Personality Disorders

Question 1

Personality Disorders

Answer 1

Personality Disorders: Patterns of relating to and understanding others that are so
maladaptive, inflexible, and deeply ingrained that they produce significant social
impairment. Personality disorders are usually recognizable in one’s adolescence.

Question 2

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Answer 2

nondelusional paranoia; unjustified doubts; misreading
harmless remarks or events; quick reactions of anger; holding grudges; expectation of
being exploited; unjustified questions re: fidelity of partner

Question 3

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Answer 3

detachment from social relationships; preference for
being alone; restricted range of affect; lack of close friends; flat affect; emotionally cold;
lack of desire for relationships; lac

Question 4

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Answer 4

inappropriate or constricted affect; irrational beliefs;
magical thinking; ideas of reference; extreme social anxiety; unusual perceptual
experiences (illusions); lack of close friends; paranoid ideation; eccentric appearance

Question 5

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Answer 5

constant demands for approval/praise; exaggeration of
emotion; discomfort when not the center of attention; sexual seductiveness; use of
physical appearance to draw attention; content of speech lacking detail; suggestibility;
rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions; belief that relationships are more
intimate than they really are; view of themselves as glamorous and impressive

Question 6

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Answer 6

sense of entitlement; using others for personal gain;
grandiosity; belief that they are special/unique; need for excessive admiration; lack of
empathy; envious of others and belief that others are envious of them; fantasies of
success/power/love; arrogance

Question 7

Borderline Personality Disorder

Answer 7

unstable relationships; alternation between
idealization and devaluation (good object-bad object); feelings of emptiness; mood reactivity; angry outbursts followed by shame/guilt; impulsivity that is self-damaging;
avoidance of abandonment (real or perceived); suicidal threats; self-mutilating behaviors; identity disturbance; transient paranoia or dissociation

Question 8

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 8

frequent physical fights or assaults; irresponsibility; deceitfulness; reckless disregard for safety; impulsive behavior; lack of remorse

Question 9

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Answer 9

fear of being ridiculed; social inhibition; poor selfimage; preoccupation with being criticized or rejected in social situations; avoidance of
new activities; reluctance to take personal risks; restraint in intimate relationships; desire
for social relationships; feelings of loneliness

Question 10

Dependent Personality Disorder

Answer 10

need for excessive advice/reassurance; need for
others to assume responsibility; difficulty doing things independently; lack of selfconfidence; going to great lengths to be nurtured/supported; feelings of helplessness;
moving from one relationship to the next to receive care and support; difficulty
disagreeing with others; need for approval; preoccupation with being left to take care of
oneself

Question 11

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Answer 11

preoccupation with details, rules, lists, or
organization; perfectionism; stubbornness; insistence that others do things “their way;”
overly conservative with money; excessive devotion to work or productivity; reluctance
to delegate to others; inflexibility around morals, ethics, values, etc.; difficulty throwing
things out (even when useless or lacking in sentimental value)