Chapter 13: Personality Disorders Flashcards
A therapist recently convicted of multiple counts of Medicare fraud says, Sure I overbilled. Why not?
Everyone takes advantage of the government, so I did too. These statements show:
a. shame.
b. suspiciousness.
c. superficial remorse.
d. lack of guilt feelings.
ANS: D
Rationalization is being used to explain behavior and deny wrongdoing. The individual who does not believe he or she has done anything wrong will not exhibit anxiety, remorse, or guilt about the act. The patients remarks cannot be assessed as shameful. Lack of trust or concern that others are determined to cause harm is
not evident.
Which intervention is appropriate for a patient diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder who
frequently manipulates others?
a. Refer the patients requests and questions to the case manager.
b. Explore the patients feelings of fear and inferiority.
c. Provide negative reinforcement for acting-out behavior.
d. Ignore, rather than confront, inappropriate behavior.
ANS: A
Manipulative patients frequently make requests of many different staff members, hoping someone will give in. Having only one decision-maker provides consistency and avoids the potential for playing one staff member against another. Positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviors is more effective than negative reinforcement. The behavior should not be ignored; judicious use of confrontation is necessary. Patients with antisocial personality disorders rarely have feelings of fear and inferiority.
As a nurse prepares to administer a medication to a patient diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, the patient says, Just leave it on the table. Ill take it when I finish combing my hair. What is the nurses best response?
a. Reinforce this assertive action by the patient. Leave the medication on the table as requested.
b. Respond to the patient, Im worried that you might not take it. I will come back later.
c. Say to the patient, I must watch you take the medication. Please take it now.
d. Ask the patient, Why dont you want to take your medication now?
ANS: C
The individual with a borderline personality disorder characteristically demonstrates manipulative, splitting,
and self-destructive behaviors. Consistent limit setting is vital for the patients safety, as well as to prevent splitting other staff members. Why questions are not therapeutic.
What is an appropriate initial outcome for a patient diagnosed with a personality disorder who frequently manipulates others? The patient will:
a. identify when feeling angry.
b. use manipulation only to get legitimate needs met.
c. acknowledge manipulative behavior when it is called to his or her attention.
d. accept fulfillment of his or her requests within an hour rather than immediately.
ANS: C
Acknowledging manipulative behavior is an early outcome that paves the way for taking greater responsibility for controlling manipulative behavior at a later time. Identifying anger relates to anger and aggression control.
Using manipulation to get legitimate needs is an inappropriate outcome. Ideally, the patient will use assertive
behavior to promote the fulfillment of legitimate needs. Accepting fulfillment of requests within an hour rather than immediately relates to impulsivity and immediacy control.
Consider these comments made to three different nurses by a patient diagnosed with an antisocial
personality disorder: Youre a better nurse than the day shift nurse said you were; Another nurse said you dont do your job right; You think youre perfect, but Ive seen you make three mistakes. Collectively, these interactions can be assessed as:
a. seductive.
b. detached.
c. manipulative.
d. guilt producing.
ANS: C
Patients manipulate and control staff members in various ways. By keeping staff members off balance or fighting among themselves, the person with an antisocial personality disorder is left to operate as he or she pleases. Seductive behavior has sexual connotations. The patient is displaying the opposite of detached
behavior. Guilt is not evidenced in the comments.
A nurse reports to the interdisciplinary team that a patient diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder
lies to other patients, verbally abuses a patient diagnosed with dementia, and flatters the primary nurse. This patient is detached and superficial during counseling sessions. Which behavior most clearly warrants limit
setting?
a. Flattering the nurse
b. Lying to other patients
c. Verbal abuse of another patient
d. Detached superficiality during counseling
ANS: C
Limits must be set in areas in which the patients behavior affects the rights of others. Limiting verbal abuse of another patient is a priority intervention. The other concerns should be addressed during therapeutic encounters.
A patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder has a history of self-mutilation and suicide
attempts. The patient reveals feelings of depression and anger with life. The psychiatrist suggests the use of a medication. Which type of medication should the nurse expect?
a. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
b. Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
c. Benzodiazepine
d. Antipsychotic
ANS: A
SSRIs are used to treat depression. Many patients with borderline personality disorder are fearful of taking something over which they have little control. Because SSRIs have a good side effect profile, the patient is more likely to comply with the medication. Low-dose antipsychotic or anxiolytic medications are not supported by the data given in this scenario. MAOIs require great diligence in adherence to a restricted diet and
are rarely used for patients who are impulsive.
A persons spouse filed charges of battery. The person has a long history of acting-out behaviors and several arrests. Which statement by the person suggests an antisocial personality disorder?
a. I have a quick temper, but I can usually keep it under control.
b. Ive done some stupid things in my life, but Ive learned a lesson.
c. Im feeling terrible about the way my behavior has hurt my family.
d. I hit because Im tired of being nagged. My spouse deserved the beating.
ANS: D
The patient with an antisocial personality disorder often impulsively acts out feelings of anger and feels no guilt or remorse. Patients with antisocial personality disorders rarely seem to learn from experience or feel true remorse. Problems with anger management and impulse control are common.
What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder who has made threats against staff, ripped art off the walls, and thrown objects?
a. Disturbed sensory perceptionauditory
b. Risk for other-directed violence
c. Ineffective denial
d. Ineffective coping
ANS: B
Violence against property, along with threats to harm staff, makes this diagnosis the priority. Patients with antisocial personality disorders rarely have psychotic symptoms. When patients with antisocial personality disorders use denial, they use it effectively. Although ineffective coping applies, the risk for violence is a higher priority.
A patient diagnosed with a personality disorder has used manipulation to get his or her needs met. The staff
decides to apply limit-setting interventions. What is the correct rationale for this action?
a. It provides an outlet for feelings of anger and frustration.
b. It respects the patients wishes so assertiveness will develop.
c. External controls are necessary while internal controls are developed.
d. Anxiety is reduced when staff members assume responsibility for the patients behavior.
ANS: C
A lack of internal controls leads to manipulative behaviors such as lying, cheating, conning, and flattering. To protect the rights of others, external controls must be consistently maintained until the patient is able to behave appropriately.
A patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and a history of self-mutilation has now begun
dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) on an outpatient basis. Counseling focuses on self-harm behavior
management. Today the patient telephones to say, Im feeling empty and want to cut myself. The nurse should:
a. arrange for emergency inpatient hospitalization.
b. send the patient to the crisis intervention unit for 8 to 12 hours.
c. assist the patient to identify the trigger situation and choose a coping strategy.
d. advise the patient to take an antianxiety medication to decrease the anxiety level.
ANS: C
The patient has responded appropriately to the urge for self-harm by calling a helping individual. A component of dialectical behavior therapy is telephone access to the therapist for coaching during crises. The nurse can assist the patient to choose an alternative to self-mutilation. The need for a protective environment may not be
necessary if the patient is able to use cognitive strategies to determine a coping strategy that reduces the urge to mutilate. Taking a sedative and going to sleep should not be the first-line intervention; sedation may reduce the patients ability to weigh alternatives to mutilating behavior.
The most challenging nursing intervention for patients diagnosed with personality disorders who use
manipulation to get their needs met is:
a. supporting behavioral change.
b. monitoring suicide attempts.
c. maintaining consistent limits.
d. using aversive therapy.
ANS: C
Maintaining consistent limits is by far the most difficult intervention because of the patients superior skills at manipulation. Supporting behavioral change and monitoring patient safety are less difficult tasks. Aversive therapy would probably not be part of the care plan; positive reinforcement strategies for acceptable behavior
are more effective than aversive techniques.
The history shows that a newly admitted patient has impulsivity. The nurse would expect behavior
characterized by:
a. adherence to a strict moral code.
b. manipulative, controlling strategies.
c. postponing gratification to an appropriate time.
d. little time elapsed between thought and action.
ANS: D
The impulsive individual acts in haste without taking time to consider the consequences of the action. None of the other options describes impulsivity.
A patient tells a nurse, I sometimes get into trouble because I make quick decisions and act on them. A
therapeutic response would be:
a. Lets consider the advantages of being able to stop and think before acting.
b. It sounds as though youve developed some insight into your situation.
c. Ill bet you have some interesting stories to share about overreacting.
d. Its good that youre showing readiness for behavioral change.
ANS: A
The patient is showing openness to learning techniques for impulse control. One technique is to teach the patient to stop and think before acting impulsively. The patient can then be taught to evaluate the outcomes of possible actions and choose an effective action. The incorrect responses shift the encounter to a social level or
are judgmental.
A patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder is hospitalized several times after self-inflicted
lacerations. The patient remains impulsive. Dialectical behavior therapy starts on an outpatient basis. Which nursing diagnosis is the focus of this therapy?
a. Risk for self-mutilation
b. Impaired skin integrity
c. Risk for injury
d. Powerlessness
ANS: A
Risk for self-mutilation is a nursing diagnosis relating to patient safety needs and is therefore a high priority. Impaired skin integrity and powerlessness may be appropriate foci for care but are not the priority or related to this therapy. Risk for injury implies accidental injury, which is not the case for the patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
