Personality and Mood Disorders Q 72
Situation: Clients with personality disorders have difficulties in their social and occupational functions.
Clients with a personality disorder will most likely:
A. Recover with therapeutic intervention.
B. Respond to anti anxiety medication.
C. Manifest enduring patterns of inflexible behaviors.
D. Seek treatment willingly from some personally distressing symptoms.
Correct Answer: C. Manifest enduring patterns of inflexible behaviors.
Personality disorders are characterized by inflexible traits and characteristics that are lifelong. Each is a distinct mental illness defined by personality traits that can be troubling enough to create problems with relating to other people in healthy ways, and can lead to significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.
Option A: Compared to mood disorders such as clinical depression and bipolar disorder, there have historically been relatively few studies on how to effectively treat personality disorders. Many experts believe that personality disorders are difficult to treat because they are, by definition, long-standing patterns of personality. However, there are an increasing number of evidence-based treatments that are being found effective for personality disorders.
Option B: Medications are generally not recommended for personality disorders. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lists several types of psychotherapy that may be useful in the treatment of personality disorders: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), the goal of which as stated by NAMI is “to recognize negative thoughts and learn effective coping strategies.” Mentalization-based therapy (MBT), which teaches people to notice and reflect on their internal states of mind and those of others. Psychodynamic therapy, which places a large emphasis on the unconscious mind, where upsetting feelings, urges, and thoughts that are too painful for us to directly look at are housed.
Option D: This disorder is manifested by life-long patterns of behavior. The client with this disorder will not likely present himself for treatment unless something has gone wrong in his life so he may not recover from therapeutic intervention.