1- Personality Disorders - Psychiatric Mental Health for Nursing Students | ‪@LevelUpRN‬

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Du4_yVkiY&rco=1

Correct Answer: C. Schizoid personality disorder

Explanation:
Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by emotional detachment, social withdrawal, and blunted affect. Unlike avoidant personality disorder, these individuals do not desire relationships. Schizotypal disorder involves eccentric behavior and perceptual distortions, which are absent here.

A patient is emotionally detached, prefers solitary activities, shows little interest in close relationships, and has a restricted range of emotional expression. Which personality disorder best fits this presentation?

A. Avoidant personality disorder
B. Schizotypal personality disorder
C. Schizoid personality disorder
D. Paranoid personality disorder

Correct Answer: C. Severity and persistence of psychotic symptoms

Explanation:
Schizotypal personality disorder may involve odd beliefs, magical thinking, and transient perceptual disturbances, but psychotic symptoms are mild, brief, and stress-related, unlike schizophrenia where psychosis is persistent and severe.

Which feature best differentiates schizotypal personality disorder from schizophrenia?

A. Presence of bizarre behavior
B. Presence of magical thinking
C. Severity and persistence of psychotic symptoms
D. Social withdrawal

Correct Answer: B. “A history of conduct disorder before age 15 is required.”

Explanation:
A key diagnostic requirement for antisocial personality disorder is evidence of conduct disorder before age 15. ASPD is marked by violation of social norms, aggression, deceitfulness, and lack of remorse, not anxiety or fear of abandonment.

A nurse is educating a student about antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Which statement by the student indicates correct understanding?

A. “These patients mainly avoid social interactions.”
B. “A history of conduct disorder before age 15 is required.”
C. “They experience intense fear of abandonment.”
D. “They are typically anxious and perfectionistic.”

Correct Answer: C. Borderline personality disorder

Explanation:
This pattern reflects splitting, a hallmark defense mechanism of borderline personality disorder, where individuals view people and situations in all-or-nothing (black-and-white) terms.

A patient alternates between idealizing and devaluing their therapist, describing them as “perfect” one week and “completely evil” the next. This defense mechanism is most associated with which disorder?

A. Histrionic personality disorder
B. Narcissistic personality disorder
C. Borderline personality disorder
D. Paranoid personality disorder

Correct Answer: B. Borderline personality disorder

Explanation:
Borderline personality disorder is strongly associated with emotional instability, impulsivity, chronic feelings of emptiness, and recurrent self-harm or suicidal behaviors, making it a critical safety concern.

Which personality disorder carries the highest risk for self-harm and suicide?

A. Dependent personality disorder
B. Borderline personality disorder
C. Avoidant personality disorder
D. Narcissistic personality disorder

Correct Answer: C. Histrionic personality disorder

Explanation:
Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by attention-seeking behavior, exaggerated emotional expression, seductiveness, and shallow emotions. Unlike borderline personality disorder, self-harm and identity disturbance are not core features.

A patient is overly dramatic, seeks constant attention, dresses provocatively, and displays rapidly shifting but shallow emotions. Which diagnosis is most likely?

A. Narcissistic personality disorder
B. Borderline personality disorder
C. Histrionic personality disorder
D. Dependent personality disorder

Correct Answer: C. Lack of empathy and exploitation of others

Explanation:
While both disorders may seek attention, narcissistic personality disorder is marked by grandiosity, entitlement, lack of empathy, and exploitation of others, whereas histrionic disorder focuses more on emotional expressiveness and approval-seeking.

Which feature best distinguishes narcissistic personality disorder from histrionic personality disorder?

A. Desire for attention
B. Exaggerated emotional expression
C. Lack of empathy and exploitation of others
D. Fear of abandonment

Correct Answer: B. Avoidant personality disorder

Explanation:
Avoidant personality disorder involves social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism, but a desire for relationships is present, distinguishing it from schizoid personality disorder.

A patient avoids social situations because they feel inadequate and fear rejection, despite desiring close relationships. Which personality disorder does this describe?

A. Schizoid personality disorder
B. Avoidant personality disorder
C. Dependent personality disorder
D. Paranoid personality disorder

Correct Answer: C. Dependent personality disorder involves reliance on others for decision-making

Explanation:
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by excessive need to be taken care of, reliance on others for decisions, self-worth, and daily functioning, and fear of separation—not impulsivity or identity disturbance.

Which statement correctly differentiates dependent personality disorder from borderline personality disorder?

A. Dependent personality disorder involves impulsivity
B. Borderline personality disorder involves fear of rejection
C. Dependent personality disorder involves reliance on others for decision-making
D. Borderline personality disorder involves perfectionism

Correct Answer: C. Behaviors are viewed as appropriate by the individual

Explanation:
OCPD is ego-syntonic, meaning individuals see their perfectionism and rigidity as correct. This distinguishes it from OCD, which is ego-dystonic and involves distressing obsessions and compulsions.

Which statement about obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is correct?

A. Symptoms are distressing and unwanted
B. It involves intrusive thoughts and compulsions
C. Behaviors are viewed as appropriate by the individual
D. It is the same condition as obsessive-compulsive disorder

Correct Answer: C. Cluster A

Explanation:
Cluster A personality disorders (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal) are defined by odd, eccentric, and socially detached behaviors, distinguishing them from the dramatic nature of Cluster B and the anxious nature of Cluster C.

Personality disorders characterized by odd, eccentric, and socially withdrawn behavior belong to which cluster?

A. Cluster B
B. Cluster C
C. Cluster A
D. Trauma-related disorders

Correct Answer: C. Distrust and suspicion without psychosis

Explanation:
Paranoid personality disorder involves pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others without hallucinations or fixed delusions, which differentiates it from psychotic disorders.

Paranoid Personality Disorder Clarification

Which feature is most characteristic of paranoid personality disorder?

A. Persistent hallucinations
B. Blunted affect and emotional detachment
C. Distrust and suspicion without psychosis
D. Fear of abandonment

Correct Answer: C. Schizoid patients lack desire for close relationships

Explanation:
Schizoid personality disorder is marked by indifference to social relationships, whereas avoidant personality disorder involves a desire for connection that is inhibited by fear of rejection.

Schizoid vs Avoidant (Desire for Relationships)

Which statement best differentiates schizoid personality disorder from avoidant personality disorder?

A. Schizoid patients fear rejection
B. Avoidant patients prefer isolation
C. Schizoid patients lack desire for close relationships
D. Avoidant patients show emotional blunting

Correct Answer: B. Belief that thoughts can influence unrelated events

Explanation:
Magical thinking involves the belief that one’s thoughts, words, or actions can cause events without a logical connection, a core feature of schizotypal personality disorder.

Which finding is most consistent with magical thinking, as seen in schizotypal personality disorder?

A. Belief that others are plotting harm
B. Belief that thoughts can influence unrelated events
C. Intrusive thoughts causing anxiety
D. Fixed false beliefs resistant to evidence

Correct Answer: C. Patients violate social norms rather than avoid people

Explanation:
Antisocial personality disorder does not mean avoiding others. Instead, it refers to disregard for laws, rules, and the rights of others, often involving manipulation and aggression.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Misconception

Why is the term antisocial misleading in antisocial personality disorder?

A. Patients are socially anxious
B. Patients prefer solitude
C. Patients violate social norms rather than avoid people
D. Patients lack social skills

Correct Answer: C. Lack of empathy

Explanation:
Narcissistic personality disorder is defined by grandiosity, entitlement, and a lack of empathy, with individuals often exploiting others for personal gain.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Core Deficit

Which core feature is central to narcissistic personality disorder?

A. Emotional instability
B. Excessive need for reassurance
C. Lack of empathy
D. Fear of rejection

Correct Answer: C. Anxiety and fearfulness

Explanation:
Cluster C personality disorders (avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder) are unified by chronic anxiety, fearfulness, and insecurity, rather than impulsivity or psychosis.

Cluster C Unifying Theme

What is the common underlying theme of Cluster C personality disorders?

A. Impulsivity
B. Psychotic thinking
C. Anxiety and fearfulness
D. Emotional detachment

Correct Answer: C. Their rigidity and perfectionism interfere with flexibility

Explanation:
In OCPD, rigidity, inflexibility, excessive rule-following, and perfectionism often impair interpersonal functioning, even though individuals may value relationships.

Why do individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often have difficulty forming relationships?

A. They fear abandonment
B. They lack interest in relationships
C. Their rigidity and perfectionism interfere with flexibility
D. They engage in attention-seeking behavior