional in face of patient's potentially dramatic behavior
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Heightened sense of self-importance,
entitlement; epidemiology, <1%, 50-75% male, may be increased risk in children of
those with narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-special people who
deserve special treatment; easily maddened with criticism; ambitious for fame and
fortune; fragile relationships; lack of empathy; often exploit others; fragile self-esteem
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Typical Thoughts - ANSWER-I'm a very special
person. I'm superior to others so I'm entitled to special treatment. Others have no
right to criticize me.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - ANSWER-chronic; major
depressive disorder, psychosis and suicide in response to criticism, rejection; aging
handled poorly
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - individual
therapy (treatment of choice, difficult since must renounce narcissism);
pharmacotherapy; medical - try to be nondefensive
Antisocial Personality Disorder - ANSWER-inability to conform to societal norms;
epidemiology - 3% of men, 1% of women, poor urban areas, onset must be <15 yo,
50-75% of prisoners, 5x more common among first degree relatives
and Answers
Schizoid Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-appear apathetic and
aloof, unsociable, seclusive; restricted affect; gravitate toward solitary jobs; solitary
interests; no loss of capacity to recognize reality
Schizoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Who cares what others think of
me? I enjoy doing things alone more than with others.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - goal =
social skills training; pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants; medical -
respect need for privacy and distance
Schizoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Lifelong pattern of social withdrawal,
discomfort, with human interaction, eccentricity, isolation; 7.5% of population; male >
female, unknown etiology
Schizoid Personality Disorders - prognosis - ANSWER-onset early childhood; may
not last entire life; may develop schizophrenia
Schizoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-Psychotherapy - may become
devoted patients if seek treatment, may reveal their fantasies, fears of dependance,
group therapy may provide only social contact; Pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics,
antidepressants, as needed; Medical - respect need for privacy, may be suspicious
of authority figures (physicians)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Long-standing suspiciosness and distrust
of people leading to false interpretations of motivations and actions of others; .5 to
2.5%, male > female, higher incidence in: deaf, minorities, immigrants, relatives of
schizophrenics, etiology is unknown
Paranoid Personality Disorder - clinical features - ANSWER-expect others to exploit
or harm them; interpret other's actions as deliberately threatening; question, without
justification, loyalty of friends, fidelity of spouse; hostile, irritable, angry; restricted
affect - appearance unemotional; pesistent grudges (litigious); ideas of reference,
illusions; 75% have another personality disorder (usually schizotypal p.d.)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Others can't be trusted. People
try to annoy me.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - course and prognosis - ANSWER-may be lifelong,
may be progrome of schizophrenia or paranoid delusional disorder, may diminish
, with time, lifelong problems living and working with others, difficulty with authority
figures and intimate relationships.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - difficult to
engage, treatment of choice; pharmacotherapy - for agitation and anxiety, may need
antipsychotics for delusional thoughts; medical - carefully explain procedures,
medications and test results
Histrionic Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior in
emotional people, 2-3% female > male
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-attention-seeking,
seductive behavior; exaggerated thoughts and feelings; temper tantrums; constant
need for praise and approval; excessive concern about physical attractiveness;
superficial relationships; reality testing can become imparied under stress
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Typical Thoughts - ANSWER-To be happy, ohters
must be paying attention to me. Feelings are more important than being rational.
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - ANSWER-show less
symptoms as they age; may have problems with lay, promiscuity, substance abuse;
somatization and conversion disorders common
Histrionic Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-Psychotherapy;
pharmacotherapy - for depression and anxiety; medical - try to be respectful and
professional in face of patient's potentially dramatic behavior
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Heightened sense of self-importance,
entitlement; epidemiology, <1%, 50-75% male, may be increased risk in children of
those with narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-special people who
deserve special treatment; easily maddened with criticism; ambitious for fame and
fortune; fragile relationships; lack of empathy; often exploit others; fragile self-esteem
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Typical Thoughts - ANSWER-I'm a very special
person. I'm superior to others so I'm entitled to special treatment. Others have no
right to criticize me.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - ANSWER-chronic; major
depressive disorder, psychosis and suicide in response to criticism, rejection; aging
handled poorly
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - individual
therapy (treatment of choice, difficult since must renounce narcissism);
pharmacotherapy; medical - try to be nondefensive
Antisocial Personality Disorder - ANSWER-inability to conform to societal norms;
epidemiology - 3% of men, 1% of women, poor urban areas, onset must be <15 yo,
50-75% of prisoners, 5x more common among first degree relatives
