Deck 9: Personality Disorders

Question 1

The pattern associated with a personality disorder must be evident in two or more specific domains that include

A)motor skills.
B)emotional responses.
C)intelligence.
D)culture.

Answer 1

emotional responses.

Question 2

Temperament refers to

A)anger over abandonment.
B)insight into one's problems.
C)remorse over doing something wrong.
D)a characteristic style of relating to the world.

Answer 2

a characteristic style of relating to the world.

Question 3

A large part of the justification for defining personality disorders as mental disorders is that they involve

A)social dysfunction.
B)significant personal distress.
C)loss of contact with reality.
D)significant risk of suicide.

Answer 3

social dysfunction.

Question 4

Which of the following plays an important role in justifying the inclusion of personality disorders in DSM?

A)All of these disorders have similar genetic etiologies.
B)The presence of pathological personality traits in adolescence is associated with the development of other mental disorders.
C)All of these disorders are related to an early history of either sexual abuse or family problems.
D)The personality characteristics are all reflections of either excesses or deficiencies in neurotransmitter levels.

Question 5

In personality theory,neuroticism refers to

A)conscientiousness.
B)bizarre and unusual thinking.
C)the expression of anxiety and depression.
D)a low interest in interacting with other people.

Question 6

What is one of the reasons that the category of personality disorders is controversial?

A)These disorders are difficult to identify reliably.
B)These disorders were conceptualized for insurance purposes.
C)These disorders are not associated with social or occupational impairment.
D)These disorders are easily learned and unlearned,so they don't require therapy.

Question 7

During a case conference,one of the staff describes a patient as experiencing an "ego-dystonic" disorder.What is the most likely description of this patient?

A)He is distressed by his symptoms.
B)He views his symptoms as a moral failure.
C)He does not view his disorder as a problem.
D)He believes he can solve his own problems without a therapist's help.

Question 8

In the case of Tom,which is described in your textbook,what were some of the early indications that he would one day grow up to exhibit behaviors that meet the criteria for antisocial personality disorder?

A)Tom was often truant from school,stole items,and lied.
B)Tom reported that he heard voices directing him to engage in actions that would cause trouble.
C)Tom's eating,sleeping,and motor behaviors were all sources of difficulty that required medical intervention.
D)In order to prove that he was tough,Tom would deliberately engage in actions that would lead to serious physical punishment.

Question 9

Tom's case,as described in your textbook,illustrates which of the following characteristics of personality disorders that would allow a clinician to differentiate his disorder from other disorders that are more episodic in nature?

A)Tom's problems were intense but very brief.
B)Tom understood the nature for his problems and felt bad about them.
C)Tom's problems began early and were exhibited consistently over an extended period of time.
D)Tom was able to recognize his need for help and participate actively in treatment.

Question 10

To meet the definition of a personality disorder in DSM-5,one must meet the criteria of

A)personality traits never seen in normal people.
B)an enduring pattern of behavior that differs considerably from one's culture.
C)the presence of emotional symptoms that make one aggressive.
D)the presence of psychotic symptoms.

Question 11

The plant manager needs to fill a newly created position.He tells the Director of Human Resources that he wants someone who is well organized,reliable,dependable,and punctual.The director intends to screen applicants using scores on the five-factor model of personality.High scores on which factor should mark applicants as having the desired characteristics?

A)openness
B)neuroticism
C)extraversion
D)conscientiousness

Question 12

Which of the following is part of the definition of a person's temperament?

A)emotional reactivity
B)guilt feelings
C)ego development
D)personality development

Question 13

Generally,personality disorders tend to be ego-syntonic in nature,which means that people with personality disorders

A)have other disorders as well.
B)do not see their disorders as problems.
C)have tremendous insight into their problems.
D)are distressed by and perhaps ashamed of their problems.

Question 14

Two of the most important motives for understanding human personality and personality disorders are

A)escape from reality and escape from pain.
B)acceptance of reality and acceptance of self.
C)affiliation and power.
D)dependence and nurturance.

Question 15

In his perception of himself and others,Andy displays what a psychologist describes as paranoid beliefs.We can assume that Andy

A)is highly anxious and sees himself as weak.
B)feels inferior and sees others as his protectors.
C)is out of contact with reality and delusional.
D)believes that others are trying to exploit or harm him.

Question 16

Mental health professionals who are actively involved in treating people with mental disorders view personality disorders as important because personality disorders

A)are the most common mental disorders that they treat.
B)make it easier to treat people with other mental disorders.
C)can interfere with the treatment of disorders such as depression.
D)are more easily defined and easier to diagnose.

Question 17

With regard to the number of basic dimensions of temperament and personality,experts

A)believe there are only four or five.
B)agree that there are at least 10.
C)believe there are probably more than 30.
D)disagree about how many there are.

Question 18

People diagnosed with a personality disorder exhibit behavior that is described as

A)clustered and psychotic.
B)inflexible and pervasive.
C)acutely,not chronically problematic.
D)more impaired than that associated with most other mental disorders.

Question 19

A difficult temperament

A)will always be maladaptive.
B)will always be adaptive.
C)can be adaptive or maladaptive,depending on social circumstances.
D)can be adaptive or maladaptive,depending on whether it is genetically determined.

Question 20

At a conference,a researcher reports prevalence rates for personality disorders.Several audience members conclude that these figures are lower than those reported in the literature.During a question-and-answer period,which of the following is likely to be viewed as a reason for this discrepancy?

A)The researcher relied on a psychodynamic model of the etiology of personality disorders.
B)The researcher failed to consider the impact of mental retardation on the prevalence of these disorders.
C)The researcher failed to obtain records of physiological functions that can often reveal otherwise hidden pathology.
D)The researcher used self-report instruments to estimate the prevalence of disorders seen in people with little awareness of their behavior.

Question 21

What similarity would you expect to find in the behaviors of a person with dependent personality disorder and a person with avoidant personality disorder?

A)They avoid closeness.
B)They are preoccupied with rules.
C)They seek advice and reassurance.
D)They are easily hurt by criticism.

Question 22

Avoidant personality disorder overlaps most closely with

A)dependent personality disorder.
B)social anxiety disorder.
C)adaptive shyness.
D)posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 23

At the drop of a hat,Pete will tell you,in as many ways as one can imagine,that he is the most talented salesperson in the company.He often boasts about his ability to "size up" customers and to close deals.He says he has not been promoted to manager because his work is not really appreciated.He resents those who have been promoted and views them as self-promoters.He expects others to meet his wishes,but he is insensitive to their needs.Pete's behavior represents ___________ personality disorder.

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

Question 24

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by a(n)

A)attachment to parents.
B)need for admiration.
C)feeling of social anxiety.
D)intensity in close relationships.

Question 25

A movie producer wants to make a film about the life of a person with borderline personality disorder.She asks you for some suggestions concerning possible titles.Which of the following titles would fit the diagnostic hallmark of this disorder?

A)An Identity Disturbance
B)Overwhelmed by My Superego
C)Lost in My Delusional World
D)Only the Lonely Know How I Feel

Question 26

A film critic's description of a character in a film uses these phrases: a grandiose sense of self-importance,the inability to empathize with others,and a preoccupation with his own achievements and abilities.At the end of the description,the critic says the character needs therapy.If the character were to seek therapy,which diagnosis might be made?

A)dependent personality disorder
B)borderline personality disorder
C)schizotypal personality disorder
D)narcissistic personality disorder

Question 27

Instability in mood,instability within relationships,and difficulty being alone are all characteristics of __________ personality disorder.

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

Question 28

A novelist wants to write a book centered on a character described as suspicious and on guard all of the time.The character has difficult relationships with friends and relatives as a result of a distrustful nature,he overreacts to minor events that may lead to aggression,and he is delusional.What advice would you give to the novelist?

A)The symptoms that you describe are rarely seen in adults in this country.
B)You have accurately described paranoid personality disorder,except that the disorder does not involve delusions.
C)Your description does not seem to meet the criteria of any of the disorders found in DSM.
D)You have captured the essence of a series of disorders that tend to be comorbid and untreatable.

Question 29

Chris is a painfully shy 24-year-old woman who usually stays at home and rarely interacts with others outside of her immediate family.At work she stays away from other people,preferring to remain in the stock room as often as possible.She rarely initiates conversations at work or at home.Chris seems to exhibit __________ personality disorder.

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

Question 30

Roberta has been diagnosed as having avoidant personality disorder.She is timid,does not like to go to parties,and she is extremely anxious in most social situations.Why does Roberta feel this way?

A)She is actually disinterested in other people.
B)She wants to be liked but is afraid of criticism.
C)She is preoccupied with understanding social rules.
D)She prefers to be the center of attention,and retreats from groups when that is not possible.

Question 31

Schizoid personality disorder is often characterized by

A)delirium.
B)inappropriate suspiciousness.
C)indifference to other people.
D)unusual perceptual experiences.

Question 32

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by

A)psychosis.
B)peculiar thinking.
C)irresponsible behavior.
D)disinterest in human relationships.

Question 33

What common thread runs through paranoid,schizoid,and schizotypal personality disorders?

A)They are commonly mistaken for schizophrenia.
B)They typically follow schizophrenic episodes.
C)They sometimes precede the onset of full-blown schizophrenia.
D)They are inherited disorders that often lead to dementia.

Question 34

The personality disorder in which individuals are fearful of any involvement with other people and are afraid of being publicly embarrassed is referred to as __________ personality disorder.

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

Question 35

A patient at the mental health center talks in a vague and disjointed manner.His behavior,perceptions,and dress are considered odd.However,he does not report any delusions or hallucinations.Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A)schizoid personality disorder
B)avoidant personality disorder
C)borderline personality disorder
D)schizotypal personality disorder

Question 36

Based on the clusters of personality disorders listed in DSM-5,which of the following sets of characteristics is associated with paranoid personality disorder?

A)anxious or fearful
B)odd or eccentric
C)out of contact with reality and delusional
D)dramatic,emotional,or erratic

Question 37

A psychologist is describing the different personality disorders.When she comes to avoidant and schizoid personality disorders,the students look puzzled.How will she distinguish these two personality disorders?

A)Avoidant personality disorder has closer etiological ties to mood disorders than schizoid personality disorder has.
B)Those with schizoid personality disorder tend to become extremely dependent on others,while those with avoidant personality disorder manage to maintain their independence.
C)Those with schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone; those with avoidant personality disorder want to be liked by others but are afraid of even minimal signs of disapproval.
D)Those with avoidant personality disorder are not distressed by their self-induced social isolation,while those with schizoid personality disorder are distressed by their lack of social skills.

Question 38

Which personality disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality,attention-seeking behavior,and inappropriate seductiveness?

A)dependent
B)histrionic
C)schizotypal
D)obsessive-compulsive

Question 39

Which of the following defines one of the clusters of personality disorders in DSM-5?

A)dissociative symptoms
B)odd or eccentric behaviors
C)neurotic/mood-disordered behaviors
D)child abuse

Question 40

What etiological link has been suggested between histrionic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder?

A)lack of inhibition
B)strong social ties
C)tendency to commit suicide
D)early parental abandonment

Question 41

What is the most common personality disorder found among persons in inpatient and outpatient treatment settings?

A)dependent personality disorder
B)antisocial personality disorder
C)borderline personality disorder
D)schizotypal personality disorder

Question 42

Which personality disorder is characterized by a fear of separation from others who are looked to for advice and reassurance?

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

Question 43

A psychologist has developed a series of personality inventories and wants to determine if they are valid.One of the scales measures perfectionism,so he asks a colleague for advice on how to establish the validity of this scale.The colleague tells him that if he were to find a sample of people with __________ personality disorder,these people would obtain high scores on a scale that measures perfectionism.

A)avoidant
B)histrionic
C)antisocial
D)obsessive-compulsive

Question 44

The rate of antisocial personality disorder in men and women is

A)equal.
B)5 percent for men; 2 percent for women.
C)5 percent for women; 1 percent for men.
D)impossible to determine.

Question 45

What percent of people who qualify for a personality disorder diagnosis also meet criteria for a syndrome such as major depression,substance dependence,or an anxiety disorder?

A)1
B)25
C)50
D)75

Question 46

Unlike obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD),obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)involves

A)lack of guilt.
B)excessive emotionality.
C)dependency and advice‑seeking.
D)intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behavior.

Question 47

Which of the following is a frequent complaint about the categorical approach to diagnosis in DSM-5 that could be addressed by a dimensional approach?

A)Many patients are misdiagnosed.
B)The whole system is too psychoanalytic in nature.
C)Many patients meet the criteria for more than one diagnosis.
D)The diagnoses are confusing,since they involve several axes.

Question 48

In studies of community-based samples of adults,the overall lifetime prevalence rate for at least one personality disorder of any type is approximately

A)1 percent.
B)5 percent.
C)10 percent.
D)20 percent.

Question 49

You walk into your next class and see the following written on the board: "Differences are not disorders." You find out that the class that met in this classroom was a psychology class.Which of the following was probably the point of that class's lecture?

A)We should avoid culturally biased interpretations.
B)The mentally ill deserve the same rights as the rest of the population.
C)Laws restricting the ability of the mentally disabled to marry are misguided.
D)We should not look down upon those whose level of intellectual functioning is below ours.

Question 50

The class is reading a case history of an individual whose reaction to the death of a loved one is described.The individual writes that he hears the voice of a dead relative.The class is asked for a diagnosis,and everyone agrees this is an example of dysfunctional behavior.However,when the instructor disagrees,everyone is puzzled.What aspect of this case history could have led the instructor to his opinion?

A)Hearing the voices of a dead relative is a metaphor for the bereavement process.
B)The experience was probably drug induced and thus would not meet the criteria for a mental disorder.
C)The individual is a Native American,and in their culture,they expect to hear from the spirits of dead relatives.
D)The individual in question does not recognize that the symptoms are actually dysfunctional and thus would not seek therapy.

Question 51

Epidemiologists have a difficult time pinning down the prevalence of personality disorders because

A)there is considerable overlap among categories in these disorders.
B)there are too many dimensions to be measured.
C)there is no agreement on the criteria for personality disorders.
D)they are so rare.

Question 52

What is one criticism of the DSM classification of personality disorders as discrete categories rather than dimensional traits?

A)Category names are arbitrary.
B)A categorical approach does not explain etiology.
C)The labels have created more problems than they solved.
D)There are a lot of people with serious personality problems who do not fit the official DSM-5 subtypes.

Question 53

Which personality disorder is most strongly related to the dimension of conscientiousness in the five-factor model of personality?

A)schizoid
B)histrionic
C)borderline
D)obsessive-compulsive

Question 54

What was one of the reasons why the categorical model remained the official approach to personality disorder diagnosis as opposed to implementing the dimensional model?

A)There are not adequate data to support the switch.
B)There is nothing wrong with the categorical approach.
C)The dimensional model has been found to be inaccurate.
D)There is no support for the dimensional model.

Question 55

You have a client who is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.As a result,you are concerned because she is also at risk of developing

A)schizophrenia.
B)various mood disorders.
C)various anxiety disorders.
D)suicidal tendencies.

Question 56

Comparing borderline and antisocial personality disorders using the dimensional approach shows the two disorders are distinguished by the fact that a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder would also include

A)high levels of traits involving negative affectivity.
B)high levels of traits involving psychoticism.
C)high levels of traits involving detachment.
D)high levels of traits involving antagonism.

Question 57

Comorbidity of personality disorders,where people meet the diagnostic criteria for more than one personality disorder,

A)is a rare occurrence.
B)occurs at least half the time.
C)occurs in almost every instance.
D)occurs often because there is a common genetic basis.

Question 58

The personality disorder with the lowest prevalence rate is

A)antisocial.
B)narcissistic.
C)psychopathy.
D)obsessive-compulsive.

Question 59

The proposed dimensional model places primary emphasis on

A)reducing stigma associated with a personality disorder diagnosis.
B)explaining the etiology of personality disorders.
C)reducing the number of personality disorder diagnoses.
D)ratings of maladaptive traits.

Question 60

Dr.Patel has just determined that his new client meets the criteria for a personality disorder.What would you tell Dr.Jones about the possibility that there could be a comorbid diagnosis involving some other kind of mental disorder?

A)Comorbid mood,anxiety,and substance use disorders are very common.
B)He is only likely to find evidence of a mood disorder.
C)It is unlikely that there will be a comorbid diagnosis.
D)There might well be a comorbid diagnosis,but it would not have any connection to the personality disorder.

Question 61

What have family studies of the first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients revealed about these individuals?

A)They rarely show schizotypal personality disorder.
B)They almost always show schizotypal personality disorder.
C)They have higher than average rates of schizotypal personality disorder.
D)They have lower than average rates of schizotypal personality disorder.

Question 62

__________ personality disorder has a relatively high recovery rate following early detection and therapy.

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

Question 63

__________ personality disorder in adulthood is predicted by conduct disorder in childhood.

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

Question 64

Based on a longitudinal study conducted by Robins,what was one factor that predicted which boys would receive a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder in adulthood?

A)history of child abuse
B)a sibling with a criminal record
C)extremely harsh punishment from parents
D)history of theft or aggressive behavior

Question 65

Which personality disorders are associated with the poorest long-term prognosis?

A)paranoid and antisocial
B)schizotypal and schizoid
C)borderline and histrionic
D)antisocial and avoidant

Question 66

The realistic concerns of minority groups and recent immigrants about oppression could be misinterpreted and lead clinicians to make incorrect diagnoses of __________ personality disorder.

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

Question 67

What did Cohen and colleagues find when they surveyed adolescents to study the prevalence of personality disorders?

A)Personality disorders were almost non-existent.
B)The most common personality disorder in the sample was antisocial personality disorder.
C)Fewer than half the adolescents who originally met the diagnostic criteria still met the same criteria two years later.
D)If strictly applied,the criteria would lead to a diagnosis for almost every adolescent in the sample.

Question 68

A newspaper reporter is given the job of reporting on the survey of adolescents designed to determine the prevalence and stability of personality disorders.Which of the following would be the best headline for the reporter's story?

A)"Adolescents' Personality Disorders: Rare and Not Stable"
B)"Adolescents' Personality Disorders: Not Rare and Not So Stable"
C)"Do All Adolescents Meet the Criteria for Personality Disorders?"
D)"Adolescence: A Period of Stress Causes A High Rate of Personality Disorders"

Question 69

You are reading for a part in a play.The description of the part describes the character as exhibiting a pervasive pattern of intense and unstable interpersonal relationships,an unstable self-image,and repeated suicidal gestures.You conclude that this character would meet the criteria for __________ personality disorder.

A)schizoid
B)dependent
C)borderline
D)antisocial

Question 70

What impulse control disorder is defined by aggressive behaviors resulting in serious assaultive acts or destruction of property?

A)pyromania
B)kleptomania
C)intermittent explosive disorder
D)borderline personality disorder

Question 71

Miguel feels pleasure and relief after deliberately setting a fire.Why would Miguel's behavior be considered impulsive,rather than compulsive?

A)The goal of impulsive behavior is to experience pleasure.
B)The goal of impulsive behavior is to reduce anxiety.
C)The goal of impulsive behavior is motivated by anger and vengeance.
D)The goal of impulsive behavior is to satisfy delusional beliefs.

Question 72

At a treatment planning conference,a psychologist is describing a new client who has been diagnosed with a personality disorder.The psychologist is emphasizing the ego-syntonic nature of the client's problems because

A)treatment will have to focus on the client's weak ego.
B)the client might not be motivated for treatment.
C)the client is an excellent candidate for treatment.
D)the problems are psychotic in nature.

Question 73

Making cross-cultural comparisons to determine how rates of personality disorders might differ around the world is difficult because

A)personality disorders do not exist in most cultures.
B)researchers from one culture might misinterpret the differences they find in other cultures.
C)There is not enough variability between cultures to make valid comparisons.
D)the rates do not vary very much.

Question 74

In reference to borderline personality disorder,splitting is

A)a lack of impulse control.
B)seeing people as all good or all bad.
C)a brain dysfunction causing attention deficit.
D)imagining that what one wants is actually true.

Question 75

The definition of __________ personality disorder was heavily influenced by psychodynamic views about the origins of personality traits.

A)borderline
B)antisocial
C)schizotypal
D)obsessive-compulsive

Question 76

Repetitive behaviors can be described as either compulsive or impulsive,depending on whether the original goal was

A)to express anger or anxiety.
B)rational or irrational.
C)adaptive or maladaptive.
D)to experience pleasure or avoid anxiety.

Question 77

You are arguing with another student about whether personality disorders occur more frequently in women.Which of the following is the most accurate position to take?

A)The overall prevalence is approximately equal.
B)Cluster A personality disorders are more common in women.
C)Cluster B personality disorders are more common in men.
D)The overall prevalence is higher for men.

Question 78

What is one of the problems in treating patients with personality disorders?

A)high drop out rates
B)low intellectual ability
C)related physical problems
D)high distress about problems

Question 79

What is DSM's position regarding the role of culture in the diagnosis of personality disorders?

A)Cultural standards for appropriate behavior are not taken into account.
B)Cultural standards for appropriate behavior must be taken into account.
C)The criteria for personality disorders are culturally universal.
D)Cultural standards are only taken into account for Cluster C disorders.

Question 80

What did the term schizotypal originally mean?

A)an abbreviation for schizophrenic phenotype
B)an abbreviation for schizophrenic subtype that is not specified in DSM
C)a form of schizophrenia that is induced by a virus
D)a set of symptoms that occur in reaction to environmental stress