Personality disorders: borderline: 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: borderline

Sample item

Which pattern best supports borderline personality disorder?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Unstable relationships, impulsivity and recurrent self-harm

Borderline personality disorder involves instability of relationships, self-image and affect, impulsivity, fear of abandonment and self-harming behaviour. Psychotherapy is central to treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Social detachment with restricted affect

    This pattern suggests schizoid personality traits.

  • B. Perfectionism and rigidity without self-harm

    This pattern suggests obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

  • C. Unstable relationships, impulsivity and recurrent self-harm (correct)

    Correct. These features are core to borderline personality disorder.

  • D. Pervasive disregard for others without remorse

    This describes antisocial personality disorder.

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 C, Unstable relationships, impulsivity and recurrent self-harm. Borderline personality disorder involves instability of relationships, self-image and affect, impulsivity, fear of abandonment and self-harming behaviour.

Why is "Social detachment with restricted affect" not the answer?

This pattern suggests schizoid personality traits.

Why is "Perfectionism and rigidity without self-harm" not the answer?

This pattern suggests obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

Why is "Pervasive disregard for others without remorse" not the answer?

This describes antisocial personality disorder.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Personality disorders: borderline in Psychiatry. Psychotherapy is central to treatment.

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: borderline?

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.