PERSONALITY DISORDER ACTUAL
VERIFIED 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Personality - ANSWER-temperament (genetics) + character (environment)
Factors Contributing to Personality - ANSWER-genetics, past experiences, present
experiences, view of future
Personality Traits - ANSWER-characteristic patterns of perceiving, interacting with and
thinking about one's environment
Personality Disorder - ANSWER-enduring, inflexible and maladaptive manner of interacting
with one's environment; code on axis II
Personality Disorder - Importance of Recognition - ANSWER-tailor treatment to patient's
coping style; increased morbidity and mortality; increased rates of separation and divorce;
affect course and prognosis of comorbid Axis I conditions; influence use of medications;
reactions evoked in health care professionals
Cluster A - ANSWER-odd, eccentric; paranoid; schizoid; schizotypical
Cluster B - ANSWER-dramatic, erratic, emotional; histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial,
borderline
Cluster C - ANSWER-anxious, fearful; dependant, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - ANSWER-characterized by odd, eccentric behavior,
perceptual distortions; 3-5%, may be more common in men; more common in biological
relatives of schizophrenics
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - clinical features - ANSWER-magical thinking -
clairvoyance, superstitious; peculiar appearance, speech; suspiciousness or paranoid
ideation; Ideas of reference - not delusions of reference; illusions; poor interpersonal
relationships --> few friends; eccentric speech; job instability; may decompensate under
stress and become overtly psychotic for brief time; 30-50% have major depressive disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - ANSWER-may remain stable,
work, get married (not common); premorbid personality for schizophrenia; 10% eventually
commit suicide (related to the depression)
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - goal = social skills
training; pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants; medical - respect need for
privacy and distance
, Schizoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Lifelong pattern of social withdrawal, discomfort,
with human interaction, eccentricity, isolation; 7.5% of population; male > female,
unknown etiology
Schizoid Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-appear apathetic and aloof,
unsociable, seclusive; restricted affect; gravitate toward solitary jobs; solitary interests; no
loss of capacity to recognize reality
Schizoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Who cares what others think of me? I
enjoy doing things alone more than with others.
Schizoid Personality Disorders - prognosis - ANSWER-onset early childhood; may not last
entire life; may develop schizophrenia
Schizoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-Psychotherapy - may become devoted
patients if seek treatment, may reveal their fantasies, fears of dependance, group therapy
may provide only social contact; Pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants, as
needed; Medical - respect need for privacy, may be suspicious of authority figures
(physicians)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Long-standing suspiciosness and distrust of
people leading to false interpretations of motivations and actions of others; .5 to 2.5%, male
> female, higher incidence in: deaf, minorities, immigrants, relatives of schizophrenics,
etiology is unknown
Paranoid Personality Disorder - clinical features - ANSWER-expect others to exploit or
harm them; interpret other's actions as deliberately threatening; question, without
justification, loyalty of friends, fidelity of spouse; hostile, irritable, angry; restricted affect -
appearance unemotional; pesistent grudges (litigious); ideas of reference, illusions; 75%
have another personality disorder (usually schizotypal p.d.)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Others can't be trusted. People try to
annoy me.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - course and prognosis - ANSWER-may be lifelong, may be
progrome of schizophrenia or paranoid delusional disorder, may diminish with time,
lifelong problems living and working with others, difficulty with authority figures and
intimate relationships.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - difficult to engage,
treatment of choice; pharmacotherapy - for agitation and anxiety, may need antipsychotics
for delusional thoughts; medical - carefully explain procedures, medications and test results
Histrionic Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior in
emotional people, 2-3% female > male
VERIFIED 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Personality - ANSWER-temperament (genetics) + character (environment)
Factors Contributing to Personality - ANSWER-genetics, past experiences, present
experiences, view of future
Personality Traits - ANSWER-characteristic patterns of perceiving, interacting with and
thinking about one's environment
Personality Disorder - ANSWER-enduring, inflexible and maladaptive manner of interacting
with one's environment; code on axis II
Personality Disorder - Importance of Recognition - ANSWER-tailor treatment to patient's
coping style; increased morbidity and mortality; increased rates of separation and divorce;
affect course and prognosis of comorbid Axis I conditions; influence use of medications;
reactions evoked in health care professionals
Cluster A - ANSWER-odd, eccentric; paranoid; schizoid; schizotypical
Cluster B - ANSWER-dramatic, erratic, emotional; histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial,
borderline
Cluster C - ANSWER-anxious, fearful; dependant, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - ANSWER-characterized by odd, eccentric behavior,
perceptual distortions; 3-5%, may be more common in men; more common in biological
relatives of schizophrenics
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - clinical features - ANSWER-magical thinking -
clairvoyance, superstitious; peculiar appearance, speech; suspiciousness or paranoid
ideation; Ideas of reference - not delusions of reference; illusions; poor interpersonal
relationships --> few friends; eccentric speech; job instability; may decompensate under
stress and become overtly psychotic for brief time; 30-50% have major depressive disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Course and Prognosis - ANSWER-may remain stable,
work, get married (not common); premorbid personality for schizophrenia; 10% eventually
commit suicide (related to the depression)
Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - goal = social skills
training; pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants; medical - respect need for
privacy and distance
, Schizoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Lifelong pattern of social withdrawal, discomfort,
with human interaction, eccentricity, isolation; 7.5% of population; male > female,
unknown etiology
Schizoid Personality Disorder - Clinical Features - ANSWER-appear apathetic and aloof,
unsociable, seclusive; restricted affect; gravitate toward solitary jobs; solitary interests; no
loss of capacity to recognize reality
Schizoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Who cares what others think of me? I
enjoy doing things alone more than with others.
Schizoid Personality Disorders - prognosis - ANSWER-onset early childhood; may not last
entire life; may develop schizophrenia
Schizoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-Psychotherapy - may become devoted
patients if seek treatment, may reveal their fantasies, fears of dependance, group therapy
may provide only social contact; Pharmacotherapy - antipsychotics, antidepressants, as
needed; Medical - respect need for privacy, may be suspicious of authority figures
(physicians)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Long-standing suspiciosness and distrust of
people leading to false interpretations of motivations and actions of others; .5 to 2.5%, male
> female, higher incidence in: deaf, minorities, immigrants, relatives of schizophrenics,
etiology is unknown
Paranoid Personality Disorder - clinical features - ANSWER-expect others to exploit or
harm them; interpret other's actions as deliberately threatening; question, without
justification, loyalty of friends, fidelity of spouse; hostile, irritable, angry; restricted affect -
appearance unemotional; pesistent grudges (litigious); ideas of reference, illusions; 75%
have another personality disorder (usually schizotypal p.d.)
Paranoid Personality Disorder - thoughts - ANSWER-Others can't be trusted. People try to
annoy me.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - course and prognosis - ANSWER-may be lifelong, may be
progrome of schizophrenia or paranoid delusional disorder, may diminish with time,
lifelong problems living and working with others, difficulty with authority figures and
intimate relationships.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - treatment - ANSWER-psychotherapy - difficult to engage,
treatment of choice; pharmacotherapy - for agitation and anxiety, may need antipsychotics
for delusional thoughts; medical - carefully explain procedures, medications and test results
Histrionic Personality Disorder - ANSWER-Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior in
emotional people, 2-3% female > male
