Deck 3: Classification and Diagnosis

Question 1

Two clinicians independently come up with the same diagnosis when examining a patient.This would demonstrate:

A)concurrent validity but not necessarily reliability
B)both interrater reliability and validity
C)validity but not interrater reliability
D)neither reliability nor validity
E)interrater reliability but not necessarily validity

Answer 1

interrater reliability but not necessarily validity

Question 2

If the diagnostic category conduct disorder were to have subtypes that predict meeting vs.not meeting criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder in adulthood,then this would be evidence for __________ of the subtypes.

A)sensitivity
B)predictive validity
C)concurrent validity
D)interrater reliability
E)test-retest reliability

Answer 2

predictive validity

Question 3

A(n)__________ refers to the determination of the nature of an illness,while a(n)__________ refers to the procedure used to gather information necessary to identify the illness.

A)examination;investigation
B)assessment;diagnosis
C)medical examination;clinical interview
D)diagnosis;assessment
E)diagnostic system;classification system

Answer 3

diagnosis;assessment

Question 4

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases,Injuries,and Causes of Death (ICD),

A)was and still is highly influenced by psychoanalytic theory.
B)is widely used in North America to diagnosis mental disorders.
C)was developed by the APA to classify abnormal behaviour.
D)is used mainly by physicians,while the DSM is used by psychologists.
E)is a listing of all diseases and mental disorders.

Question 5

Which of the following scenarios is most similar to the concept of reliability in making a diagnosis?

A)You meet a guy at a party who appears to be a very shy person,but it turns out that once you get to know him,he's really talkative.
B)You and your brother talk to several people and decide to take a trip to Florida.
C)Based on your brother's expensive and elaborate wardrobe,your friend concludes that he must be a little egocentric.
D)Your brother is feeling quite ill,so you take his temperature and decide he has the flu.
E)You and your brother go see the same movie with different people and both you and your brother think it had fantastic fight scenes.

Question 6

The study in which Beck et al.(1962)examined the reliability of psychiatrists' diagnoses using the DSM-I indicated that

A)the validity of the study itself was quite low
B)most of the time,the psychiatrists agreed on diagnoses
C)inter-rater agreement was quite high for some disorders and lower for others
D)inter-rater agreement was lower than expected
E)it is pointless to have more than one psychiatrist examine the same patient

Question 7

Concurrent validity is concerned with the ability of a diagnostic category to

A)remove the traditional gender bias in diagnosis.
B)identify symptoms that may exist concurrently.
C)predict the symptoms that will co-occur over time.
D)be diagnosed / applied concurrently by two different clinicians.
E)estimate an individual's standing on non-symptom attributes of the disorder.

Question 8

Jennifer complains about a sore throat,aching muscles,lack of energy,and occasional dizziness.These ___ may help her doctor determine what is wrong with her.

A)symptoms
B)hallucinations
C)signs
D)problems
E)behaviours

Question 9

If the diagnostic category Autism Spectrum Disorder included information about the IQ or mental ability profiles commonly observed in persons with the diagnosis,then the diagnostic category would be said to have __________.

A)predictive validity
B)concurrent validity
C)culture bias
D)test-retest reliability
E)inter-rater reliability

Question 10

A good diagnostic system tries to do all of the following EXCEPT

A)identify the specific pattern of behaviours for each disorder
B)predict how the afflicted individual will behave in the future
C)provide guidelines for financial support
D)predict treatment response
E)identify whether social,biological or psychological factors are important in understanding and treating the disorder

Question 11

Validity in diagnosis is best conceptualized as

A)agreement between different clinicians on the diagnosis.
B)a diagnosis that makes sense based on the symptoms.
C)the ability to predict disorders accurately.
D)a discontinuous approach to classification of disorders.
E)a categorical classification of disorders.

Question 12

The beginning of a modern system of classifying disorders can be attributed to

A)the American Psychological Association.
B)the Canadian Psychological Association.
C)DSM-I
D)the World Health Organization.
E)the American Psychiatric Association.

Question 13

Mr.and Mrs.Davidson took their son to a psychologist who diagnosed him as having conduct disorder.They decided to get a second opinion from another psychologist and were told their son was just going through a normal phase.This example reflects a problem of

A)lack of reliability.
B)categorical classification.
C)misinterpreting symptoms.
D)dimensional classification.
E)lack of validity.

Question 14

A __________ diagnostic system is one that measures what it is supposed to measure,while a ____ diagnostic system results in the same result each time.

A)reliable;valid
B)predictive;sensitive
C)categorical;dimensional
D)sensitive;valid
E)valid;reliable

Question 15

A clinical assessment could involve all of the following procedures EXCEPT

A)being asked questions about what is bothering you at this time.
B)having a CAT scan.
C)filling out the MMPI.
D)being told what illness you have.
E)interviews with family.

Question 16

A diagnostic system that estimated lower levels of education and socio-economic status for persons actually diagnosed with schizophrenia disorder would be demonstrating __________.

A)sensitivity
B)predictive validity
C)concurrent validity
D)stigmatization
E)reliability

Question 17

What was the most significant reason why the psychiatrists in the Beck et al.(1962)study found it difficult to agree?

A)Some psychiatrists were better at their job than were others.
B)The patient did not give the same report to each psychiatrist.
C)Each psychiatrist diagnosed patients according to their own particular theories.
D)Different techniques were used to determine the diagnosis.
E)The diagnostic system did not adequately specify the signs and symptoms for the disorder(s).

Question 18

Why has it been so difficult to develop the ideal system for classifying mental disorders?

A)treatments tend to be different for different disorders.
B)clinical psychologists tend not to use diagnostic systems for classification purposes.
C)it was easier to conduct scientific research in the past than it is now.
D)it is difficult to determine which aspects of behaviour are most important.
E)psychologists find it difficult to conduct structured interviews with patients.

Question 19

If there was a perfect relationship between a diagnosis of conduct disorder in early adolescence and a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder in adulthood,this would be evidence for the __________ of the first diagnosis.

A)sensitivity
B)predictive validity
C)concurrent validity
D)interrater reliability
E)reliability

Question 20

The textbook indicates that validity is the second criterion used to determine the usefulness of a diagnostic system.This is because

A)as long as a diagnostic system is reliable,it does not matter if it is valid.
B)if you don't have reliability,you cannot have validity.
C)reliability and validity are independent of one another.
D)a diagnostic tool that is reliable is also likely to have at least moderate validity.
E)validity is usually more important than reliability.

Question 21

The DSM-III-R presented significant differences compared to its predecessors.Perhaps the MOST important change was

A)the fact that it included the number of symptoms required to meet the criterion.
B)the fact that is became more empirically-based.
C)that it required clinicians to consider five different areas of patient functioning.
D)that field trials were carried out to improve reliability.
E)the fact that it did not advocate any particular theory.

Question 22

The DSM-IV-TR required that patients be evaluated along five separate dimensions.This is referred to as a

A)diagnostic classification.
B)psychological classification.
C)multiaxial classification.
D)dimensional classification.
E)theoretical classification.

Question 23

Which three categories are included in the "Gender Dysphoria,Paraphilic Disorders and Sexual Dysfunctions" section of the DSM-5?

A)transvestism,transsexuality,and gender dysphoria
B)paraphilic disorders,sex addiction,sexual dysfunction
C)sexual dysfunction,gender dysphoria,paraphilic disorders
D)frigidity,sexual dysfunction,paraphilic disorders
E)gynephilia,eroticism,transvestic disorder

Question 24

The most important reason cited in the text for revising the DSM-IV to DSM-5 is

A)to ensure that the most up-to-date terminology is used to describe disorders.
B)to ensure that classification is based upon the most current and valid research.
C)to promote selection of effective treatments.
D)to eliminate confusing symptom descriptors.
E)to reduce the overlap between disorder categories.

Question 25

When a classification system is atheoretical,what does this mean?

A)that it contains a comprehensive list of causes for disorders that suits any clinician regardless of their theoretical orientation.
B)that it is developed only by committee consensus.
C)that it is based solely on clinician intuition and experience.
D)that it does not endorse any one theory of abnormal behaviour.
E)that it focuses only on the very best theories of abnormal behaviour.

Question 26

The term __________ refers to abnormal events that occur during sleep,while the term __________ refers to not getting enough sleep.

A)sleepwalking disorder;sleep terror disorder
B)insomnias;hypersomnias
C)nightmares;insomnias
D)dyssomnias;parasomnias
E)parasomnias;insomnia

Question 27

The dissociative disorder involving two or more distinct personality states is known as

A)Dissociative amnesia with fugue.
B)Depersonalization/derealization disorder.
C)Dissociative amnesia.
D)Dissociative identity disorder.
E)Identity amnesia.

Question 28

Sarah suffers from social anxiety disorder,which causes her to feel depressed,lethargic,and hopeless.Recently,she has also been diagnosed with depression.This occurrence is referred to as __________.

A)multiple disorders
B)co-occurrence
C)double diagnosis
D)comorbidity
E)dissociative disorders

Question 29

If a person's medical illness appears to be in part psychological the diagnosis is

A)somatic symptom disorder.
B)fictitious disorder.
C)psychophysiological disorder.
D)psychological factors affecting physical condition.
E)psychosomatic disorder.

Question 30

Cindy's daughter died a few months ago,and Cindy has been suffering from many problems lately.She feels profoundly sad,has no appetite,is feeling worthless,and has no energy or initiative to engage in any activities.If Cindy were to see a clinician,she would be given a diagnosis of

A)a mood disorder.
B)major depressive disorder
C)schizophrenia disorder.
D)a normal reaction to the situation.
E)bereavement disorder.

Question 31

If you were diagnosed by your psychologist as having an impulse control disorder,you would most likely engage in behaviours such as

A)compulsive drinking or eating.
B)destroying property and beating up others.
C)excessive Internet use.
D)excessive cleaning of your house.
E)engaging in huge spending sprees and excessive sexual behaviour.

Question 32

When a classification system is polythetic,what does this mean?

A)that it is constructed in a manner that is consistent with ethical codes.
B)that an individual can receive a diagnosis even if their behaviour meets criteria for only a subset of possible symptoms.
C)that it makes it possible to diagnose comorbid conditions.
D)that it is questionably ethical.
E)that it was influenced strongly by political and ethical considerations.

Question 33

DSM-III was a better attempt at classification than were earlier systems because it

A)took on a dimensional as opposed to a categorical approach.
B)it focused more strongly on the theoretical causes of various mental disorders.
C)was less rigid than previous approaches.
D)was informed by field trials.
E)it promoted a behavioural rather than a psychodynamic theoretical orientation.

Question 34

The first two editions of the DSM were considered unsatisfactory classification systems due to all of the following EXCEPT

A)categories contained few objective criteria.
B)psychoanalytic theory was influential in developing the categories.
C)categories were not empirically-based.
D)descriptions were brief and vague.
E)the psychiatrists on the committee could not agree on the causes of disorders.

Question 35

All of the following symptoms may indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder EXCEPT

A)delusions.
B)avoidance.
C)fear.
D)apprehension.
E)worry.

Question 36

Which of the following is a problem with the categorical approach to the classification of mental disorders?

A)It relies to heavily on a dimensional rating of severity.
B)If a client falls short of the required criteria for a disorder,they may be denied treatment.
C)A lot of people are not impaired in their functioning even if they meet the categorical cut off for a diagnosis.
D)There are not enough categories to accurately capture all the possible disorders.
E)There are no problems with the categorical approach of mental disorders.

Question 37

Learning disorders usually become apparent

A)during adolescence.
B)during childhood.
C)after psychological testing shows children to be learning disabled.
D)after age 18,because children learn at such different rates.
E)during the first few weeks of life.

Question 38

This disorder is caused by alcohol withdrawal or poor diet,as well as several medical conditions.Sufferers may display inattention and disconnected thoughts.They would most likely be diagnosed with

A)ADHD.
B)schizophrenia disorder.
C)delirium.
D)dementia.
E)Amnestic syndrome.

Question 39

The main feature of schizophrenia is

A)poor diet and substance use disorder.
B)below average level of intelligence.
C)excessive fear,worry,and apprehension.
D)a marked loss of pleasure from usual activities.
E)a loss of contact with the reality.

Question 40

Comorbidity between two disorders indicates that:

A)there is some relationship between the disorders in that person.
B)the two disorders are independent of each other.
C)the two disorders require the same form of treatment.
D)the two disorders have the same cause.
E)the diagnostic system is poor,failing to include all the relevant criteria in each disorder.

Question 41

The text suggests that our current classification is categorical because

A)it is based on the medical model and a categorical approach to physical diseases.
B)categorical systems have better predictive validity than do dimensional systems.
C)dimensional systems are not amenable to empirical study.
D)decisions to intervene in mental disorders are usually categorical.
E)symptom counts are related to outcome variables in a linear manner.

Question 42

"Loss of information" as it pertains to diagnosis and as described in the text refers to

A)loss of information about unique individuals when diagnostic labels are applied.
B)loss of information resulting from selection of one assessment tool over another.
C)decline in relevance of a diagnosis over time.
D)failure to include all the important symptoms in the criteria for a disorder.
E)failure to diagnose comorbid conditions.

Question 43

Rachel is a secretary at a large law firm,where she is treated with a lack of respect,then she goes home to her husband and children where she has to cook and clean while her husband watches T.V.Recently,Rachel was given antidepressants to treat her feelings of sadness and lack of self-worth.The most likely criticism of Rachel's diagnosis of depression would be

A)most women become depressed,so Rachel should not necessarily receive this diagnosis.
B)normal female behaviour is being medicalized.
C)Rachel is more likely suffering from generalized anxiety disorder.
D)anti-depressants are not the best method to treat depression.
E)Rachel is facing many difficulties--perhaps changes in her life would remedy the situation.

Question 44

Jody is a talented poet who suffers from auditory and visual hallucinations.Those who argue that Jody would be stigmatized if she were diagnosed as having schizophrenia would argue that

A)the fact that she is a talented poet would be ignored.
B)she might unfairly be diagnosed as ill despite the fact that she is talented.
C)she might not be allowed to write her poetry in the hospital.
D)she might not be asked to participate in poetry readings because of her illness.
E)people would view her poems as the result of her illness.

Question 45

In the text,evidence-based practice refers to

A)a particular method of treating delusions and hallucinations.
B)a general method of treatment that involves comparing thoughts to reality.
C)basing assessment and treatment upon the most current and valid research findings.
D)reducing theoretical propositions in the classification system.
E)a method for reducing diagnostic error.

Question 46

Rosenhan's (1973)study of pseudo-patients in psychiatric hospitals illustrates

A)that diagnosis can be influenced,if not determined by choice of assessment measures.
B)that behaviour is misinterpreted when seen through the lens of a psychiatric diagnosis.
C)that hallucinations can be shaped by the questions of the interviewing clinician.
D)why structured interviews are preferred over unstructured ones.
E)that failure to make a diagnosis can have serious consequences.

Question 47

Which of the following is true regarding hoarding disorder in DSM-5?

A)Hoarding disorder is now recognized as an anxiety disorder.
B)Hoarding disorder is listed as a condition requiring further study.
C)Hoarding disorder is listed as a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D)Hoarding disorder was included based on strong scientific evidence that it is an independent disorder.
E)Hoarding disorder is listed as an impulse control disorder.

Question 48

Why has it been proposed that a dimensional approach to classification should be adopted in the DSM?

A)People who need help may not be receiving it because they fall short of diagnostic criteria.
B)There are too few categories to cover every possible disorder.
C)Either people have a mental disorder or they do not.
D)Stigmatization occurs far too often when people are categorized.
E)Clinicians would find it much easier to agree on who should receive a diagnosis and who should not.

Question 49

Jacob decides to measure three different coping strategies in a group of subjects.To do this,he has each subject fill out a questionnaire that contains statements about behaviours engaged in when faced with a stressful situation.Subjects must decide on a scale of 1 to 5 how often they engage in these behaviours.This is an example of

A)categorical classification.
B)dimensional classification.
C)measurement classification.
D)inter-rater classification.
E)behaviour classification.

Question 50

It is hoped that DSM-5 will have improved clinical utility.Each of the following is an example of improved clinical utility EXCEPT

A)improved communication of important clinical information to patients/families.
B)improved prediction of the course of a disorder.
C)improved communication of information to other health care providers.
D)improved reliability of the diagnostic questionnaires.
E)improved ability to select effective interventions.

Question 51

According to the text,each of the following is an advantage of a dimensional approach to diagnosing mental disorder EXCEPT

A)it more adequately describes an individual's problems.
B)it recognizes the continuum from normal to abnormal.
C)it captures severity level.
D)it de-stigmatizes diagnosis.
E)it facilitates delivery of services to people who need it.

Question 52

Why is the categorical approach to classification problematic in the DSM?

A)Even if a person has all the symptoms of a disorder,they will not necessarily be diagnosed with a mental disorder.
B)There may not be enough categories to cover every disorder.
C)Too many people are classified as having a mental disorder.
D)Some people may have difficulties but would not be diagnosed as having a disorder.
E)Not all people diagnosed with the same disorder behave the same way.

Question 53

Why do some professionals argue that current classification systems are flawed because of their adherence to the medical model?

A)Medical illnesses cannot yet be classified.
B)Little evidence supports the notion that there are unconscious causes of disorder.
C)No mental disorder is caused by an anatomical deviation.
D)Many professionals do not subscribe to the medical model.
E)It is next to impossible to classify someone with a disorder due to comorbidity.

Question 54

A defense of retaining some aspects of the medical model is provided by Wakefield (1992),who states:

A)some physical illnesses are diagnosed on the basis of associated dysfunction alone;in the future we will acquire more knowledge about physical correlates of mental disorders.
B)psychological symptoms invariably have physical processes which are causal.
C)decisions to intervene or not must be made on a categorical basis;serious mental illness requires professionals to think like doctors.
D)reliability will be improved by focusing on the underlying physical processes responsible for mental disorders.
E)at this point the most effective interventions are pharmacological.

Question 55

Personality disorders in the DSM are particularly problematic for women because

A)it is more difficult to be a woman in society than it is to be a man.
B)women are seen as having more flawed personalities than men.
C)if women have a psychological problem,it is seen as part of their personality.
D)gender stereotypes are associated with many of the personality disorders.
E)more and more women are being diagnosed with traditionally "masculine" personality disorders.

Question 56

Mrs.Landin divided her class into two teams based on last names: everyone from A- L was on one team and everyone from M-Z was on the other team.This is an example of

A)reliable classification.
B)dimensional classification.
C)alphabetical classification.
D)categorical classification.
E)normative classification.

Question 57

What is the dimensional approach to diagnosis?

A)a diagnostic approach that takes into account that mental disorders fall on a continuum of severity.
B)a diagnostic approach that encourages clinicians to assess psychopathology according to multiple dimensions,not just symptoms.
C)a diagnostic approach that encourages assessment by more than one clinician.
D)a diagnostic approach that encourages assessment of quality of life.
E)a diagnostic approach that focuses on functional impairment.

Question 58

What might women's groups see as the main problem with the diagnostic categories of the DSM?

A)Many behaviours associated with being female are viewed as indicative of poor mental health.
B)Important traits are ignored once a person is diagnosed with an illness.
C)The diagnostic categories are based on the medical model.
D)Diagnoses of mental disorders are based on a discrete approach to classification of mental disorders.
E)Women are often stigmatized to a greater degree.

Question 59

A __________ approach to classification recognizes that a disorder may be mild or severe,while with a __________ approach,the disorder is either present or not.

A)categorical;dimensional
B)dimensional;categorical
C)discrete;continuous
D)reliable;valid
E)valid;reliable

Question 60

Discrete classification refers to __________,while continuous classification is also called __________.

A)statistical classification;normative classification
B)categorical classification;dimensional classification
C)critical classification;current classification
D)dimensional classification;categorical classification
E)directional classification;bi-directional classification

Question 61

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)recently published the Research Domain Criteria,which encourages the study of abnormal behaviour from what perspective?

A)biological
B)sociocultural
C)political
D)biopsychosocial
E)evolutionary

Question 62

The DSM system has been criticized as being low in concurrent validity.

Question 63

The goal of the National Institute of Mental Health Research Domain Criteria is to

A)stimulate research that may lead to a new taxonomy of mental disorders.
B)stimulate research that will lead to a better sociocultural understanding of mental disorders.
C)stimulate research that will lead to a more comprehensive listing of categories of mental disorders than currently exists in DSM-5.
D)stimulate research that will lead to valid symptom counts and thresholds in the DSM
E)stimulate research that will lead to improvements in symptom interviews for mental disorders.

Question 64

Mood,anxiety,and somatic symptom disorders are diagnosed at age 18.

Question 65

The 2002 Health Canada Report on Mental Illness concludes that

A)approximately one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
B)approximately one in ten Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
C)approximately 5 percent of the population will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
D)approximately 5 percent of the population will experience a mental disorder in a one-year period.
E)mental illness is the leading cause of disability and premature death in Canada.

Question 66

Regardless of the diagnostic system used,it is relatively common that an individual will meet the criteria for more than one disorder.

Question 67

Mania is characterized by extreme elation and activity,grandiosity,and flight of ideas,followed by sadness,lack of energy,and lack of pleasure.

Question 68

DSM-I was the first classification system to offer precise,reliable diagnostic categories.

Question 69

It is important that clinicians be more aware of cultural issues for all of the following reasons except

A)different cultural issues may influence the diagnosis.
B)North America is relatively multi-cultural.
C)certain syndromes appear only within a particular culture.
D)different cultural practices may be unusual to white North Americans,but are normal in the society in which they are found.
E)many clinicians now visit and diagnose patients in many different countries.

Question 70

The DSM-5 is an example of a very strong diagnostic system.

Question 71

An increase in reliability results in an increase in validity.

Question 72

The correlation between IQ test scores and academic and career outcomes is weaker for indigenous children than for children of other ethnic groups: this illustrates both __________ and limited __________ of IQ test scores for indigenous children.

A)sampling bias;concurrent validity
B)sampling bias;predictive validity
C)culture bias;concurrent validity
D)culture bias;predictive validity
E)culture bias;face validity

Question 73

Taijin kyofusho is a syndrome found only in Japan.This condition:

A)features concerns about being embarrassed.
B)is often mistaken for social anxiety disorder.
C)features a fear of embarrassing others.
D)affects mainly Japanese women.
E)is usually caused by poor diet.

Question 74

Although the DSM-5 stresses that cultural and social differences must be taken into account during assessment and diagnosis,

A)most diagnoses would remain the same,regardless of culture.
B)the psychiatric manuals written in different cultures should be made available here.
C)the specifics of the manual are determined mainly by individuals trained in the United States.
D)very few cultures present their own unique syndromes.
E)most clinicians ignore these differences and treat everyone the same.

Question 75

Intellectual disability,autistic spectrum disorder,and motor skills disorder are usually diagnosed in childhood.

Question 76

Kraepelin's classification system is very different from modern classification systems.

Question 77

Research has found that members of African-American and Hispanic populations showing emotional disturbances are more likely than Caucasians to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.This illustrates

A)cultural bias.
B)interrater reliability.
C)misinterpretation of symptoms.
D)stigmatization.
E)racism.

Question 78

The most important reason for there being concern regarding ties between special interest groups and the development of the DSM is

A)the need for a diagnostic system that is purely descriptive.
B)the need to move away from the medical model.
C)the need for the DSM to remain value free.
D)the need for a DSM that serves agreed-upon functions and values.
E)the need to maximize predictive validity in the DSM.

Question 79

Dissociative Identity Disorder involves individuals suddenly and unexpectedly leaving their home,traveling to a new locale,and taking up a new identity.

Question 80

Elma is from the Philippines,and she claims that she sees the spirits of the dead on different occasions,as do other individuals in her culture.It would be important to consider culture in this diagnosis because she could be suffering from

A)nothing - these beliefs could be normal in this culture.
B)schizophrenia disorder.
C)hauntings.
D)some type of psychosis.
E)the use of hallucinogens.