Deck 10: Personality Disorders

Question 1

Helen is suspicious and doubts the loyalty of even her friends. She is unwilling to forgive perceived insults and never forgets a grudge. She is most likely to be diagnosed with ________ personality disorder.

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

Answer 1

paranoid

Question 2

Which statement about personality disorders is accurate?

A) The category is broad and encompasses behavioral problems that vary widely in form and severity.
B) The personality disorders are considered situation-specific problems in behaving.
C) Most of the personality disorders are extreme reactions to stressful life events.
D) Even the milder cases of personality disorders produce severe impairments in social and occupational functioning.

Answer 2

The category is broad and encompasses behavioral problems that vary widely in form and severity.

Question 3

Because they are regarded as being different from standard psychiatric syndromes, the personality disorders are

A) not listed in the DSM-IV.
B) coded on Axis I.
C) coded on Axis II.
D) given what is called a "provisional" category.

Answer 3

coded on Axis II.

Question 4

Misdiagnoses are common when looking at potential personality disorders because

A) the diagnostic criteria are objective.
B) many of the personality disorders share common features.
C) most of those in treatment for personality disorders are heavily medicated.
D) it is usually not possible to determine when the problematic behavior began.

Question 5

People find Adam difficult to be around. His behavior is unpredictable and erratic but most often is annoying to others. He doesn't seem to learn from his bad experiences, instead he keeps repeating the same mistakes over and over. His family says Adam has been like this since at least junior high school. Adam most likely has

A) a mood disorder.
B) an anxiety disorder.
C) a dissociative disorder.
D) a personality disorder.

Question 6

What do all of the Cluster A disorders have in common?

A) Lack of emotional expression
B) Oddness or eccentricity
C) Clear link to schizophrenia
D) Trust in other people

Question 7

Which of the following is a Cluster B personality disorder?

A) Depressive
B) Schizoid
C) Paranoid
D) Borderline

Question 8

Unlike disorders like depression and PTSD,

A) personality disorders develop gradually.
B) multiple causal events can be identified when a personality disorder has developed.
C) those with personality disorders experience considerable subjective distress.
D) personality disorders are found on Axis III.

Question 9

The finding that temperament may play a role in the etiology of personality disorders suggests that

A) all personality disorders have a biological basis.
B) learning plays a significant role in the development of personality disorders.
C) the environment does not play a causal role in the development of Axis II disorders.
D) a susceptibility to the development of a personality disorder may be inherited.

Question 10

Individuals with personality disorders

A) comply with societal expectations.
B) reject societal expectations.
C) are unable to perform some roles expected by society.
D) have a strong sense of self.

Question 11

The "clusters" of personality disorders found in the DSM-IV-TR are grouped based on

A) similar etiologies.
B) level of dysfunction.
C) symptom or feature similarities.
D) expected prognosis.

Question 12

The behavioral patterns of individuals with personality disorders

A) tend to fluctuate over time.
B) tend to normalize with experience as an individual matures.
C) are thought to be relatively consistent over time, with little adaptation to new kinds of experiences.
D) are remarkable in their tendency to shift dramatically from one kind of disorder to another.

Question 13

According to the DSM-IV-TR, which of the following must be true for a personality disorder diagnosis?

A) The patient's behavior must reflect a lack of impulse control.
B) The patient must experience clinically significant distress.
C) Signs of psychosis must be present.
D) The person's behavior problems must cause them distress or impairment.

Question 14

Personality disorders were once known as

A) character disorders.
B) identity disorders.
C) conduct disorders.
D) maladaptive behavioral patterns.

Question 15

There is a general agreement among researchers that personality

A) is mainly learned.
B) can be characterized by five basic trait dimensions.
C) has an infinite number of possible trait dimensions.
D) is mainly genetic.

Question 16

The best description of the biological component of personality disorders is

A) they are directly inherited disorders.
B) they have no biological component, they are learned.
C) personality traits are inherited that predispose a person to developing a personality disorder.
D) people inherit the trait of anxiety, which underlies all of the personality disorders and predisposes people to developing a personality disorder.

Question 17

Which of the following is a factor that complicates determining the causes of personality disorders?

A) The high likelihood that an individual with one personality disorder may also have another
B) The availability of only prospective data
C) The wealth of biological data available
D) The inability to gather information from the patients themselves, due to the prevalence of memory disorders among those with personality disorders

Question 18

The five- factor model

A) is a model of normal personality that includes an expanded description of the five basic personality dimensions.
B) is a model that attempts to explain personality disorders by dividing them into five main categories.
C) is a model that explains the causes of personality disorders by describing the five most important factors that lead to their development.
D) is a five-step model for the treatment of personality disorders.

Question 19

Individuals who seem odd and eccentric to others may have personality disorders from

A) Cluster A.
B) Cluster B.
C) Cluster C.
D) proposed diagnostic categories needing further study.

Question 20

Since there are substantial problems with reliability and validity of the diagnoses of personality disorders,

A) they are rarely used in clinical practice.
B) it is less likely that research on a disorder will be able to be replicated by other researchers.
C) they are considered by clinicians only as suggestions and do not have an impact on treatment decisions.
D) very little research or search for treatments is done.

Question 21

Which of the following personality disorders is most likely to be mistaken for schizophrenia?

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

Question 22

Tom tells you that he can make his roommate take out the trash by simply thinking about his roommate doing it. He agrees with you that this could sometimes just be a coincidence, but he seems to truly believe he can sometimes get people to do things just by thinking about it. You find him understandable when he talks, but sometimes hard to follow. His clothes are messy and don't match. Tom tells you not to tell anyone about his power, because he knows that other people don't like him because they are jealous and they would hurt him if they could. The best diagnosis for Tom is

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

Question 23

Like many individuals with personality disorders, individuals with histrionic personality disorder are rarely able to maintain relationships over time. Why?

A) Their extreme distrust makes lasting relationships impossible.
B) Their self-reliance leads them to feel that they do not need anyone else.
C) Their exaggerated sense of self-importance is generally off-putting.
D) Their need for attention and manipulation is likely to drive others away.

Question 24

Histrionic personality disorder is most likely to be diagnosed in people who

A) are emotionally unexpressive and prefer living alone.
B) later develop schizophrenic symptoms.
C) are attention-seeking and overly emotional.
D) depend on others because they do not feel competent.

Question 25

Lori is vain and self-centered. When she goes out, it is not at all uncommon for her to do things that ensure she is the center of attention. Her close friends describe her as a "drama queen." Assuming that her behavior is sufficient to warrant an Axis II diagnosis, which of the following personality disorders is she most likely to be diagnosed with?

A) Antisocial
B) Borderline
C) Histrionic
D) Narcissistic

Question 26

Sam shows little emotion and is loner. He has no social relationships, other than his family, and he seems to experience little pleasure, if any. What personality disorder might Sam have?

A) Paranoid
B) Schizoid
C) Borderline
D) Narcissistic

Question 27

Which basic personality traits from the five-factor model seem most important in the development of schizoid personality disorder?

A) Low agreeableness and high antagonism
B) High introversion and low openness to feelings
C) High introversion and low agreeableness
D) Low excitement seeking and high fantasy proneness

Question 28

Visual, attentional, and memory deficits comparable to those seen in schizophrenia have been documented in ________ personality disorder.

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

Question 29

The central problem of schizoid personality disorder is

A) recurrent depression.
B) a marked disregard for the feelings of others.
C) cognitive and perceptual distortions.
D) an inability to form attachments to other people.

Question 30

Which basic personality traits from the five-factor model seem most important in the development of histrionic personality disorder?

A) Low openness to feelings and high fantasy proneness
B) High extraversion and high neuroticism
C) High neuroticism and low agreeableness
D) High conscientiousness and low assertiveness

Question 31

Which basic personality traits from the five-factor model seem most important in the development of paranoid personality disorder?

A) Introversion and openness to feelings
B) Excitement seeking and neuroticism
C) Antagonism and neuroticism
D) Fantasy proneness and tough mindedness

Question 32

While the individual with ________ personality disorder appears cool and aloof, the individual with ________ personality disorder is best described as odd.

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

Question 33

The best single-word description for the person with paranoid personality disorder is

A) delusional.
B) impulsive.
C) unemotional.
D) mistrustful.

Question 34

Luisa is a lively and emotional graduate student. She dresses provocatively and behaves in a very seductive manner with her male professors. She has had a long string of short-lived, stormy romances. Luisa is most likely to have a diagnosis of

A) histrionic personality disorder.
B) narcissistic personality disorder.
C) dependent personality disorder.
D) passive-aggressive personality disorder.

Question 35

Schizophrenic disorders seem to be most strongly linked genetically to ________ personality disorder.

A) schizoid
B) schizotypal
C) avoidant
D) Both A and B.

Question 36

Transient psychotic symptoms are seen in which of the following personality disorders?

A) Paranoid and schizoid
B) Schizotypal and schizoid
C) Schizoid and antisocial
D) Paranoid and schizotypal

Question 37

A cognitive explanation for schizoid personality disorder proposes that the individual with this disorder believes that

A) he is basically alone.
B) few people can be trusted.
C) no one can live up to his or her expectations.
D) he is misunderstood.

Question 38

Greg has been diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder. Knowing this, which of the following jobs would he be most likely to enjoy?

A) Night-time security guard who works alone
B) Receptionist at a busy dentist's office
C) Insurance inspector who uncovers clues that criminal behavior has occurred
D) Elementary school teacher who works with children who have emotional problems

Question 39

Unlike the person with paranoid schizophrenia, the person with paranoid personality disorder

A) becomes delusional in response to an actual betrayal or hurtful incident with another person.
B) has persistent loss of reality contact.
C) tends to confide in others and assume the loyalty of his or her friends.
D) is in contact with reality, although he or she may have transient psychotic symptoms.

Question 40

Individuals with schizoid and paranoid personality disorders differ significantly in their

A) ability to function.
B) display of psychotic symptoms.
C) level of emotionality.
D) likelihood of recovery.

Question 41

________ personality disorder is much more common in men than women and involves the exploitation of others without remorse.

A) Antisocial
B) Histrionic
C) Borderline
D) Paranoid

Question 42

Antisocial personality disorder differs from the other Cluster B disorders in that

A) a lack of concern for the feelings of others is not displayed.
B) a need for approval or attention is not displayed.
C) symptoms are only present after age 15.
D) it is seen equally on men and women.

Question 43

Hope believes that she is the "star" of her graduate class and that the other students dislike her because they are jealous of her superior intelligence. She believes that she is entitled to be exempted from an important exam because of her outstanding performance in class. Hope probably suffers from

A) histrionic personality disorder.
B) narcissistic personality disorder.
C) dependent personality disorder.
D) schizoid personality disorder.

Question 44

A lack of parental indulgence of a child's overconfidence might play a causal role in ________ personality disorder.

A) Antisocial
B) Borderline
C) Histrionic
D) Narcissistic

Question 45

Which of the following is most typical of the interpersonal attitudes and behaviors of someone with borderline personality disorder?

A) Vacillation between overidealization and bitter disappointment
B) Excessive trust and dependence on others' opinions
C) Cruel and callous exploitation of others for personal gain
D) Repeated manipulation of others to gain attention

Question 46

Which of the following is most typical of the interpersonal attitudes and behaviors of someone with histrionic personality disorder?

A) Vacillation between overidealization and bitter disappointment
B) Excessive trust and dependence on others' opinions
C) Cruel and callous exploitation of others for personal gain
D) Repeated manipulation of others to gain attention

Question 47

Henry was a charming middle-aged man who came to the attention of authorities on bigamy charges. He had a long history of courting and supposedly marrying elderly widows, then absconding with their money. His diagnosis is most likely

A) narcissistic personality disorder.
B) borderline personality disorder.
C) histrionic personality disorder.
D) antisocial personality disorder.

Question 48

At a young age, children are not able to understand that the world that others experience is different from their own. Children also tend to overestimate their own abilities. A failure to outgrow these youthful characteristics might explain the development of ________ personality disorder.

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

Question 49

Impulsivity and extreme instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood best characterize

A) histrionic personality disorder.
B) antisocial personality disorder.
C) avoidant personality disorder.
D) borderline personality disorder.

Question 50

Which of the following is most typical of the interpersonal attitudes and behaviors of someone with antisocial personality disorder?

A) Vacillation between overidealization and bitter disappointment
B) Excessive trust and dependence on others' opinions
C) Cruel and callous exploitation of others for personal gain
D) Repeated manipulation of others to gain attention

Question 51

What "border" did the term "borderline" in borderline personality refer to?

A) The border between Axis I and Axis II disorders
B) People with borderline personality disorder were thought to be on the brink of psychosis, on the border between sanity and insanity.
C) Because people with borderline personality disorder behave normally much of the time, they were thought to only be on the edge of mental illness.
D) The behaviors exhibited by people with borderline personality disorder lie on continuum between neurotic and psychotic disorders.

Question 52

Which of the following best accounts for why women are more likely to be diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder than men?

A) Women are more likely to develop this disorder.
B) The symptoms tend to be maladaptive exaggerations of traits normally seen in women.
C) Women are naturally more likely than men to engage in attention-seeking behaviors.
D) The primary feature of this disorder is emotionality and women are more emotional than men.

Question 53

Symptoms of what Axis I diagnosis are present in individuals who later develop antisocial personality disorder?

A) Attention-deficit disorder
B) Attachment disorder
C) Conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder
D) Depression

Question 54

Which of the following distinguishes narcissistic personality disorder from the other Cluster B disorders?

A) Emotionality
B) Grandiosity
C) Impulsivity
D) Vanity

Question 55

Early criminal behavior is most characteristic of

A) antisocial personality disorder.
B) borderline personality disorder.
C) schizoid personality disorder.
D) schizotypal personality disorder.

Question 56

Which of the following personality disorders might be the female equivalent of antisocial personality disorder?

A) Avoidant
B) Borderline
C) Histrionic
D) Narcissistic

Question 57

Which of the following core dysfunctional beliefs might explain the development of histrionic personality disorder?

A) "I need a man to define me."
B) "I am the only one I can trust."
C) "I am completely helpless."
D) "If I am not fun, they will abandon me."

Question 58

Some people always think that everyone is looking at them and talking about them, wishing to be like them. This self-focused view of the world would be expected in someone with ________ personality disorder.

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

Question 59

Why is it that people with narcissistic personality disorder are unlikely to seek treatment?

A) They are suspicious that therapists will steal their ideas.
B) They afraid they will become dependent on the therapist.
C) They are hypersensitive to criticism.
D) They think they are nearly perfect and in no need of change.

Question 60

The histrionic seeks ________, while the narcissist needs ________.

A) attention; admiration
B) acceptance; admiration
C) admiration; attention
D) acceptance; approval

Question 61

Glenna believed that Sam loved her and that she could not live without him. When he told her he did not want to see her again, she became violently angry and manipulated him into staying with her by threatening suicide. Which of the following personality disorder does Glenna's behavior suggest she might have?

A) Narcissistic
B) Histrionic
C) Dependent
D) Borderline

Question 62

About half of the individuals with borderline personality disorder also qualify for a diagnosis of ________ at some time.

A) antisocial personality disorder
B) schizophrenia
C) a mood disorder
D) histrionic personality disorder

Question 63

Self-mutilation, such as is seen in borderline personality disorder, is

A) a form of suicidal behavior.
B) a form of self-punishment.
C) done to reduce anxiety and depression.
D) associated with an increase in anxiety and depression.

Question 64

Which basic personality traits from the five-factor model seem most important in the development of borderline personality disorder?

A) High extraversion and low fantasy proneness
B) High impulsivity and affective instability
C) High antagonism and low neuroticism
D) High agreeableness and low excitement seeking

Question 65

Avoidant personality disorder is extremely similar to and hard to distinguish from

A) generalized social phobia.
B) schizoid personality disorder.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) paranoid personality disorder.

Question 66

In which of the following disorders is a comorbid diagnosis of depression most commonly seen?

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

Question 67

The individual with avoidant personality disorder is unlikely to develop lasting relationships as a result of his or her

A) callousness.
B) fear of rejection.
C) desire to control others.
D) lack of interest.

Question 68

The main difference between borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder is that

A) while both have impulsive sex, the person with borderline personality disorder uses others and the person with antisocial personality disorder really cares about others.
B) both avoid abandonment, the person with borderline personality disorder because they love others and the person with antisocial personality disorder because they need others to love them.
C) both exploit others but the person with borderline personality disorder does it due to an angry reaction to disappointments and the person with antisocial personality disorder does it for gain and without guilt.
D) both show suicidal behavior, the person with borderline personality disorder because he or she wants to die and the person with antisocial personality disorder to get attention.

Question 69

According to Paris (1999, 2007), a key causal factor in borderline personality disorder seems to be

A) inconsistent or highly punitive discipline in childhood.
B) impulsivity and affective instability interacting with such factors as trauma or loss.
C) a negative attributional style.
D) an inability to empathize with other people.

Question 70

Sharon says, "I would love to be in an intimate relationship. My life is terribly boring and lonely. But I am extremely shy and I would fall apart if any man criticized me in the slightest." This description best matches the symptoms of ________ personality disorder.

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

Question 71

Transient psychotic and dissociative experiences can occur in ________ personality disorder.

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

Question 72

The borderline personality differs from histrionic disorder in that

A) impulsive behavior is rare.
B) a need for others is not exhibited.
C) comorbid diagnoses are rare.
D) the central role of sexuality is not present.

Question 73

In contrast to schizoid individuals, those with avoidant personality disorder

A) are emotional and dramatic.
B) are impulsive and self-destructive.
C) are extremely upset by their lack of social relationships.
D) are exploitive rather than compliant.

Question 74

Helena has avoidant personality disorder. She is likely to

A) engage in a series of intense, unstable relationships.
B) have no interest in social relationships.
C) avoid achievement situations where she might fail.
D) be hypersensitive to any sign of criticism or rejection.

Question 75

The research on the association between borderline personality disorder and childhood sexual abuse

A) proves child sexual abuse is the leading cause of borderline personality disorder.
B) are problematic - the abuse most likely is occurring with other factors that might be more important.
C) has shown that the reports of sexual abuse were mostly false reports.
D) suggests that some genetic component underlies both the disorder in the child and the parents' tendency to abuse.

Question 76

Which basic personality traits from the five-factor model seem most important in the development of avoidant personality disorder?

A) High extraversion and low openness to feelings
B) High introversion and high neuroticism
C) High antagonism and low neuroticism
D) High agreeableness and high angry hostility

Question 77

Stu has no friends except his brother. He would desperately love to date women but is certain no woman would be interested in him. He tried a dating service but was convinced that the secretary was trying to get rid of him because he was such a poor candidate. The most likely diagnosis for Stu is

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

Question 78

According to Paris' multidimensional theory of borderline personality disorder (BPD), people with high levels of impulsivity and affective instability

A) are likely to develop BPD in response to even minor stressors.
B) are likely to develop BPD if they are exposed to trauma.
C) come mainly from intact homes and are unlikely to develop BPD.
D) come to enjoy acting out.

Question 79

Loretta has a long history of first idealizing men and then feeling they have abandoned her. Feelings of emptiness change into reckless acts of sexual promiscuity, gambling, and suicide attempts. She feels that she has never had a sense of self. Loretta probably has ________ personality disorder.

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

Question 80

The individual with avoidant personality disorder behaves most similarly to someone with ________ personality disorder.

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