Personality Disorders Nursing Practice Exam
(Questions 1–150)
1. Which characteristic is most commonly associated with borderline
personality disorder?
A. Lack of empathy
B. Social inhibition
C. Instability in relationships and self-image
D. Grandiosity
Rationale: Borderline personality disorder is characterized by intense
and unstable relationships, impulsivity, and instability in self-image
and affect.
2. A patient with antisocial personality disorder is likely to:
A. Seek approval from others
B. Violate the rights of others without remorse
C. Exhibit social anxiety
D. Depend on others excessively
Rationale: Antisocial personality disorder involves a disregard for the
rights of others, deceit, and lack of remorse.
3. Which intervention is most appropriate for a patient with
narcissistic personality disorder?
A. Confronting all delusions directly
B. Setting clear limits and maintaining a professional approach
C. Encouraging excessive praise
D. Ignoring manipulative behavior
Rationale: Patients with narcissistic personality disorder require
consistent boundaries and professional interaction to reduce
manipulation and maintain therapeutic relationships.
, 4. A patient with schizoid personality disorder will likely:
A. Desire close relationships
B. Prefer solitary activities and appear emotionally detached
C. Exhibit dramatic emotional expression
D. Be highly suspicious of others
Rationale: Schizoid personality disorder is marked by detachment
from social relationships and restricted emotional expression.
5. A key feature of histrionic personality disorder includes:
A. Lack of empathy
B. Excessive attention-seeking and emotionality
C. Social withdrawal
D. Grandiose self-importance
Rationale: Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by
attention-seeking behavior, dramatic emotions, and suggestibility.
6. Which behavior is typical of avoidant personality disorder?
A. Aggressive manipulation
B. Extreme sensitivity to criticism and social inhibition
C. Lack of conscience
D. Exaggerated sense of entitlement
Rationale: Avoidant personality disorder involves social inhibition,
feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
7. A patient with dependent personality disorder may:
A. Refuse help from others
B. Exhibit excessive need to be taken care of and fear of
separation
C. Be highly competitive
D. Display emotional coldness
,Rationale: Dependent personality disorder is characterized by
submissive and clinging behavior, seeking constant reassurance and
support.
8. Which nursing strategy is appropriate for a patient with
borderline personality disorder exhibiting self-harming behavior?
A. Ensure patient safety and use a consistent approach
B. Ignore minor self-harm to avoid reinforcement
C. Allow self-expression without boundaries
D. Use confrontation aggressively
Rationale: Ensuring safety and consistent boundaries is essential for
patients at risk for self-harm.
9. A patient with paranoid personality disorder may:
A. Easily trust others
B. Be suspicious and distrustful of others without basis
C. Avoid dramatic expressions
D. Be socially isolated due to introversion
Rationale: Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by pervasive
distrust and suspicion of others’ motives.
10. Which statement reflects a common trait of obsessive-
compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)?
A. Impulsivity
B. Emotional instability
C. Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control
D. Social detachment
Rationale: OCPD involves rigidity, perfectionism, and control over
situations, different from OCD, which involves true obsessions and
compulsions.
, 11. A patient with borderline personality disorder is admitted
for impulsive spending. Which approach should the nurse take?
A. Criticize the behavior directly
B. Ignore the spending
C. Assist patient in identifying triggers and developing coping
strategies
D. Remove all financial resources permanently
Rationale: Helping the patient identify triggers and learn coping
strategies reduces impulsive behavior and promotes self-
management.
12. A hallmark of antisocial personality disorder includes:
A. Avoidance of social interactions
B. Violation of societal norms with deceit and manipulation
C. Emotional detachment
D. Extreme sensitivity to criticism
Rationale: Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by repeated
unlawful behaviors, deceit, and lack of remorse.
13. Which nursing intervention is essential for patients with
narcissistic personality disorder?
A. Encouraging dependency
B. Maintaining professional boundaries and avoiding excessive
flattery
C. Allowing manipulation to reduce stress
D. Ignoring self-centered behaviors
Rationale: Professional boundaries and structured interaction prevent
exploitation and maintain therapeutic integrity.
14. A patient with schizotypal personality disorder may display:
A. Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior
(Questions 1–150)
1. Which characteristic is most commonly associated with borderline
personality disorder?
A. Lack of empathy
B. Social inhibition
C. Instability in relationships and self-image
D. Grandiosity
Rationale: Borderline personality disorder is characterized by intense
and unstable relationships, impulsivity, and instability in self-image
and affect.
2. A patient with antisocial personality disorder is likely to:
A. Seek approval from others
B. Violate the rights of others without remorse
C. Exhibit social anxiety
D. Depend on others excessively
Rationale: Antisocial personality disorder involves a disregard for the
rights of others, deceit, and lack of remorse.
3. Which intervention is most appropriate for a patient with
narcissistic personality disorder?
A. Confronting all delusions directly
B. Setting clear limits and maintaining a professional approach
C. Encouraging excessive praise
D. Ignoring manipulative behavior
Rationale: Patients with narcissistic personality disorder require
consistent boundaries and professional interaction to reduce
manipulation and maintain therapeutic relationships.
, 4. A patient with schizoid personality disorder will likely:
A. Desire close relationships
B. Prefer solitary activities and appear emotionally detached
C. Exhibit dramatic emotional expression
D. Be highly suspicious of others
Rationale: Schizoid personality disorder is marked by detachment
from social relationships and restricted emotional expression.
5. A key feature of histrionic personality disorder includes:
A. Lack of empathy
B. Excessive attention-seeking and emotionality
C. Social withdrawal
D. Grandiose self-importance
Rationale: Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by
attention-seeking behavior, dramatic emotions, and suggestibility.
6. Which behavior is typical of avoidant personality disorder?
A. Aggressive manipulation
B. Extreme sensitivity to criticism and social inhibition
C. Lack of conscience
D. Exaggerated sense of entitlement
Rationale: Avoidant personality disorder involves social inhibition,
feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
7. A patient with dependent personality disorder may:
A. Refuse help from others
B. Exhibit excessive need to be taken care of and fear of
separation
C. Be highly competitive
D. Display emotional coldness
,Rationale: Dependent personality disorder is characterized by
submissive and clinging behavior, seeking constant reassurance and
support.
8. Which nursing strategy is appropriate for a patient with
borderline personality disorder exhibiting self-harming behavior?
A. Ensure patient safety and use a consistent approach
B. Ignore minor self-harm to avoid reinforcement
C. Allow self-expression without boundaries
D. Use confrontation aggressively
Rationale: Ensuring safety and consistent boundaries is essential for
patients at risk for self-harm.
9. A patient with paranoid personality disorder may:
A. Easily trust others
B. Be suspicious and distrustful of others without basis
C. Avoid dramatic expressions
D. Be socially isolated due to introversion
Rationale: Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by pervasive
distrust and suspicion of others’ motives.
10. Which statement reflects a common trait of obsessive-
compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)?
A. Impulsivity
B. Emotional instability
C. Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control
D. Social detachment
Rationale: OCPD involves rigidity, perfectionism, and control over
situations, different from OCD, which involves true obsessions and
compulsions.
, 11. A patient with borderline personality disorder is admitted
for impulsive spending. Which approach should the nurse take?
A. Criticize the behavior directly
B. Ignore the spending
C. Assist patient in identifying triggers and developing coping
strategies
D. Remove all financial resources permanently
Rationale: Helping the patient identify triggers and learn coping
strategies reduces impulsive behavior and promotes self-
management.
12. A hallmark of antisocial personality disorder includes:
A. Avoidance of social interactions
B. Violation of societal norms with deceit and manipulation
C. Emotional detachment
D. Extreme sensitivity to criticism
Rationale: Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by repeated
unlawful behaviors, deceit, and lack of remorse.
13. Which nursing intervention is essential for patients with
narcissistic personality disorder?
A. Encouraging dependency
B. Maintaining professional boundaries and avoiding excessive
flattery
C. Allowing manipulation to reduce stress
D. Ignoring self-centered behaviors
Rationale: Professional boundaries and structured interaction prevent
exploitation and maintain therapeutic integrity.
14. A patient with schizotypal personality disorder may display:
A. Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior
