Question

a woman brings her husband to the outpatient psychiatric unit and describes his behavior to the admitting nurse. she states that he has been sleepwalking, cannot remember who he is, and exhibits multiple personalities. which disorder manifests these behaviors?

dissociative disorder.
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
panic disorder.
post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Explanation:

Analyze the clinical symptoms

The patient exhibits sleepwalking (somnambulism/dissociative state), amnesia (cannot remember who he is), and multiple personalities (identity fragmentation).

Match symptoms to diagnostic categories

These symptoms represent disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity, or perception, which are the defining characteristics of dissociative disorders (such as dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, and dissociative identity disorder).

Rule out other options

Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) involves re-experiencing trauma, avoidance, and hyperarousal. None of these match the primary presentation of identity fragmentation and amnesia.

Answer:

• Dissociative disorder. (Correct answer)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Panic disorder.
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome.