Personality disorders: antisocial: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Personality disorders: antisocial

Sample item

A 26-year-old man has a long record of lying, fights, unpaid debts and reckless driving. He shows no remorse, and as a teenager he truanted, set fires and was cruel to animals. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of others' rights since age 15, with deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, recklessness and lack of remorse. It may only be diagnosed at age 18 or older and requires evidence of conduct disorder before age 15. Conduct disorder is the diagnosis in those under 18.

Option by option

  • A. Borderline personality disorder

    Borderline personality shows unstable relationships, self-harm and fear of abandonment.

  • B. Antisocial personality disorder (correct)

    Correct. Adult pattern of rule-breaking and no remorse, with conduct problems before 15.

  • C. Conduct disorder

    Conduct disorder is diagnosed before the age of 18.

  • D. Narcissistic personality disorder

    Narcissistic personality shows grandiosity and need for admiration.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Antisocial personality disorder. Antisocial personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of others' rights since age 15, with deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, recklessness and lack of remorse.

Why is "Borderline personality disorder" not the answer?

Borderline personality shows unstable relationships, self-harm and fear of abandonment.

Why is "Conduct disorder" not the answer?

Conduct disorder is diagnosed before the age of 18.

Why is "Narcissistic personality disorder" not the answer?

Narcissistic personality shows grandiosity and need for admiration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Personality disorders: antisocial in Psychiatry. It may only be diagnosed at age 18 or older and requires evidence of conduct disorder before age 15. Conduct disorder is the diagnosis in those under 18.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Personality disorders: antisocial?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.