Question 1

People with personality disorders usually seek professional help in dealing with their maladaptive traits.

Accepted Answer

Many individuals with personality disorders often do not seek help because they may not recognize their behavior as problematic or may attribute their difficulties to external factors.

Question 2

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (to be published in 2013) has proposed reducing the number of personality disorders from 10 to six.

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 does indeed propose reducing the number of personality disorders from 10 to six. This includes merging some disorders together and eliminating others.

Question 3

The first evidence of antisocial personality disorder is often seen during childhood or early adolescence, when the child has repeated problems with school authorities or the police.

Accepted Answer

Antisocial personality disorder is typically diagnosed in adulthood, but patterns of behavior that may indicate the disorder can often be seen in childhood or adolescence. These may include repeated violations of rules, aggression towards others, and disregard for the rights of others. However, the diagnosis of the disorder is not made until the individual is at least 18 years old and has demonstrated a consistent pattern of behaviors.

Question 4

According to "Culture and Human Behavior: Culture-Bound Syndromes," the Japanese culture-specific disorder hikkomori was once rare but has now become a social phenomenon, affecting an estimated 1 million or more young Japanese.

Accepted Answer

The article "Culture and Human Behavior: Culture-Bound Syndromes" states that the hikkomori phenomenon was once rare in Japan but has become more widespread, affecting an estimated 1 million or more young Japanese.

Question 5

Someone who has a personality disorder that is characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregarding and violating the rights of others has, by definition, an antisocial personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

This is correct according to the DSM-5, which defines antisocial personality disorder as a pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others.

Question 6

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by chronic instability in emotions, self-image, and relationships.

Accepted Answer

Borderline personality disorder is indeed characterized by chronic instability in emotions, self-image, and relationships.

Question 7

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, identified 10 distinct personality disorders organized into three basic clusters.

Accepted Answer

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, identified 10 distinct personality disorders organized into three basic clusters: Cluster A (odd or eccentric behavior), Cluster B (dramatic or erratic behavior), and Cluster C (anxious or fearful behavior).

Question 8

The terms psychopath and sociopath are sometimes used to refer to someone with antisocial personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

Psychopath and sociopath are colloquial terms often used to refer to the diagnostic category of antisocial personality disorder.

Question 9

The characteristics and symptoms of personality disorders are usually evident by adolescence or early adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders typically manifest by adolescence or early adulthood and persist throughout a person's life without proper treatment.

Question 10

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, has proposed a new approach to classifying personality disorders that involves assessing people on two dimensions: a severity scale, which assesses the degree of impairment in personality functioning, and a trait scale, which rates the person on pathological personality traits, such as the tendency to be antagonistic, emotionally unstable, impulsive, or manipulative.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct statement about the new approach proposed by DSM-5 for classifying personality disorders.

Question 11

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, identified six distinct personality disorders organized into two basic clusters.

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 identifies ten distinct personality disorders organized into three clusters (A, B, and C).

Question 12

People with personality disorders almost always recognize that their maladaptive personality traits are causing their personal and social problems.

Accepted Answer

People with personality disorders often have difficulty recognizing or acknowledging that their maladaptive behavior patterns are causing problems in their lives and relationships. This lack of insight can make it challenging to treat personality disorders.

Question 13

Personality disorders are evident in up to about one-third of the general population.

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders are estimated to affect about 9-13% of the general population.

Question 14

A psychopath is a person with borderline personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

A psychopath is a person who has a personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Borderline personality disorder is a different personality disorder characterized by instability in mood, behavior, and interpersonal relationships.

Question 15

Borderline personality disorder is largely a genetic disorder that is inherited from one's biological parents.

Accepted Answer

While genetics can play a role in borderline personality disorder, it is not largely a genetic disorder. Environmental factors, such as trauma and upbringing, also significantly contribute to its development.

Question 16

Deceiving and manipulating others for one's own personal gain is a hallmark of the individual with antisocial personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

Deception and manipulation are key features of antisocial personality disorder, as individuals with this disorder often disregard the rights and feelings of others in pursuit of their own goals and desires.

Question 17

Up to 10 percent of those who meet the criteria for borderline personality disorder eventually commit suicide, a rate that is 50 times that of the general population.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. According to research, up to 10% of individuals with borderline personality disorder eventually commit suicide, which is a rate that is 50 times higher than that of the general population.

Question 18

The diagnosis of conduct disorder is usually given when a child or an adolescent fails to conform to social norms and has repeated problems with school authorities or the police.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder as outlined in the DSM-5.

Question 19

According to Table 13.7, the following personality disorders will be included in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition when it is published in 2013: antisocial, avoidant, borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, and schizoid personality disorders.

Accepted Answer

According to the statement and reference to Table 13.7, these six personality disorders will be included in DSM-5 when it is published in 2013.

Question 20

Personality traits are generally consistent over time and across situations.

Accepted Answer

Personality traits are considered to be relatively stable over time and consistent across different situations. However, it is important to note that personality can also be influenced by various factors such as experiences, culture, and environment.

Quiz 13: Psychological Disorders