IGNOU Post B. SC. Nursing entrance-2019
Mental Health Nursing
Easy

The following features are characteristic of an antisocial personality, except?

Appeared in: IGNOU Post B. SC. Nursing entrance-2019

Explanation

  • The defining feature of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is a profound lack of empathy and an inability to form genuine, lasting emotional bonds.
  • Individuals with ASPD may form relationships, but they are typically superficial, exploitative, and based on personal gain rather than deep emotional connection.
  • This core deficit in interpersonal functioning means that having a 'deep emotional relationship' is fundamentally inconsistent with the diagnosis.
  • The DSM-5-TR criteria highlight traits like callousness, lack of remorse, and deceitfulness, all of which prevent the formation of deep attachments.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This is a characteristic feature of ASPD. It relates to the core trait of impulsivity and a failure to consider future consequences, leading to a focus on immediate gratification.
  • Option B: This is a classic manifestation of ASPD. It stems from a disregard for social norms, resentment of authority, and consistent irresponsibility.
  • Option D: This is incorrect because substance use disorders are highly comorbid with ASPD. The impulsivity, risk-taking behavior, and disregard for safety associated with ASPD increase the likelihood of substance abuse.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Characteristics of Antisocial Personality Disorder as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • When caring for patients with ASPD, nurses must establish and maintain firm, consistent boundaries to manage manipulative or splitting behaviors.
  • Patient and staff safety is a priority. Due to potential impulsivity and aggression, nurses should be vigilant and utilize de-escalation techniques as needed.
  • What if? - If a patient with suspected ASPD consistently expresses genuine guilt and remorse for their actions, it would challenge the diagnosis. This is because a lack of remorse is a core criterion. Such a presentation would warrant a re-evaluation for other conditions like Borderline Personality Disorder or complex trauma.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the core subject of the question, which is 'antisocial personality'.
  • Next, recognize the keyword 'except'. This signals that you must find the one option that does NOT fit the description of the disorder, while the other three options will be true characteristics.
  • Recall the hallmark traits of Antisocial Personality Disorder: a pervasive disregard for others, lack of empathy, impulsivity, deceitfulness, and irresponsibility.
  • Evaluate each option against these core traits. 'Pleasure seeking' (impulsivity), 'inability to work' (irresponsibility), and 'drug abuse' (comorbid with impulsivity) are all consistent with ASPD.
  • The option 'Deep emotional relationship' stands in direct contrast to the known inability of individuals with ASPD to form such bonds due to a lack of empathy.
  • Therefore, 'Deep emotional relationship' is the correct exception.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Characteristics of Antisocial Personality Disorder
  • Stem keywords: antisocial personality, characteristic
  • Lead-in keywords: except
  • Negative lead-in flag: This is a negative-lead question, asking you to identify the option that is NOT a feature of antisocial personality.

Question ID

QEBNH5k2hLFWBc8QjlRHSG

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 15689-15691, 12183-12185, 15686-15688

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