Deck 12: The Personality Disorders

Question 1

DSM-5 will probably NOT include which categorical personality disorders?

A) paranoid; antisocial; schizoid; borderline
B) paranoid; histrionic; schizoid; dependent
C) paranoid; Antisocial; schizoid; borderline
D) paranoid; avoidant; schizoid; dependent
E) obsessive-compulsive; schizoid; dependent; borderline

Answer 1

paranoid; histrionic; schizoid; dependent

Question 2

The disorders listed under Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified are

A) passive-aggressive and dependent.
B) depressive and passive-aggressive.
C) paranoid and aggressive.
D) avoidant and depressive.
E) obsessive-compulsive and schizoid.

Answer 2

depressive and passive-aggressive.

Question 3

Unlike DSM-IV-TR, DSM-5 requires _______________ and permits _________________ when diagnosing a personality disorder.

A) dimensional assessment of self and interpersonal functioning; application of a categorical personality disorder diagnosis
B) application of a categorical personality disorder diagnosis; dimensional assessment of self and interpersonal functioning
C) application of a categorical disorder of self and/or interpersonal functioning; dimensional assessment of multiple personality disorders
D) categorical assignment to an Axis 1 disorder; dimensional assessment of social and adaptive functioning
E) categorical assignment to a personality disorder; dimensional assessment of severity

Answer 3

dimensional assessment of self and interpersonal functioning; application of a categorical personality disorder diagnosis

Question 4

According to the text, clinicians have been shown to be reluctant to diagnose males as having __________ personality disorder, while they are sometimes hesitant to diagnose females as having __________ personality disorder.

A) antisocial; avoidant
B) histrionic; antisocial
C) dependent; paranoid
D) antisocial; histrionic
E) avoidant; antisocial

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the prevalence rate of personality disorders between outpatients and inpatients?

A) They are generally higher among outpatients.
B) They are generally lower among outpatients.
C) They are higher for antisocial personality disorder, but the same for the remaining personality disorders.
D) Outpatients are generally diagnosed with disorders from Cluster A and inpatients with disorders from Cluster B.
E) They are generally the same.

Question 6

Which of the following are NOT identified as difficulties in diagnosing personality disorders (PDs)?

A) PD criteria can permit gender biases to influence the assessment process
B) PD symptoms are often not acknowledged by the patient
C) PD symptoms tend to be dormant for long periods of time
D) certain apparently-maladaptive attitudes and behaviors may be appropriate for distinct cultures
E) there is often similarity of symptoms in two or more different PDs

Question 7

The DSM-IV-TR lists __________ specific personality disorders which are organized into __________ broad clusters.

A) 10; 3
B) 8; 2
C) 8; 3
D) 10; 2
E) 15; 5

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of the five criteria used by the DSM-IV-TR in defining a personality disorder?

A) requires stability and long duration of symptoms, with onset in adolescence or earlier
B) behaviour be rigid and consistent across broad range of personal and social situations
C) pattern of behaviour manifested in at least 2 areas: cognition, emotion, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control
D) behaviour should lead to clinically significant distress
E) behaviour can typically be explained by another mental disorder

Question 9

Several researchers have suggested that the diagnostic criteria for some personality disorders are

A) culture-biased.
B) neither gender- nor culture-biased.
C) both gender- and culture-biased.
D) age-biased.
E) gender-biased.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true?

A) People with personality disorders show a far more restricted range of traits than do most people.
B) People with personality disorders show a far less restricted number of traits than do most people.
C) People with personality disorders are characterized by their flexibility to adapt to different situations.
D) People with personality disorders are far more dependent on situational contexts than are most people.
E) People with personality are typically characterized by a number of major personality traits.

Question 11

Which of the following matches is incorrect?

A) anxious and fearful cluster : dependent personality disorder
B) anxious and fearful cluster : avoidant personality disorder
C) odd and eccentric cluster : paranoid personality disorder
D) dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster : antisocial personality disorder
E) odd and eccentric cluster : depressive personality disorder

Question 12

Which is NOT a reason provided in the text for the importance of assessing personality disorders (PDs)?

A) their presence complicates the treatment of Axis 1 disorders
B) a PD can disrupt the alliance between therapist and client
C) PD's can be mistaken for Axis 1 conditions
D) mixing up a PD with an Axis 1 condition can lead to the wrong treatment plan
E) presence of a PD usually rules out the presence of an Axis 1 disorder

Question 13

Because the term has been traditionally applied to women, the name of __________ personality disorder was changed to histrionic personality disorder.

A) avoidant
B) neurotic
C) borderline
D) psychotic
E) hysterical

Question 14

According to the text, approximately __________% of the population will have a personality disorder during their life.

A) 30-34
B) 9-12
C) 6-9
D) 50
E) 12-15

Question 15

Despite the research, the Correctional Service of Canada seems reluctant to accept the fact that

A) psychopathy can occur in children.
B) psychopathy can occur in men.
C) psychopathy is a valid diagnosis.
D) psychopathy can occur in women.
E) psychopathy exists at all in the prison population.

Question 16

Research shows that __________% or more of people with personality disorders never seek treatment for their problems.

A) 60
B) 95
C) 20
D) 40
E) 80

Question 17

Many personality disorders are __________, which means that the person does not believe they have a problem.

A) egoplatonic
B) egosyntonic
C) egodystonic
D) ego accepted
E) egotonic

Question 18

Personality theorists describe qualities which are persistently displayed over time and in various situations as

A) personality disorders.
B) states.
C) lasting qualities.
D) types.
E) traits.

Question 19

Research has shown that, on average, __________% of the people identified as suffering from borderline personality disorder through structured interviews are women.

A) 80
B) 20
C) 60
D) 100
E) 40

Question 20

Diagnosis and therefore estimating the prevalence of the personality disorders is quite difficult and studies have been methodologically criticized. With this in mind, the highest estimates of PD prevalence suggest that

A) approximately 1% of the population has a personality disorder.
B) approximately 5% of the population has a personality disorder.
C) approximately 15% of the population has a personality disorder.
D) approximately 25% of the population has a personality disorder.
E) approximately 30% of the population has a personality disorder.

Question 21

Jane has a tendency to see everything people do as a personal attack on her safety and privacy. Judging from this characteristic, which personality disorder is Jane most likely to have?

A) avoidant
B) paranoid
C) dependent
D) narcissistic
E) histrionic

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT true of schizotypal personality disorder?

A) The long-term prognosis for those suffering from the disorder is moderate to good.
B) Researchers have placed most emphasis on the schizophrenic-like features.
C) Low doses of antipsychotic drugs somewhat relieve cognitive problems.
D) Many family members of schizophrenics exhibit symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder.
E) Antidepressants have been somewhat helpful in relieving symptoms.

Question 23

Joan is a psychologist who argues that her client has a personality disorder due largely to the fact that his schemata (i.e., beliefs and assumptions) have become rigid and inflexible. Joan is taking a(n) __________ approach to understanding the etiology of personality disorders.

A) attachment
B) psychoanalytic
C) psychiatric
D) behavioural
E) cognitive-behavioural

Question 24

The specific causes of personality disorders were not considered until the development of

A) the psychoanalytic movement.
B) behaviourism.
C) cognitive-behavioural theories.
D) the existentialist movement.
E) attachment theory.

Question 25

Pinel described what he called manic sans delire, which was the predecessor of what has become known as

A) narcissistic personality disorder.
B) paranoid personality disorder.
C) avoidant personality disorder.
D) dependent personality disorder.
E) antisocial personality disorder.

Question 26

Andrew does not have many friends, and seems determined to actually avoid little involvement with others. He displays little emotional responsiveness, and often seems confused by the emotional displays of others. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Andrew most likely to have?

A) schizotypal
B) narcissistic
C) avoidant
D) schizoid
E) anti-social

Question 27

Psychoanalysts see personality disorders as resulting from

A) the failure to resolve the Oedipal or Electra complex.
B) disturbances in the parent-child relationship.
C) failure to use adequate defense mechanisms.
D) penis envy (in women only).
E) unsatisfied oral pleasures during infancy.

Question 28

Which of the following personality disorders is characterized by eccentricity of thought and behaviour?

A) paranoid
B) avoidant
C) histrionic
D) narcissistic
E) schizotypal

Question 29

__________ refers to the co-occurrence in the same person of two or more different disorders, while __________ refers to the similarity of symptoms in two or more different disorders.

A) Ego syntonia; ego dystonia
B) Overlap; comorbidity
C) Multiple personality disorder; multiple symptomalogy
D) Ego dystonia; ego syntonia
E) Comorbidity; overlap

Question 30

As paranoid personality occurs quite commonly in the relatives of people with __________, a genetic link with this disorder has been proposed.

A) depression
B) panic disorder
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) schizophrenia
E) bipolar mood disorder

Question 31

__________ theory states that children learn how to relate to others by the way in which their parents relate to them.

A) Parental
B) Parental-attachment
C) Relationship
D) Attachment
E) Individuation

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a person with schizotypal personality disorder?

A) belief in paranormal phenomena
B) social isolation
C) eccentricity
D) excessive focus on himself or herself
E) superstitiousness

Question 33

Biological accounts of personality disorders have been most thoroughly explored with __________ personality disorder.

A) narcissistic
B) antisocial
C) paranoid
D) histrionic
E) avoidant

Question 34

The most influential book ever published on antisocial personality disorder was The Mask Of Sanity by

A) Pinel.
B) Pritchard.
C) Hare.
D) Ross.
E) Cleckley.

Question 35

Attachment researchers have found that if parent-child attachments are poor, the child will typically develop adult relationship styles that _____________________.

A) are characterized by antisocial and psychopathic behaviors
B) are characterized by ambivalence, fear, or avoidance
C) are characterized by avoidant interpersonal behavior
D) are characterized by overprotectiveness and clinging behaviors
E) are characterized by ambivalence regarding the feelings of others

Question 36

The essential distinguishing feature of __________ personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.

A) narcissistic
B) avoidant
C) schizotypal
D) antisocial
E) histrionic

Question 37

One study found that almost ______ percent of those diagnosed as borderline met the criteria for APD.

A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40
E) 50

Question 38

The term psychopath was replaced with sociopath by __________.

A) psychologists
B) sociologists
C) Pinel
D) psychiatrists
E) Freud

Question 39

Sociologists replaced the term psychopath with sociopath in order to reflect their belief that_______________.

A) the social consequences (i.e., impact on others) are of principal importance
B) the disorder is caused by social forces and factors
C) sociological approaches to studying the disorder are necessary
D) the disorder is usually caused by parental socialization practices
E) sociopaths are simply reacting to childhood trauma

Question 40

Studies involving functional MRI and emotion-induction tasks, done with persons who have borderline personality disorder, have found

A) no consistent biological corrleates of the disorder.
B) that prefrontal dysregulation and overactiviation of the amygdala appear to cause the disorder.
C) that prefrontal dysregulation and overactiviation of the amygdala appear to co-occur with the disorder.
D) that frontal-temporal dysregulation issues appear to be caused by the disorder.
E) that the disorder is associated with decreased great matter volume in the preforontal cortex.

Question 41

The __________ hypothesis suggests that people with APD have a higher threshold for feeling fear than do other people.

A) threshold
B) fearlessness
C) avoidance
D) fear threshold
E) self-regulation

Question 42

Sarah finds it very difficult to make decisions, and feels that she desperately needs others to assume responsibilities for important aspects of her life. She accepted a job as a store clerk after asking her husband what job he felt she was best suited for. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Sarah most likely to have?

A) avoidant
B) schizotypal
C) borderline
D) narcissistic
E) dependent

Question 43

Heather shows frequent fluctuations in her mood and great instability in her personal relationships. She is uncertain about who she "really is" and what she would like to do with her life. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Heather most likely to have?

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

Question 44

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Antisocial personality disorder, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a more reliable construct than psychopathy.
B) Antisocial personality disorder, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be as reliable a construct as psychopathy.
C) Psychopathy, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a less reliable construct than antisocial personality disorder.
D) Psychopathy, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a more reliable construct than antisocial personality disorder.
E) Antisocial personality disorder, as measured by the PCL-R, has been demonstrated to be a less reliable construct than psychopathy.

Question 45

Many people with borderline personality disorder strongly desire intimacy with others, but once they begin to get close to their partner they become anxious and back away. This interpersonal style has been referred to as

A) avoidant.
B) anxious ambivalent.
C) repression.
D) anxious avoidant.
E) confused.

Question 46

The relationship between psychopathy and APD appears to be ___________ and it has been found that_________________.

A) symmetrical; some persons diagnosed in each category do not meet criteria for the other disorder
B) symmetrical: most people diagnosed with one will meet criteria for the other
C) symmetrical: most people diagnosed with one will NOT meet criteria for the other
D) asymmetrical; most people who meet criteria for psychopathy will also meet criteria for APD but the converse is not true
E) asymmetrical; most people who meet criteria for APD will also meet criteria for psychopathy but the converse is not true

Question 47

Schmauk has suggested that psychopaths are not unresponsive to physical punishment, but rather respond opposite to the punisher's intention, presumably as a way of exercising some degree of control in the face of aversive experiences. This behaviour has been referred to as __________ behaviour.

A) irrational
B) defiant
C) contradictory
D) operant
E) oppositional

Question 48

In Porter's (1996) theory, fundamental psychopathy is seen as the result of __________ factors, whereas secondary psychopathy is believed to result from __________ factors.

A) biological; psychological
B) emotional; social
C) psychological; social
D) social; psychological
E) social; biological

Question 49

Research has found that the relatives of men with dependent personality disorder are more likely to experience __________, whereas the relatives of female dependents are more likely to have __________.

A) schizophrenia; depression
B) panic disorder; depression
C) depression; panic disorder
D) Generalized Anxiety disorder; schizophrenia
E) panic disorder; Generalized Anxiety disorder

Question 50

Joe is extremely sensitive to criticism and disapproval, and as a result actively avoids intimacy with others. However, he is lonely and would like to have more friends. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Joe most likely to have?

A) schizoid
B) narcissistic
C) borderline
D) avoidant
E) dependent

Question 51

David has been described as flamboyant and overly dramatic in his emotional displays. He constantly seeks the spotlight in social situations and strongly dislikes being ignored. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is David most likely to have?

A) histrionic
B) antisocial
C) borderline
D) schizotypal
E) avoidant

Question 52

Borderline personality disorder typically begins in __________ and is thought to be more common in __________.

A) adolescence; women
B) childhood; men
C) adulthood; women
D) adolescence; men
E) adulthood; men

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT true of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised?

A) It is used both as a research instrument and a clinical tool.
B) It discriminates between APD and the other personality disorders.
C) The PCL-R score is highly reliable over time.
D) It is used in assessments to inform judicial decisions.
E) It has good predictive validity regarding recidivism.

Question 54

Reviews of the literature on treatment efficacy for antisocial personality disorder patients has been __________ about the prognosis for those with this disorder.

A) cautiously pessimistic
B) unequivocally pessimistic
C) strongly optimistic
D) cautiously optimistic
E) unequivocally optimistic

Question 55

Several researchers have reported that the symptoms of antisocial behaviour eventually end, often around the fourth decade of life. This occurrence has been called the __________ factor.

A) responsivity
B) exhaustion
C) aging
D) burnout
E) remittance

Question 56

The DSM-IV-TR criteria for the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder presents __________ exemplars reflecting the violation of the rights of others, and __________ or more must be met for the diagnosis to be applied.

A) 10; 5
B) 7; 5
C) 7; 3
D) 10; 3
E) 12; 2

Question 57

Borderline personality disorder has a lifetime prevalence of approximately __________% of the population.

A) 12
B) 2
C) 20
D) 0.2
E) 5

Question 58

Clara considers herself extremely talented at all that she does. She is excessively preoccupied with her own interests and demands that others treat her as special. Judging from this description, which personality disorder is Clara most likely to have?

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

Question 59

Egocentricity is the hallmark of which of the following personality disorders?

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

Question 60

Hare gives an estimate that __________ percent of the Canadian population is psychopathic.

A) .05
B) 10
C) 5
D) 1
E) .01

Question 61

Borderline personality disorder is the most common diagnosis among inpatient psychiatric patients.

Question 62

Perhaps the most important general obstacle to providing treatment for personality disorders is that

A) clients often have Axis 1 disorders, which are of primary importance.
B) clients are not upset by their characteristic personality style and do not seek treatment.
C) the window of opportunity to effect change has usually passed for these disorders by the time clients present for treatment.
D) these clients often struggle to focus on the treatment process between sessions.
E) therapy is often court-ordered, which works against the therapeutic alliance.

Question 63

A major reason for the DSM-5 changes to the personality disorders is the intention to reduce overlap between PD diagnoses.

Question 64

__________, developed by Linehan, has specifically targeted people with borderline personality disorder.

A) Neo-psychoanalysis
B) Cognitive restructuring therapy
C) Object-relations therapy
D) Dialectical behaviour therapy
E) Operant behaviour therapy

Question 65

The "Dark Triad" of socially aversive personality traits consists in: subclinical narcissism; depressive and dependency traits.

Question 66

When sociologists began to take an interest in psychopathology in the early twentieth century, they saw social conditions as the critical factors and replaced the term "psychopath" with "sociopath."

Question 67

One of the main features of Dialectical Behavior Therapy is

A) interpreting the patient's demanding and manipulative behaviors.
B) restructuring the patient's cognitive schemata.
C) interpreting the transference between client and therapist.
D) accepting the patient's demanding and manipulative behaviors.
E) reinforcement for appropriate interpersonal behavior.

Question 68

Of the personality disorders, antisocial personality disorder has been the most thoroughly explored from a biological perspective.

Question 69

Which of the following is NOT one of Sperry's five basic premises regarding treatment of personality disorders?

A) these disorders are best conceptualized as having biological and psychological factors
B) before treatment, it is essential to assess amenability to treatment
C) effective treatment is flexible and tailored to meet the needs of the client
D) the lower the client's amenability to treatment, the greater the need for multiple treatment approaches
E) the basic goal of treatment should be to restore normal personality functioning

Question 70

The attempt to reduce gender biases (such as the higher frequency of diagnosis in women) by changing "hysterical personality disorder" to "histrionic personality disorder" was largely successful.

Question 71

Research suggests that psychopaths have heightened ability to discern vulnerable individuals from non-vulnerable individuals.

Question 72

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of people with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

A) unable to function independently
B) a desire for perfection
C) rigidity and inflexibility
D) preoccupation with rules and order
E) being moralistic and judgmental

Question 73

It was not until the 1980s that researchers demonstrated that cognitive, or reasoning difficulties are often present in psychopathy.

Question 74

Inflexibility and a desire for perfection characterize ___________ disorder.

A) narcissistic personality
B) dependent personality
C) avoidant personality
D) obsessive-compulsive personality
E) borderline personality

Question 75

The first clear statements of personality disorder were made in 1801 by Pinel.

Question 76

Much research concerning obsessive-compulsive personality disorder relates to the psychoanalytic notion of

A) the Oedipal Complex.
B) anal retentiveness.
C) penis envy.
D) phallic fixation.
E) oral dependency.

Question 77

Many people with personality disorders do not themselves believe that they have a problem.

Question 78

The DSM-IV lists 2 clusters of personality disorders.

Question 79

Studies have shown that many family members of people with schizophrenia exhibit schizotypal symptoms.

Question 80

There is a high rate of comorbidity between histrionic personality disorder and borderline, narcissistic and dependent personality disorders.