Psychoanalysis Assessment and Diagnosis 2

Question 1

In psychoanalytic assessment, what does 'ego strength' primarily refer to?

Accepted Answer

The patient's ability to tolerate frustration and regulate affect without excessive regression

Answer

Ego strength refers to the ego's capacity to manage anxiety, tolerate frustration, and maintain functioning without collapsing into primitive defenses or regression.

Question 2

Which of the following best characterizes a 'borderline' level of personality organization according to Kernberg?

Accepted Answer

Intact reality testing with identity diffusion and primitive defenses

Answer

Kernberg's borderline personality organization is characterized by identity diffusion, use of primitive defenses (especially splitting), but preserved reality testing.

Question 3

What is the psychoanalytic significance of a patient's capacity for 'triangular' (oedipal) relating during assessment?

Accepted Answer

It indicates the patient has achieved a level of development beyond purely dyadic object relations

Answer

The capacity for triangular relating suggests the patient has progressed developmentally beyond pre-oedipal dyadic relating and can tolerate third-party relationships and rivalry.

Question 4

During a diagnostic interview, a patient describes her boss as 'completely evil' this week after describing him as 'perfect' last month. Which defense mechanism does this most likely reflect?

Accepted Answer

Splitting

Answer

Splitting involves maintaining polarized all-good or all-bad representations of self and others, inability to integrate ambivalent feelings about the same person.

Question 5

In psychoanalytic assessment, 'object constancy' refers to the ability to:

Accepted Answer

Maintain a stable, positive internal representation of a significant other even when frustrated or angry with them

Answer

Object constancy, associated with Mahler's rapprochement subphase resolution, is the ability to hold a stable, loving internal image of a person even during frustration or absence.

(Psychoanalysis) Psychoanalysis Theory Test Practice Test

(Psychoanalysis) Psychoanalysis Theory Test Practice Test

Psychoanalysis Assessment and Diagnosis 2