Question 1

Research has found that borderline personality disorder is more common among:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research has found that borderline personality disorder...

Question 2

Which statement is true regarding effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Affected individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) can respond well to both psychodynamic therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). There is no strong evidence to suggest a significant difference in effectiveness between these therapies based on gender, nor is there conclusive evidence that psychodynamic therapy is more effective than CBT for most individuals. While medication can be helpful, especially for co-occurring conditions, it is not typically considered the first line of treatment for OCPD itself; therapy, particularly CBT, is often prioritized.

Question 3

"Let's try to figure out where clients fall on several key personality traits, rather than using a dichotomous classification system." Someone saying this would MOST likely favor which approach to classifying personality disorders?

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests a preference for assessing personality disorders across a spectrum or continuum of traits, which aligns with a dimensional approach. This approach contrasts with the categorical or dichotomous classification system used in the traditional DSM-5 approach.

Question 4

Some multicultural theorists believe that borderline personality disorder is actually a reaction to persistent feelings of marginality, powerlessness, and social failure. If they are correct, then the disorder is a result of:

Accepted Answer

The theorists' belief that borderline personality disorder stems from feelings of marginality, powerlessness, and social failure points to social inequalities as the root cause, rather than psychological, biological factors, or childhood abuse.

Question 5

Which is NOT one of the Big Five supertraits?

Accepted Answer

The Big Five personality traits model includes neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Anger is not considered one of the Big Five supertraits; it can be a component or manifestation of neuroticism but is not a supertrait itself.

Question 6

Who is most likely to display the dark triad?

Accepted Answer

The dark triad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) have been found to be more prevalent in men than in women, according to psychological research. Therefore, among the given options, a non-Hispanic white man (C) is statistically more likely to display these traits. This is not to say that all men or all non-Hispanic white men will display these traits, but research suggests that these traits are more commonly found in men.

Question 7

Which statement most accurately reflects up-to-date research on DSM-5 categories of personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 recognizes that there is significant overlap in symptoms among different personality disorders, and individuals can receive the same diagnosis despite having different personality traits. This reflects the dimensional approach to personality disorders, acknowledging the complexity and variability in presentations.

Question 8

The lack of multicultural research is of special concern with regard to:

Accepted Answer

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is of special concern regarding the lack of multicultural research because its diagnosis and treatment have been primarily studied within Western cultures. This limitation raises questions about the universality of BPD symptoms and the effectiveness of treatment across different cultural contexts.

Question 9

A group of diagnostic clinicians can't agree with each other on appropriate personality disorder diagnoses for several clients. In fact, it is obvious that, in many cases, they have inaccurately made their diagnoses. Assuming they are competent clinicians, this situation would indicate the DSM-5 categories for personality disorder are:

Accepted Answer

The disagreement among competent clinicians on diagnoses and the inaccuracy of many diagnoses indicate that the DSM-5 categories for personality disorder are neither reliable (since clinicians cannot consistently agree on diagnoses) nor valid (since the diagnoses do not accurately reflect the actual disorders).

Question 10

Currently, the Big Five approach to personality disorders is:

Accepted Answer

The Big Five approach to personality disorders has received significant recognition and is the subject of a great amount of research, reflecting its importance in the field of psychology.

Question 11

If future editions of the DSM change to a dimensional approach in the diagnosis of personality disorders, what action will be required of clinicians?

Accepted Answer

A dimensional approach to diagnosing personality disorders involves assessing the severity or degree of dysfunction related to personality traits, rather than simply categorizing individuals into specific disorder types. This requires clinicians to rate the extent to which these traits cause dysfunction.

Question 12

Which is NOT a problem in the use of the DSM-5 to diagnose personality disorders?

Accepted Answer

The criteria for personality disorders in the DSM-5 are not so restrictive that several categories rarely, if ever, are used.

Question 13

If instruments such as the Big Five are used to describe personality, rather than relying on DSM-5, then diagnoses of psychological disorder would become:

Accepted Answer

The Big Five personality traits model focuses on broad dimensions of personality without categorizing individuals into specific types of disorders, making personality descriptions more dimensional (a matter of degree) and less categorical.

Question 14

Which statement BEST reflects research related to personality disorders over the past 25 years?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement BEST reflects research related to...

Question 15

According to the DSM-5, a pattern diagnosed as a personality disorder must deviate substantially from the norms and expectations of the individual's:

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 specifies that for a pattern of behavior to be diagnosed as a personality disorder, it must deviate markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture. This includes the range of what is considered normal in the individual's cultural context.

Question 16

Some researchers note that the majority of those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder are female and that many of these women experienced emotional trauma, victimization, violence, and various forms of abuse as children. As a result, these researchers view the disorder as a special form of:

Accepted Answer

Borderline personality disorder, when seen through the lens of trauma experienced in childhood such as emotional trauma, victimization, violence, and abuse, can be conceptualized as a form of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This perspective is based on the understanding that the symptoms and behaviors associated with borderline personality disorder may be responses to past trauma, aligning it more closely with the characteristics of PTSD than with those of anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or postpartum psychosis.

Question 17

What is the dark triad?

Accepted Answer

The dark triad refers to three personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—that are considered malevolent and interrelated, often leading to socially offensive behavior.

Question 18

"The client scores low on extroversion and agreeableness but high on neuroticism. Looks like schizoid personality disorder to me." The therapist being quoted is using what instrument to make the diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The therapist is likely using the Big Five personality test, as the characteristics mentioned (extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) are three of the five major dimensions used in this model to describe human personality.

Question 19

The five traits to be included in future revisions of the DSM-5 that utilize a dimensional approach in diagnosing personality disorders are:

Accepted Answer

The five traits specified in the DSM-5 for a dimensional approach to diagnosing personality disorders are negative affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism. These traits are part of the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorders.

Question 20

The authors of DSM-5 have designed their own dimensional approach in diagnosing personality disorders for possible inclusion in future revisions of the DSM. The idea is that individuals whose traits significantly impair their functioning should receive a diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 introduces a dimensional approach for diagnosing personality disorders, where the specific diagnosis given to individuals whose traits significantly impair their functioning is "personality disorder trait specified" (PD-TS). This approach moves away from the categorical diagnoses of previous editions to allow for a more nuanced understanding of personality disorders based on the severity and specific traits present.

Quiz 16: Personality Disorders