Which behaviors should a nurse expect when working with a client with histrionic personality disorder? Select all that apply
Exhibits discomfort in situations in which the client is not the center of attention
Shows apathy in conversations until trust is established
Lacks close friends or companions other than first-degree relatives
Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are
Harbors recurrent suspicions about the fidelity of their marital partner
Uses physical appearance to gain attention
Correct Answer : A,D,F
Histrionic personality disorder is a Cluster B personality disorder marked by pervasive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Individuals with this disorder often display exaggerated emotions, are easily influenced by others, and exhibit inappropriate seductiveness. Their self-esteem is often dependent on the approval of others, and they may use dramatic speech or physical appearance to remain the center of attention. They tend to overestimate the intimacy of relationships and may become distressed when not the focus of social interactions.
Rationale for correct answers
A. Individuals with this disorder experience significant discomfort when they are not the focus of attention. This is a hallmark feature and often drives their dramatic or provocative behavior in social settings.
D. These clients frequently misinterpret the depth of relationships, believing casual acquaintances are deeply intimate. This distortion supports their need for validation and emotional closeness, even when unwarranted.
F. They often use appearance to attract attention, dressing inappropriately or flamboyantly. This behavior is not merely aesthetic but serves a psychological function to maintain social focus and approval.
Rationale for incorrect answers
B. The term apathy is inconsistent with the emotional expressiveness seen in this disorder. These individuals are often overly expressive and animated, not emotionally flat or withdrawn.
C. While they may have superficial relationships, they do not typically lack companions. Their social behavior is often gregarious, though relationships may lack depth or authenticity.
E. Suspiciousness about a partner’s fidelity is more characteristic of paranoid or borderline personality disorders. Histrionic individuals are more focused on being admired than on distrust or jealousy.
Take Home Points
- Histrionic personality disorder is defined by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors, often through dramatic or seductive actions.
- Clients may overestimate the intimacy of relationships and become distressed when not the center of attention.
- They often use physical appearance and exaggerated emotions to maintain social focus.
- It is important to differentiate this disorder from borderline and narcissistic personality disorders, which may share overlapping traits but differ in core motivations.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Schizoid personality disorder is a Cluster A condition marked by pervasive detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression. Individuals often appear emotionally cold, prefer solitary activities, and show little interest in forming close relationships. They are not distressed by their isolation and typically function best when left alone. These individuals may maintain employment and basic self-care but avoid interpersonal engagement. The disorder is chronic and ego-syntonic, meaning the person does not view their behavior as problematic. The focus of care is on maintaining independent functioning, ensuring safety, and supporting basic needs rather than altering personality traits.
Rationale for correct answer
B. The goal of care for individuals with schizoid personality disorder is to support independent functioning in the community. These individuals are often capable of managing daily tasks and employment if allowed to do so without excessive social demands. Promoting autonomy and ensuring they can meet their basic needs without relying on others aligns with both therapeutic goals and the individual’s preferences.
Rationale for incorrect answers
A. The need to validate ideas before acting is more relevant to disorders involving impulsivity or distorted thinking, such as borderline or schizotypal personality disorders. Schizoid individuals are not typically impulsive or socially reactive, and they do not seek validation from others.
C. Emotional regulation is not a primary concern in schizoid personality disorder because these individuals already exhibit emotional detachment and flat affect. They do not experience intense emotional swings or dysregulation that would necessitate this outcome.
D. Recognizing limits is more applicable to individuals with narcissistic or borderline traits who may overestimate their abilities or violate boundaries. Schizoid individuals are already withdrawn and self-limiting, often under-engaging rather than overreaching.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Cluster A personality disorders include paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal types. These disorders are marked by odd, eccentric, or socially detached behaviors. Clients often exhibit distorted thinking, social withdrawal, and unusual beliefs. Paranoid individuals are suspicious and mistrustful; schizoid individuals are emotionally detached and prefer solitude; schizotypal individuals show magical thinking, perceptual distortions, and eccentric behavior. These disorders are ego-syntonic, meaning the individual does not see their behavior as problematic, and they often resist treatment due to mistrust or lack of insight.
Rationale for correct answer
B. The belief that one’s dinner has been poisoned reflects the suspiciousness and mistrust typical of paranoid personality disorder, a Cluster A condition. These clients often misinterpret benign actions as malevolent and may harbor persistent, unfounded suspicions about others’ intentions.
Rationale for incorrect answers
A. Grandiose self-appraisal such as claiming to be the best chef reflects narcissistic traits, which are part of Cluster B personality disorders. These individuals seek admiration and have an inflated sense of self-importance, not the social detachment or suspiciousness seen in Cluster A.
C. Repetitive handwashing is a hallmark of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is an anxiety-related condition, not a personality disorder. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (Cluster C) involves rigidity and perfectionism, but not compulsions like this.
D. Inability to eat alone suggests dependent traits, where individuals feel anxious or helpless without others. This aligns with Cluster C disorders, which are marked by anxious and fearful behavior, not the eccentricity of Cluster A.
Take Home Points
- Cluster A personality disorders involve eccentric, socially detached, or suspicious behavior patterns.
- Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by pervasive mistrust and misinterpretation of others’ intentions.
- Schizotypal personality disorder includes magical thinking and perceptual distortions without full psychosis.
- These disorders must be differentiated from Cluster B (dramatic/emotional) and Cluster C (anxious/fearful) personality disorders.
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