Which cluster includes Histrionic, Narcissistic, Antisocial, and Borderline personality disorders?

• A. Cluster B: Histrionic, Narcissistic, Antisocial, Borderline
• B. Cluster A: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal
• C. Cluster C: Dependent, Avoidant, Obsessive-Compulsive
• D. Not a recognized cluster

Answer: (A)

In DSM-style classification, personality disorders are grouped into clusters based on similar patterns of behavior. Histrionic, Narcissistic, Antisocial, and Borderline fit together because they are all dramatic, emotional, and erratic in their presentation. This grouping is known as Cluster B. Each disorder has its own flavor within the cluster: Histrionic centers on attention-seeking and emotional expressiveness, Narcissistic on grandiosity and a need for admiration, Antisocial on disregard for rules and others’ rights, and Borderline on instability in affect, self-image, and relationships. The other clusters organize different patterns: Cluster A includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal (odd or eccentric), while Cluster C includes dependent, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive (anxious or fearful). So the set of disorders described belongs to Cluster B.