Personality and Mood Disorders Q 36
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?
A. The client is courteous.
B. The client asks questions.
C. The client stops acting out.
D. The client controls emotions.
Correct Answer: B. The client asks questions.
The client with a 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. Keep goals very realistic and go in small steps. There are no overnight successes with people with personality disorders. It can take a long time to positively change ingrained, life-long, maladaptive habits; however, change is always possible.
Option A: Give the client positive attention when behaviors are appropriate and productive. Avoid giving any attention (when possible and not dangerous to self or others) when client’s behaviors are inappropriate. Reinforcing positive behaviors might increase the likelihood of repetition. Ignoring negative behaviors (when feasible) robs the client of even negative attention.
Option C: The client with DPD does not act out. The nurse must be quite clear about establishing the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship to ensure that neither the client’s nor the nurse’s boundaries are violated.
Option D: The nurse can help the clients to identify their feelings and learn to tolerate them without exaggerated responses such as destruction of property or self-harm; keeping a journal often helps clients gain awareness of feelings.