Test 9 Personality Disorders

Question 1

1. Define Personality Disorder

Answer 1

Non-psychotic, maladaptive behavior that is used to satisfy the self.

Question 2

2. Describe the manifestations of a client with borderline personality disorder.

Answer 2

 Moods unstable and changeable.
 Uncertainty regarding self-concept.
 Substance abuse.
 Suicide attempts.***
 Anhedonia (Inability to experience pleasure.)
 Difficulty handling strong emotion.
 Bored and empty feelings.
 Fear of being alone.
 Self-destructive behaviors.
 Self-mutilation (including cutting).
 Manipulative.

Question 3

3. Describe the characteristics of a Paranoid Personality.

Answer 3

 Jealousy*
 Suspicious and mistrustful of other people.
 May seem “normal” in speech and activity.
 Believe that people treat them unfairly.
 Hypersensitive to activity in the environment.
 Difficult to maintain focused eye contact.
 Not easily able to laugh at themselves.
 Take themselves very seriously.
 May not show tender emotions.
 May seem cold and calculating in their relationships.
 Tend to take comments, events, situations personally.
 Few social interactions.
 Loners.
 Appear to be shy and introverted.

Question 4

4. How does the client with a Narcissistic personality behave?

Answer 4

 Exaggerated self-image.
 Appears self-centered.
 Lacks empathy for others’ problems.
 Expresses need for self-importance.
 Appears to take criticism lightly but in reality, represses feelings of anger and resentment.
 Expresses sense of entitlement.
 Cheerful, carefree mood which can quickly change to distress if criticized.

Question 5

6. Describe OCD. What are compulsions and obsessions?

Answer 5

The presence of obsessions and compulsions that the individual feels compelled to think about and perform that interfere with daily functioning.
Obsessions:
 Repetitive thoughts, urges or emotions.
Compulsions:
 Repetitive acts that may appear purposeful.

Question 6

7. What is the purpose of the compulsions in OCD?

Answer 6

 Helps them reduce negative thoughts/feelings*

Question 7

8. What does the Antisocial Personality require?

Answer 7

 Requires immediate self-gratification.
 Often in trouble with the law
 Has difficulty handling frustration and anger?
 Seldom feels affection, loyalty, guilt, or remorse.
 Show very little concern for the rights or feeling of others.
 Good at manipulating others for personal gain
 High risk for substance abuse
 Usually gregarious, charming, intelligent, and likeable

Question 8

9.Name the nursing interventions for clients with Personality Disorders. Include what must be consistently done.

Answer 8

 Set limits with personality disorders and schizophrenia.

Question 9

11. What are Delusions? Hallucinations? Illusions?

Answer 9

Delusions:
 Fixed, false beliefs.
Hallucinations:
 False sensory perceptions.
Illusions:
 A misperception of a real external stimulus.

Question 10

12. Describe Schizophrenia.

Answer 10

Serious mental health disorder characterized by impaired communication, alteration of reality, and deterioration of personal and vocational functioning.
 Flat affect, autism, ambivalence, and loose associations***

Question 11

13. What is Echolalia? Echopraxia? Anhedonia?

Answer 11

Echolalia:
 Parrot-like repeating of words spoken by others.
Echopraxia:
 Repeating the movements of others
Anhedonia:
 Inability to experience pleasure.

Question 12

15. Describe Delirium manifestations

Answer 12

 Tends to manifest during awakening hours**
 Fluctuating levels of awareness and symptoms
 Sudden onset
 Clouding of consciousness
 Perceptual disturbances (hallucinations, illusions)
 Memory disturbance, more often for recent events
 Highly distractible
 Reversibility possible with treatment

Question 13

16. What is “Sundowners”, and what is the most appropriate nursing action?

Answer 13

 Keep the lights on at night***
 Person sleeps much of the day and is wide awake and active during the night.
 Keeping communication open with these patients

Question 14

17. Describe the most important Nursing action for a pt who has Dementia and is in danger of causing harm to himself because he climbs out of bed and wanders.

Answer 14

 Providing a safe environment where the patient can walk or pace.
 Distracting patient with other activities
 Putting up large signs in the area reminding patient of his room or areas off limits
 Using alarms either on the patient or on doors to off-limit areas (e.g., exit door to stairwell). GPS tracking devices that patients can wear are now available as well.
 Engaging family and volunteers to closely watch the patient’s movements.
 Request restraint orders from the physician. Restraints should be used only as a last resort.

Question 15

20. haloperidol, need to know….

Answer 15

 Risk for dehydration and falls
 NO OTC meds**

Question 16

24. What are “DTs?” What are the signs and symptoms?

Answer 16

 Form of delirium from withdrawal from alcohol in which the person experiences, among other symptoms, tremors, hallucinations, delirium, and diaphoresis.
 Impaired consciousness and memory as well as hallucinations and severe tremors.

Question 17

25. Describe Tactile Hallucinations and Visual Hallucinations.

Answer 17

 Visual (sight) hallucinations: These hallucinations involve seeing things that aren’t real, like objects, shapes, people, animals or lights.
 Tactile (touch) hallucinations: These hallucinations cause you to feel touch on your body or movement in your body that’s not real.

Question 18

26. List some signs and symptoms of Methamphetamine abuse.

Answer 18

 Euphoria
 High energy
 Impaired judgment
 Anxiety
 Weight loss
 Anorexia
 Increased libido
 Aggressive behavior
 Paranoia
 Panic disorders
 Insomnia
 Elevated BP
 Dilated pupils
 Delusions (Especially with long term use)