Personality Disorders Quiz

Which of the following is a common symptom of borderline personality disorder?

• A fear of being criticized or rejected by others.

• An obsession with orderliness and perfectionism.

• A lack of concern for the well-being of others.

• Rapid mood swings and intense fear of abandonment.

Answer explanation

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder characterized by pervasive instability in mood, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. Individuals with BPD often experience intense and unstable emotions, have a distorted sense of self, and struggle with impulsivity. Intense and volatile emotions, such as anger or anxiety, that can last from a few hours to a few daysdays

A male client with antisocial personality disorder was found in a female patient's room on her bed. When instructed to leave the room, the client states, "I'm sick of you telling me what I can or can't do. If I want to carry on a relationship with a female patient, it's my right. I'll do exactly as I please!" Which of these actions by the nurse is a priority at this point?

• Reassure the client that he will have plenty of opportunities with women after he is discharged.

• Reinforce the unit rules that clients are expected to follow.

• Escort the client to seclusion.

• Establish a trusting relationship by telling the client that you will make an exception just this once.

Answer explanation

Reinforce the unit rules that clients are expected to follow.Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Individuals with this disorder often engage in behaviors such as deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, and irresponsibility. They may show a lack of remorse for their actions and have difficulty forming and maintaining relationships. It's important to note that while the term "antisocial" is used in the name of this disorder, it does not refer to shyness or avoidance of social situations. Instead, it reflects a pattern of behavior that goes against societal norms and the rights of others. Antisocial Personality Disorder is often associated with a history of conduct disorder in childhood, and the symptoms typically begin before the age of 15. The disorder is challenging to treat, but psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be effective in helping individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder develop more positive ways of thinking and behaving.

 

A patient diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder approaches the nurse and says, "You're so cute, are you married?" Which of these is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

• I'm married, but that's none of your business.

• Let's talk about your love life instead.

• Thank you so much for the compliment but I'm married.

• Our relationship is strictly professional. It is not appropriate for us to have that kind of discussion.

Answer explanation

The most appropriate response by the nurse is to maintain a professional boundary by stating, 'Our relationship is strictly professional. It is not appropriate for us to have that kind of discussion.' Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior and include Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, and Antisocial Personality Disorders. Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) involves a disregard for the rights of others, often leading to behaviors such as deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, and irresponsibility. The nurse should maintain professional boundaries to prevent manipulation and ensure a therapeutic and safe environment for the patient.

A nurse’s priority related to clients who are experiencing clinical manifestations of borderline personality disorder should be to:

• Set limits when the client exhibits threats of self-damaging behaviors.

• Employ behavior modification using covert techniques.

• Increase therapeutic communication when the client exhibits intrusiveness.

• Engage in one-to-one discussions about childhood experiences.

Answer explanation

The nurse's priority should be to set limits when the client exhibits threats of self-damaging behaviors to ensure safety and provide structure. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder characterized by pervasive instability in mood, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. Individuals with BPD often experience intense and unstable emotions, have a distorted sense of self, and struggle with impulsivity. Limit setting is important in patients with Cluster B Personality Traits

Which of the following behaviors would be considered the most significant indication of positive change in a patient diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder?

• Patient became angry only once in group this week.

• Patient was able to wait a full hour without verbally abusing the staff.

• The patient took the initiative to write a note of apology to another patient whom he had injured in a physical altercation, demonstrating empathy for his actions.

• Patient stated that he would no longer start fights with his peer group.

Answer explanation

The patient taking the initiative to write a note of apology to another patient, demonstrating empathy for his actions, is the most significant indication of positive change in a patient diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior and include Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, and Antisocial Personality Disorders. Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) involves a disregard for the rights of others, often leading to behaviors such as deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, and irresponsibility.

A patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder often exhibits alternating clinging and distancing behaviors with staff. A therapeutic nursing intervention with this type of behavior would be to:

• Encourage patient to establish trust in one person, with whom all therapeutic interactions take place.

• Secure a verbal contract indicating that the patient will not demonstrate these behaviors.

• Withdraw attention from the patient if these behaviors continue.

• Rotate staff that the patient will learn to relate to more than one person.

Answer explanation

The correct therapeutic nursing intervention for a patient with borderline personality disorder exhibiting alternating clinging and distancing behaviors is to rotate staff. This helps the patient learn to relate to more than one person, promoting a more stable therapeutic environment.

A nurse on a mental health unit is planning care for a client who has borderline personality disorder. Which of the following goals should the nurse set for the client?

• The client will deny feelings that others are seeking to hurt them for one week.

• The client will form personal relationships with two other clients within two days.

• The client will have no emotional outbursts during group therapy for a week.

• The client will only wash their hands twice daily for one week.

Answer explanation

The nurse should set the goal for the client to have no emotional outbursts during group therapy for a week, as it is a realistic and achievable goal for someone with borderline personality disorder. The nurse should identify that the goal for a client who has borderline personality disorder is emotional regulation. This goal is measurable and appropriate.

 

A nurse is caring for a client who is moving the furniture in the day room into straight rows and complaining about the different colors of clothes the other clients are wearing. The nurse should identify that these findings are consistent with which of the following personality disorders.

• Paranoid

• Histrionic

• Obsessive-compulsive

• Schizoid

Answer explanation

The findings of moving furniture into straight rows and complaining about colors align with Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. The nurse should identify that clients who have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are preoccupied with order and strict adherence to moral rules.

A nurse on a mental health unit is caring for a client who states that the food is poison. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• Taste a bit of the food on the tray with the client watching.

• Encourage the client to eat the same food the others are eating.

• Discourage the client from paranoid beliefs.

• Give the client food that is in pre-sealed containers.

Answer explanation

The nurse should give the client food that is in pre-sealed containers to address the client's belief that the food is poison and ensure their safety. Paranoid Personality Disorder is characterized by distrust and suspicion of others, often interpreting benign actions as malicious, leading to social and interpersonal difficulties, requiring therapy for management.

A new patient is on the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. Which of the following characteristics would you expect to assess?

• Lack of guilt for wrongdoing.

• Insight into his own behavior.

• Ability to learn from past experiences.

• Compliance with authority.

Answer explanation

A patient with antisocial personality disorder typically exhibits a lack of guilt for wrongdoing, making it the expected characteristic to assess in this case. Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior and include Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, and Antisocial Personality Disorders. Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) involves a disregard for the rights of others, often leading to behaviors such as deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, and irresponsibility.