AP Psychology › Personality Disorders
What is a common occurrence amongst those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder?
Criminal deviance
Exaggerated or dramatic behavior
Intense mood swings between mania and anger
Obsessive thought patterns
None of these
Antisocial personality disorder is ultimately defined by a lack of empathy for other people and egocentrism, which entails a wide range of destructive symptoms. Many of those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder disregard the division between right and wrong, and tend to tailor ethics to their own impulses, which can be destructive. As such, they can make harmful choices for which they could be incarcerated.
A client is presented for psychological evaluation with the following symptoms:
-Need for social isolation
-Anxiety in social situations
-Odd behavior and thinking
-Unconventional beliefs
-Odd reactions to conversations
-Misinterpreting situations or believing situations to have a strange meaning
Which of the following diagnoses might be appropriate for this individual?
Schizotypal personality disorder
Schizophrenia
Major depressive disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder
None of these
Schizotypal personality disorder affects about 3% of the population. It can be a precursor for Schizophrenia but often has a stable course and can be diagnosed by the symptoms provided in the question. Schizotypal personality disorder can be confused with schizophrenia. The main difference between the two disorders is that people with schizotypal personalities may experience brief psychotic episodes accompanied by delusions or hallucinations; however, these delusional episodes are not as frequent, prolonged, or intense as the psychosis experienced by individuals with schizophrenia.
Which DSM-IV axis includes all personality disorders?
Axis II
Axis I
Axis III
Axis V
Axis IV
The multi-axial system of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) was created in 1994 to address the "whole person" when making psychiatric diagnoses.
Axis I refers to the principal disorder in question (e.g., schizophrenia), axis II refers to personality disorders, axis III lists medical disorders that impact a client's psychiatric state, axis IV takes psychosocial factors into account (e.g., recent divorce leading to depression), and axis V gives an overall global functioning score on a scale of 0-100.
Which of the following is characteristic of histrionic personality disorder?
Dependency on others' approval and attention for a sense of self-worth, often manifesting in a dramatic presence and flirtacious behaviors
Disorganized and delusional thinking, which is often reflected in incomprehensible and erratic behavior and speech
Chronic dependency on family members, friends, or spouse for emotional needs, decision making, and general support with an inability to independently support one's own needs
Fluctuating periods of extreme sadness and euphoria
A lack of regard for others' feelings, accompanied by the belief that the world is a cruel place
Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by a strong need for attention from others, and manifests in dramatic, exaggerated, and potentially overly flirtacious actions and behaviors. One who suffers from histrionic personality disorder may be uncomfortable if not the center of attention, and may even threaten to commit suicide in order to get it. This disorder is thought to be mainly the result of parenting, where the child may have never received negative attention or received positive attention inconsistently. The disorder tends to run in families, so a genetic component is possible, but this could also be a result of learned behavior from the parents.
According to the DSM-V, which of the following statements is true regarding personality disorders?
Personality disorders are typically diagnosed in adulthood.
Personality disorders are easily treatable with cognitive behavioral therapy.
Personality disorders are not included in the DSM-V because the DSM-V focuses on developmental psychiatric illnesses.
Personality disorders are not comorbid with other psychiatric illnesses.
Personality disorders are more commonly seen in indigenous countries.
Personality disorders are not typically diagnosed until age 18. Children with symptoms of certain personality disorders may be diagnosed with other developmental psychiatric illnesses like conduct disorder (CD).
Which of the following psychiatric disorders is more common among women than men?
Depression
Schizophrenia
ADHD
Autism
Antisocial personality disorder
Women are more likely to suffer from internalizing disorders, including depression and anxiety. Men are more likely to suffer from externalizing disorders, including antisocial personality disorder, substance abuse disorder, and conduct disorder.
When John returned from the war in Iraq, he began to experience intense symptoms of anxiety without improvement over time. Which of the following is John most likely exhibiting?
Post-traumatic stress
Social phobia
Generalized anxiety
Panic
Agoraphobia
"Post-traumatic stress" is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense periods of anxiety after intense trauma. Examples of such trauma include warfare, car accidents, assault, etc. They are known to continue for long periods of time. As John has returned from warfare and his anxiety seems to be continuing, it is likely that he is experiencing post-traumatic stress.
Which of the following is not considered a personality disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Antisocial disorder
Histrionic disorder
Borderline disorder
Schizoid disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder, not a personality disorder.
The other listed conditions are all personality disorders.
The term insanity is __________.
a legal definition
a medical diagnosis
a colloquial term with no medical or legal significance
very common
None of the other answers is correct.
Insanity is NOT a medical diagnosis, rather it is a legal definition used to evaluate a person's capacity to be legally held accountable for their actions. While "insanity" is often used colloquially, it DOES have legal significance.
Which of the following would least likely be true of a person with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
He or she would show concern for his friends and family.
He or she would show little regret.
He or she would feel and fear nothing.
He or she would not necessarily be a criminal.
He or she would most likely maintain low levels of cortisol while committing a crime.
Antisocial Personality disorder is characterized by long-term patterns of behavior that disregard the rights and well-being of others. The individuals are known to show a lack of conscience when it comes to wrongdoing, regardless of their relationship to the wronged party.