Deck 14: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

The diathesis-stress model of mental disorders takes the view that:

A) certain biological or environmental factors directly cause mental illness.
B) certain biological or environmental factors make people vulnerable to mental illness.
C) an individual's ability to cope with stress is the best predictor of mental disorder.
D) an individual's personality is the best predictor of mental disorder.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In determining whether a behavior indicates psychopathology,which of the following questions is NOT an important criterion?

A) Does the person recognize that he or she has a disorder?
B) Does the behavior deviate from cultural norms?
C) Does the behavior cause the person distress?
D) Is the behavior maladaptive?

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What is different about the approach of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)and the approach of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)?

A) The DSM focuses on observable symptoms,whereas RDoC focuses on unobservable symptoms.
B) The DSM defines disorders by category,whereas RDoC defines disorders on a spectrum.
C) The DSM focuses on diagnostic categories,whereas RDoC focuses on domains of functioning.
D) The DSM describes symptoms of disorders,whereas RDoC describes appropriate treatments for those symptoms.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The first categorization of mental disorders developed out of:

A) the observation that not all people with abnormal behavior have similar symptoms.
B) a factor analysis of a large number of abnormal traits and behaviors.
C) brain imaging studies,which revealed that different symptoms had unique biological correlates.
D) a failure to link all mental disorders to physical maladies.

Question 5

The diathesis-stress model of mental disorders argues that:

A) stress is the primary cause of mental disorders.
B) trauma is the primary cause of mental disorders.
C) factors that impair our ability to cope with stress are the primary cause of mental disorders.
D) we can have a predisposition to a mental disorder without ever developing it.

Question 6

According to your textbook,which of the following is the clearest evidence that classifying mental disorders into categories is problematic?

A) There may be vast differences between the kinds of professionals who assign categorical diagnoses.
B) Assigning categorical diagnoses causes people to avoid taking responsibility for their problems.
C) Assigning categorical diagnoses can increase stigma and discrimination.
D) Patient symptoms and behaviors rarely fit into precise diagnostic categories.

Question 7

Dr.Jahangir is seeing a depressed patient who is currently undergoing a relationship breakup.Dr.Jahangir also knows that as a child this patient suffered from both neglect and abuse.Dr.Jahangir believes that the patient's difficult childhood has predisposed her to overreact to life circumstances,such as the recent breakup,resulting in the patient's severely depressed state.Dr.Jahangir's perspective on the patient's problems is based on which of the following models?

A) cognitive-behavioral
B) family systems
C) psychodynamic
D) diathesis-stress

Question 8

Psychologists use the term prognosis to refer to the:

A) risk of developing the disorder.
B) likely cause of the disorder.
C) future course and probable outcome of the disorder.
D) accuracy of the diagnosis.

Question 9

As a research psychologist,Dr.Brown wants to be sure that she gathers information from all her patients in the same way,and that she asks questions about all of the same areas.Dr.Brown probably uses a(n):

A) unstructured interview.
B) structured interview.
C) unstructured observation.
D) structured observation.

Question 10

Zarina is talking to spirits that no one else can see.She sometimes channels the spirits so they can talk with living people.Zarina:

A) is suffering from dissociative identity disorder.
B) is most likely a paranoid schizophrenic.
C) is showing behavior that is both personally distressing and maladaptive.
D) may be doing something normal,depending on her cultural background and beliefs.

Question 11

A new initiative by the National Institute of Mental Health,RDoC,focuses on:

A) the dimensional nature of psychopathology.
B) refining disorder categories to reduce overlap.
C) studying domains of functioning across disorders.
D) improving the accuracy of disorder diagnosis.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is NOT true concerning assessment of psychological disorders?

A) Assessment should be evidenced-based,when possible.
B) Assessment can be used to identify appropriate treatments.
C) Assessment can involve interviews or projective tests.
D) Assessment should stop once a diagnosis has been made.

Question 13

Which of the following criteria is NOT used in determining if a behavior represents psychopathology?

A) The behavior deviates from cultural norms.
B) The behavior causes personal distress.
C) The behavior is considered maladaptive.
D) The behavior is odd or unusual.

Question 14

Arianna has stopped washing her hair,going to the grocery store,going to work,and talking to people.Several of her friends and family members are concerned about these changes.Based on this information alone,which criterion for a psychological disorder does Arianna fail to meet?

A) maladaptivity
B) deviation from social norms
C) personal distress
D) impairment of social relationships

Question 15

What is the difference between psychological testing and neuropsychological testing?

A) Psychological testing involves answering questions about mental health functioning,whereas neuropsychological testing involves brain imaging.
B) Psychological testing involves answering questions about mental health functioning,whereas neuropsychological testing involves getting a medical exam.
C) Psychological testing involves performing tasks that may reveal problems in brain functioning,whereas neuropsychological testing involves brain imaging.
D) Psychological testing involves answering questions about mental health functioning,whereas neuropsychological testing involves performing tasks that may reveal problems in brain functioning.

Question 16

Dr.Leung gives all of her patients a short,valid,and reliable questionnaire that asks questions about sleeping habits,eating habits,daily activities,and emotional states.Based on this self-report information,Dr.Leung is able to assess whether depressive symptoms are present in each patient.Dr.Leung is making use of:

A) psychological testing.
B) neuropsychological testing.
C) applied behavioral analysis.
D) a mental status exam.

Question 17

Jaleesa thinks she may be depressed and decides to seek professional help.The psychologist starts by asking,"What kind of work do you do?" and proceeds to ask a series of standard questions,in order,about different possible symptoms.The psychologist is using a(n)________ approach to interviewing.

A) neuropsychological
B) motivational
C) structured
D) unstructured

Question 18

Terence,who was born and raised in a middle-class neighborhood in the United States,has not been out of the house in about two weeks.He is fearful that if he goes outside,people will follow him.Also,he swore at and verbally threatened a neighbor who checked in on him out of concern.Which of the following statements about Terence's behavior is FALSE?

A) It is adaptive,given the circumstances.
B) It is impairing his social relationships.
C) It deviates from social norms.
D) It is personally distressing.

Question 19

A therapist,Dr.Johannson,is writing a diagnosis for her patient,Sarah,who suffers from anxiety.If Dr.Johannson believes in the dimensional nature of psychopathology,she would be most likely to write that:

A) Sarah is experiencing the symptoms of an anxiety disorder.
B) Sarah's anxiety is normal and thus does not warrant a diagnosis.
C) Sarah's anxiety passes the threshold and should be considered a disorder.
D) Sarah is at the extreme end of the anxiety spectrum.

Question 20

To help create accurate diagnoses,the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual:

A) describes disorders in terms of observable symptoms.
B) classifies each disorder as either "neurotic" or "psychotic."
C) groups disorders by the theorist who discovered them.
D) groups disorders first by culture,then by severity.

Question 21

The more social fears someone with social phobia has,the more likely he or she:

A) is to respond to treatment.
B) is to also develop depression.
C) was physically abused.
D) will avoid alcohol or other drugs.

Question 22

Robin has had disruptive behavior problems since childhood,has shown signs of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),and could be characterized as having externalizing tendencies.According to your textbook,Robin is probably:

A) American.
B) frequently in trouble with the law.
C) male.
D) female.

Question 23

From what you know about internalizing and externalizing disorders,you would expect anxiety disorders to be higher in ________ and drug problems to be higher in ________.

A) Westerners; Easterners
B) adults; adolescents
C) people from a higher social class; people from a lower social class
D) females; males

Question 24

According to the diathesis-stress model,which of the following people is most likely to become depressed?

A) Jane,who as a child experienced both neglect and abuse but who currently has a stable family and job situation.
B) Johanna,who had a pleasant childhood but who currently experiences high amounts of stress at home and at work.
C) Janice,who experienced abuse as a child and who recently was laid off from her job.
D) Jennifer,who has a stable personality but who has been going through an ugly divorce.

Question 25

If a particular disorder manifests similarly in different cultures around the world,one could confidently conclude that the disorder is rooted in:

A) patterns of family interaction.
B) biological factors.
C) environmental factors.
D) universally held beliefs.

Question 26

Psychologists who argue for the importance of biological factors in mental disorders use all of the following kinds of evidence to support this approach EXCEPT:

A) studies of the rates of mental disorders in fraternal versus identical twins.
B) studies of environmental factors,such as diet and toxins,on mental health.
C) structural imaging of the brain in people with various mental disorders.
D) experiments involving gene alteration in individuals with mental disorders.

Question 27

The central characteristic of anxiety disorders is:

A) the feeling of excessive anxiety in the absence of any real threat.
B) fluctuating moods that are not related to events in the environment.
C) a feeling of apprehension or dread without any physical symptoms.
D) chronically high arousal of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 28

Jonah and Elias are participants in a research study.One task involves reading an ambiguous story,which participants can interpret in a variety of ways.Jonah interprets the story as threatening.Elias,however,interprets the story as comical.Based on this information alone,what conclusion can you draw about Jonah and Elias?

A) Jonah experiences higher levels of anxiety than Elias.
B) Elias tends to disregard others' feelings,whereas Jonah is highly sensitive to others' feelings.
C) Jonah and Elias have opposing personality disorders.
D) Elias is at increased risk of schizophrenia compared to Jonah.

Question 29

Psychologists have noted that some forms of mental disorders are more common among lower socioeconomic groups.Which model of mental illness is best able to account for this observation?

A) family systems
B) sociocultural
C) cognitive-behavioral
D) diathesis-stress

Question 30

Alan entered therapy because he was becoming very depressed.Alan's psychotherapist suggested that Alan write down his thoughts each day and analyze these thoughts for irrational assumptions and unrealistic expectations that might contribute to his depressed mood.The goal was to identify distorted thoughts that were contributing to maladaptive emotions.This psychotherapist is using a ________ perspective to help Alan.

A) psychodynamic
B) humanistic
C) cognitive-behavioral
D) sociocultural

Question 31

Which of the following two anxiety disorders are most similar?

A) specific phobia and generalized anxiety disorder
B) generalized anxiety disorder and agoraphobia
C) agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder
D) social anxiety disorder and specific phobia

Question 32

If you experience intense,uncontrollable fear when you encounter or think about a specific object,you would probably be diagnosed with:

A) panic disorder.
B) social anxiety disorder.
C) agoraphobia.
D) phobic disorder.

Question 33

Dr.Jahoda sees his patients' problems as a result of distorted beliefs based on prior learning experiences.Dr.Jahoda is most clearly a:

A) behaviorist.
B) humanist.
C) neo-Freudian.
D) cognitive-behavioralist.

Question 34

A central assumption of the cognitive-behavioral model of mental disorders is that:

A) mental dysfunction is an outgrowth of cultural mediation between thoughts and behaviors.
B) the family context is the most important factor in the development of mental illness.
C) abnormal behavior is learned.
D) the primary causes of mental illness are conflicts between the unconscious and conscious mind.

Question 35

The current view is that a mental disorder is caused by:

A) unconscious conflicts.
B) parent and peer modeling.
C) biological and environmental factors.
D) a lack of spiritual fulfillment.

Question 36

Which of the following disorders is probably LEAST disruptive to daily life?

A) panic disorder
B) generalized anxiety disorder
C) specific phobia
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 37

Which of the following statements is NOT true about the development of anxiety disorders?

A) It can be linked to a fearful experience in childhood.
B) It can be linked to an introverted temperament in childhood.
C) It can be linked to an inhibited temperament in childhood.
D) It can be linked to perceiving ambiguous events as threatening.

Question 38

Which of the following two anxiety disorders resemble each other LEAST?

A) specific phobia and social anxiety disorder
B) generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobia
C) panic disorder and agoraphobia
D) agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder

Question 39

In the current understanding of psychological disorders,________ is thought to be a normal response to stress but is problematic when it is ________.

A) depression; severe
B) social anxiety; experienced with close friends and family
C) anxiety; experienced excessively in the absence of a true threat
D) panic; experienced more than once a week

Question 40

Biological factors play a role in mental disorders.Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence provided in your textbook to support this idea?

A) Medications developed for conditions other than mental disorders have provided clues linking certain neurotransmitters to certain mental disorders.
B) Fraternal twins are eight times more likely to have the same mental disorders as are unrelated strangers.
C) Exposure to environmental toxins in childhood and adolescence is associated with mental disorders.
D) PET scans demonstrate that some brain regions function differently in people with mental disorders.

Question 41

Which of the following statements is NOT accurate regarding obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

A) People with OCD generally have a smaller caudate,with structural abnormalities.
B) Electrical stimulation of brain areas involved in OCD can relieve OCD symptoms.
C) The genes implicated in OCD appear to control the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
D) A streptococcal infection can cause symptoms of OCD in some children.

Question 42

People who suffer from major depression typically experience low mood; people who suffer from bipolar disorder typically experience:

A) mania.
B) both low mood and mania.
C) both mania and anxiety.
D) both mania and delusions.

Question 43

Which of the following is true about the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

A) Everyone exposed to the same traumatic event will develop PTSD.
B) Developing PTSD depends on how an event is perceived; only those who perceive the event as traumatic will develop PTSD.
C) Some individuals are more genetically susceptible than others.
D) Developing PTSD depends on whether one experienced trauma earlier in life.

Question 44

People suffering obsessive-compulsive disorder are:

A) more likely to engage in violent behavior against others.
B) more likely to be male than female.
C) typically aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational.
D) typically diagnosed with the disorder in early childhood.

Question 45

Sam is an adult who is extremely fearful in social situations.If it were possible to do a brain scan while Sam was being introduced to strangers,Sam's brain would show heightened activation in the:

A) hippocampus.
B) reticular formation.
C) cerebellum.
D) amygdala.

Question 46

A famous comedian refuses to shake hands with talk show hosts (or anyone else for that matter)because he fears catching a disease from them.The comedian is displaying a symptom of:

A) panic disorder.
B) agoraphobia.
C) social phobia.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 47

In the DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder is classified as a(n)________ disorder.

A) anxiety
B) trauma and stressor-related
C) depressive
D) adjustment

Question 48

An individual with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder would probably NOT:

A) interpret ambiguous events as threatening.
B) be vigilant to stimuli associated with a traumatic event.
C) have difficulty remembering a traumatic event.
D) be at increased risk for health problems.

Question 49

A man leaves his apartment to go to the library,and he turns back several times to make sure the door is locked.Frequently,he cleans the apartment even when it is not dirty.The man is likely suffering from:

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) agoraphobia.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) specific phobia.

Question 50

What brain region is damaged when a person experiences chronic stress,as with some anxiety disorders?

A) the cerebellum
B) the hippocampus
C) the amygdala
D) the prefrontal cortex

Question 51

Women in developing countries (e.g.,Pakistan)experience more ________ than women in developed countries.

A) bipolar disorder
B) major depressive disorder
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) agoraphobia

Question 52

A person diagnosed with panic disorder is most likely to develop which of the following additional disorders?

A) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
B) agoraphobia
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) social anxiety disorder

Question 53

A 2-year-old is shy and inhibited.According to the text,this child is at greater risk for the development of ________ later in life than a child who does not display this temperament.

A) cardiovascular disease
B) an anxiety disorder
C) major depressive disorder
D) borderline personality disorder

Question 54

A woman is sitting on a bench.She is sweating profusely,is short of breath,has numbness in her feet and hands,and feels as though she is dying.Based on this information alone,we could conclude that the woman is suffering from:

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) a panic attack.
C) panic disorder.
D) agoraphobia.

Question 55

Which of the following are all symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) intrusive thoughts,nightmares,and insomnia
B) flashbacks,intrusive thoughts,and panic attacks
C) flashbacks,inappropriate thoughts,and guilt
D) nightmares,flashbacks,and hypervigilence

Question 56

All of the following are mood disorders EXCEPT ________ disorder.

A) persistent depressive
B) bipolar I
C) major depressive
D) posttraumatic stress

Question 57

Which of the following experiences is NOT a symptom of a panic attack?

A) sweating
B) high heart rate
C) feelings of going crazy or dying
D) irresistible fatigue

Question 58

Tommy has obsessions about cleanliness and is a compulsive hand washer.Which of the following pieces of evidence best supports the view that his obsessive-compulsive disorder is related to operant conditioning?

A) Tommy's sworn enemy,Bobby,hardly ever washes his hands,so Tommy engages in the behavior compulsively to be as different as possible from Bobby.
B) Tommy sees his brother engage in compulsive hand washing,so he also engages in the same behavior.
C) Tommy experiences a large reduction in anxiety whenever he washes his hands,so he engages in the behavior whenever he becomes anxious.
D) Tommy believes that hand washing will prevent him from becoming sick,so he engages in the behavior compulsively.

Question 59

Which of the following is NOT an obsession commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder?

A) fear of contamination by germs
B) fear of performing poorly in school
C) fear of acting aggressively
D) fear of accidents

Question 60

The relationship between panic attacks and agoraphobia is accurately described in which of the following statements?

A) Having panic attacks is unrelated to the development of agoraphobia.
B) Agoraphobia rarely occurs in the absence of panic.
C) Both panic and agoraphobia result from specific phobias in childhood.
D) More severe panic attacks are associated with reduced occurrence of agoraphobia.

Question 61

Depression is said to be the common cold of mental disorders.If depression is the common cold,then persistent depressive disorder is:

A) the flu.
B) a major disease such as cancer.
C) a constant runny nose.
D) a traumatic surgery.

Question 62

You would most likely be diagnosed with ________ if you displayed negative mood,sleep disturbances,difficulty concentrating,and thoughts of suicide.

A) schizophrenia
B) major depression
C) persistent depressive disorder
D) bipolar disorder

Question 63

Depressed individuals tend to attribute negative outcomes to ________ and positive outcomes to ________.

A) others' abilities; their own abilities
B) personal shortcomings; luck
C) bad luck; chance
D) the difficulty of the task; good karma

Question 64

Cruz tends to be a generally unhappy person.He rarely smiles or gets excited about anything.He can remember only a few times in his life when he felt genuinely happy.Given the following options,a clinical psychologist would probably diagnose Cruz with:

A) persistent depressive disorder.
B) major depression.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) a hedonic personality disorder.

Question 65

On what basis may persistent depressive disorder be distinguished from major depression?

A) the general quality of the symptoms and the intensity of the symptoms
B) the intensity of the symptoms and the duration of the disorder
C) the duration of the disorder and the inclusion in the DSM-5
D) the inclusion in the DSM-5 and the general quality of the symptoms

Question 66

Sariah,a high school student,just received a grade of B on a paper.She is very ashamed that she did not perform according to her high standards.She tells herself,"Sariah,you are a really bad student-you need to study harder.This is simply unacceptable!" She believes that she may not get into college because she is a lazy and unmotivated person and that her future is doomed.Given what we know about the role of ________ in psychological disorders,Sariah is highly likely to develop ________.

A) cognitive processes; obsessive-compulsive disorder
B) learned helplessness; generalized anxiety disorder
C) cognitive processes; major depression
D) learned helplessness; schizophrenia

Question 67

According to Aaron Beck,a person who is suffering from depression is most likely to have which of these thoughts after failing an exam?

A) "I didn't have enough time to study for this exam.I'll do better next time."
B) "I am so stupid.I will have to drop out of college."
C) "This professor is so unfair."
D) "Oh well,most of the class probably failed,too."

Question 68

Tara has had many negative experiences over which she had little control.For example,her parents were divorced,her brother became a drug user,and her husband of 10 years left her for another woman.At this point,Tara has given up trying to make her life better because she believes she can do nothing to improve her circumstances.Tara's attitude may lead her to develop:

A) panic disorder.
B) major depression.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) borderline personality disorder.

Question 69

Dillon experiences low mood,crying,and sleep disturbance.He has a hard time getting excited about anything.Dillon would probably benefit from a drug that increased activity in which neurotransmitter system?

A) monoamine
B) glutamate
C) GABA
D) purine

Question 70

Which of the following phenomena is NOT a biological marker for depression?

A) decreased activity in the left prefrontal cortex
B) decreased monoamine activity
C) disturbance in normal biological rhythms
D) decreased testosterone and oxytocin production

Question 71

Imagine you have a twin who has just been diagnosed with major depression.Are your chances of showing symptoms of this disorder affected by whether he or she is an identical or a fraternal twin?

A) No; both types of twins are equally susceptible.
B) Yes; your chances are much greater if you are an identical twin.
C) It depends on whether you have additional relatives who have experienced depression.
D) It depends on whether you are male or female.

Question 72

Relationships play an important role in the lives of people with depression.For example,evidence suggests that:

A) support offered from friends during a depressive episode has a bigger impact than support offered before or after.
B) the loss of a loved one is a particularly important contributing factor in depression.
C) quantity of friends is as important as quality in guarding against depression.
D) over the course of a depressive episode,a person's friends typically become closer to him or her and offer increasing levels of support.

Question 73

Which of the following is a well-established difference between major depression and bipolar disorder?

A) Depression is more common than bipolar disorder in the general population.
B) Depression is more common in men,whereas bipolar disorder is more common in women.
C) Depression has a stronger genetic basis than bipolar disorder.
D) Depression is acute,whereas bipolar disorder is chronic.

Question 74

Lithium has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder,but patients frequently refuse to take this drug because it:

A) blunts positive feelings.
B) increases suicidal cognitions.
C) reduces the frequency of depressive episodes,but sometimes makes them more severe.
D) increases sexual motivation to a level that is uncomfortable for most people.

Question 75

Insomnia can be a symptom of:

A) depression.
B) mania.
C) either depression or mania.
D) neither depression nor mania.

Question 76

Sarah is a practicing clinical psychologist.She should expect to see:

A) more depressed than bipolar clients.
B) more males than females who are suffering from depression.
C) more females than males with bipolar disorder.
D) more nongenetic cases of bipolar disorder than depression.

Question 77

According to the learned helplessness model of depression,depressed individuals:

A) think they have no control over the outcomes they experience.
B) attribute negative outcomes to situational factors that are both temporary and specific.
C) generally think negatively about themselves,their situations,and their futures.
D) make errors in logic when explaining positive or negative outcomes they have experienced.

Question 78

Which statement below most accurately describes the relationship between gender and depression?

A) Contrary to popular opinion,gender and depression are not related.
B) Men are slightly more likely than women to experience depression.
C) Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression.
D) Women are five times as likely as men to experience depression.

Question 79

According to the learned helplessness model,animals who CANNOT escape from aversive situations experience a condition similar to:

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) specific phobia.
C) major depression.
D) borderline personality disorder.

Question 80

One's chances of experiencing major depression are:

A) roughly 50 percent during one's lifetime.
B) roughly 25 percent during one's lifetime.
C) roughly 15 percent during one's lifetime.
D) less than 5 percent,even if one has relatives with the disorder.