Personality Disorders Test Bank

Question 1

Personality disorders are defined as

a) maladaptive behaviors that consistently violate the rights of others.
b) long-standing, pervasive, and inflexible patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate from the expectations of a person’s culture.
c) any psychological disorder having an onset before age 12 and recurring at least three times during adult life.
d) chronic patterns of extreme instability in relationships, mood, and self-image.

Answer 1

b) long-standing, pervasive, and inflexible patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate from the expectations of a person’s culture.

Question 2

The DSM-5 defines __________ personality disorders.

a) 5
b) 8
c) 10
d) 13

Answer 2

c) 10

Question 3

A concern about the DSM-5 classification system for personality disorders is that

a) about half of the people who meet criteria for one personality disorder also meet criteria for another personality disorder.
b) some of the disorders are rare in community settings, and even in most clinical settings.
c) many people who seem to have a serious personality problem don’t fit any of the personality disorder diagnoses.
d) all of the above.

Answer 3

d) all of the above.

Question 4

The most prevalent DSM-5 personality disorder in a community setting is

a) antisocial personality disorder.
b) borderline personality disorder.
c) avoidant personality disorder.
d) schizotypal personality disorder.

Answer 4

a) antisocial personality disorder.

Question 5

The most prevalent personality disorder in a clinical setting is

a) antisocial personality disorder.
b) borderline personality disorder.
c) avoidant personality disorder.
d) schizotypal personality disorder

Answer 5

b) borderline personality disorder.

Question 6

Which of the following DSM personality disorders is more common in males than in females?

a) antisocial personality disorder
b) borderline personality disorder
c) avoidant personality disorder
d) obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Answer 6

a) antisocial personality disorder

Question 7

Compared to normal personality styles, personality disorders are more

a) bizarre and out of control.
b) dangerous and immoral.
c) inborn and physiological.
d) pervasive and inflexible.

Answer 7

d) pervasive and inflexible.

Question 8

The reliability of diagnosing personality disorders has improved by

a) strengthening the theoretical basis for each personality disorder.
b) showing an interrelationship with other disorders.
c) developing clear diagnostic criteria.
d) paying closer attention to their possible presence.

Answer 8

c) developing clear diagnostic criteria

Question 9

Recent research on diagnosing personality disorders indicates that their reliability is

a) totally inadequate.
b) improved if specialized, structured interviews are used.
c) acceptable for antisocial personality disorder, but inadequate for most others.
d) better than most diagnostic categories.

Answer 9

b) improved if specialized, structured interviews are used.

Question 10

Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with __________ personality disorders, and men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with __________ personality disorders.

a) antisocial and narcissistic; borderline and histrionic
b) borderline and histrionic; antisocial and narcissistic
c) obsessive-compulsive and dependent; antisocial and histrionic
d) antisocial and narcissistic; obsessive-compulsive and schizoid

Answer 10

b) borderline and histrionic; antisocial and narcissistic

Question 11

Unusual and eccentric thoughts and behavior (psychoticism), interpersonal detachment, and suspiciousness are characteristics of the DSM-5 __________ personality disorder.

a) schizotypal
b) narcissistic
c) avoidant
d) borderline

Answer 11

a) schizotypal

Question 12

It is common for those diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder to

a) talk to themselves.
b) engage in magical thinking.
c) dress in dirty or disheveled clothing.
d) all of the above.

Answer 12

d) all of the above.

Question 13

The symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder are similar to those seen in schizophrenia, but tend to be __________

a) much worse.
b) more severe.
c) less severe.
d) less common.

Answer 13

c) less severe.

Question 14

According to the DSM-5, those diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder

a) have social deficits.
b) are anxious in social situations.
c) feel like outcasts or outsiders.
d) all of these answers are correct.

Answer 14

d) all of these answers are correct.

Question 15

The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for avoidant personality disorder include all of the following EXCEPT:

a) positive sense of oneself.
b) inhibition in establishing social relationships.
c) preoccupation with criticism or rejection.
d) fear of disapproval.

Answer 15

a) positive sense of oneself.

Question 16

The person with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is

a) perfectionistic.
b) preoccupied with details.
c) focused on rules and schedules.
d) all of the above

Answer 16

d) all of the above

Question 17

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder lacks the __________ associated with OCD.

a) obsessions and compulsive behavior
b) personality
c) severity
d) relevance

Answer 17

a) obsessions and compulsive behavior

Question 18

The DSM-5 criteria associated with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder include:

a) compulsivity.
b) negative affectivity.
c) avoidance.
d) both a and b.

Answer 18

d) both a and b.

Question 19

Antisocial personality disorder has previously been referred to as

a) psychopathy/sociopathy.
b) evilness.
c) antiempathic.
d) none of the above.

Answer 19

a) psychopathy/sociopathy

Question 20

Peter not only works 70 hours a week, but he spends his off hours planning a schedule for his family. He dictates what time his wife will be home, when dinner will be served, and when they will go to bed. He is such a perfectionist that he actually finds it difficult to get work done efficiently, despite the amount of time he spends trying. Which of the following personality disorders best fits Peter?

a) dependent
b) narcissistic
c) schizoid
d) obsessive-compulsive

Answer 20

d) obsessive-compulsive

Question 21

Compared to individuals who are not psychopaths, the skin conductance of psychopaths is __________ when they are confronted with an intense or aversive stimulus.

a) less reactive
b) more reactive
c) equally reactive
d) more reactive only in those who are criminals

Answer 21

a) less reactive

Question 22

Lykken’s (1957) research provided support for the hypothesis that psychopaths experience __________ than controls.

a) more anxiety
b) less anxiety
c) more depression
d) less depression

Answer 22

b) less anxiety

Question 23

In research on response modulation and psychopathy, psychopaths won or lost money depending on what playing cards appeared. In this research, the impulsivity of psychopaths was studied by

a) making them wait before deciding to continue the game.
b) having them estimate the amount of money they had won.
c) ratings of their verbal statements during the game.
d) all of the above

Answer 23

a) making them wait before deciding to continue the game.

Question 24

A precursor to antisocial personality disorder is

a) conduct disorder.
b) oppositional disorder.
c) antisocial disorder of childhood or adolescence.
d) pervasive developmental disorder.

Answer 24

a) conduct disorder.

Question 25

Convicted felons are most likely to have which of the following disorders?

a) borderline personality disorder
b) sadistic personality disorder
c) histrionic personality disorder
d) antisocial personality disorder

Answer 25

d) antisocial personality disorder

Question 26

Recent behavior-genetics research on antisocial personality disorder

a) indicates a significant role of heritability.
b) has shown the role of heritability to be negligible.
c) indicates no environmental effects.
d) has been inconclusive

Answer 26

a) indicates a significant role of heritability.

Question 27

A major family variable that contributes to later psychopathy in children is

a) high number of siblings.
b) working mothers.
c) parental inconsistency.
d) overprotection.

Answer 27

c) parental inconsistency.

Question 28

Yolanda vacillates between feeling extremely positive feelings for her friend and having extreme negative feelings for her, often for no apparent reason. When these changes in her disposition occur, she also experiences deep depression and sometimes engages in self-injurious behavior. On the basis of this information, Yolanda most likely has __________ personality disorder.

a) borderline
b) schizoid
c) obsessive-compulsive
d) paranoid

Answer 28

a) borderline

Question 29

People with borderline personality disorder often exhibit which of the following:

a) unpredictable and impulsive.
b) uninhibited and promiscuous.
c) demanding and angry.
d) All of the above

Answer 29

d) All of the above

Question 30

A person with which of the following diagnoses is most likely to also have post-traumatic stress disorder or a mood disorder?

a) borderline personality
b) obsessive-compulsive personality
c) paranoid personality
d) avoidant personality

Answer 30

a) borderline personality

Question 31

Which neurotransmitter system has been implicated in anger control and has been used for borderline personality?

a) norepinephrine
b) serotonin
c) GABA
d) dopamine

Answer 31

b) serotonin

Question 32

Given that people with borderline personality disorder are impulsive, we would expect them to do poorly on tests that measure functioning of the

a) frontal lobe.
b) parietal lobe.
c) occipital lobe.
d) temporal lobe

Answer 32

a) frontal lobe.

Question 33

Which of the following is a characteristic of borderline personality disorder?

a) emotional dysregulation
b) low extraversion
c) bland, dull affect
d) panic attacks

Answer 33

a) emotional dysregulation

Question 34

The research literature that supports the link between borderline personality disorder and troubled childhood has found that

a) most studies were conducted only on women.
b) patients are more likely to report a history of parental separation and abuse than those diagnosed with other personality disorders
c) family conflict is difficult to measure accurately.
d) most studies were conducted on families that had concurrent alcohol abuse in the home.

Answer 34

b) patients are more likely to report a history of parental separation and abuse than those diagnosed with other personality disorders

Question 35

Two primary features of Linehan’s diathesis-stress theory of borderline personality disorder are

a) ego functioning and transference.
b) object representation and cognitive style.
c) cognitive bias and attribution error.
d) emotional dysregulation and experiences of invalidation.

Answer 35

d) emotional dysregulation and experiences of invalidation.

Question 36

The DSM-5 description of borderline personality disorder includes all of the following EXCEPT:

a) extremely fragile self-concept.
b) chronic feelings of emptiness.
c) multiple interpersonal relationships.
d) engage in verbal or physical acts of aggression when angry.

Answer 36

c) multiple interpersonal relationships.

Question 37

The DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder include all of the following EXCEPT:

a) emotional lability.
b) separation insecurity.
c) depressivity.
d) lack of empathy.

Answer 37

d) lack of empathy.

Question 38

Compared to a person with paranoid schizophrenia, a person diagnosed as having paranoid personality disorder is

a) less likely to experience social and occupational dysfunction.
b) more disturbed.
c) suffering from a more chronic and severe mental illness.
d) more likely to respond to medication.

Answer 38

a) less likely to experience social and occupational dysfunction.

Question 39

Paranoid personality disorder differs from paranoid schizophrenia in that

a) paranoid personality is not associated with unreasonable paranoia.
b) paranoid personality is more strongly associated with different delusions than schizophrenia.
c) paranoid personality is not associated with hallucinations.
d) paranoid personality is not likely to be present with depression.

Answer 39

c) paranoid personality is not associated with hallucinations.

Question 40

Which personality disorder is most appropriate for Joe? He lives alone in a cabin in the woods where he does the minimum to get by. When approached, he responds appropriately but is not interested in conversation or making friends.

a) avoidant
b) schizoid
c) histrionic
d) borderline

Answer 40

b) schizoid

Question 41

Schizoid personality disorder has most in common with

a) histrionic personality disorder.
b) schizotypal personality disorder.
c) dissociative identity disorder.
d) bipolar I disorder.

Answer 41

b) schizotypal personality disorder.

Question 42

Schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders may be distinguished only by the presence of which of the following symptoms in schizotypal persons?

a) indifference to others.
b) visual hallucinations.
c) flat affect, little overt emotion.
d) overtly odd behaviors.

Answer 42

d) overtly odd behaviors.

Question 43

Schizotypal, but not schizoid, personality disorder involves

a) odd, eccentric beliefs and behaviors.
b) interpersonal problems and few friends.
c) flat affect and emotional indifference
d) social anxiety and fear of others.

Answer 43

a) odd, eccentric beliefs and behaviors.

Question 44

The personality disorders in the odd/eccentric cluster have been genetically linked to

a) bipolar disorder.
b) major depression.
c) schizophrenia.
d) dissociative identity disorder.

Answer 44

c) schizophrenia.

Question 45

Family studies

a) support the role of genetics in the odd/eccentric cluster.
b) show a very limited role of genetics in the odd/eccentric cluster.
c) have been inconclusive when examining the relationship between schizophrenia and the odd/eccentric cluster.
d) have shown there to be a stronger genetic component to schizoid and schizotypal personality disorder than to paranoid personality disorder.

Answer 45

a) support the role of genetics in the odd/eccentric cluster.

Question 46

Which of the following personality disorders is the best diagnosis for Claude? Claude goes to great lengths to be the center of attention. He announces his views and feelings with great drama; however, one soon suspects it is only for effect, and he seems willing to say or do almost anything to get others to pay attention to and like him.

a) histrionic
b) schizotypal
c) schizoid
d) paranoid

Answer 46

a) histrionic

Question 47

A primary characteristic of histrionic personality disorder is

a) avoidance of others.
b) multiple, vague physical complaints.
c) inability to make realistic life plans.
d) overly dramatic and attention-seeking behavior.

Answer 47

d) overly dramatic and attention-seeking behavior.

Question 48

Veronica imagines that she will one day have great success in business, although she now is working as a waitress. She has difficulty getting along at work because she envies her boss’s position of authority (feeling she is more intelligent than he) and expects special favors such as not having to clean the stove like the other waitresses. Which of the following personality disorders best fits Veronica?

a) narcissistic
b) borderline
c) histrionic
d) avoidant

Answer 48

a) narcissistic

Question 49

Narcissistic personality is primarily characterized by

a) avoidance of others.
b) a lack of self-confidence.
c) multiple, vague physical complaints.
d) self-centeredness with fantasies of success.

Answer 49

d) self-centeredness with fantasies of success.

Question 50

Narcissism, as proposed by Kohut, develops when children are

a) abused.
b) treated by their parents as if they are special and their achievements are overemphasized
c) not getting enough approval; cold detachment from their parents.
d) both b and c.

Answer 50

d) both b and c.

Question 51

According to the social-cognitive model of narcissistic personality disorder, people with this disorder place a high value on interpersonal interactions because

a) they yearn for interpersonal closeness and warmth.
b) interpersonal interactions are central for reinforcing their self-esteem.
c) they have such high self-esteem.
d) they are very concerned about the quality of their friendships.

Answer 51

b) interpersonal interactions are central for reinforcing their self-esteem.

Question 52

According to the social-cognitive model of narcissistic personality disorder, individuals with this disorder

a) have vulnerable self-esteem.
b) have extremely high self-esteem.
c) are socially aloof.
d) are afraid to brag or boost themselves.

Answer 52

a) have vulnerable self-esteem.

Question 53

What diagnosis would be most appropriate for Tonya? She says she would like to meet people but is too afraid of saying something foolish to speak to them. She describes herself as the ultimate social klutz because she never knows what to say or do. As a result, she keeps to herself except for interacting with a few friends she has known since childhood.

a) schizoid personality disorder
b) schizotypal personality disorder
c) avoidant personality disorder
d) dependent personality disorder

Answer 53

c) avoidant personality disorder

Question 54

Social anxiety disorder is most similar to which personality disorder?

a) schizoid
b) dependent
c) antisocial
d) avoidant

Answer 54

d) avoidant

Question 55

Karl relies on his wife to make every decision, from what kind of suits he should buy to which people at work he should get to know better. He feels that he must rely heavily on his wife because he feels he is not competent to carry out these tasks. Which of the following personality disorders would fit Karl?

a) schizoid
b) avoidant
c) dependent
d) borderline

Answer 55

c) dependent

Question 56

Avoidant personality disorder would most likely be treated with which type of psychiatric medication in order to reduce social anxiety?

a) anti-anxiety medications
b) antidepressants
c) neuroleptics
d) none of the above are correct; medication has not been found effective in treating personality disorders.

Answer 56

b) antidepressants

Question 57

Which therapeutic approach seeks to break down personality disorders into sets of separate, concrete problems?

a) cognitive-behavioral
b) cognitive
c) psychodynamic
d) interpersonal

Answer 57

a) cognitive-behavioral

Question 58

Individuals with borderline personality disorder are difficult to treat because

a) their intellectual functioning is too low for them to reach true insights.
b) they do not feel distressed, despite being so distressing to others.
c) they have extreme difficulty trusting others, including a therapist.
d) all of the above.

Answer 58

c) they have extreme difficulty trusting others, including a therapist.

Question 59

Drug treatment for borderline personality disorder

a) has been shown to be ineffective for treating the symptoms of the disorder.
b) must be conducted with weekly consultations from a neurologist.
c) must be done with care as people with the disorder often abuse drugs.
d) has been researched too little to make any general statements.

Answer 59

c) must be done with care as people with the disorder often abuse drugs.

Question 60

Dialectical behavior therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder combines

a) social skills training and free association.
b) ego analysis and more directive behavioral techniques.
c) cognitive-behavioral problem-solving, social skills training and client-centered empathy.
d) Gestalt techniques and relaxation training

Answer 60

c) cognitive-behavioral problem-solving, social skills training and client-centered empathy.

Question 61

Which of the following is emphasized in Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy for borderline personality disorder?

a) systematic assessment before therapy begins
b) calm acceptance of contradictions and acting out
c) focusing on fears of vulnerability in a dangerous, unpredictable world
d) setting appropriate limits clearly from the beginning

Answer 61

b) calm acceptance of contradictions and acting out

Question 62

Schema-focused cognitive therapy for personality disorders

a) focuses on challenging maladaptive beliefs in the client’s current relationships.
b) is primarily concerned with challenging the schemes clients come up with in their daily interactions.
c) focuses exclusively on cognitions formed during critical periods of the client’s childhood.
d) helps clients to become more aware of those beliefs and then to challenge maladaptive cognitions

Answer 62

d) helps clients to become more aware of those beliefs and then to challenge maladaptive cognitions

Question 63

According to a recent meta-analysis, psychological treatment of psychopathy can be successful if

a) conducted in a controlled setting.
b) the patient is older.
c) family members are involved.
d) it is intensive and long-term

Answer 63

d) it is intensive and long-term

Question 64

Psychotherapy for psychopathy

a) must be intensive to be effective.
b) is more beneficial for younger than older people.
c) must be examined for “faking good” by those treated.
d) all of the above.

Answer 64

d) all of the above.

Question 65

When people with a diagnosable personality disorder seek treatment, it is usually not for their personality disorder. Rather, it is for episodes of

a) depression.
b) anxiety.
c) substance abuse.
d) all of the above.

Answer 65

d) all of the above.

Question 66

__________ therapists try to alter the patient’s present-day views of the childhood problems assumed to underlie the personality disorder.

a) Psychodynamic
b) Cognitive
c) Behavioral
d) Psycholinguistic

Answer 66

a) Psychodynamic

Question 67

The most challenging client for a therapist is one diagnosed with __________ personality disorder.

a) borderline
b) avoidant
c) schizotypal
d) obsessive-compulsive

Answer 67

a) borderline

Question 68

Which of these personality disorder clusters is complete?

a) antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder
b) avoidant personality disorder, self-defeating personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, dependent personality disorder
c) paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder
d) antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder

Answer 68

a) antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder

Question 69

Which of these personality disorders is not included in Cluster B, the dramatic/erratic personality disorders?

a) paranoid personality disorder
b) histrionic personality disorder
c) borderline personality disorder
d) narcissistic personality disorder

Answer 69

a) paranoid personality disorder

Question 70

Which personality disorder diagnosis has the lowest inter-rater reliability when using a structured interview?

a) schizoid personality disorder
b) schizotypal personality disorder
c) avoidant personality disorder
d) narcissistic personality disorder

Answer 70

a) schizoid personality disorder

Question 71

Carla has a difficult time maintaining friendships. She is generally suspicious of the motives of other people, often misinterpreting the behavior of her friends. Based on this information, the most likely personality disorder diagnosis for Carla would be

a) paranoid personality disorder
b) dependent personality disorder
c) avoidant personality disorder
d) histrionic personality disorder

Answer 71

a) paranoid personality disorder

Question 72

The clinical case of Joe, the man who lived alone and was referred to treatment by his general practitioner, describes the personality disorder of

a) schizoid personality disorder
b) narcissistic personality disorder
c) avoidant personality disorder
d) paranoid personality disorder

Answer 72

a) schizoid personality disorder

Question 73

The key feature of _______________ is overly dramatic and attention-seeking behavior.

a) paranoid personality disorder
b) schizoid personality disorder
c) avoidant personality disorder
d) histrionic personality disorder

Answer 73

d) histrionic personality disorder

Question 74

Chayenne is overly dramatic. She speaks with exaggerations, such as, “That was the most incredible movie I’ve ever seen,” yet wouldn’t be able to describe why she liked it. In addition, she is hyper-concerned about her appearance and dresses in provocative and unusual ways. Assuming she met the rest of the criteria, the most likely personality disorder diagnosis based on this description would be

a) histrionic personality disorder
b) borderline personality disorder
c) narcissistic personality disorder
d) anti-social personality disorder

Answer 74

a) histrionic personality disorder

Question 75

The three clusters of personality disorders are

a) odd/eccentric, anxious/fearful, and dramatic/erratic
b) odd/avoidant, anxious/fearful, and dramatic/attention-seeking
c) odd/eccentric, anxious/withdrawn, and dramatic/erratic
d) odd/avoidant, anxious/fearful, and attention-seeking/erratic

Answer 75

a) odd/eccentric, anxious/fearful, and dramatic/erratic

Question 76

Those individuals with schizophrenia share several characteristics with those individuals diagnosed with

a) schizotypal personality disorder.
b) avoidant personality disorder.
c) borderline personality disorder.
d) dependent personality disorder.

Answer 76

a) schizotypal personality disorder.

Question 77

This disorder is different from paranoid schizophrenia because other symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, are not present and there is less impairment in social and
occupational functioning.
a) paranoid personality disorder
b) schizotypal personality disorder
c) borderline personality disorder
d) schizoid personality disorder

Answer 77

a) paranoid personality disorder