Deck 6: Disorders of Trauma and Stress

Question 1

Compare and contrast acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Answer 1

not answered

Question 2

Dissociative amnesia characterized by forgetting, for a short time, some but not all events related to a traumatic episode is called _____ amnesia.

Answer 2

selective

Question 3

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder can include helping clients deal with difficult memories and feelings, accept what occurred, become less judgmental toward themselves, and begin to trust others. The basis of this process called _____.

Answer 3

cognitive processing theory

Question 4

Being forced to engage in any type of sexual act is called _____.

Question 5

In assessing someone for depersonalization-derealization disorder, which characteristics would you look for?

Question 6

Describe in detail how treatment for dissociative identity disorder might differ from treatment for dissociative amnesia or for dissociative fugue.

Question 7

Why does a person in a dangerous situation initially experience an increased heart rate? Discuss both the biological reason for this development and the reason that these changes can be seen as beneficial. Include in your discussion the body systems that are involved and three other physical reactions that are expected to occur.

Question 8

Describe three different treatments that have been effective in treating combat veterans who are experiencing stress disorders. Be specific about what happens during these treatments.

Question 9

Dissociative amnesia characterized by the loss of memory of events that occurred within a limited period following a traumatic episode is called _____ amnesia.

Question 10

Imagine that a friend of yours has been a victim of sexual assault (rape). What are the short-term and long-term courses of her stress response to being raped likely to be?

Question 11

Describe and provide examples of the three ways in which alternate personalities might interact in someone experiencing dissociative identity disorder.

Question 12

Friends and family check in on and provide care for a person who experienced a significant trauma. The friends and family are providing _____.

Question 13

A person's identity is based in part on that individual's _____, which links the past, the present, and the future.

Question 14

Compare and contrast dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue.

Question 15

What is debriefing? Based on current research, what are the pros and cons of using this technique?

Question 16

An individual with _____ displays two or more distinct personalities and periodically switches from one to another.

Question 17

Reliving a traumatic event that happened months ago, avoiding things associated with that event, and generally being less responsive are symptoms of _____.

Question 18

Reactions to trauma that happen almost immediately and gradually disappear in a month or so are likely to be diagnosed as _____.

Question 19

Not all people who experience a traumatic event develop a stress disorder. What are some biological reasons why some people do and others don't?

Question 20

The extensive network of nerve fibers that connect the central nervous system to all body organs is called the _____.

Question 21

In the reaction to fearful and stressful situations, nerves may indirectly affect organs by stimulating the:

A) ganglion.
B) adrenal gland.
C) hippocampus.
D) medulla.

Question 22

In dissociative amnesia, the forgotten period is called the _____.

Question 23

The statement, "This is awful, but I guess I can deal with it like I do everything else," represents one person's:

A) stress.
B) stressor.
C) stress response.
D) somatization.

Question 24

If a deer jumps in front of your car while you are driving, the stress response that is initially activated is the:

A) parasympathetic nervous system.
B) cortisol system.
C) conservation system.
D) sympathetic nervous system.

Question 25

Dissociative amnesia characterized by forgetting that extends indefinitely following a traumatic episode is called _____ amnesia.

Question 26

A student who dreads being called on in class, and in fact panics at the thought of public speaking, is experiencing a(n) _____ response to stress.

A) physical
B) cognitive
C) emotional
D) developmental

Question 27

In response to a threat, we perspire, breathe more quickly, get goose bumps, and feel nauseated. These responses are controlled by the:

A) central nervous system.
B) peripheral nervous system.
C) sympathetic nervous system.
D) parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 28

Looking for rainbows while walking the dog in the rain is an example of a:

A) stressor.
B) stress response.
C) social support system.
D) potential stressor.

Question 29

The part of the body that releases hormones into the bloodstream is the _____ system.

A) nervous
B) exocrine
C) endocrine
D) autonomic

Question 30

Quinn has forgotten who he is. He traveled to a city he has never visited before and is wandering around aimlessly. After a few hours, he "comes to" and discovers his strange surroundings. Unable to recall how he got there or what he has been doing, Quinn appears to be suffering from _____.

Question 31

In the face of fear, a person is unable to concentrate and develops a distorted view of the world. This person is showing which fear response?

A) Physical
B) Emotional
C) Cognitive
D) Psychological

Question 32

Having to walk the dog several times a day when it is raining is an example of a:

A) stressor.
B) stress response.
C) stress disorder.
D) psychophysical disorder.

Question 33

Imagine that you just had a "close call" while driving, but now you feel your body returning to normal. Which part of your nervous system is controlling this return to normalcy?

A) Somatic nervous system
B) Peripheral nervous system
C) Sympathetic nervous system
D) Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 34

Dissociative amnesia characterized by forgetting, for a limited period of time, some but not all events both preceding and following a traumatic episode is called _____ amnesia.

Question 35

What do acute and posttraumatic stress disorder have in common with dissociative disorders?

A) They are new diagnoses, first appearing in DSM-5.
B) They are most successfully treated with the same sort of medication: antipsychotics.
C) They are triggered by traumatic events.
D) They are varieties of depression.

Question 36

A person who copes well with a happy event in life is showing a positive:

A) stress.
B) stressor.
C) stress response.
D) stress model.

Question 37

The group of hormones that are referred to as "stress hormones" are:

A) prolactins.
B) corticosteroids.
C) peptide hormones.
D) amino acid derivatives.

Question 38

Poor health is BEST described as a:

A) stress.
B) stressor.
C) stress response.
D) stress model.

Question 39

An individual with dissociative identity disorder has two distinct identities: Gianna and Nate. Nate is aware of Gianna, but Gianna is not aware of Nate. This relationship is described as _____ amnesic.

Question 40

A student who turns pale and feels nauseated when called on to speak in class is experiencing a(n) _____ response to stress.

A) emotional
B) cognitive
C) developmental
D) physical

Question 41

Norepinephrine is to _____ as corticosteroid is to _____.

A) acute stress; posttraumatic stress
B) the fight response; the flight response
C) the autonomic nervous system; the central nervous system
D) the sympathetic pathway; the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway

Question 42

People with low incomes are _____ as likely as people with higher incomes to experience one of the stress disorders.

A) twice
B) three times
C) four times
D) five times

Question 43

Which is the BEST example of dissociation as it relates to posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) Feeling that the environment isn't real, but more of a dream
B) Having an out-of-body experience
C) Feeling dazed or confused
D) Refusing to talk about the traumatic event

Question 44

Which does NOT characterize stress disorders?

A) Recurring memories, dreams, or nightmares about the event
B) A compulsive need to engage in activities that remind one of the event
C) Reduced responsiveness to the world around one
D) Signs of increased arousal, such as poor sleep and exaggerated startle reactions

Question 45

Trevor has posttraumatic stress disorder and reports symptoms of derealization. He is:

A) reexperiencing the traumatic event.
B) experiencing avoidance.
C) experiencing reduced responsiveness.
D) experiencing increased arousal, anxiety, and guilt.

Question 46

Which statement MOST accurately describes the sympathetic nervous system pathway of the stress response?

A) The hypothalamus excites the sympathetic nervous system, which then excites body organs to release hormones, causing even more arousal.
B) The parasympathetic nervous system excites the sympathetic nervous system, which then excites body organs to release hormones, producing even more arousal.
C) The adrenal glands stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which then suppresses the release of corticosteroids, which moderates the stress response.
D) The hypothalamus inhibits the sympathetic nervous system, which then inhibits body organs to release hormones that serve as neurotransmitters, causing a reduction in arousal.

Question 47

A pattern of anxiety, insomnia, depression, and flashbacks that begins shortly after a traumatic event and persists for less than a month is called:

A) hysteria.
B) acute stress disorder.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 48

Jacquie developed PTSD after being held in captivity for years. She is upset by what she had to do to survive and perhaps even feels unworthy of surviving. This is an example of:

A) reexperiencing the traumatic event.
B) experiencing avoidance.
C) experiencing reduced responsiveness.
D) experiencing increased anger, anxiety, and guilt.

Question 49

A diagnostic criterion for posttraumatic stress disorder is the presence of significant distress or impairment for:

A) up to three weeks.
B) more than one month.
C) more than six months.
D) more than one year.

Question 50

Carly has posttraumatic stress disorder but refuses to talk about it. She is:

A) reexperiencing the traumatic event.
B) experiencing avoidance.
C) experiencing reduced responsiveness.
D) experiencing increased arousal, anxiety, and guilt.

Question 51

Which statement MOST accurately describes the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway of the stress response?

A) The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to produce a stress hormone that causes the adrenal gland to release corticosteroids.
B) The hypothalamus produces corticosteroids, which stimulate the pituitary to produce a stress hormone that causes the adrenal gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone.
C) The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to produce corticosteroids that cause the adrenal gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone.
D) The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to produce a stress hormone that causes the adrenal gland to release hypothalamic hormone in a feedback loop.

Question 52

A person who witnessed a horrible car accident and then became unusually anxious and depressed for three weeks is probably experiencing:

A) posttraumatic stress disorder.
B) pretraumatic stress disorder.
C) combat fatigue.
D) acute stress disorder.

Question 53

When was it recognized that acute stress during combat could result in psychological symptoms after combat?

A) After World War I
B) After World War II
C) After the Korean War
D) After the Vietnam War

Question 54

A pattern of anxiety, insomnia, depression, and flashbacks that persists for years after a traumatic event BEST describes:

A) hysteria.
B) acute stress disorder.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 55

Women are approximately _____ as likely as men to develop stress disorders.

A) twice
B) three times
C) four times
D) five times

Question 56

The collective reactions generated by the sympathetic nervous system pathway and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) pathway are termed the:

A) conditioned stress response.
B) stressor-stress response.
C) autonomic stress response.
D) fight-or-flight response.

Question 57

Which is typical of posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) Increased arousal, anxiety, and guilt
B) Inability to remember the event that led to the stress
C) Increased responsiveness and emotion right after the event
D) Obsession with revisiting the site of the traumatic event

Question 58

One distinction that DSM-5 makes between acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder is based on the:

A) intensity of the anxiety-linked symptoms.
B) cause of the anxiety-linked symptoms.
C) duration of anxiety symptoms.
D) presence of one or more additional psychological disorders.

Question 59

The individuals who are MOST likely to experience a psychological stress disorder are:

A) female or low-income individuals.
B) male or low-income individuals.
C) female or high-income individuals.
D) male or high-income individuals.

Question 60

Lamar is having flashbacks. Which symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder does this represent?

A) Reexperiencing the traumatic event
B) Experiencing avoidance
C) Experiencing reduced responsiveness
D) Experiencing increased arousal, anxiety, and guilt

Question 61

Salina was terrified during the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit where she lived. For a couple of weeks after the event, she did not sleep well or feel comfortable inside a building. However, her fears gradually diminished and were completely gone within a month. Her reaction to the earthquake would MOST likely be diagnosed as a(n):

A) panic attack.
B) phobic reaction.
C) acute stress disorder.
D) posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 62

Which research finding supports the idea that individuals may inherit a predisposition to posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) Deficient levels of GABA in combat veterans
B) Overactivity in the amygdala and slowed activity in the prefrontal cortex
C) Elevated cortisol levels in babies born to women who were pregnant during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
D) Abnormal activity of cortisol and norepinephrine in the blood, urine, and saliva of concentration camp survivors

Question 63

Investigators have shown that traumatic events are related to abnormal activity of the neurotransmitter:

A) GABA.
B) serotonin.
C) dopamine.
D) norepinephrine.

Question 64

Which statement about the long-term effects of rape on women is MOST accurate?

A) Although psychological effects of rape can be long lasting, physical effects are uncommon.
B) Rape victims are significantly more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs.
C) Women who have been raped are less likely to seek medical treatment.
D) Rape has a significant negative effect on a woman's fertility.

Question 65

Many researchers believe that one reason for higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder in women is:

A) the age they are at the time of trauma.
B) the types of trauma they experience.
C) their willingness to seek treatment.
D) their lower self-esteem prior to the trauma.

Question 66

With regard to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), what effect is expected in soldiers who are directly exposed to prolonged combat-related stress?

A) Higher rates of PTSD symptoms
B) Lower rates of treatment
C) Greater intensity of PTSD symptoms but faster symptom resolution
D) Increased presence of apathy and limited or no feelings of guilt or negative emotions

Question 67

Almost every night, Cara wakes up terrified and screaming for the boys to get off her. Two years later, she still can't get the gang rape out of her mind. The fear, anxiety, and depression are ruining her life. This is an example of a(n):

A) phobia.
B) panic reaction.
C) acute stress reaction.
D) posttraumatic stress reaction.

Question 68

According to surveys, about what percentage of female rape victims in the United States are younger than 18 years of age?

A) 3 percent
B) 15 percent
C) 28 percent
D) 54 percent

Question 69

Drake was trapped in his car as he tried to flee a wildfire in northern California. There was ash and smoke everywhere. The heat was unbearable, and he was sure he was going to die. When rescue teams eventually found him, Drake was dehydrated, having trouble breathing, and scared. More than a year later, he still had nightmares and woke up in a cold sweat. This BEST describes a(n):

A) phobia.
B) acute stress disorder.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 70

Those MOST likely to experience substantial stress symptoms after the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, were those who lived:

A) near New York City.
B) near Washington, D.C.
C) far away from New York City.
D) on the West Coast of the United States.

Question 71

What proportion of women are the victims of rape at some point during their lives?

A) 1 in 2
B) 1 in 4
C) 1 in 6
D) 1 in 8

Question 72

In which racial group is a woman's risk of being raped the greatest, relative to the group's percentage of the population?

A) Non-Hispanic white Americans
B) African Americans
C) Hispanic Americans
D) Asian Americans

Question 73

A person's levels of cortisol and norepinephrine are in the normal range. MOST likely, that person is experiencing:

A) posttraumatic stress disorder.
B) the flight-or-fight syndrome.
C) severe stress response.
D) no stress disorder.

Question 74

Which statement about rape is MOST accurate?

A) Most rape victims do not know their attackers.
B) Most rape victims are younger than age 35.
C) About equal numbers of men and women are raped.
D) About 1 in 10 women are raped in their lifetime.

Question 75

An example of torture through deprivation is:

A) not allowing the person to bathe.
B) hitting the person with a blunt object.
C) shocking the person with electricity.
D) telling the person he or she is going to be killed.

Question 76

What percentage of rape victims qualified for the diagnosis of acute stress disorder in Rothbaum et al.'s (1992) study?

A) 12 percent
B) 43 percent
C) 76 percent
D) 94 percent

Question 77

A torture victim who is subjected to threats of death, mock executions, and degradation is experiencing which type of torture?

A) Psychological
B) Physical
C) Deprivation
D) Sexual

Question 78

A friend says, "If we could just eliminate combat traumas, we could eliminate a great deal of posttraumatic stress disorder." The BEST response is:

A) "Yes. In fact, combat trauma is the leading source of PTSD worldwide."
B) "Yes. Combat trauma produces as many cases of PTSD worldwide as civilian trauma does."
C) "Yes. However, civilian trauma causes many more cases of PTSD than combat trauma does."
D) "Maybe. However, many researchers think that combat trauma is significantly overrated as a source of PTSD."

Question 79

How concerned should we be about victims of sexual assault and terror? Is there a very great risk that they will experience PTSD?

A) Yes, the risk is great; more than one-third of sexual assault victims and about half of terror victims experience PTSD.
B) Yes, the risk is great; virtually everyone who experiences sexual assault or terror eventually experiences PTSD.
C) No, the risk isn't great; only about 10 percent of sexual assault and terror victims experience PTSD.
D) No, the risk isn't great; the number of people in these groups who experience PTSD is probably overestimated.

Question 80

Years after the U.S. Civil War was over, many veterans diagnosed with melancholia or soldier's heart still experienced vivid flashbacks of their combat experiences, as well as nightmares and guilt about what they had done. Today, their symptoms are considered consistent with:

A) factitious disorder, or somatoform disorder.
B) posttraumatic stress disorder.
C) acute distress disorder.
D) psychophysiological disorder.