Deck 12: Personality Disorders

Question 1

All of the following are necessary conditions for the diagnosis of a personality disorder EXCEPT

A) patient feelings of distress.
B) pervasive pattern of behavior.
C) maladaptive functioning.
D) chronic course of behavior.

Answer 1

patient feelings of distress.

Question 2

According to your text,it is likely that future users of the DSM will

A) eliminate personality disorders altogether.
B) emphasize categorical views of personality disorders.
C) incorporate elements of a dimensional approach to personality disorders.
D) reduce the number of personality disorders listed.

Answer 2

incorporate elements of a dimensional approach to personality disorders.

Question 3

Clinicians who view personality disorders as extremes of normal personality rather than as ________________ have criticized the way DSM-IV-TR classifies personality disorders.

A) medical conditions
B) biologically based traits
C) separate categories of disorders
D) impaired functioning

Answer 3

separate categories of disorders

Question 4

Both John and Fred meet the diagnostic criteria for paranoid personality disorder.John's friends are aware of his paranoia although he continues to live a meaningful life.Fred's paranoia is so extreme that he finds it hard to function in society.The DSM-IV-TR axis II diagnosis for these individuals would be

A) exactly the same.
B) categorically different.
C) in the same category but reflect the different levels of pathology.
D) in the same category with different specifiers.

Question 5

Which of the following would NOT be an advantage of a dimensional model of personality disorders?

A) Increased information
B) Flexibility
C) Avoiding arbitrary decisions about diagnosis
D) It would clearly categorize people

Question 6

Cross-cultural research on the five-factor model of personality suggests that

A) there is no such thing as a universal human personality structure.
B) the five dimensions are fairly universal.
C) only two dimensions are universal.
D) Western type personality structure differs from the non-Western type.

Question 7

Unlike schizophrenia or an eating disorder,personality disorders can be viewed as disorders of

A) biology rather than learning.
B) learning rather than disease.
C) degree rather than kind.
D) functioning rather than disease.

Question 8

The five-factor model of personality includes all of the following as personality dimensions EXCEPT ______________.

A) extroversion
B) conscientiousness
C) expressiveness
D) emotional stability

Question 9

In the U.S.,the prevalence of personality disorders is estimated to be between ________.

A) .1 and .5%
B) .5 and 2.5%
C) 2.5 and 5%
D) 5 and 10%

Question 10

The reason that personality disorders are coded on axis II of DSM-IV-TR is that

A) they relate to extreme deficits in functioning.
B) there is a relationship between personality disorder and mental retardation.
C) they are biological in nature.
D) they relate to more ingrained and permanent features than other disorders.

Question 11

According to your textbook,the main reason that we do not have sufficient research examining the development of personality disorders is that

A) many individuals do not seek treatment in the early phases of these disorders.
B) there is insufficient research funding for these disorders due to relative lack of public awareness.
C) sophisticated research methods are necessary to study disorders that are so ingrained in personality.
D) all of these are correct

Question 12

A therapist who views personality disorders as a continuum sees axis II disorders in terms of _________.

A) dimensions
B) categories
C) attitudes
D) groups

Question 13

The characteristic features of personality disorders tend to develop with

A) rapid onset in late adolescence.
B) gradual onset in adulthood.
C) rapid onset in adulthood.
D) onset in childhood that is difficult to pinpoint.

Question 14

On which axis of DSM-IV are personality disorders coded?

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV

Question 15

According to the definition of personality disorder,only individuals who show ____________ patterns of maladaptive behavior should be diagnosed with a personality disorder.

A) suicidal
B) the most severe
C) enduring
D) highly variable

Question 16

DSM-IV-TR divides personality disorders into ___ distinct clusters.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 17

Some have proposed that the personality disorders be replaced or supplemented by a dimensional model in which individuals would be rated on a series of personality dimensions as well as a categorical diagnosis.It is believed that this would have advantages over a purely categorical system.Which of the following would be such an advantage?

A) It would retain more information about each individual.
B) It would be more flexible.
C) It would avoid arbitrary decisions involved in assignment to a diagnostic category.
D) All of these

Question 18

When someone has a personality disorder,

A) the person may believe there is nothing wrong.
B) the person is always distressed by his/her disorder.
C) the disorder may come and go.
D) the disorder tends to start very suddenly.

Question 19

The cluster approach to categorizing personality disorders is based on ____________.

A) resemblance
B) recognition
C) redundancy
D) repetition

Question 20

Which set of adjective pairs correctly describes the clusters into which DSM-IV-TR personality disorders are grouped?

A) Odd/eccentric, dangerous/inconsistent, and shy/withdrawn
B) Shy/withdrawn, anxious/fearful, and dangerous/inconsistent
C) Shy/withdrawn, dramatic/emotional, and bizarre/thought disordered
D) Odd/eccentric, dramatic/emotional, and anxious/fearful

Question 21

An individual who goes through life as a loner with no motivation to interact with others but with relatively normal behavior and beliefs is likely to be diagnosed with ____________ personality disorder:

A) histrionic
B) narcissistic
C) schizoid
D) paranoid

Question 22

The language barrier of refugees from other countries and people with hearing impairments may make these individuals particularly susceptible to

A) histrionic personality disorder.
B) paranoid personality disorder.
C) schizotypal personality disorder.
D) schizoid personality disorder.

Question 23

Individuals who are socially isolated behave in ways that seem unusual,tend to be suspicious,and have odd beliefs are generally diagnosed with _____________ personality disorder.

A) schizotypal
B) schizoid
C) paranoid
D) multiple

Question 24

A woman demonstrating very stereotypical female traits probably would be diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder.Which of the following would probably occur if a man demonstrated very stereotypical masculine traits?

A) He would be given a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder.
B) He would be given a diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder.
C) He would be given a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.
D) He would not be diagnosed with a personality disorder.

Question 25

As many as 30% to 50% of the individuals with schizotypal personality disorder who request clinical help also meet the criteria for ____________.

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder
B) substance disorder
C) anorexia
D) major depressive disorder

Question 26

The data regarding treatment outcome for individuals with paranoid personality disorder

A) indicate no evidence for treatment success.
B) suggest that treatment can only be successful if the patient remains in therapy for a minimum of one year.
C) indicate that cognitive therapy is effective in most cases.
D) demonstrate that strict behavioral approaches are effective.

Question 27

Max is always sure that others are trying to harm him.His perception that the world is a threatening place impacts most of his life.Most likely,Max would be diagnosed with the personality disorder called _______________.

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

Question 28

A person with paranoid personality disorder may

A) mistrust other people.
B) get into arguments with people.
C) be quiet and withdrawn.
D) all of the above

Question 29

Gender differences observed in the prevalence of many personality disorders (i.e.,borderline for women,antisocial for men)may be due to

A) tolerance of behavior in a culture.
B) differences in help-seeking behavior.
C) gender bias on the part of the diagnosing clinician.
D) all of the above

Question 30

The personality disorder that shares many similar symptoms with schizophrenia is ___________.

A) schizoid
B) paranoid
C) borderline
D) schizotypal

Question 31

One of the greatest challenges for any therapist treating an individual with paranoid personality disorder is

A) understanding the patient's belief system.
B) getting the patient to trust the therapist.
C) convincing the patient to talk about his beliefs.
D) getting the patient to speak clearly.

Question 32

Theo is quite a loner.He walks to class by himself,does not talk to anyone,and appears indifferent to other people.It is clear that Theo neither desires nor enjoys closeness with others.He does not act in any obviously unusual ways,nor does he appear to possess strange beliefs about the world.Of the following personality disorders,Theo appears to be __________.

A) avoidant
B) antisocial
C) schizoid
D) schizotypal

Question 33

Hideki has been diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder and has begun psychotherapy.Since he is willing to undergo a combined treatment approach,the result

A) is excellent since most patients seeking treatment eventually are symptom free.
B) may be a reduction in symptoms or postponement of schizophrenia.
C) is excellent only if he is willing to take medication.
D) is poor since most patients go on to develop schizophrenia.

Question 34

One prevalent outcome for individuals with schizoid personality disorder is _____________.

A) homelessness
B) drug abuse
C) eating disorders
D) anxiety

Question 35

Individuals who have "ideas of reference" but who sense that these beliefs are probably unrealistic are generally diagnosed with ____________ personality disorder.

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

Question 36

An individual presents for treatment and keeps talking about how gangsters are "out to get him." Before diagnosing paranoid personality disorder,we must determine whether

A) his fears are justified.
B) his family life is stable.
C) he has ever been in trouble with the law.
D) he avoids socialization.

Question 37

You are waiting to board a plane when you hear that the flight has been delayed due to a passing thunderstorm.The man sitting next to you says,"Passing thunder storm,sure! That's Jim again; he's been doing everything to make me miss this meeting because he's trying to get me fired!" Of the following,this statement would be most consistent with ____________ personality disorder.

A) avoidant
B) histrionic
C) borderline
D) paranoid

Question 38

According to the textbook,a possible cause of schizotypal personality disorder is ____________.

A) genetic
B) environmental
C) brain abnormalities
D) all of the above

Question 39

A possible contribution to schizoid personality disorder is _______________.

A) childhood shyness
B) childhood abuse and neglect
C) being a parent of an autistic child
D) all of the above

Question 40

Patients diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder are usually

A) motivated to begin therapy and generally make progress quickly.
B) motivated to begin therapy but generally make little progress.
C) not motivated to begin therapy and effectiveness is not yet determined.
D) not motivated to begin therapy but generally make progress quickly while in therapy.

Question 41

Researchers conducting endophenotypic research on antisocial personality disorders are searching for

A) the gene that causes antisocial personality disorder.
B) the genes that influence factors characteristic of the disorder such as aggression and impulsivity.
C) brain damage that causes the disorder.
D) antisocial causes of the disorder.

Question 42

According to the underarousal hypothesis,individuals with antisocial personality disorder may engage in their characteristic behaviors as a way to

A) deal with their fears.
B) provide a level of stimulation that most of us receive from more typical behaviors.
C) provide a sense of relief from the feelings of depression that they experience when they are not highly aroused.
D) reduce the generally high level of arousal that they feel.

Question 43

Rob is a 15-year-old boy who has been repeatedly arrested for theft and assault.In addition to shoplifting,he has been caught stealing money from his parents' wallets and his younger sister's piggy bank.Rob shows no guilt or remorse for the many ways that he hurts others.Rob's current diagnosis is most likely ______________ disorder.

A) antisocial personality
B) attention deficit hyperactivity
C) conduct
D) narcissistic personality

Question 44

Which of the following are the two major theories that have been proposed to explain antisocial personality disorder?

A) Underarousal and fearlessness
B) Underarousal and shamelessness
C) Yerkes-Dodson and underarousal
D) Yerkes-Dodson and shamelessness

Question 45

The research examining the cause of antisocial personality disorder suggests that

A) the primary cause is genetics.
B) genetics and the environment interact to cause the disorder.
C) the primary cause is poor parenting.
D) there is no evidence of either a genetic or environmental cause.

Question 46

Substance abuse is particularly common in people with _____________ personality disorder.

A) antisocial
B) paranoid
C) schizotypal
D) schizoid

Question 47

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Recent research is refining the search for genes that cause antisocial personality disorder.
B) Recent research on brain damage indicates that brain damage is found in psychopaths.
C) Recent research on neuropsychological tests indicates that psychopaths score equally as well as nonpsychopaths.
D) None of the above is true

Question 48

If you had absolutely no concept or fear of the consequences of your actions (for yourself or others)and were overly motivated by pleasing yourself,you might behave like a person with __________ personality disorder.

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

Question 49

Steve steals money from his friends and family,lies to get what he wants,and often hurts others with no sign of guilt or remorse.Steve should probably be diagnosed with ______________ personality disorder.

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

Question 50

One difference between a psychopath and a person with antisocial personality disorder is that _____________ are used in diagnosing the psychopath,but ________ are used to diagnose antisocial personality disorder.

A) personality traits; observable behaviors
B) observable behaviors; personality traits
C) clinical judgments; objective test scores
D) medical criteria; psychological assessments

Question 51

Which of the following is not a Cluster B personality disorder?

A) Antisocial personality disorder
B) Borderline personality disorder
C) Histrionic personality disorder
D) Schizoid personality disorder

Question 52

The most accurate statement regarding antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy is that they

A) are similar in almost every way except that psychopaths are criminals.
B) completely different populations.
C) overlap in many features but not all.
D) are just different names for the same features.

Question 53

The concept of the fearlessness hypothesis of antisocial personality disorder is that individuals with this disorder

A) learn to avoid punishment.
B) have an underactive cortex.
C) under react to the threat of punishment.
D) have brain damage that inhibits their ability to understand the implications of their actions.

Question 54

Research suggests that the combination of medications,therapy,and social skills treatment in schizotypal personality disorders

A) reduces symptoms or delay later schizophrenia.
B) increases chances of later schizophrenia.
C) is unrelated to schizophrenia risk.
D) alters symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT true about psychopaths?

A) Having a lower IQ is predictive of having run-ins with the law.
B) Some function quite well in fields such as entertainment and politics.
C) They tend to come from families with a history of criminal problems
D) They cannot avoid brushes with the law or learn to function well in society

Question 56

Cluster B personality disorders tend to be characterized by _________ behavior.

A) dramatic
B) eccentric
C) anxious
D) understated

Question 57

With which of the following personality disorders is the term psychopath closely associated?

A) Avoidant
B) Borderline
C) Schizotypal
D) Antisocial

Question 58

Which of the following findings in people with antisocial personality disorder supports the underarousal theory?

A) Low levels of cortical arousal
B) High resting heart rates
C) High measures of skin conductance
D) High fear thresholds

Question 59

An adult diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder is most likely to have met the criteria for
_____________ as a child.

A) autism
B) conduct disorder
C) learning disabled
D) mental retardation

Question 60

One prominent theory of antisocial personality disorder suggests that the behaviors are caused by an imbalance between the brain's

A) behavioral inhibition system and fight/flight system.
B) fight/flight system and reward system.
C) cortical stimulation system and behavioral inhibition system.
D) behavioral inhibition system and reward system.

Question 61

One of the contributing factors in the developmental history of individuals with antisocial personality disorder appears to be that their parents were more likely to have utilized

A) firm discipline.
B) inconsistent discipline.
C) an overly protective parenting style.
D) physical discipline.

Question 62

All of the following are common disorders that tend to be comorbid with borderline personality disorder EXCEPT ______________.

A) depression
B) substance abuse
C) bulimia
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 63

Given what we know about the treatment of antisocial personality disorder,the best way to ensure that a person with this disorder and a history of violence is not a threat to society is ________.

A) intensive psychotherapy
B) medication
C) behavioral treatment
D) incarceration

Question 64

Criminal behavior by individuals with antisocial personality disorder tends to ______ after the age of 40.

A) decrease
B) increase
C) decrease in frequency but increase in severity
D) increase in frequency but decrease in severity

Question 65

Which of the following prevention strategies looks promising for children who are at risk for later antisocial personality disorder?

A) A training program for parents of toddlers (ages 1½ to 2½ years)
B) A program for families with a high degree of family dysfunction
C) A program for families where at least one parent has a history of antisocial personality disorder
D) All of the above

Question 66

Research regarding psychological treatment for borderline personality disorder suggests that ___________ appears to be helpful in improving mood and reducing suicidal and self-injurious behaviors.

A) dialectical behavior therapy
B) cognitive therapy
C) operant conditioning
D) nothing

Question 67

A possible brain-based explanation for antisocial personality disorder would be

A) reduced behavioral inhibition and increased reward system activation.
B) increased behavioral inhibition and decreased reward system activation.
C) the absence of fight or flight responses.
D) brain deterioration.

Question 68

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the treatment of antisocial personality disorder and related antisocial behaviors?

A) Patients are generally willing participants in their therapy.
B) Most patients refer themselves for treatment because they recognize that they have a problem.
C) There has been greater success in reducing antisocial behavior in young children than adults.
D) Therapy is successful in about half of the cases treated.

Question 69

The personality disorder characterized by extreme instability in behavior and emotion,impulsivity,depression,and self-injurious behaviors is ___________ personality disorder.

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

Question 70

Childhood trauma as a cause of borderline personality disorder may be too simplistic an explanation because

A) there are too many neurological deficits that are noted in borderline personality disorder patients.
B) individuals with borderline personality disorder tend to respond to SSRI medications.
C) most individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder are female.
D) a significant percentage of individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder do not have a history of childhood trauma.

Question 71

The behavior of those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder tends to

A) continue to increase throughout the lifespan.
B) increase dramatically at about age 30.
C) decline significantly around age 40.
D) remain stable throughout the lifespan.

Question 72

Nicole has difficulty maintaining relationships because she goes back and forth from being a best friend to hating people in her life quite often.Her romantic relationships are always characterized by incredible loving passion alternating with episodes of horrible fighting,and sometimes she becomes violent.At times Nicole becomes so upset that she cuts herself and reports that this makes her feel better emotionally.Nicole suffers from ___________ personality disorder.

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

Question 73

Which of the following statements is TRUE about borderline personality disorder?

A) It is observed in every culture and seen in about 5% of the population.
B) Long-term outcomes are discouraging, with many relapsing within five years
C) Emotional dysfunction is one of the best predictors of suicide in this group.
D) A high number, almost 12%, succeed at suicide.

Question 74

Regarding the likelihood of successful treatment outcome for individuals with antisocial personality disorder,most clinicians are ______________.

A) optimistic
B) optimistic only if the patient is willing to work in therapy
C) pessimistic only if the patient is mandated to therapy by the legal system
D) pessimistic

Question 75

One of the influences associated with the development of borderline personality disorder is

A) history of child abuse or neglect.
B) developmental delay for major milestones (i.e., walking, talking).
C) parental alcoholism.
D) deficits in neurotransmitter circuits involving dopamine.

Question 76

Lenny is 25 years old and has had multiple arrests for assaults,theft,and drug use.He has hurt strangers,friends,and family and has never shown any remorse or regret.Following his last arrest,Lenny met with a social worker who told him about antisocial personality disorder; he is now convinced that is "what's wrong" with him.Lenny recently went to a local community mental health center and asked to be treated by a psychotherapist.The problem with this story is that

A) individuals with antisocial personality disorder do not generally seek treatment.
B) Lenny has misdiagnosed himself since his behaviors are more typical of conduct disorder.
C) the drug use does not fit the pattern of antisocial personality disorder.
D) the description does not fit any known personality disorder.

Question 77

The psychological treatment that has been found to have significant effectiveness in helping patients with borderline personality disorder centers around

A) regressing patients to the time in their lives when they experienced trauma.
B) removing the reinforcing attention that patients have received for their disordered behavior in the past.
C) joining a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
D) learning to cope with life stressors in a more effective manner.

Question 78

When presented with words projected on a computer screen,individuals with borderline personality disorder are more likely than individuals without the disorder to remember the word ____________.

A) celebrate
B) abandon
C) full
D) charming

Question 79

Which of the following disorders has been called the female version of posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) Borderline disorder
B) Narcissistic disorder
C) Histrionic disorder
D) Schizoid disorder

Question 80

Which of the following is the most likely model to explain the cause of borderline personality disorder?

A) Biological
B) Early trauma resulting in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms that are not recognized or dealt with during childhood
C) Stressful life events
D) Biological predisposition interacting with life events such as childhood trauma and later life stressors