Self-Test: Personality Disorders

What are “waste-basket” diagnoses used for?

The patient is believed to have a personality disorder, but it is not well captured by one of the 10 existing diagnoses
The clinician does not want to label the patient for fear of stigmatization
The patient meets criteria for a personality disorder and another, non-personality-related mental disorder
The patient meets criteria for more than one personality disorder diagnoses

Which personality disorders have had their validity questioned?

Which of the following is not part of the Five-Factor Model?

What is proposed as the likely cause of personality disorders?

Which is the correct definition of “ego-syntonic”?

When an individual engages in significant risk-taking behaviours
When you experience inner turmoil regarding your true identity
When you are comfortable with yourself, and your behaviours and feelings are in line with how you view yourself
When you are not comfortable with yourself, and your behaviours and feelings do not align with how you view yourself

Which main therapy developed to treat borderline personality disorder involves aspects of Buddhism?

What are the proposed reasons why there are so few treatments for personality disorders? Select all correct answers.

Personality disorders are complex and involve heterogenous combinations of traits
There is a lack of interest in personality disorders in the psychological field
People believe that they are untreatable

How does the ego-syntonic nature of personality disorders affect people’s desire for treatment?

Individuals internalize the narrative that personality disorders are untreatable, and thus do not want to seek help
People recognize how severe their maladaptive personality traits are, and are ashamed to seek help
Individuals lack insight into the maladaptivity of their personality and thus are unlikely to seek help for it
Other people have told them that their behaviours and feelings are “normal,” so they do not see the need to seek help

How are borderline personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder different from the other 8 personality disorders?

Both predominantly affect women more than men
They are characterized by the personality trait of neuroticism, which often results in significant distress and a desire for help
Both have specifically developed treatment protocols
They are characterized by the personality trait of openness, which means that they are open to the idea of seeking help

What is the main manual for diagnosing personality disorders and other mental disorders?