NSG 221 Mental Health Exam Questions and Answers Graded A+
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of
preoccupation with perfectionism, mental, and interpersonal control, and orderliness at the
expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.
Personality disorders - Answers an ingrained, enduring, pattern of behaving and relating to the
self, others and the environment, it includes perceptions, attitudes, and emotion.
When are personality disorders diagnosed - Answers not until adulthood, that is, at age 18 and
are long-standing because personality characteristics do not change easily
characteristic of personality disorders - Answers impaired personality functioning(areas of
identity, self-direction, empathy, and intimacy) and pathological personality factors ( negative
affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism)
Paranoid disorder (Cluster A) - Answers characterized by pervasive mistrust and
suspiciousness of others. More common in males. Aloof and withdrawn and may remain
considerable physical distance from the nurse, they view this as necessary for their protection.
Guarded or hypervigilant mood may be labile and can quickly change form quietly suspicious to
angry or hostile.
Dependent Personality Disorder (Cluster C) - Answers characterized by a pervasive and
excessive need to be taken care of, which leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears
of separation. Patient frequently anxious and may be mildly uncomfortable. They are often
pessimistic and self-critical; other people hurt their feelings easily.
Avoidant Personality Disorder (Cluster C) - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of
social discomfort and reticence, low self-esteem, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
Patients have low self-esteem and are hypersensitive to negative evaluation from others and
readily believe themselves to be inferior. May report some success in occupational roles
because they are so eager to please or to win a supervisor's approval. Shyness, awkwardness,
or fear of failure, however may prevent them from seeking jobs that might be more suitable,
challenging, or rewarding.
narcissistic personality disorder - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity,
need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Patients may display an arrogant or haughty attitude.
They lack ability to recognize or empathize with the feelings of others. Underlying self-esteem is
almost always fragile and vulnerable. These patients are hypersensitizes to criticism and need
constant attention and admiration
Histrionic personality disorder - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive
emotionality and attention seeking. Patients have tendency to exaggerate the closeness of
relationships or to dramatize relatively minor occurrences can result in unreliable date.
Expressed emotions, though colorful, are insincere and swallow, apparent to others but no the
, patient. Patients have rapid shifts in moods and emotions and may be laughing uproariously
one moment and sobbing the next.
Paranoid personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers mistrust and suspicions of
others, guarded, restricted affect
Paranoid personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers serious, straightforward approach;
teach patient to validate ideas before taking action; involve patient in treatment planning
Schizoid personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers detached from social
relationships; restricted affect; involved with things more than people
Schizoid personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers improve patient's functioning in
the community; assist patient in finding case manager
Schizotypal personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers acute discomfort in
relationships; cognitive or perceptual distortions; eccentric behavior
Schizotypal personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers develop self-care skills;
improve community functioning; social skill training.
Antisocial personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers disregard for rights of
others, rules, and laws
Antisocial personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers Promoting responsible behavior;
Limit setting;
State the limit;
Identify the consequences of exceeding the limit;
Identify the expected or acceptable behavior;
Consistent adherence to rules and treatment plan;
Confrontation;
Point out the problem behavior;
Keep the client focused on him or herself;
Help clients solve problems and control emotions;
Effective problem-solving skills;
Decreased impulsivity;
Expressing negative emotions such as anger or frustration;
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of
preoccupation with perfectionism, mental, and interpersonal control, and orderliness at the
expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.
Personality disorders - Answers an ingrained, enduring, pattern of behaving and relating to the
self, others and the environment, it includes perceptions, attitudes, and emotion.
When are personality disorders diagnosed - Answers not until adulthood, that is, at age 18 and
are long-standing because personality characteristics do not change easily
characteristic of personality disorders - Answers impaired personality functioning(areas of
identity, self-direction, empathy, and intimacy) and pathological personality factors ( negative
affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism)
Paranoid disorder (Cluster A) - Answers characterized by pervasive mistrust and
suspiciousness of others. More common in males. Aloof and withdrawn and may remain
considerable physical distance from the nurse, they view this as necessary for their protection.
Guarded or hypervigilant mood may be labile and can quickly change form quietly suspicious to
angry or hostile.
Dependent Personality Disorder (Cluster C) - Answers characterized by a pervasive and
excessive need to be taken care of, which leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears
of separation. Patient frequently anxious and may be mildly uncomfortable. They are often
pessimistic and self-critical; other people hurt their feelings easily.
Avoidant Personality Disorder (Cluster C) - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of
social discomfort and reticence, low self-esteem, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
Patients have low self-esteem and are hypersensitive to negative evaluation from others and
readily believe themselves to be inferior. May report some success in occupational roles
because they are so eager to please or to win a supervisor's approval. Shyness, awkwardness,
or fear of failure, however may prevent them from seeking jobs that might be more suitable,
challenging, or rewarding.
narcissistic personality disorder - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity,
need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Patients may display an arrogant or haughty attitude.
They lack ability to recognize or empathize with the feelings of others. Underlying self-esteem is
almost always fragile and vulnerable. These patients are hypersensitizes to criticism and need
constant attention and admiration
Histrionic personality disorder - Answers characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive
emotionality and attention seeking. Patients have tendency to exaggerate the closeness of
relationships or to dramatize relatively minor occurrences can result in unreliable date.
Expressed emotions, though colorful, are insincere and swallow, apparent to others but no the
, patient. Patients have rapid shifts in moods and emotions and may be laughing uproariously
one moment and sobbing the next.
Paranoid personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers mistrust and suspicions of
others, guarded, restricted affect
Paranoid personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers serious, straightforward approach;
teach patient to validate ideas before taking action; involve patient in treatment planning
Schizoid personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers detached from social
relationships; restricted affect; involved with things more than people
Schizoid personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers improve patient's functioning in
the community; assist patient in finding case manager
Schizotypal personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers acute discomfort in
relationships; cognitive or perceptual distortions; eccentric behavior
Schizotypal personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers develop self-care skills;
improve community functioning; social skill training.
Antisocial personality disorder symptoms/characteristics - Answers disregard for rights of
others, rules, and laws
Antisocial personality disorder nursing interventions - Answers Promoting responsible behavior;
Limit setting;
State the limit;
Identify the consequences of exceeding the limit;
Identify the expected or acceptable behavior;
Consistent adherence to rules and treatment plan;
Confrontation;
Point out the problem behavior;
Keep the client focused on him or herself;
Help clients solve problems and control emotions;
Effective problem-solving skills;
Decreased impulsivity;
Expressing negative emotions such as anger or frustration;
