American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ABPN Practice Questions and Study Guide

Question: 1 / 1275

A patient displays seductive behavior, colorful clothing, and exaggerated emotions. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Bipolar disorder

The presentation of seductive behavior, colorful clothing, and exaggerated emotions aligns with characteristics often associated with histrionic personality disorder. While bipolar disorder does encompass mood changes and could involve episodes of mania or hypomania where a person may display increased energy, flamboyance, or risk-taking behaviors, the context given here is more indicative of traits linked to histrionic features rather than the mood instability observed in bipolar disorder.

Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors. Individuals may use their appearance and behavior appealingly or provocatively to draw attention to themselves, which involves not just mood fluctuations but also an ingrained tendency towards dramatic and theatrical expressions.

The other conditions listed, such as major depressive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, and brief psychotic disorder do not typically encompass the specific combination of behaviors mentioned. Major depressive disorder predominantly features symptoms of sadness and loss of interest rather than the dramatization seen here. Body dysmorphic disorder focuses on obsessive thoughts about perceived physical flaws, rather than the expressive and attention-seeking behaviors. Brief psychotic disorder would involve more severe alterations in perception and reality, including hallucinations or delusions, which are not evident in the provided description.

Therefore, the

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Major depressive disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder

Brief psychotic disorder

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