A nurse is assessing a client who has paranoid personality disorder.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Suspiciousness of others.
Inflated sense of self.
Requiring frequent reassurance from others.
Lack of feelings of remorse.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, interpreting their motives as malevolent. This core feature leads individuals to believe that others are trying to harm, deceive, or exploit them, even without sufficient evidence, deeply impacting their social interactions.
Choice B rationale
An inflated sense of self, or grandiosity, is more characteristic of narcissistic personality disorder, where individuals have an exaggerated sense of their own importance, achievements, and talents. In contrast, individuals with paranoid personality disorder are preoccupied with the loyalty and trustworthiness of others.
Choice C rationale
Requiring frequent reassurance from others is a common characteristic of dependent personality disorder, where individuals exhibit an excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior. This contrasts with the distrust and independence often seen in paranoid personality disorder.
Choice D rationale
A lack of feelings of remorse, or an absence of empathy, is a prominent feature of antisocial personality disorder. Individuals with this disorder disregard the rights of others and often engage in manipulative or deceitful behaviors without experiencing guilt or regret.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Schizophrenia typically manifests in young adulthood, with the peak age of onset for males generally in the late teens to early twenties, and for females, in the early twenties to early thirties. This period is critical for neurodevelopment and social integration, making the emergence of such a debilitating illness particularly disruptive. Early identification and intervention during this developmental stage are crucial for mitigating long-term disability and improving outcomes.
Choice B rationale
Schizophrenia very rarely presents during the school-age period. While some very early signs or risk factors might be present, a full diagnosis of schizophrenia in school-aged children is exceptionally uncommon and would warrant extensive differential diagnosis to rule out other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions. The brain developmental stage in this age group does not typically align with the common onset patterns of the disorder.
Choice C rationale
While late-onset schizophrenia, defined as onset after age 40, does occur, it is significantly less common than onset in young adulthood. Very late-onset schizophrenia, after age 60, is even rarer and often has different clinical features, such as more prominent hallucinations and less disorganization. The vast majority of diagnoses are made much earlier in life.
Choice D rationale
Schizophrenia is extremely rare in preschoolers. The complex symptomatology and diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia are not typically observed or applicable to this very young age group. If psychotic-like symptoms are noted in preschoolers, they are more likely indicative of other severe neurodevelopmental disorders or conditions requiring specialized evaluation rather than schizophrenia.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Clients with dependent personality disorder exhibit a pervasive pattern of fear of making decisions. This stems from a profound need to be cared for and a lack of self-confidence in their own abilities to function independently. They often rely on others to make decisions for them, even minor ones, due to an underlying anxiety about self-sufficiency and potential abandonment.
Choice B rationale
Clients with dependent personality disorder typically struggle to express disagreement with others. Their excessive need for approval and fear of losing support or care leads them to be highly agreeable and avoid any form of conflict or opposition. This submissive behavior is a hallmark feature, contrasting with easily expressing dissent.
Choice C rationale
Erratic behaviors are characteristic of Cluster B personality disorders, such as borderline or antisocial personality disorder, not dependent personality disorder. Dependent personality disorder is characterized by anxious and fearful behaviors (Cluster C), leading to submissiveness and clinging, rather than unpredictable or impulsive actions.
Choice D rationale
Dramatic behaviors are also characteristic of Cluster B personality disorders, particularly histrionic personality disorder. While individuals with dependent personality disorder may experience significant emotional distress, their presentation is not typically dramatic or theatrical; rather, it is characterized by their submissive, clinging, and anxious demeanor in seeking care from others.
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