Deck 12: The Personality Disorders

Question 1

Research shows that ___________ % or more of people with personality disorders never seek treatment for their problems.

A) 60
B) 95
C) 20
D) 40
E) 80

Answer 1

80

Question 2

Many personality disorders are ___________, which means that the person does not believe they have a problem.

A) egoplatonic
B) egosyntonic
C) egodystonic
D) ego accepted
E) egotonic

Answer 2

egosyntonic

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT identified as a difficulty in diagnosing personality disorders (PDs)?

A) PD criteria can permit gender biases to influence the assessment process
B) PD symptoms are often not acknowledged by the patient
C) PD symptoms tend to be dormant for long periods of time
D) certain apparently-maladaptive attitudes and behaviours may be appropriate for distinct cultures
E) there is often similarity of symptoms in two or more different PDs

Answer 3

PD symptoms tend to be dormant for long periods of time

Question 4

Personality theorists describe qualities which are persistently displayed over time and in various situations as

A) personality disorders.
B) states.
C) lasting qualities.
D) types.
E) traits.

Question 5

___________ refers to the co-occurrence in the same person of two or more different disorders, while _______refers to the similarity of symptoms in two or more different disorders.

A) Egosyntonia; ego dystonia
B) Overlap; comorbidity
C) Multiple personality disorder; multiple symptomalogy
D) Egodystonia; egosyntonia
E) Comorbidity; overlap

Question 6

What is a psychological autopsy?

A) a medical chart review that is undertaken after someone has died, to determine what psychological disorders they had.
B) a detailed investigation of the state of mind of a person at the time they died.
C) A research method used after someone dies by suicide that involves detailed interviews with people in the life of the person who has died, and with their health care providers.
D) There is no such thing as a psychological autopsy.
E) An investigation of psychological factors that may have contributed to death from a physical disease.

Question 7

Because the term has been traditionally applied to women, the name of ___________ personality disorder was changed to histrionic personality disorder.

A) avoidant
B) neurotic
C) borderline
D) psychotic
E) hysterical

Question 8

Sociologists replaced the term psychopath with sociopath in order to reflect their belief that __________.

A) the social consequences (i.e., impact on others) are of principal importance
B) the disorder is caused by social forces and factors
C) sociological approaches to studying the disorder are necessary
D) the disorder is usually caused by parental socialization practices
E) sociopaths are simply reacting to childhood trauma

Question 9

One study found that almost ___________ percent of those diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder met the criteria for antisocial personality disorder.

A) About 10
B) About 20
C) About 30
D) About 40
E) About 50

Question 10

Which of the following matches is incorrect?

A) anxious and fearful cluster : dependent personality disorder
B) anxious and fearful cluster : avoidant personality disorder
C) odd and eccentric cluster : paranoid personality disorder
D) dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster : antisocial personality disorder
E) odd and eccentric cluster : depressive personality disorder

Question 11

The DSM-5 lists ___________ specific personality disorders which are organized into ___________ broad clusters.

A) 10; 3
B) 8; 2
C) 8; 3
D) 10; 2
E) 15; 5

Question 12

Research has shown that, on average, ___________ % of the people identified as suffering from borderline personality disorder through structured interviews are women.

A) 80
B) 20
C) 60
D) 100
E) 40

Question 13

The term psychopath was replaced with sociopath by __________.

A) psychologists
B) sociologists
C) Pinel
D) psychiatrists
E) Freud

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the prevalence rates of personality disorders in outpatients as compared to those in inpatients?

A) They are generally higher among outpatients.
B) They are generally lower among outpatients.
C) They are higher for antisocial personality disorder, but the same for the remaining personality disorders.
D) Outpatients are generally diagnosed with disorders from Cluster A and inpatients with disorders from Cluster B.
E) They are generally the same.

Question 15

Diagnosis and therefore estimation of the prevalence of the personality disorders is quite difficult. Study methodologies have been criticized. With this in mind, the highest estimates of PD prevalence suggest that

A) approximately 1% of the population has a personality disorder.
B) approximately 5% of the population has a personality disorder.
C) approximately 15% of the population has a personality disorder.
D) approximately 25% of the population has a personality disorder.
E) approximately 30% of the population has a personality disorder.

Question 16

According to the text, clinicians have been shown to be reluctant to diagnose males as having ___________ personality disorder, while they are sometimes hesitant to diagnose females as having ___________ personality disorder.

A) antisocial; avoidant
B) histrionic; antisocial
C) dependent; paranoid
D) antisocial; histrionic
E) avoidant; antisocial

Question 17

Pinel described what he called manie sans delire, which was the predecessor of what has become known as

A) narcissistic personality disorder.
B) paranoid personality disorder.
C) avoidant personality disorder.
D) dependent personality disorder.
E) antisocial personality disorder.

Question 18

Despite the research, the Correctional Service of Canada seems reluctant to accept the fact that

A) psychopathy can occur in children.
B) psychopathy can occur in men.
C) psychopathy is a valid diagnosis.
D) psychopathy can occur in women.
E) psychopathy exists at all in the prison population.

Question 19

Several researchers have suggested that the diagnostic criteria for some personality disorders are

A) culture-biased.
B) neither gender- nor culture-biased.
C) both gender- and culture-biased.
D) age-biased.
E) gender-biased.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true?

A) People with personality disorders show a far more restricted range of traits than do most people.
B) People with personality disorders show a far less restricted range of traits than do most people.
C) People with personality disorders are characterized by their flexibility to adapt to different situations.
D) People with personality disorders are far more dependent on situational contexts than are most people.
E) People with personality disorders are typically characterized by a number of major personality traits.

Question 21

The specific causes of personality disorders were not considered until the development of

A) the psychoanalytic movement.
B) behaviourism.
C) cognitive-behavioural theories.
D) the existentialist movement.
E) attachment theory.

Question 22

Psychoanalysts see personality disorders as resulting from

A) the failure to resolve the Oedipal or Electra complex.
B) disturbances in the parent-child relationship.
C) failure to use adequate defense mechanisms.
D) penis envy (in women only).
E) unsatisfied oral needs during infancy.

Question 23

___________ theory states that children learn how to relate to others by the way in which their parents relate to them.

A) Schema
B) Parental
C) Interpersonal
D) Attachment
E) Individuation

Question 24

Joan is a psychologist who argues that her client has a personality disorder due largely to the fact that his schemata (i.e., beliefs and assumptions) have become rigid and inflexible. Joan is taking a(n) ___________ approach to understanding the etiology of personality disorders.

A) attachment
B) psychoanalytic
C) psychiatric
D) behavioural
E) cognitive-behavioural

Question 25

The ___________ hypothesis suggests that people with APD have a higher threshold for feeling fear than do other people.

A) threshold
B) fearlessness
C) avoidance
D) fear threshold
E) self-regulation

Question 26

The DSM-5 criteria for the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder presents ___________ exemplars reflecting the violation of the rights of others, and ___________ or more must be met for the diagnosis to be applied.

A) 10; 5
B) 7; 5
C) 7; 3
D) 10; 3
E) 12; 2

Question 27

The relationship between psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder appears to be ______________________ and it has been found that __________.

A) symmetrical; some persons diagnosed in each category do not meet criteria for the other disorder
B) symmetrical: most people diagnosed with one will meet criteria for the other
C) symmetrical: most people diagnosed with one will NOT meet criteria for the other
D) asymmetrical; most people who meet criteria for psychopathy will also meet criteria for APD but the converse is not true
E) asymmetrical; most people who meet criteria for APD will also meet criteria for psychopathy but the converse is not true

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT true of schizotypal personality disorder?

A) The long-term prognosis for those suffering from the disorder is moderate to good.
B) Researchers have placed most emphasis on the schizophrenic-like features.
C) Low doses of antipsychotic drugs somewhat relieve cognitive problems.
D) Many family members of people with schizophrenia exhibit symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder.
E) Antidepressants have been somewhat helpful in relieving symptoms.

Question 29

The essential distinguishing feature of ___________ personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.

A) narcissistic
B) avoidant
C) schizotypal
D) antisocial
E) histrionic

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a person with schizotypal personality disorder?

A) belief in paranormal phenomena
B) social isolation
C) eccentricity
D) excessive focus on himself or herself
E) magical thinking

Question 31

Studies of brain structure and function in borderline personality disorder have shown dysfunction in the _____________ and _____________.

A) Temporal lobe and occipital lobe
B) Prefrontal areas and the amygdala
C) Hippocampus and thalamus
D) Spinal cord and amygdala
E) Prefront areas and insula

Question 32

Jane has a tendency to see everything people do as a personal attack on her safety and privacy. Judging from this characteristic, which personality disorder is Jane most likely to have?

A) avoidant
B) paranoid
C) dependent
D) narcissistic
E) histrionic

Question 33

Andrew does not have many friends, and seems determined to avoid involvement with others. He displays little emotional responsiveness, and often seems confused by the emotional displays of others. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Andrew most likely to have?

A) schizotypal
B) narcissistic
C) avoidant
D) schizoid
E) anti-social

Question 34

Biological accounts of personality disorders have been most thoroughly explored with ___________ personality disorder.

A) narcissistic
B) antisocial
C) paranoid
D) histrionic
E) avoidant

Question 35

The most influential book ever published on antisocial personality disorder was The Mask Of Sanity by

A) Pinel.
B) Pritchard.
C) Hare.
D) Ross.
E) Cleckley.

Question 36

Attachment researchers have found that if parent-child attachments are poor, the child will typically develop adult relationship styles that __________.

A) are characterized by antisocial and psychopathic behaviours
B) are characterized by ambivalence, fear, or avoidance
C) are characterized by avoidant interpersonal behaviour
D) are characterized by overprotectiveness and clinging behaviours
E) are characterized by ambivalence regarding the feelings of others

Question 37

Which of the following personality disorders is characterized by eccentricity of thought and behaviour?

A) paranoid
B) avoidant
C) histrionic
D) narcissistic
E) schizotypal

Question 38

As paranoid personality occurs quite commonly in the relatives of people with ___________, a genetic link with this disorder has been proposed.

A) depression
B) panic disorder
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) schizophrenia
E) bipolar mood disorder

Question 39

According to Linehan, individuals who develop borderline personality disorder:

A) come from families where at least one member has a psychotic spectrum disorder.
B) come from families that are encouraging and supportive.
C) have parents who are overprotective.
D) have at least one parent with histrionic personality disorder.
E) come from families who consistently invalidate their childhood emotional experiences.

Question 40

What is the key difference between DSM-5 antisocial personality disorder, and psychopathy?

A) There are no differences; the two terms refer to the same population.
B) Psychopathy is a less severe variant of DSM-5 antisocial personality disorder.
C) Individuals high in psychopathy are very extroverted; whereas those with DSM-5 antisocial personality disorder tend to be introverted.
D) Psychopathy consists of a richer set of emotional, behavioural, and interpersonal features than does DSM-5 antisocial personality disorder, which concentrates chiefly on observable behaviour.
E) DSM-5 antisocial personality disorder is a much more enduring personality type than is psychopathy.

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT true of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised?

A) It is used as a research instrument and as a clinical tool.
B) It consistently discriminates between antisocial personality disorder and the other personality disorders.
C) The PCL-R score is highly reliable over time.
D) It is used in assessments to inform judicial decisions.
E) It has good predictive validity regarding recidivism.

Question 42

Borderline personality disorder has a lifetime prevalence of approximately ___________ % of the population.

A) 12
B) 2
C) 20
D) 0.2
E) 5

Question 43

Borderline personality disorder typically begins in ___________ and is thought to be more common in __________.

A) adolescence; women
B) childhood; men
C) adulthood; women
D) adolescence; men
E) adulthood; men

Question 44

David has been described as flamboyant and overly dramatic in his emotional displays. He constantly seeks the spotlight in social situations and strongly dislikes being ignored. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is David most likely to have?

A) histrionic
B) antisocial
C) borderline
D) schizotypal
E) avoidant

Question 45

Which of the following is false regarding the relationship of psychopathy to crime and aggression?

A) Psychopaths incarcerated in Canada commit significantly more crimes than do non-psychopaths.
B) Psychopaths are significantly more likely than non-psychopaths to engage in violent re-offending within five years of their release from prison.
C) Psychopaths display much lower levels of emotion during their offenses than do non-psychopaths.
D) Psychopaths enjoy inflicting violence; whereas this is less the case in non-psychopaths.
E) Psychopaths who are incarcerated tend to have committed white collar crimes whereas non-psychopaths who are incarcerated tend to have committed blue collar crimes.

Question 46

Research has found that the relatives of men with dependent personality disorder are more likely to experience ___________, whereas the relatives of females with dependent personality disorder are more likely to have __________.

A) schizophrenia; depression
B) panic disorder; depression
C) depression; panic disorder
D) generalized anxiety disorder; schizophrenia
E) panic disorder; generalized anxiety disorder

Question 47

Several researchers have reported that the symptoms of antisocial behaviour eventually end, often around the fourth decade of life. This occurrence has been called the __________factor.

A) responsivity
B) exhaustion
C) aging
D) burnout
E) remittance

Question 48

Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between nonsuicidal self-injury and borderline personality disorder?

A) Nonsuicidal self-injury is required for the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.
B) Nonsuicidal self-injury is a subtype of borderline personality disorder.
C) Nonsuicidal self-injury is a behaviour that exists outside of borderline personality disorder.
D) Nonsuicidal self-injury is a feature that is specific to borderline personality disorder.
E) All individuals with borderline personality disorder report some form of nonsuicidal self-injury, but it is not necessary for the diagnosis.

Question 49

Schmauk has suggested that psychopaths are not unresponsive to physical punishment, but rather respond opposite to the punisher's intention, presumably as a way of exercising some degree of control in the face of aversive experiences. This behaviour has been referred to as _____ behaviour.

A) irrational
B) defiant
C) contradictory
D) operant
E) oppositional

Question 50

Sarah finds it very difficult to make decisions, and feels that she desperately needs others to assume responsibility for important aspects of her life. She accepted a job as a store clerk after asking her husband what job he felt she was best suited for. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Sarah most likely to have?

A) avoidant
B) schizotypal
C) borderline
D) narcissistic
E) dependent

Question 51

Heather shows frequent fluctuations in her mood and great instability in her personal relationships. She is uncertain about who she "really is" and what she would like to do with her life. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Heather most likely to have?

A) antisocial
B) dependent
C) narcissistic
D) borderline
E) histrionic

Question 52

Many people with borderline personality disorder strongly desire intimacy with others, but once they begin to get close to their partner they become anxious and back away. This interpersonal style has been referred to as

A) avoidant.
B) anxious ambivalent.
C) repression.
D) anxious avoidant.
E) confused.

Question 53

Joe is extremely sensitive to criticism and disapproval, and as a result actively avoids intimacy with others. However, he is lonely and would like to have more friends. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Joe most likely to have?

A) schizoid
B) narcissistic
C) borderline
D) avoidant
E) dependent

Question 54

Clara considers herself extremely talented at all that she does. She is excessively preoccupied with her own interests and demands that others treat her as special. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Clara most likely to have?

A) antisocial
B) avoidant
C) borderline
D) narcissistic
E) dependent

Question 55

In Porter's (1996) theory, fundamental psychopathy is seen as the result of ___________ factors, whereas secondary psychopathy is believed to result from ___________ factors.

A) biological; psychological
B) emotional; social
C) psychological; social
D) social; psychological
E) social; biological

Question 56

Hare gives an estimate that ___________ percent of the Canadian population is psychopathic.

A) .05
B) 10
C) 5
D) 1
E) .01

Question 57

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Antisocial personality disorder, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a more reliable construct than psychopathy.
B) Antisocial personality disorder, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be as reliable a construct as psychopathy.
C) Psychopathy, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a less reliable construct than antisocial personality disorder.
D) Psychopathy, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a more reliable construct than antisocial personality disorder.
E) Antisocial personality disorder, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a less reliable construct than psychopathy.

Question 58

Egocentricity is the hallmark feature of which of the following personality disorders?

A) histrionic
B) avoidant
C) borderline
D) narcissistic
E) antisocial

Question 59

Reviews of the literature on treatment efficacy for antisocial personality disorder patients have been _____ about the prognosis for those with this disorder.

A) cautiously pessimistic
B) unequivocally pessimistic
C) strongly optimistic
D) cautiously optimistic
E) unequivocally optimistic

Question 60

What has been proposed to be the difference between avoidant personality disorder and the anxiety disorder, social phobia?

A) there is no difference between these disorders.
B) social phobia is characterized by a fear of social rejection, which is not the case in avoidant personality disorder.
C) social phobia co-occurs more frequently with borderline personality disorder.
D) social phobia and avoidant personality disorder differ in symptom severity.
E) People with social phobia desire affection whereas those with avoidant personality disorder do not want affection.

Question 61

The "Dark Triad" of socially aversive personality traits consists in: subclinical narcissism; depressive and dependency traits.

Question 62

Borderline personality disorder is thought to be equally common in men and women.

Question 63

Cluster C includes avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Question 64

Research suggests that psychopaths have heightened ability to discern vulnerable individuals from non-vulnerable individuals.

Question 65

Inflexibility and a desire for perfection characterize ___________ disorder.

A) narcissistic personality
B) dependent personality
C) avoidant personality
D) obsessive-compulsive personality
E) borderline personality

Question 66

The attempt to reduce gender biases (such as the higher frequency of diagnosis in women) by changing "hysterical personality disorder" to "histrionic personality disorder" was largely successful.

Question 67

An individual displaying condescending behaviour, egocentricity and expressions of superiority is probably suffering from avoidant personality disorder.

Question 68

The DSM-5 lists 2 clusters of personality disorders.

Question 69

There is a problem distinguishing between avoidant personality disorder and social phobia.

Question 70

Studies have shown that many family members of people with schizophrenia exhibit schizotypal personality disorder symptoms.

Question 71

___________, developed by Linehan, has specifically targeted borderline personality disorder.

A) Neo-psychoanalysis
B) Cognitive restructuring therapy
C) Object-relations therapy
D) Dialectical behaviour therapy
E) Operant behaviour therapy

Question 72

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of people with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

A) intrusive, unwanted thoughts
B) a desire for perfection
C) rigidity and inflexibility
D) preoccupation with rules and order
E) being moralistic and judgmental

Question 73

Many people with personality disorders do not themselves believe that they have a problem.

Question 74

The term "borderline" was used in the past to describe a person on the border between neurosis and psychosis.

Question 75

Which of the following is NOT one of Sperry's five basic premises regarding treatment of personality disorders?

A) these disorders are best conceptualized as having biological and psychological factors
B) before treatment, it is essential to assess amenability to treatment
C) effective treatment is flexible and tailored to meet the needs of the client
D) the lower the client's amenability to treatment, the greater the need for multiple treatment approaches
E) the basic goal of treatment should be to restore normal personality functioning

Question 76

Psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder refer to the same population.

Question 77

Very little research on obsessive-compulsive personality disorder has been conducted since DSM-III-R was published, with the exception of studies concerning the distinction between this personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 78

Of the personality disorders, antisocial personality disorder has been the most thoroughly explored from a biological perspective.

Question 79

There is a high rate of comorbidity between borderline personality disorder and mood disorders.

Question 80

Borderline personality disorder is the most common diagnosis among inpatient psychiatric patients.