Self-Exam Questions - Personality
Disorders Complete Answers
Which of the following findings would rule out the diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive
personality disorder (OCPD)?
A concurrent diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
A concurrent diagnosis of hoarding disorder.
A concurrent diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.
Evidence that the behavioral patterns reflect culturally sanctioned interpersonal
styles. - ANSWER-Evidence that the behavioral patterns reflect culturally sanctioned
interpersonal styles.
Despite working for a company for many years, a 36-year-old employee has not
advanced beyond an entry level position. She gets good reviews and works long
hours but has not asked for a promotion because she feels she is not as good as
other employees and thus unworthy of promotion. She explains her long hours by
saying that she is not very smart and needs to check over all her work because she
is afraid that people will ridicule any mistakes. Which of the following personality
disorders would best explain this woman's lack of job advancement?
Dependent personality disorder.
Avoidant personality disorder.
Paranoid disorder.
Schizoid personality disorder. - ANSWER-Avoidant personality disorder.
A cardiologist requests a psychiatric consultation for her patient, a 46-year-old man,
because of concern that he "seems crazy." On evaluation, the patient makes poor
eye contact, tends to ramble, and makes unusual word choices. He is modestly
disheveled and wears clothes with mismatched colors. He expresses odd beliefs
about supernatural phenomena, but these beliefs do not seem to be of delusional
intensity. Collateral information from a sibling elicits the observation that the patient
"has always been like this—weird, a loner, and likes it that way." Which of the
following conditions best explains this patient's odd behaviors and beliefs?
Schizoid personality disorder.
Schizotypal personality disorder.
Delusional disorder.
Schizophrenia. - ANSWER-Schizotypal personality disorder.
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the development,
course, and prognosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
, Suicide attempts increase with age.
A childhood history of neglect, rather than abuse, is unusual.
Prospective follow-up studies have found that stable remissions of up to 8 years are
very common.
Affective symptoms remit more rapidly than impulsive symptoms. - ANSWER-
Prospective follow-up studies have found that stable remissions of up to 8 years are
very common.
Which of the following is a characteristic of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?
A requirement for much attention of any kind.
Impulsive aggressivity and deceitfulness.
Immersion in perfectionism related to order and rigidity.
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity. - ANSWER-A pervasive pattern of grandiosity.
Which of the following cognitive or perceptual disturbances are most characteristic of
borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
Overly concrete or overly abstract responses.
Ideas of reference.
Superstitiousness or preoccupation with paranormal phenomena.
Transient paranoid ideation during periods of stress. - ANSWER-Transient paranoid
ideation during periods of stress.
A 43-year-old warehouse security guard comes to your office complaining of vague
feelings of depression for the past few months, with no particular sense of fear or
anxiety. He feels little desire for relationships but notes that his coworkers seem
happier, and they have many relationships. He has never felt comfortable with other
people, not even with family. He has lived alone since early adulthood and is self-
sufficient. He almost always works night shifts to avoid interactions with others. He
tries to remain low-key and undistinguished to discourage others from striking up
conversations. Mental status examination is notable for significantly constricted,
bland affect. No cognitive or perceptual disturbances are present. Which personality
disorder would best fit with this presentation?
Paranoid.
Schizoid.
Schizotypal.
Avoidant. - ANSWER-Schizoid
Which of the following behaviors or states would be least likely to occur in an
individual with schizoid personality disorder?
An angry outburst at a colleague who criticizes their work.
Turning down an invitation to a party.
Lacking desire for sexual experiences.
Drifting with regard to life goals. - ANSWER-An angry outburst at a colleague who
criticizes their work.
Disorders Complete Answers
Which of the following findings would rule out the diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive
personality disorder (OCPD)?
A concurrent diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
A concurrent diagnosis of hoarding disorder.
A concurrent diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.
Evidence that the behavioral patterns reflect culturally sanctioned interpersonal
styles. - ANSWER-Evidence that the behavioral patterns reflect culturally sanctioned
interpersonal styles.
Despite working for a company for many years, a 36-year-old employee has not
advanced beyond an entry level position. She gets good reviews and works long
hours but has not asked for a promotion because she feels she is not as good as
other employees and thus unworthy of promotion. She explains her long hours by
saying that she is not very smart and needs to check over all her work because she
is afraid that people will ridicule any mistakes. Which of the following personality
disorders would best explain this woman's lack of job advancement?
Dependent personality disorder.
Avoidant personality disorder.
Paranoid disorder.
Schizoid personality disorder. - ANSWER-Avoidant personality disorder.
A cardiologist requests a psychiatric consultation for her patient, a 46-year-old man,
because of concern that he "seems crazy." On evaluation, the patient makes poor
eye contact, tends to ramble, and makes unusual word choices. He is modestly
disheveled and wears clothes with mismatched colors. He expresses odd beliefs
about supernatural phenomena, but these beliefs do not seem to be of delusional
intensity. Collateral information from a sibling elicits the observation that the patient
"has always been like this—weird, a loner, and likes it that way." Which of the
following conditions best explains this patient's odd behaviors and beliefs?
Schizoid personality disorder.
Schizotypal personality disorder.
Delusional disorder.
Schizophrenia. - ANSWER-Schizotypal personality disorder.
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the development,
course, and prognosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
, Suicide attempts increase with age.
A childhood history of neglect, rather than abuse, is unusual.
Prospective follow-up studies have found that stable remissions of up to 8 years are
very common.
Affective symptoms remit more rapidly than impulsive symptoms. - ANSWER-
Prospective follow-up studies have found that stable remissions of up to 8 years are
very common.
Which of the following is a characteristic of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?
A requirement for much attention of any kind.
Impulsive aggressivity and deceitfulness.
Immersion in perfectionism related to order and rigidity.
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity. - ANSWER-A pervasive pattern of grandiosity.
Which of the following cognitive or perceptual disturbances are most characteristic of
borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
Overly concrete or overly abstract responses.
Ideas of reference.
Superstitiousness or preoccupation with paranormal phenomena.
Transient paranoid ideation during periods of stress. - ANSWER-Transient paranoid
ideation during periods of stress.
A 43-year-old warehouse security guard comes to your office complaining of vague
feelings of depression for the past few months, with no particular sense of fear or
anxiety. He feels little desire for relationships but notes that his coworkers seem
happier, and they have many relationships. He has never felt comfortable with other
people, not even with family. He has lived alone since early adulthood and is self-
sufficient. He almost always works night shifts to avoid interactions with others. He
tries to remain low-key and undistinguished to discourage others from striking up
conversations. Mental status examination is notable for significantly constricted,
bland affect. No cognitive or perceptual disturbances are present. Which personality
disorder would best fit with this presentation?
Paranoid.
Schizoid.
Schizotypal.
Avoidant. - ANSWER-Schizoid
Which of the following behaviors or states would be least likely to occur in an
individual with schizoid personality disorder?
An angry outburst at a colleague who criticizes their work.
Turning down an invitation to a party.
Lacking desire for sexual experiences.
Drifting with regard to life goals. - ANSWER-An angry outburst at a colleague who
criticizes their work.
