Mental Health and Psychology Personality Disorders 2

Question 1

A patient exhibits excessive attention-seeking behavior, rapidly shifting shallow emotions, and consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to themselves. Which personality disorder is most consistent?

Accepted Answer

Histrionic PD

Answer

Histrionic PD is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, including reliance on physical appearance to attract attention.

Question 2

Which personality disorder is most associated with magical thinking, odd beliefs, and ideas of reference that do not reach the threshold for a psychotic disorder?

Accepted Answer

Schizotypal PD

Answer

Schizotypal PD includes cognitive-perceptual distortions such as magical thinking and ideas of reference that fall short of full psychosis.

Question 3

A patient consistently defers to others for major decisions, fears being left to care for themselves, and goes to excessive lengths to obtain support. Which personality disorder fits best?

Accepted Answer

Dependent PD

Answer

Dependent PD involves an excessive need to be taken care of, submissive and clinging behavior, and difficulty making independent decisions.

Question 4

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) differs from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) primarily in that OCPD traits are:

Accepted Answer

Ego-syntonic and consistent with self-identity

Answer

In OCPD, perfectionism and control are ego-syntonic (valued by the patient), whereas in OCD obsessions are ego-dystonic (experienced as unwanted and distressing).

Question 5

The defense mechanism of 'splitting,' in which others are seen as entirely good or entirely bad, is most characteristic of which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Borderline PD

Answer

Splitting is a primitive defense mechanism most characteristic of BPD, reflecting an inability to integrate positive and negative aspects of self and others.

Mental Health and Psychology Practice Test

Mental Health and Psychology Practice Test

Mental Health and Psychology Personality Disorders 2