Psych – Personality Disorders

1)      The nursing diagnosis that would be most appropriate for a 22-year

old client who uses ritualistic behavior would be:

1. Ineffective coping

2. Impaired adjustment

3. personal identity disturbance

4. Sensory/perceptual alterations

2)      A psychiatrist prescribes an anti-obsessional agent for a client who is

using ritualistic behavior. A common anti-anxiety medication used for this

type of client would be:

1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox)

2. Benztropine (Cogentin)

3. Amantadine (Symmetrel)

4. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

3)      A 20-year old college student has been brought to the psychiatric

hospital by her parents. Her admitting diagnosis is borderline personality

disorder. When talking with the parents, which information would the nurse

expect to be included in the client’s history? Select all that apply.

1. Impulsiveness

2. Lability of mood

3. Ritualistic behavior

4. psychomotor retardation

5. self-destructive behavior

4)      A hospitalized client, diagnosed with a borderline personality

disorder, consistently breaks the unit’s rules. This behavior should be

confronted because it will help the client:

1. Control anger

2. reduce anxiety

3. Set realistic goals

4. Become more self-aware

5)      When working with the nurse during the orientation phase of the

relationship, a client with a borderline personality disorder would probably

have the most difficulty in:

1. Controlling anxiety

2. terminating the session on time

3. Accepting the psychiatric diagnosis

4. Setting mutual goals for the relationship

6)      A client with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder has

negative feelings toward the other clients on the unit and considers them all

to be “bad.” The nurse understands this defense is known as:

1. Splitting

2. Ambivalence

3. Passive aggression

4. Reaction formation

7)      The client with antisocial personality disorder:

1. Suffers from a great deal of anxiety

2. Is generally unable to postpone gratification

3. Rapidly learns by experience and punishment

4. Has a great sense of responsibility toward others

8)      A person with antisocial personality disorder has difficulty relating to

others because of never having learned to:

1. Count on others

2. Empathize with others

3. Be dependent on others

4. Communicate with others socially

9)      A young, handsome man with a diagnosis of antisocial personality

disorder is being discharged from the hospital next week. He asks the nurse

for her phone number so that he can call her for a date. The nurse’s best

response would be:

1. “We are not permitted to date clients.”

2. “No, you are a client and I am a nurse.”

3. “I like you, but our relationship is professional.”

4. “It’s against my professional ethics to date clients.”

10)   When caring for a client with a diagnosis of schizotypal personality

disorder, the nurse should:

1. Set limits on manipulative behavior

2. encourage participation in group therapy

3. Respect the client’s needs for social isolation

4. Understand that seductive behavior is expected.

11)   A nurse is orienting a new client to the unit when another client rushes

down the hallway and asks the nurse to sit down and talk. The client

requesting the nurse’s attention is extremely manipulative and uses socially

acting-out behaviors when demands are unmet. The nurse should:

1. Suggest that the client requesting attention speak with another staff

member

2. Leave the new client and talk with the other client to avoid

precipitating acting out behavior

3. Tell the interrupting client to sit down and be patient, stating, “I’ll be

back as soon as possible.”

4. Introduce the two clients and suggest that the client join the new

client and the nurse on the tour

12)   A client with a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder has been

given a day pass from the psychiatric hospital. The client is due to return at

6pm. At 5pm the client telephones the nurse in charge of the unit and says

“6 o’clock is too early. I feel like coming back at 7:30.” The nurse would be

most therapeutic by telling the client to:

1. Return immediately, to demonstrate control

2. Return on time or restrictions will be imposed

3. come back at 6:45, as a compromise to set limits

4. Come back as soon as possible or the police will be sent

13)   An adult client with a borderline personality disorder become

nauseated and vomits immediately after drinking after drinking 2 ounces of

shampoo as a suicide gesture. The most appropriate initial response by the

nurse would be to:

1. Promptly notify the attending physician

2. Immediately initiate suicide precautions

3. Sit quietly with the client until nausea and vomiting subsides

4. Assess the client’s vital signs and administer syrup of ipecac

14)   A nurse notices that a client is mistrustful and shows hostile behavior.

Which of the following types of personality disorder is associated with these

characteristics?

1. Antisocial

2. Avoidant

3. Borderline

4. Paranoid

15)   Which of the following statements is typical for a client diagnosed with

a personality disorder?

1. “I understand you’re the one to blame.”

2. “I must be seen first; it’s not negotiable.”

3. “I see nothing humorous in this situation.”

4. “I wish someone would select the outfit for me.”

16)   Which of the following characteristics is expected for a client with

paranoid personality disorder who receives bad news?

1. The client is overly dramatic after hearing the facts

2. The client focuses on self to not become over-anxious

3. The client responds from a rational, objective point of view

4. The client doesn’t spend time thinking about the information.

17)   Which of the following types of behavior is expected from a client

diagnosed with a paranoid personality disorder?

1. Eccentric

2. exploitative

3. Hypersensitive

4. Seductive

18)   Which of the following interventions is important for a client with

paranoid personality disorder taking olanzapine (Zyprexa)?

1. Explain effects of serotonin syndrome

2. Teach the client to watch for extrapyramidal adverse reactions

3. Explain that the drug is less effective if the client smokes

4. Discuss the need to report paradoxical effects such as euphoria.

19)   A client with antisocial personality is trying to convince a nurse that he

deserves special privileges and that an exception to the rules should be

made for him. Which of the following responses is the most appropriate?

1. “I believe we need to sit down and talk about this.”

2. “Don’t you know better than to try to bend the rules?”

3. “What you’re asking me to do is unacceptable.”

4. “Why don’t you bring this request to the community meeting?”

20)   A nurse notices other clients on the unit avoiding a client diagnosed

with antisocial personality disorder. When discussing appropriate behavior

in group therapy, which of the following comments is expected about this

client by his peers?

1. Lack of honesty

2. Belief in superstitions

3. Show of temper tantrums

4. Constant need for attention

21)   Which of the following characteristics or client histories substantiates

a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder?

1. Delusional thinking

2. Feelings of inferiority

3. Disorganized thinking

4. Multiple criminal charges

22)   A client with borderline personality disorder is admitted to the unit

after slashing his wrist. Which of the following goals is most important after

promoting safety?

1. Establish a therapeutic relationship with the client

2. Identify whether splitting is present in the client’s thoughts

3. Talk about the client’s acting out and self-destructive tendencies.

4. Encourage the client to understand why he blames others

23)   Which of the following characteristics or situations is indicated when a

client with borderline personality disorder has a crisis?

1. Antisocial behavior

2. Suspicious behavior

3. Relationship problems

4. Auditory hallucinations

24)   Which of the following assessment findings is seen in a client

diagnosed with borderline personality disorder?

1. Abrasions in various healing stages

2. intermittent episodes of hypertension

3. Alternating tachycardia and bradycardia

4. Mild state of euphoria with disorientation

25)   In planning care for a client with borderline personality disorder, a

nurse must be aware that this client is prone to develop which of the

following conditions?

1. Binge eating

2. Memory loss

3. Cult membership

4. Delusional thinking

26)   Which of the following statements is expected from a client with

borderline personality disorder with a history of dysfunctional

relationships?

1. “I won’t get involved in another relationship.”

2. “I’m determined to look for the perfect partner.”

3. “I’ve decided to use better communication skills.”

4. “I’m going to be an equal partner in a relationship.”

27)   Which of the following conditions is likely to coexist in clients with a

diagnosis of borderline personality disorder?

1. Avoidance

2. Delirium

3. Depression

4. Disorientation

28)   Which of the following nursing interventions has priority for a client

with borderline personality disorder?

1. Maintain consistent and realistic limits

2. Give instructions for meeting basic self-care needs

3. Engage in daytime activities to stimulate wakefulness

4. Have the client attend group therapy on a daily basis

29)   A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with dependent personality

disorder. Which of the following characteristics is a major component to this

disorder?

1. Abrasive to others

2. Indifferent to others

3. Manipulative of others

4. Overreliance on others

30)   Which of the following information must be included for the family of a

client diagnosed with dependent personality disorder?

1. Address coping skills

2. Explore panic attacks

3. Promote exercise programs

4. Decrease aggressive outbursts

31)   Which of the following behaviors by a client with dependent

personality disorder shows the client has made progress toward the goal of

increasing problem solving skills?

1. The client is courteous

2. The client asks questions

3. The client stops acting out

4. The client controls emotions

32)   A client with schizotypal personality disorder is sitting in a puddle of

urine. She’s playing in it, smiling, and softly singing a child’s song. Which

action would be best?

1. Admonish the client for not using the bathroom

2. Firmly tell the client that her behavior is unacceptable

3. Ask the client if she’s ready to get cleaned up now

4. Help the client to the shower, and change the bedclothes.

33)   A client with avoidant personality disorder says occupational therapy is

boring and doesn’t want to go. Which action would be best?

1. State firmly that you’ll escort him to OT.

2. Arrange with OT for the client to do a project on the unit.

3. Ask the client to talk about why OT is boring

4. Arrange for the client not to attend OT until he is feeling better

34)   A nurse discusses job possibilities with a client with schizoid

personality disorder. Which suggestion by the nurse would be helpful?

1. “You can work in a family restaurant part-time on the weekend and

holidays.”

2. “Maybe your friend could get you that customer service job where you

work only on the weekends.”

3. “Your idea of applying for the position of filing and organizing records

is worth pursuing.”

4. “Being an introvert limits the employment opportunities you can

pursue.”

35)   When assessing a client diagnosed with impulse control disorder, the

nurse observes violent, aggressive, and assaultive behavior. Which of the

following assessment data is the nurse also likely to find? Select all that

apply.

1. The client functions well in other areas of his life.

2. The degree of aggressiveness is out of proportion to the stressor.

3. The violent behavior is mist often justified by the stressor.

4. The client has a history of parental alcoholism and chaotic, abusive

family life.

5. The client has no remorse about the inability to control his anger.

ANSWERS

1. 1. Ineffective coping is the impairment of a person’s adaptive

behaviors and problem-solving abilities in meeting life’s demands;

ritualistic behavior fits under this category as a defining

characteristic.

2. 1. This drug blocks the uptake of serotonin.

3. 1, 2, 5.

4. 4. Client’s must first become aware of their behavior before they can

change it. (3) Occurs after the client is aware of the behavior and has

a desire to change the behavior.

5. 4. Clients with borderline personality disorders frequently

demonstrate a pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships,

impulsiveness, affective instability, and frantic efforts to avoid

abandonment; these behaviors usually create great difficulty in

establishing mutual goals.

6. 1. Splitting is the compartmentalization of opposite-affect states and

failure to integrate the positive and negative aspects of self or others.

7. 2. Individuals with this disorder tend to be self-centered and

impulsive. They lack judgment and self-control and do not profit from

their mistakes.

8. 2. The lack of superego control allows the ego and the id to control the

behavior. Self-motivation and self-satisfaction are of paramount

concern.

9. 3. This accepts the client as a person of worth rather than being cold

or implying rejection. However, the nurse maintains a professional

rather than a social role.

10. 3. These clients are withdrawn, aloof, and socially distant; allowing

distance and providing support may encourage the eventual

development of a therapeutic alliance. Group therapy would increase

this client’s anxiety; cognitive or behavioral therapy would be more

appropriate.

11. 3. This sets realistic limits on behavior without rejecting the client

12. 2. This sets limits, points out reality, and places responsibility for

behavior on the client.

13. 3. This intervention demonstrates the nurse’s caring presence which

is vital for this client. (1) Although the treatment team does need to

know about the event, notification is not the immediate concern. (2)

This is premature and it reinforces the client’s predisposition to

manipulative behavior. (4) This medication is inappropriate in this

situation; vomiting would be expected after the ingestion of shampoo.

14. 4. Paranoid individuals have a need to constantly scan the

environment for signs of betrayal, deception, and ridicule, appearing

mistrustful and hostile. They expect to be tricked or deceived by

others.

15. 3. Clients with paranoid personality disorder tend to be extremely

serious and lack a sense of humor.

16. 3. Clients with paranoid personality disorder are affectively restricted,

appear unemotional, and appear rational and objective.

17. 3. People with paranoid personality disorders are hypersensitive to

perceived threats. Schizotypal personalities appear eccentric and

engage in activities others find perplexing. Clients with narcissistic

personality disorder are interpersonally exploitative to enhance

themselves or indulge in their own desires. A client with histrionic

personality disorder can be extremely seductive when in search of

stimulation and approval.

18. 3. Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is less effective for clients who smoke

cigarettes. Olanzapine doesn’t cause euphoria (damn), and

extrapyramidal side effects aren’t a problem. However, the client

should be aware of adverse effects such as tardive dyskinesia.

19. 3. These clients often try to manipulate the nurse to get special

privileges or make exceptions to the rules on their behalf. By

informing the client directly when actions are inappropriate, the nurse

helps the client learn to control unacceptable behaviors by setting

limits. By sitting down to talk about the request, the nurse is telling

the client there’s room for negotiating when there is none.

20. 1. Clients with antisocial personality disorder tend to engage in acts

of dishonesty, shown by lying.

21. 4. Clients with antisocial personality disorder are often sent for

treatment by the court after multiple crimes or for the use of illegal

substances.

22. 1. After promoting safety, the nurse establishes a rapport with the

client to facilitate appropriate expression of feelings. At this time, the

client isn’t ready to address unhealthy behavior. A therapeutic

relationship must be established before the nurse can effectively work

with the client on self-destructive tendencies and the issues of

splitting.

23. 3. Relationship problems can precipitate a crisis because they bring

up issues of abandonment. Clients with borderline personality disorder

aren’t usually suspicious; they’re more likely to be depressed or highly

anxious.

24. 1. Clients with borderline personality disorder tend to self-mutilate

and have abrasions in various stages of healing.

25. 1. Clients with borderline personality disorder are likely to develop

dysfunctional coping and act out in self-destructive ways such as binge

eating.

26. 2. Clients with borderline personality disorder would decide to look

for a perfect partner. This characteristic is a result of the dichotomous

manner in which these clients view the world. They go from

relationship to relationship without taking responsibility for their

behavior. It’s unlikely that an unsuccessful relationship will cause

clients to make a change. They tend to be demanding and impulsive in

relationships. There’s no thought given to what one wants or needs

from a relationship. Because they tend to blame others for problems,

it’s unlikely they would express a desire to learn communication skills.

27. 3. Chronic feelings of emptiness and sadness predispose a client to

depression. About 40% of the clients with borderline struggle with

depression.

28. 1. Clients with borderline who are needy, dependent, and

manipulative will benefit greatly from maintaining consistent and

realistic limits. They don’t tend to have difficulty meeting their self-

care needs. They enjoy attending group therapy because they often

attempt to use the opportunity to become the center of attention. They

don’t tend to have sleeping difficulties.

29. 4. Clients with dependent personality disorder are extremely

overreliant on others; they aren’t abrasive or assertive. They’re

clinging and demanding of others; they don’t manipulate.

30. 1. The family needs information about coping skills to help the client

learn to handle stress. Clients with dependent personality disorder

don’t have aggressive outbursts; they tend to be passive and submit to

others. They don’t tend to have panic attacks. Exercise is a health

promotion activity for all clients. Clients with dependent personality

disorder wouldn’t need exercise promoted more than other people.

31. 2. The client with dependent personality disorder is passive and tries

to please others. By asking questions, the client is beginning to gather

information, the first step of decision making.

32. 4. A client with schizotypal personality disorder can experience high

levels of anxiety and regress to childlike behaviors. This client may

require help needing self-care needs. The client may not respond to

the other options or those options may generate more anxiety.

33. If given the chance, a client with avoidant personality disorder

typically elects to remain immobilized. The nurse should insist that the

client participate in OT. Arranging for the client to do a project on the

unit validates and reinforces the client’s desire to avoid getting to OT.

Addressing an invalid issue such as the client’s perceived boredom

avoids the real issue: the client’s need for therapy.

34. 3. Clients with schizoid personality disorder prefer solitary activities,

such as filing, to working with others. Working as a cashier or in

customer service would involve interacting with many people.

35. 1, 2, 4. A client with an impulse control disorder who displays violent,

aggressive, and assaultive behavior generally functions well in other

areas of his life. The degree of aggressiveness is typically out of

proportion with the stressor. Such a client commonly has a history of

parental alcoholism and a chaotic family life, and often verbalizes

sincere remorse and guilt for the aggressive behavior.