Question 1

What do the histrionic and borderline personality disorders have in common?

Accepted Answer

Both histrionic and borderline personality disorders are characterized by highly impulsive behavior and a flair for overdramatizing events. Histrionic individuals often seek attention and admiration from others, while borderline individuals struggle with intense and unstable emotions and a fear of abandonment. Both disorders can lead to difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships.

Question 2

Sophia has always been preoccupied with schedules, lists, and trivial details. She plans everything down to the last detail, and becomes very upset if things don't work out the way she has planned. Last week, Sophia went in for a psychological assessment, and based on that assessment, she was told that she might have a personality disorder. Which personality disorder is consistent with Sophia's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Sophia's preoccupation with schedules, lists, and details, as well as her need for things to be planned and organized, is consistent with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

Question 3

What does the neurodevelopmental hypothesis suggest is a partial cause of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis suggests that disruptions in the normal maturational process of the brain before or at birth, such as prenatal or perinatal complications, may partially cause schizophrenia.

Question 4

Ellen is self-centred, immature, and excitable. She craves attention, especially from men, with whom she is flirtatious and seductive. Which personality disorder is most consistent with Ellen's personality?

Accepted Answer

Ellen's personality is consistent with the histrionic personality disorder, which is characterized by attention-seeking behavior, seductiveness, and a need for constant admiration and approval.

Question 5

What happened to mothers of individuals who had an elevated risk of schizophrenia, according to several research studies examining the role of prenatal risk factors for the disease?

Accepted Answer

Several research studies have shown that exposure to influenza during the second trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in offspring. Other prenatal risk factors for schizophrenia include maternal malnutrition, stress, and obstetric complications. Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy may also increase the risk of schizophrenia, but it is not a specific risk factor for the second trimester.

Question 6

Which of the following could you predict if you know that someone has been diagnosed with a personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders often involve symptoms that can overlap with multiple personality disorders, making it difficult to diagnose one specific disorder.

Answer: D
 There is a high likelihood of comorbidity between personality disorders and mood disorders, meaning that the individual may also experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mood-related issues. Hospitalization and complete remission are not necessarily predictable outcomes of a personality disorder diagnosis.

Question 7

How do typical drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia function?

Accepted Answer

Typical drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia are dopamine antagonists, which block dopamine receptors in the brain. This helps to reduce the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions. Examples of these drugs include chlorpromazine and haloperidol.

Question 8

Jazmine has just returned home after receiving treatment for schizophrenia. The therapist who is supervising her case is aware that Jazmine's family is high in expressed emotion. What should Jazmine's therapist expect under these conditions?

Accepted Answer

High expressed emotion in families has been associated with an increased risk of relapse in individuals with schizophrenia. This is due to the high levels of criticism, hostility, and emotional overinvolvement that can occur in such families, which can lead to increased stress and a lack of social support for the individual. Therefore, Jazmine's therapist should be aware of this risk and work with her and her family to reduce these negative interactions and increase support for Jazmine in order to prevent relapse. The other options are not supported by research or clinical experience.

Question 9

Ruth was convicted of five separate counts of fraud. She had used her charm to persuade elderly pensioners to sign their life savings over to her. She confessed to the crimes, but she showed no remorse for her actions. She even bragged at the trial that she would do it all again when she had the chance. Which disorder is consistent with Ruth's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Ruth's lack of remorse and willingness to repeat the behavior is consistent with the characteristics of antisocial personality disorder, which is characterized by a disregard for the rights of others and a lack of empathy or guilt. Narcissistic personality disorder may also present similar behavior, but Ruth's actions are more indicative of antisocial personality disorder. Avoidant personality disorder and bipolar disorder do not align with Ruth's behavior.

Question 10

What diagnosis is used for a person who does not conform to the accepted norms of morality and behaviour and is impulsive, callous, and manipulative?

Accepted Answer

The description provided matches the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder, which is characterized by a disregard for the rights and feelings of others, impulsivity, and a lack of remorse or guilt for one's actions. People with this disorder may engage in criminal behavior, lie and manipulate others, and show a persistent pattern of irresponsible and antisocial behavior.

Question 11

Erick is impulsive and unpredictable. His moods seem to be constantly changing and all his interpersonal relationships seem to be very unstable. Which cluster of disorders is most consistent with Erick's symptoms if he has a personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Erick's symptoms are most consistent with the dramatic/impulsive cluster of personality disorders which includes borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of the antisocial personality?

Accepted Answer

Excessive guilt is not a common characteristic of the antisocial personality. Individuals with this disorder often exhibit traits such as aggressiveness, manipulative behavior, and social charm, but they typically do not experience excessive guilt or remorse for their actions.

Question 13

Jillian lets her husband keep all the financial records for the family, and she expects him to make all the decisions that affect the family. She refuses to make any decisions on her own, and if anything unexpected occurs, she calls her husband at work to ask for his advice. Which cluster of disorders is most consistent with Jillian's symptoms if she has a personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Jillian's behavior is most consistent with the anxious/fearful cluster of personality disorders. This cluster includes disorders characterized by pervasive anxiety, fear, and a need for security, which can manifest as dependency and avoidance of decision-making, as seen in Jillian's reliance on her husband for decision-making and her reluctance to handle unexpected situations independently.

Question 14

Nancy withdraws socially because of an intense fear of rejection. Wendy withdraws socially due to a lack of interest in interpersonal intimacy. If both women were diagnosed with personality disorders, what would they be?

Accepted Answer

Nancy's fear of rejection and withdrawal suggest symptoms of avoidant personality disorder, which is characterized by feelings of inadequacy, social inhibition, and hypersensitivity to criticism or rejection. Wendy's lack of interest in interpersonal intimacy aligns with symptoms of schizoid personality disorder, which is characterized by detachment from social relationships and restricted emotional expression.

Question 15

Chris always expects special treatment, and he seems to be preoccupied with his own success. His interpersonal relationships are generally superficial because he seems to lack the ability to understand how others feel. Which personality disorder is most consistent with Chris's personality?

Accepted Answer

Chris exhibits characteristics consistent with narcissistic personality disorder, including a sense of entitlement and preoccupation with his own success, as well as a lack of empathy for others. Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by a fear of rejection and social inhibition, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by rigid perfectionism and control, and schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by odd or eccentric behavior and beliefs.

Question 16

What does the "vulnerability" model of schizophrenia suggest is the trigger for schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The vulnerability model of schizophrenia suggests that a combination of predisposing factors and stressful life events may trigger the onset of schizophrenia. This includes factors such as genetics, early life experiences, and environmental stressors. It's believed that individuals who are vulnerable to developing schizophrenia may have difficulty coping with stressors, leading to the manifestation of symptoms.

Question 17

What do the avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders have in common?

Accepted Answer

The avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders all involve maladaptive efforts to control anxiety and fear. Avoidant individuals are preoccupied with a fear of rejection and often avoid social situations, and dependent individuals cling to others to avoid feelings of helplessness. Obsessive-compulsive individuals attempt to control anxiety through strict adherence to rules, orderliness, and perfectionism.

Question 18

Which type of families are associated with the poorest prognosis when patients return to their families after treatment for schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Families with high expressed emotion, which includes critical or hostile comments, emotional overinvolvement, and attitudes of intolerance and irritation, have been associated with poor outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia returning home after treatment. These families tend to create a stressful and unpredictable environment that increases the risk of relapse for the individual with schizophrenia.

Question 19

Lukas does not trust anyone. He is convinced that no one around him is truthful, and everything they say to him is a lie. He is extremely suspicious of other people's motives, and he often flies into a jealous rage when his wife speaks to other men. Which cluster of disorders is most consistent with Lukas's symptoms if he has a personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Lukas's symptoms are most consistent with the odd/eccentric cluster of personality disorders, which includes paranoid personality disorder. His suspicion and mistrust of others is a hallmark symptom of this disorder.

Question 20

What characterizes personality disorders?

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders are characterized by extreme, inflexible personality traits that deviate from cultural norms, cause significant distress or impairment, and are stable over time. Examples include borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. The other options may be present in some individuals with personality disorders, but they are not defining characteristics.

Quiz 14: A: Psychological Disorders