Personality Disorders Exam 2 Psych
Questions and Answers
Which behaviors are examples of a primitive defense mechanism often relied upon
by those diagnosed with a personality disorder? Select all that apply.
a. Regularly attempts to split the staff
b. Attempts to undo feelings of anger by offering to do favors
c. Regresses to rocking and humming to sooth themselves when fearful
d. Lashes out verbally when confronted with criticism
e. Destroys another person's belongings when angry - ANSWER-a. Regularly
attempts to split the staff
b. Attempts to undo feelings of anger by offering to do favors
c. Regresses to rocking and humming to sooth themselves when fearful
Personality disorders often co-occur with mood and eating disorders. A young
woman is undergoing treatment at an eating disorders clinic and her nurse suspects
the patient may also have a Cluster B personality disorder due to the young
woman's:
a. Desire to avoid eating
b. Dramatic response to frustration
c. Excessive exercise routine
d. Morose personality traits - ANSWER-b. Dramatic response to frustration
Larry is from a small town and began displaying aggressive and manipulative traits
while still a teenager. Now at 40 years old, Larry is serving a life sentence for the
murders of his wife and her brother. John, the prison psychiatric nurse practitioner,
recognizes that Larry's treatment will most likely:
a. Transform Larry to a model prisoner
b. Not improve Larry's coping skills
c. Reaffirm Larry's high-risk behaviors
d. Manifest as small incremental changes - ANSWER-d. Manifest as small
incremental changes
Connor is a 28-year-old student, referred by his university for a psychiatric
evaluation. He reports that he has no friends at the university and people call him a
loner. Recently, Connor has been giving lectures to pigeons at the university
fountains. Connor is diagnosed as schizotypal, which differs from schizophrenia in
that persons diagnosed as schizotypal:
a. Can be made aware of their delusions
b. Are far more delusional than schizophrenics
c. Have a greater need for socialization
d. Do not usually respond to antipsychotic medications - ANSWER-a. Can be made
aware of their delusions
, Garret's wife of 8 years is divorcing him because the marriage never developed a
warm or loving atmosphere. Garrett states in therapy, "I have always been a loner,"
and was never concerned about what others think. The nurse practitioner suggests
that Garrett try a trial of bupropion (Wellbutrin) to:
a. Improve his flat emotions
b. Assist in getting a good night's sleep
c. Increase the pleasure of living
d. Prepare Garrett for group therapy - ANSWER-c. Increase the pleasure of living
Josie, a 27-year-old patient, complains that most of the staff do not like her. She
says she can tell that you are a caring person. Josie is unsure of what she wants to
do with her life and her "mixed up feelings" about relationships. When you tell her
that you will be on vacation next week, she becomes very angry. Two hours later,
she is found using a curling iron to burn her underarms and explains that it "makes
the numbness stop." Given this presentation, which personality disorder would you
suspect?
a. Obsessive-compulsive
b. Borderline
c. Antisocial
d. Schizotypal - ANSWER-b. Borderline
Personality Disorder general characteristics - ANSWER-1. Personality traits are
inflexible & maladaptive, pervasive pattern of abnormality exists
2. Cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress (APA 2000)
3. Limited ability to achieve trust, autonomy, independence & meaningful
relationships
4. May not affect all areas of life
5. Patients with PD seek treatment with crisis or trauma
Cluster A personality disorders - ANSWER-Odd or Eccentric, Schizotypal, Paranoid,
Schizoid
Cluster B personality disorders - ANSWER-Dramatic, Emotional, Erratic, Borderline,
Antisocial, Histrionic, Narcissistic
Cluster C personality disorders - ANSWER-Anxious, Fearful, Dependent, Avoidant,
Obsessive Compulsive
Antisocial PD (cluster b): - ANSWER-o Disregard for & violation of rights of others (3)
o failure to conform to social norms (laws, arrest)
o deceitfulness, lying, use of aliases, conning
o impulsivity, irritability & aggressiveness, assaults
o reckless disregard for safety of self or others
o lack of remorse for wrongdoings to others
o at least 18 years of age
Borderline PD (cluster b) - ANSWER-o Instability of interpersonal relationship, self-
image, affect, marked impulsivity (5)
o frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, unstable & intense
relationships
Questions and Answers
Which behaviors are examples of a primitive defense mechanism often relied upon
by those diagnosed with a personality disorder? Select all that apply.
a. Regularly attempts to split the staff
b. Attempts to undo feelings of anger by offering to do favors
c. Regresses to rocking and humming to sooth themselves when fearful
d. Lashes out verbally when confronted with criticism
e. Destroys another person's belongings when angry - ANSWER-a. Regularly
attempts to split the staff
b. Attempts to undo feelings of anger by offering to do favors
c. Regresses to rocking and humming to sooth themselves when fearful
Personality disorders often co-occur with mood and eating disorders. A young
woman is undergoing treatment at an eating disorders clinic and her nurse suspects
the patient may also have a Cluster B personality disorder due to the young
woman's:
a. Desire to avoid eating
b. Dramatic response to frustration
c. Excessive exercise routine
d. Morose personality traits - ANSWER-b. Dramatic response to frustration
Larry is from a small town and began displaying aggressive and manipulative traits
while still a teenager. Now at 40 years old, Larry is serving a life sentence for the
murders of his wife and her brother. John, the prison psychiatric nurse practitioner,
recognizes that Larry's treatment will most likely:
a. Transform Larry to a model prisoner
b. Not improve Larry's coping skills
c. Reaffirm Larry's high-risk behaviors
d. Manifest as small incremental changes - ANSWER-d. Manifest as small
incremental changes
Connor is a 28-year-old student, referred by his university for a psychiatric
evaluation. He reports that he has no friends at the university and people call him a
loner. Recently, Connor has been giving lectures to pigeons at the university
fountains. Connor is diagnosed as schizotypal, which differs from schizophrenia in
that persons diagnosed as schizotypal:
a. Can be made aware of their delusions
b. Are far more delusional than schizophrenics
c. Have a greater need for socialization
d. Do not usually respond to antipsychotic medications - ANSWER-a. Can be made
aware of their delusions
, Garret's wife of 8 years is divorcing him because the marriage never developed a
warm or loving atmosphere. Garrett states in therapy, "I have always been a loner,"
and was never concerned about what others think. The nurse practitioner suggests
that Garrett try a trial of bupropion (Wellbutrin) to:
a. Improve his flat emotions
b. Assist in getting a good night's sleep
c. Increase the pleasure of living
d. Prepare Garrett for group therapy - ANSWER-c. Increase the pleasure of living
Josie, a 27-year-old patient, complains that most of the staff do not like her. She
says she can tell that you are a caring person. Josie is unsure of what she wants to
do with her life and her "mixed up feelings" about relationships. When you tell her
that you will be on vacation next week, she becomes very angry. Two hours later,
she is found using a curling iron to burn her underarms and explains that it "makes
the numbness stop." Given this presentation, which personality disorder would you
suspect?
a. Obsessive-compulsive
b. Borderline
c. Antisocial
d. Schizotypal - ANSWER-b. Borderline
Personality Disorder general characteristics - ANSWER-1. Personality traits are
inflexible & maladaptive, pervasive pattern of abnormality exists
2. Cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress (APA 2000)
3. Limited ability to achieve trust, autonomy, independence & meaningful
relationships
4. May not affect all areas of life
5. Patients with PD seek treatment with crisis or trauma
Cluster A personality disorders - ANSWER-Odd or Eccentric, Schizotypal, Paranoid,
Schizoid
Cluster B personality disorders - ANSWER-Dramatic, Emotional, Erratic, Borderline,
Antisocial, Histrionic, Narcissistic
Cluster C personality disorders - ANSWER-Anxious, Fearful, Dependent, Avoidant,
Obsessive Compulsive
Antisocial PD (cluster b): - ANSWER-o Disregard for & violation of rights of others (3)
o failure to conform to social norms (laws, arrest)
o deceitfulness, lying, use of aliases, conning
o impulsivity, irritability & aggressiveness, assaults
o reckless disregard for safety of self or others
o lack of remorse for wrongdoings to others
o at least 18 years of age
Borderline PD (cluster b) - ANSWER-o Instability of interpersonal relationship, self-
image, affect, marked impulsivity (5)
o frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, unstable & intense
relationships
