Cluster A
Which of the following distinguishes Cluster A personality disorders from antisocial personality disorder?
A. Cluster A disorders involve excessive social engagement
B. Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by social withdrawal
C. Cluster A disorders are marked by social withdrawal and odd behaviors
D. Antisocial personality disorder involves a preference for solitary activities
Answer: C. Cluster A disorders are marked by social withdrawal and odd behaviors
Rationale: Cluster A personality disorders (Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal) are characterized by social withdrawal and odd or eccentric behaviors, while antisocial personality disorder is not characterized by social withdrawal.
A patient with paranoid personality disorder is likely to exhibit which of the following behaviors?
A. Excessive trust in others
B. Belief that others want to exploit, harm, or deceive them
C. Preference for close, trusting relationships
D. Indifference to criticism
Answer: B. Belief that others want to exploit, harm, or deceive them
Rationale: Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing distrust and suspicion of others, believing that others want to exploit, harm, or deceive them.
In which type of occupation might a person with schizoid personality disorder function well?
A. Sales representative requiring frequent social interactions
B. Security guard on the night shift with minimal social interaction
C. Teacher in a busy classroom setting
D. Nurse in a bustling emergency department
Answer: B. Security guard on the night shift with minimal social interaction
Rationale: Individuals with schizoid personality disorder may function well in solitary occupations, such as being a security guard on the night shift, where minimal social interaction is required.
Which belief is an example of an idea of reference in a patient with schizotypal personality disorder?
A. Believing that the television is broadcasting messages specifically for them
B. Believing that the government is spying on them
C. Believing that their thoughts are being controlled by an outside force
D. Believing that they can read other people's minds
Answer: A. Believing that the television is broadcasting messages specifically for them
Rationale: Ideas of reference involve the belief or perception that irrelevant, unrelated, or innocuous things in the world are referring to them directly or have special personal significance, such as believing that the television is broadcasting messages specifically for them.
A patient with paranoid personality disorder accuses the nurse of being part of a conspiracy to harm them. How should the nurse respond?
A. Ignore the accusation and change the subject
B. Laugh it off to show it is not serious
C. Validate the patient's feelings and explain the nurse's role clearly
D. Argue with the patient to prove the accusation wrong
Answer: C. Validate the patient's feelings and explain the nurse's role clearly
Rationale: Validating the patient's feelings and clearly explaining the nurse's role helps address the patient's concerns without reinforcing delusional thoughts.
Which defense mechanism is commonly used by individuals with paranoid personality disorder?
A. Repression
B. Projection
C. Denial
D. Rationalization
Answer: B. Projection
Rationale: Individuals with paranoid personality disorder often use the defense mechanism of projection, where they attribute their own unacknowledged feelings to others.
A nurse is assessing a patient with schizoid personality disorder. Which symptom is the patient most likely to report?
A. Frequent social activities and relationships
B. Numerous imaginary friends and fantasies
C. Intense emotional reactions
D. High need for social acceptance
Answer: B. Numerous imaginary friends and fantasies
Rationale: Patients with schizoid personality disorder often have numerous imaginary friends and fantasies, and they prefer solitary activities over social interactions.
In which type of conversation might a person with schizotypal personality disorder engage?
A. Clear and concise discussions
B. Conversations with lengthy, unclear, overly detailed, and abstract content
C. Structured and organized dialogues
D. Discussions focused on concrete and logical topics
Answer: B. Conversations with lengthy, unclear, overly detailed, and abstract content
Rationale: Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder tend to have conversations that ramble with lengthy, unclear, overly detailed, and abstract content.
A nurse is explaining the role of antianxiety medication in the treatment of paranoid personality disorder. Which medication is likely to be prescribed to reduce anxiety and agitation?
A. Diazepam (Valium)
B. Haloperidol (Haldol)
C. Lithium
D. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Answer: A. Diazepam (Valium)
Rationale: Diazepam (Valium) is an antianxiety agent that may be prescribed to reduce anxiety and agitation in patients with paranoid personality disorder
Which therapeutic approach is generally beneficial for individuals with schizoid personality disorder?
A. Group therapy with mandatory participation
B. Psychotherapy focusing on introspection
C. Intensive social skills training
D. Encouraging competitive activities
Answer: B. Psychotherapy focusing on introspection
Rationale: Psychotherapy focusing on introspection is beneficial for individuals with schizoid personality disorder, helping them improve their sensitivity to social cues and manage their introspective nature.
Which of the following behaviors is most characteristic of a patient with schizotypal personality disorder?
A. Engaging in frequent social interactions
B. Displaying a restricted range of emotional expression
C. Exhibiting magical thinking and odd beliefs
D. Seeking close and intimate relationships
Answer: C. Exhibiting magical thinking and odd beliefs
Rationale: Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by magical thinking, odd beliefs, strange speech patterns, and inappropriate affect.
What is an appropriate nursing intervention for managing the behaviors of a patient with paranoid personality disorder?
A. Allowing the patient to make all decisions regarding their care
B. Setting clear limits on behaviors
C. Avoiding discussing the patient's suspicious thoughts
D. Encouraging the patient to socialize frequently
Answer: B. Setting clear limits on behaviors
Rationale: Setting clear limits on behaviors helps to manage the patient's actions and reduce the potential for aggression and violence.
What is a common feeling reported by individuals with schizoid personality disorder regarding their role in life?
A. They feel deeply connected to others.
B. They feel like active participants in life.
C. They often feel like observers rather than participants in life.
D. They have a strong desire to be the center of attention.
Answer: C. They often feel like observers rather than participants in life.
Rationale: Individuals with schizoid personality disorder often feel like observers rather than participants in life, experiencing emotional detachment and social withdrawal.
Which of the following is a key difference between schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia?
A. Schizotypal personality disorder involves severe delusions
B. Schizotypal personality disorder patients can be made aware of their odd beliefs
C. Schizophrenia patients have no social deficits
D. Schizophrenia involves only magical thinking without delusions
Answer: B. Schizotypal personality disorder patients can be made aware of their odd beliefs
Rationale: Patients with schizotypal personality disorder can often be made aware of their suspiciousness, magical thinking, and odd beliefs, while schizophrenia is characterized by stronger delusional thinking that is harder to challenge.
Which medication might be prescribed to a patient with paranoid personality disorder to manage severe agitation and delusions?
A. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
B. Haloperidol (Haldol)
C. Lithium
D. Sertraline (Zoloft)
Answer: B. Haloperidol (Haldol)
Rationale: Haloperidol (Haldol) is an antipsychotic medication that can be used in small doses to manage severe agitation and delusions in patients with paranoid personality disorder.
What is an appropriate intervention to improve the emotional expressiveness of a patient with schizoid personality disorder?
A. First-generation antipsychotics
B. Encouraging frequent social interactions
C. Second-generation antipsychotics such as risperidone (Risperdal) or olanzapine (Zyprexa)
D. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on social skills
Answer: C. Second-generation antipsychotics such as risperidone (Risperdal) or olanzapine (Zyprexa)
Rationale: Second-generation antipsychotics, such as risperidone (Risperdal) or olanzapine (Zyprexa), may improve emotional expressiveness in patients with schizoid personality disorder.
A patient with schizotypal personality disorder expresses the belief that a television show is sending them personal messages. What is the best response by the nurse?
A. "That's interesting, tell me more about it."
B. "It sounds like you think the TV show is talking to you directly. This is not possible."
C. "Let's change the channel and watch something else."
D. "Why do you think the TV show is talking to you?"
Answer: B. "It sounds like you think the TV show is talking to you directly. This is not possible."
Rationale: Providing a reality-based response that gently corrects the patient's belief without being confrontational helps the patient understand the reality of the situation.