Personality disorders: dependent: 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.

Try it

Psychiatry · Personality disorders: dependent

Sample item

A woman cannot make everyday decisions without excessive advice, goes to great lengths to obtain support and feels helpless when alone. This is

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Dependent personality disorder

Dependent personality disorder in Cluster C has a pervasive need to be taken care of, with submissive behaviour, difficulty making decisions and fear of being left to look after oneself. Avoidant personality is driven by fear of negative evaluation. Treatment is psychotherapy, with assertiveness training.

Option by option

  • A. Avoidant personality disorder

    Avoidant personality involves hypersensitivity to rejection and social inhibition.

  • B. Schizoid personality disorder

    Schizoid personality involves indifference to others.

  • C. Paranoid personality disorder

    Paranoid personality involves suspicion and mistrust.

  • D. Dependent personality disorder (correct)

    Correct. Submission and need for care define dependent personality.

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.

More Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Dependent personality disorder. Dependent personality disorder in Cluster C has a pervasive need to be taken care of, with submissive behaviour, difficulty making decisions and fear of being left to look after oneself.

Why is "Avoidant personality disorder" not the answer?

Avoidant personality involves hypersensitivity to rejection and social inhibition.

Why is "Schizoid personality disorder" not the answer?

Schizoid personality involves indifference to others.

Why is "Paranoid personality disorder" not the answer?

Paranoid personality involves suspicion and mistrust.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Personality disorders: dependent in Psychiatry. Avoidant personality is driven by fear of negative evaluation. Treatment is psychotherapy, with assertiveness training.

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: dependent?

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.