Personality and Mood Disorders Q 75
A teenage girl is diagnosed to have borderline personality disorder. Which manifestations support the diagnosis?
A. Lack of self-esteem, strong dependency needs, and impulsive behavior.
B. Social withdrawal, inadequacy, sensitivity to rejection and criticism.
C. Suspicious, hypervigilance and coldness.
D. Preoccupation with perfectionism, orderliness, and need for control.
Correct Answer: A. Lack of self-esteem, strong dependency needs, and impulsive behavior.
These are the characteristics of a client with borderline personality. A pattern of instability in personal relationships, intense emotions, poor self-image and impulsivity. A person with borderline personality disorder may go to great lengths to avoid being abandoned, have repeated suicide attempts, display inappropriate intense anger or have ongoing feelings of emptiness.
Option B: This describes the avoidant personality. There is a pattern of extreme shyness, feelings of inadequacy and extreme sensitivity to criticism. People with avoidant personality disorder may be unwilling to get involved with people unless they are certain of being liked, be preoccupied with being criticized or rejected, or may view themselves as not being good enough or socially inept.
Option C: These are the characteristics of a client with a paranoid personality. It has a pattern of being suspicious of others and seeing them as mean or spiteful. People with a paranoid personality disorder often assume people will harm or deceive them and don’t confide in others or become close to them.
Option D: This describes the obsessive-compulsive personality. There is a pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfection, and control. A person with an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder may be overly focused on details or schedules, may work excessively not allowing time for leisure or friends, or may be inflexible in their morality and values.