A nurse is discussing the three clusters of personality disorders. Which of the following personality disorders is part of cluster C?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A reason: Cluster C personality disorders include dependent, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, characterized by anxious and fearful behaviors. Dependent personality disorder involves excessive reliance on others, driven by fear of abandonment, fitting the anxious profile of cluster C, making this the correct choice. Choice B reason: Borderline personality disorder belongs to cluster B, marked by dramatic, emotional, and erratic behaviors. It involves impulsivity and unstable relationships, not the anxious-fearful traits of cluster C, making this choice incorrect for the specified cluster. Choice C reason: Antisocial personality disorder is part of cluster B, characterized by dramatic and erratic behaviors, including disregard for others’ rights. It lacks the anxious-fearful characteristics of cluster C, focusing instead on impulsivity and aggression, making this choice incorrect. Choice D reason: Paranoid personality disorder is in cluster A, defined by odd and eccentric behaviors, such as pervasive distrust. It does not align with the anxious-fearful traits of cluster C, making this choice incorrect for the nurse’s discussion.