Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

What characterizes the mental state of a disheveled man concerned about a curse from a neighbor?

1. Paranoid personality disorder

2. Schizoid personality disorder

3. Schizotypal personality disorder

4. Schizophrenia

The correct answer is: Schizotypal personality disorder

The mental state described is characteristic of schizotypal personality disorder. Individuals with this disorder often exhibit eccentric behavior, odd beliefs, and discomfort in close relationships. The concern over a curse from a neighbor suggests a level of belief in magical thinking or superstitions, which is a hallmark of schizotypal personality disorder. They tend to hold unusual beliefs that can be seen as strange or out of the norm, along with exhibiting social anxiety and difficulty forming close relationships. While paranoid personality disorder involves a pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, the concern about a curse aligns more closely with the peculiar and eccentric thinking of schizotypal individuals. Schizoid personality disorder is characterized more by emotional detachment and a preference for solitude rather than concerns about external influences such as curses. Schizophrenia, being a more severe mental illness, typically includes symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions; however, a curse from a neighbor would not typically rise to that level of severity unless accompanied by further psychotic symptoms. In this case, the reference to the man's belief in a curse indicates an odd belief system, which is consistent with schizotypal personality disorder.