Personality and Mood Disorders Q 39
A nurse discusses job possibilities with a client with schizoid personality disorder. Which suggestion by the nurse would be helpful?
A. “You can work in a family restaurant part-time on the weekend and holidays.”
B. “Maybe your friend could get you that customer service job where you work only on the weekends.”
C. “Your idea of applying for the position of filing and organizing records is worth pursuing.”
D. “Being an introvert limits the employment opportunities you can pursue.”
Correct Answer: C. “Your idea of applying for the position of filing and organizing records is worth pursuing.”
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. They’re often described as eccentric or bizarre. They may be suspicious and paranoid of others. They come across as “stiff” and don’t seem to fit in anywhere they go.
Option A: Individuals with schizotypal personality disorders experience extreme discomfort during interpersonal interactions. Unlike in social anxiety disorder, where an individual is likely to grow more comfortable with time, individuals with schizotypal personality disorder remain uncomfortable even when they’re interacting with the same people in the same environment over and over again.
Option B: The disorder also involves distorted thinking and eccentric behavior—which tends to push people away and create even more isolation. Sometimes, individuals with schizotypal personality disorder are superstitious or preoccupied with paranormal phenomena that are outside what would be expected in their culture.
Option D: They might also appear constricted and show little emotion during their interactions. They may have unusual mannerisms, such as an unkempt manner of dress. They may occasionally express sadness over their lack of close relationships but their behavior suggests they have little desire for close connections. They often interact with people when they have to but prefer to keep to themselves.