Question 1

Psychoanalytic theorists, particularly those in the object relations school, suggest that people with borderline personality disorder have:

Accepted Answer

One of the key features of borderline personality disorder, according to object relations theorists, is a lack of differentiation between the self and others. This means that individuals with the disorder have difficulty distinguishing their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from those of others, leading to a poorly differentiated sense of self.

Question 2

Cognitively, people with borderline personality disorder are ________ negative emotional stimuli in the environment.

Accepted Answer

People with borderline personality disorder are hyperattentive to negative emotional stimuli in the environment. This means they are more sensitive to nonverbal cues, facial expressions, and other environmental triggers that may suggest rejection or abandonment, leading them to react with intense emotions or to engage in impulsive behavior.

Question 3

All of the following are pathological personality traits associated with borderline personality disorder in the DSM-5 EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Detachment is not a pathological trait associated with borderline personality disorder in the DSM-5. The other three options, negative affectivity, disinhibition, and antagonism, are all included as key features of the disorder.

Question 4

According to research, which of the following groups is more likely to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to research, which of the following...

Question 5

The process of splitting, whereby individuals with borderline personality disorder see themselves and other people as either all good or all bad, was theorized in the ________ school of thought.

Accepted Answer

The concept of splitting, where individuals perceive themselves or others as entirely good or entirely bad, originates from the psychoanalytic school of thought, particularly associated with theories related to personality and its development.

Question 6

________ is a group intervention for people with borderline personality disorder that combines cognitive techniques challenging irrational and maladaptive cognitions and behavioral techniques addressing self-management and problem solving.

Accepted Answer

STEPPS is specifically designed for individuals with borderline personality disorder and combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to address emotional regulation and problem-solving.

Question 7

One theory as to why ________ are more likely to receive a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is that stress is more common among this group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One theory as to why ________ are...

Question 8

________ is based on the argument that people with borderline personality disorder have fundamental difficulty understanding the mental states of themselves and others because of traumatic experiences in childhood and poor attachment to their caregivers.

Accepted Answer

Mentalization-based treatment is based on the premise that individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have difficulty understanding their own mental states and those of others due to early experiences of poor attachment with their caregivers. The treatment involves helping individuals develop the ability to think about thoughts and emotions in themselves and others, with the aim of improving emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships. STEPPS, DBT, and TFP are also treatments for BPD, but do not specifically focus on improving mentalization skills.

Question 9

Drug treatments for people with borderline personality disorders have focused on reducing:

Accepted Answer

Drug treatments for borderline personality disorder typically focus on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, as these are common symptoms experienced by individuals with this disorder. Psychotic symptoms, flat or blunted affect, and ideas of reference are not typically associated with borderline personality disorder.

Question 10

Psychoanalytic theory suggests that the instability in emotions and interpersonal relationships seen in people with borderline personality disorder is due to:

Accepted Answer

Splitting is a defense mechanism commonly seen in individuals with borderline personality disorder. It involves viewing people, situations, and events as all good or all bad, with no middle ground. This can lead to unstable emotions and relationships, as well as difficulties in navigating the complexities of reality.

Question 11

Which of the following psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder focuses on helping clients gain a more realistic and positive sense of self, learn adaptive skills for solving problems and regulating emotions, and correct dichotomous thinking?

Accepted Answer

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on helping clients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) gain a more realistic and positive sense of self, learn adaptive skills for problem-solving and emotion regulation, and correct dichotomous thinking. DBT is considered an evidence-based treatment for BPD and addresses the core symptoms of the disorder including emotional instability, impulsivity, and interpersonal problems. Transference-focused therapy, mentalization-based treatment, and rational emotive therapy are also used to treat BPD but do not specifically target these core symptoms in the same way as DBT.

Question 12

Jennifer has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.Her therapist noticed that she sees things as either "all good" or "all bad." This process is called

Accepted Answer

This process is known as "splitting," which is a common symptom of borderline personality disorder. Splitting involves seeing things, people, or situations as either all good or all bad, with little or no middle ground. It is a defense mechanism that helps individuals with BPD cope with intense emotions and relationships.

Question 13

All of the following are personality traits associated with borderline personality disorder in the DSM-5 EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 does not include psychoticism as a personality trait associated with borderline personality disorder. The other three are commonly associated with the disorder: negative affectivity (mood swings, emotional dysregulation), disinhibition (impulsivity, reckless behavior), and antagonism (hostility, anger towards others).

Question 14

According to Linehan, people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder:

Accepted Answer

Linehan states that people with borderline personality disorder have deficits in emotional regulation, which is one of the hallmark symptoms of the disorder. There is no evidence to suggest that individuals with BPD are more self-reliant or confident in asking for help than the general population, and while some individuals with BPD may have a history of being controlled by others, this is not true for all individuals with the disorder.

Question 15

In dialectical behavior therapy, clients with borderline personality disorder may learn how to control their ________ behaviors by monitoring situations most likely to lead to such behaviors and learning alternative ways to handle those situations.

Accepted Answer

In dialectical behavior therapy, clients with borderline personality disorder learn skills to manage and reduce their impulsive behaviors, such as self-harm, substance use, and unstable relationships. They learn to monitor situations that are likely to trigger these behaviors and develop alternative ways to cope with the situation.

Question 16

Which of the following antidepressants has proven most useful in the treatment of borderline personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Aripiprazole has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of impulsivity, aggression, and irritability in patients with borderline personality disorder. MAOIs and tricyclics are not typically used as first-line treatments for this disorder, and while lithium may be useful in some cases, aripiprazole has shown greater effectiveness.

Question 17

STEPPS is a ________ therapy treatment for borderline personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

STEPPS (Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving) is a cognitive-behavioral therapy treatment designed specifically for individuals with borderline personality disorder.

Question 18

A nationwide study suggests that approximately ________ percent of the population could be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A nationwide study suggests that approximately ________...

Question 19

Studies show that people with borderline personality disorder have greater activation of the ________, which may contribute to the difficulty they have in regulating their moods.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that individuals with borderline personality disorder have greater activation in the amygdala, which is responsible for emotional processing and responses, and may contribute to the difficulty they have in regulating their intense emotions.

Question 20

________ uses the relationship between patient and therapist to help patients develop a more realistic and healthy understanding of themselves and their interpersonal relationships.

Accepted Answer

Transference-focused therapy uses the therapeutic relationship to explore the patient's unresolved feelings toward significant others and their impact on current relationships. The focus is on helping patients develop emotional regulation skills and a more accurate understanding of themselves and their relationships. Rational emotive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focus on changing irrational beliefs and improving emotional regulation skills. STEPPS (Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving) is a group therapy focused on emotion regulation for individuals with borderline personality disorder.

Quiz 9: Personality Disorders