A nurse is reinforcing education to a newly licensed nurse about comorbidities associated with cluster B personality disorders. The nurse should identify which of the following disorders as a comorbidity?

A. Dialectical behavior therapy. Dialectical behavior therapy is primarily used for borderline personality disorder, focusing on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. It is not the primary therapy for avoidant personality disorder.
B. Antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotic medications are typically used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Avoidant personality disorder does not involve psychosis and is better managed with psychotherapy.
C. Interpersonal therapy. Interpersonal therapy is beneficial for avoidant personality disorder as it focuses on improving social skills, self-esteem, and communication. This therapy helps clients develop healthier relationships and overcome fears of rejection.
D. Antidepressant medications. While antidepressants may be used to treat co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety, they do not directly address the core features of avoidant personality disorder. Psychotherapy remains the primary treatment.

A. Increased cheerfulness, increased energy, helping other nurses on the shift. While mood changes can sometimes indicate a problem, increased cheerfulness and willingness to help others are not specific red flags for substance use disorder. Substance use is more commonly associated with erratic behavior, frequent absences, or medication discrepancies.
B. Increased irritability towards supervisors, outspokenness regarding work issues, increased attendance at staff meetings. Frustration with workplace issues and increased engagement in staff meetings do not necessarily indicate substance use disorder. Behavioral concerns related to substance use often include impaired judgment, frequent errors, or missing narcotics.
C. Volunteering for overtime on a continual basis, avoiding having a witness to wasting narcotics, needing to be alone in the medication room when preparing medications. Consistently seeking extra shifts, avoiding witnesses when handling narcotics, and needing to be alone while preparing medications suggest possible drug diversion. These behaviors align with common patterns seen in healthcare professionals struggling with substance use disorders.
D. Crying, sharing personal details of relationship problems, monopolizing conversations. Emotional distress and oversharing personal issues may indicate stress or burnout rather than substance use disorder. Substance use concerns are more closely tied to inconsistent work performance, medication discrepancies, and altered behavior related to drug access.