Deck 4: Classification and Assessment

Question 1

What was the most serious consequence of the misdiagnosis of Robert Bjorklund as suffering from schizophrenia?

A) The treatment given to him was inappropriate.
B) He was refused admission to colleges that feared his disorder.
C) Family members were not allowed to see him for extensive periods of time.
D) A prefrontal lobotomy performed to treat his illness left him with a permanent disability.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Why is the classification of abnormal behavior considered to be in an early stage of development?

A) The process of attaching labels is arbitrary.
B) Interest in the topic developed only recently.
C) Current behavioral classification systems are hierarchical.
D) Behavioral classification systems have not been very useful.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

How are most classification systems in psychology similar to those in the natural sciences?

A) dynamic
B) explanatory
C) hierarchical
D) low reliability

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following illustrates the hierarchical nature of the classification system for maladaptive behaviors?

A) Delusions and hallucinations are key symptoms of schizophrenia.
B) Anxiety and depression are common symptoms in many disorders.
C) Mental retardation and personality disorders are diagnosed on Axis II of DSM.
D) A manic episode is a subdivision of bipolar disorders, which in turn is a subgroup of mood disorders.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a criticism of clarifying maladaptive behaviors?

A) Diagnosis labels a person.
B) All patients are unique, and patients cannot be helped without reference to general principals.
C) Some diagnoses are not useful because diagnostic categories are imperfect.
D) A diagnosis may keep a person from gaining employment.

Question 6

What are the two major sources of unreliability in diagnoses?

A) deception by clients and clinician's theoretical orientation
B) overreliance on intelligence testing and failure to use structured interviews
C) clinical judgment and differences in the way different people present their symptoms
D) reliance on insurance regulations and misunderstanding the language of ethnically diverse clients

Question 7

What is Sarason and Sarason's implication for the process of classification?

A) Abnormal behavior must be understood in the context of several factors, which include stress, vulnerability, and coping.
B) Abnormal behavior has to be examined and understood in exact diagnostic terms.
C) Classification is only one component in the diagnostic procedure.
D) The context of a problem is essential in classification.

Question 8

What is the root meaning of the term diagnostic?

A) cause
B) brain disorder
C) to cure disorders
D) thorough knowledge

Question 9

What were the two major disorders identified by Emil Kraepelin?

A) agoraphobia and multiple personality
B) dementia praecox and manic-depressive insanity
C) antisocial personality disorder and schizophrenia
D) dissociative fugue and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 10

What does it mean when we describe the current classification system for mental disorders as a multiaxial system?

A) The system has high reliability.
B) It uses ratings scales, not categories.
C) The system focuses on neurological causes.
D) It describes diverse information rather than a single label.

Question 11

A criticism of DSM is it does not give sufficient attention to:

A) physiology
B) treatment
C) exactness
D) etiology

Question 12

Which of the following describes the multiaxial approach of DSM-IV-TR?

A) five axes, two of which list specific mental disorders
B) five axes, one of which lists specific mental disorders
C) three axes, two of which list specific mental disorders
D) three axes, one of which lists specific mental disorders

Question 13

During a lecture in abnormal psychology, the professor describes the DSM-IV-TR as a multiaxial system of classification. Your friend missed the class and asks you for your notes. He is confused when he comes across the term multiaxial. How will you explain this term to your friend?

A) DSM-IV-TR offers a variety of possible etiologies.
B) Diverse information is required for each case.
C) A diagnosis requires input from several clinicians.
D) An individual must show all symptoms of a disorder in order to receive a diagnosis.

Question 14

Psychosocial and environmental problems and a global assessment of functioning are noted on what axes of DSM-IV-TR?

A) I and II
B) II and III
C) III and IV
D) IV and V

Question 15

Ben has a social phobia as well as a heart condition. These conditions would be diagnosed on what axes of DSM-IV-TR?

A) I and III
B) I and II
C) II and IV
D) IV and V

Question 16

For more than 10 years, Ray has had an extreme fear of speaking in front of groups. As a result, he will not take classes that require class presentations,
and he will not join groups that have meetings where he might be expected to speak. His family physician has determined that Ray also has a problem with his thyroid, which may exacerbate some of the symptoms he has experienced. Ray decides to seek psychotherapy at a mental health clinic. On which two axes of
DSM-IV-TR will Ray's problems be listed?

A) I and II
B) I and III
C) II and IV
D) II and III

Question 17

During a case conference presentation a client is described as having an Axis V rating of 30. A student intern asks what this means. What will you tell her?

A) "The client's symptoms are not severe. "
B) "The client has a 30% chance of a full recovery."
C) "The client is likely to be a danger to himself or to others."
D) "The client has shown 30% improvement since beginning therapy."

Question 18

What are the first three axes of the DSM-IV-TR classification system used to describe?

A) a disorder's etiology
B) level of daily functioning
C) diagnoses of a psychiatric or physical nature
D) level of environmental stress and coping skills

Question 19

Most of the primary diagnoses in DSM-IV-TR, such as mood disorders and anxiety disorders, are listed on which axis?

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV

Question 20

From the time he was an adolescent, everyone knew Sid was excessively concerned about details and lacked a sense of humor. He decided to make an appointment at a mental health center. The therapist found that in addition to having a personality disorder, Sid also suffered from depression. On which axes of the DSM-IV-TR would these diagnoses be recorded?

A) I and II
B) I and III
C) II and IV
D) II and III

Question 21

Why are the disorders listed in DSM-IV-TR Axes I and II separated rather than combined on one axis?

A) The separation provides for evaluation of continuing characteristics that should be taken into consideration.
B) Insurance companies will pay for treatment of only certain disorders, so these are separated out for ease of billing.
C) One axis contains disorders that can be treated; the other axis contains disorders that currently have no available treatments.
D) The two sets of disorders differ in the degree to which genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in etiology.

Question 22

Why are personality disorders listed on a separate axis than are the primary psychiatric diagnoses in DSM-IV-TR?

A) Personality disorders are not diagnoses.
B) Personality disorders are not debilitating.
C) Personality disorders are continuing problems.
D) Personality disorders have no biological cause.

Question 23

On what axis of DSM-IV-TR is mental retardation noted?

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV

Question 24

One reason for the revisions in later versions of DSM was to have the diagnostic categories correspond more closely to those in the

A) Physician's Desk Reference.
B) health care reform legislation.
C) original works published by Freud.
D) International Classification of Diseases.

Question 25

One way that the DSM-IV-TR is superior to earlier classification systems is that its designers focused on

A) psychodynamic theory
B) descriptions of behavior
C) available, affordable medications
D) disorders that are covered by health insurance

Question 26

The developers of the DSM-IV-TR wanted to be specific with regard to the criteria for using the diagnostic categories. Which of the following is not a factor in achieving that goal?

A) Extensive coverage of childhood disorders.
B) Increased coverage of the range of disorders.
C) Emphasizing theoretical ideas concerning causation.
D) Emphasizing descriptions of behavior.

Question 27

What is one of the reasons for the increased reliability of diagnoses based on the DSM system?

A) The system was built upon psychodynamic principles.
B) The system has a greater reference to biological causes.
C) There is a greater emphasis on descriptions of behaviors.
D) The current system requires a greater reliance on inference.

Question 28

A professor at the university is conducting research on the use of DSM. He asks groups of clinical psychologists to view videotaped interviews of several clients. After they view each videotape, they are to write down the most likely diagnoses for each case. Based on this description of the research, which of the following terms is most likely to appear in the title of the report the professor will write describing his research?

A) utility
B) validity
C) reliability
D) coverage

Question 29

The reliability of a diagnosis usually refers to the

A) chances of a full recovery.
B) length of time it takes a treatment to work.
C) clinician's knowledge about the cause of the disorder.
D) level of agreement on the diagnosis offered by two clinicians.

Question 30

A major noteworthy feature of DSM-IV-TR is:

A) Giving attention to multiple aspects of a person's life that play roles in clinical conditions.
B) The expansion of diagnostic predictors.
C) The correlation of clinical descriptions to treatment.
D) Bridging the gap of varying opinions concerning diagnoses.

Question 31

_________is concerned with appropriateness of the classification system, while ________is concerned with whether the classification system is reproducible.

A) Validity; kappa statistic
B) Validity; reliability
C) Reliability; validity
D) None of the above.

Question 32

How does the kappa statistic differ from other measures of reliability?

A) requires more raters
B) corrects for chance agreement
C) based on percentage agreement
D) can be used with categorical ratings

Question 33

The appropriateness of a classification system is called

A) validity.
B) kappa.
C) reliability.
D) criterion.

Question 34

Which of the following is an essential first step in introducing order into discussions concerning the nature, causes, and treatment of maladaptive behavior?

A) etiology
B) diagnosis
C) research
D) classification

Question 35

Which group is likely to be given higher doses of anti-psychotic medication?

A) African American men
B) Hispanic American men
C) European American men
D) Asian American men

Question 36

Which group is diagnosed more frequently with major depression?

A) Asian-Americans
B) Hispanic-Americans
C) African-Americans
D) European-Americans

Question 37

Chin Lee is a 45-year-old Asian American who is being evaluated by a physician who works for the company that employs Mr. Lee. Mr. Lee reports a number of medical complaints. What does the physician need to keep in mind when evaluating these symptoms?

A) The symptoms are probably reflections of a need to establish contact with deceased relatives.
B) Asian Americans have low levels of seeking help for mental health problems.
C) Medical complaints are frequently found when individuals have experienced a break with reality and are searching for an explanation.
D) The presentation of such symptoms by a person of Asian descent usually indicates that he believes he has committed an unpardonable offense.

Question 38

Ethnic identity:

A) Involves belief and emotional styles.
B) Involves descent and heritage.
C) Influences a person's self-concept and sense of belonging and willingness to seek help.
D) Influences a person's belief system and ability to seek treatment.

Question 39

Which group tends to somaticize their mental health problems?

A) African Americans
B) Asian Americans
C) European Americans
D) Hispanic Americans

Question 40

What would not be considered a road block in racial and ethnic minority groups seeking treatment for mental health problems?

A) availability of service
B) overdiagnosis
C) lack of insurance
D) resistance

Question 41

Which of the following is the most commonly used assessment tool?

A) a clinical interview
B) behavioral observation
C) a projective personality test
D) a test of intellectual functioning

Question 42

The interview that occurs after a preliminary assessment as been made is:

A) diagnostic interview
B) therapeutic interview
C) structured interview
D) None of the above.

Question 43

Compared to the assessment interview, a therapeutic interview is more likely to focus on

A) modifying maladaptive behavior
B) using a structured format
C) using objective personality tests
D) yielding reliable diagnostic information

Question 44

What is the role of the interviewer?

A) build trust and support
B) develop a treatment plan
C) gather background information for the psychiatric interview
D) establish valid relationships between responses made during the interview and the client's behavior in current life situations

Question 45

Which of the following is an indication of the mental status component of a clinical interview?

A) The therapist observes the way the person is dressed.
B) The client is asked what the major symptom has been over the last few months.
C) The client is asked to trace a family tree and locate others with similar symptoms.
D) The therapist determines whether the client has discussed any bizarre ideas during the interview.

Question 46

What is the major use of structured interviews?

A) to modify the client's behavior
B) to allow self-administration of questionnaires
C) to evaluate the client's motivation for therapy
D) to determine whether specific symptoms are present

Question 47

Which of the following is the best description of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule?

A) a therapeutic interview
B) a standardized interview
C) an unstructured interview
D) a self-administered questionnaire

Question 48

How do ratings by lay professionals using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule compare to ratings by professionals using the same tool?

A) Lay professionals and professionals agree.
B) Lay professionals underestimate problems.
C) Lay professionals are generally unreliable raters.
D) Lay professionals tend to overestimate problems.

Question 49

What are interviewers encouraged to do when interviewing clients with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR (SCID)?

A) to use projective personality tests for diagnosis
B) to contact family members for further information
C) to share their own experiences to establish rapport
D) to ask follow-up questions based on clinical judgment

Question 50

What perspective on intelligence did Alfred Binet use when he developed his method of assessing intelligence?

A) intelligence grows with age
B) intelligence is an inherited characteristic
C) intelligence cannot be assessed in children
D) intelligence requires keen perceptual ability

Question 51

What did Alfred Binet's tests of intelligence seek to measure?

A) creativity and spatial reasoning
B) long-term memory and attention
C) reasoning and ability to understand and follow directions
D) sensitivity to differences in tone of voice and understanding of nonverbal gestures

Question 52

What is one way that the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale improved on earlier versions of intelligence tests?

A) self-administering format
B) assessed several aspects of intelligence
C) combined all items into one overall score
D) tested physiology, not abstract problem-solving

Question 53

Vocabulary and Similarities are part of what subscale of the Wechsler intelligence tests?

A) verbal
B) nonverbal
C) performance
D) sequential processing

Question 54

What is an example of something a test-taker might do as part of the performance scale of the Wechsler intelligence tests?

A) define a word
B) solve a puzzle
C) copy hand movements
D) add a series of numbers

Question 55

As part of the diagnostic testing done for all newly admitted patients, an intelligence test is administered. Before she administers the test, the clinical psychologist determines that the next patient is 45 years old. Which of the following would be the most likely test she will administer to evaluate this patient's intelligence?

A) Visual Analogue Scale
B) Thematic Apperception Test
C) Kaufman Assessment Battery
D) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

Question 56

Which children's intelligence test includes recent advances in cognitive development, cognitive neuropsychology, and theories of intelligence?

A) Stanford-Binet
B) Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children
C) Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
D) Visual Analogue Scale

Question 57

A psychologist is concerned that a patient may have sustained brain damage. Which test would the psychologist administer?

A) Visual Analogue Scale
B) Thematic Apperception Test
C) Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test
D) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Question 58

A newly admitted patient at a psychiatric hospital is being administered a battery of psychological tests. Before each test is administered, he wants a description of the activities he will be asked to engage in during the test. If the next test to be administered is the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, what is
the psychologist likely to say?

A) "You will be asked to look at some pictures and tell me what you see."
B) "You will be asked to look at some drawings and use blocks to make similar figures."
C) "You will be asked to look at some geometric figures and then draw what you have seen."
D) "You will be asked to watch me as I illustrate some motor movements and then I will ask you to do what I just did."

Question 59

Carol is asked to complete a 567-item questionnaire that consists of true-false questions. What test is she taking?

A) Visual Analogue Scale
B) Wechsler Intelligence Scale
C) Thematic Apperception Test
D) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Question 60

Which of these is one of the most widely used personality inventories?

A) Rorschach inkblots
B) Thematic Apperception Test
C) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
D) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Question 61

What is one way the MMPI-2 differs from the original version?

A) more validity scales
B) fewer clinical scales
C) more projective items
D) use a self-administration format

Question 62

What is a primary purpose of the validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 2?

A) to double check patient identification
B) to reflect the patient's test-taking consistency
C) to compare observers' ratings with patient ratings
D) to determine if previous diagnoses were accurate

Question 63

What is one of the strengths of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2?

A) extensive norms
B) open-ended format
C) ability to assess brain damage
D) based on the psychodynamic perspective

Question 64

What is one of the changes that occurred in the development of the MMPI-2?

A) Three new validity scales were added.
B) The reading level was lowered so the test could be used more widely.
C) Inclusion of specific psychiatric symptoms made DSM diagnosis possible directly from test scores.
D) Reliance on psychodynamic theory enabled the developers to incorporate scales to assess defense mechanisms.

Question 65

Friends describe Bob as "highly anxious," insecure, and experiencing great difficulty in making decisions. If administered the MMPI-2, Bob would most likely have an elevated score on the scale measuring

A) paranoia.
B) hypomania.
C) schizophrenia.
D) psychasthenia.

Question 66

People who know him well describe Bob as "setting unrealistic goals" and often engaged in excessive psychomotor activity. On which scale of the MMPI-2 would you expect Bob to obtain an elevated score?

A) paranoia
B) hypomania
C) schizophrenia
D) psychasthenia

Question 67

Ralph is extremely suspicious and firmly believes that agents of a foreign government follow him everywhere, intending to kill him. In addition, he resents anyone who doubts his beliefs. If administered the MMPI-2 you expect that Ralph would obtain a high score on the scale measuring

A) hysteria.
B) paranoia.
C) hypomania.
D) psychasthenia.

Question 68

After interviewing a new client for more than 2 hours, a psychologist decides to administer the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. What type of diagnosis is suggested by the selection of this test?

A) psychasthenia
B) mental retardation
C) personality disorder
D) organic brain dysfunction

Question 69

Ted is administered a psychological test that contains questions about minor "faults," such as whether or not he sometimes gossips. Which test is Ted taking?

A) Rorschach
B) Thematic Apperception Test
C) Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR
D) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 2

Question 70

What test is used to screen clients with serious psychological difficulties?

A) MMPI-2
B) Rorschach
C) Thematic Apperception Test
D) Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory

Question 71

Karen is given a psychological test in which she is asked about emotional stability, extroversion, and agreeableness. What test is Karen taking?

A) projective test
B) Revised NEO Personality Inventory
C) visual analogue scale
D) behavioral rating scale

Question 72

Which of the following are some of the basic elements of personality found in the five-factor model of personality?

A) tolerance, dominance, and conscientiousness
B) responsibility, sensation seeking, and sociability
C) agreeableness, emotional stability, and extraversion
D) achievement orientation, agreeableness, and flexibility

Question 73

A company is looking for some new employees who are gregarious, warm, assertive, thorough, reliable, and self-disciplined. The company personnel officer suggests that employees be screened for high scores on which of the following components of the five-factor model?

A) Conscientiousness and Extraversion
B) Agreeableness and Emotional Stability
C) Agreeableness and Conscientiousness
D) Openness to Experience and Extraversion

Question 74

What is the halo effect?

A) clients are conscientious about completing tests
B) observers make positive ratings of people they like
C) people tend to use ratings in the middle of the scale
D) Answers at the beginning of a questionnaire are more honest

Question 75

Alice is told that a psychologist is going to administer a projective test to her. What type of material will the psychologist present while administering this test?

A) ambiguous stimuli
B) true-false questions
C) analogue rating scales
D) open-ended questions about emotions

Question 76

What is one of the limitations of the Rorschach inkblot test as an indicator of personality?

A) The art work is outdated.
B) Research has not supported its validity.
C) The client must have good reading skills.
D) Most people have already seen the inkblots.

Question 77

What is the name of the projective technique in which pictures are presented one at a time to a person who is asked to make up a story about the picture?

A) Rorschach inkblot test
B) sentence completion test
C) Thematic Apperception Test
D) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2

Question 78

Mark is asked to create stories about different pictures. Which test is he taking?

A) Rorschach inkblot test
B) Visual Analogue Scales
C) Thematic Apperception Test
D) Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children

Question 79

What does the psychologist use as the basis when interpreting stories told by clients in response to the Thematic Apperception Test?

A) evidence of creativity
B) demonstrated verbal abilities
C) evidence of emotional conflicts
D) demonstrated abstract problem-solving ability

Question 80

What is the most likely reason for a clinician to administer the Thematic Apperception Test to a client?

A) to assign a standard diagnostic label
B) to uncover possible organic dysfunction
C) to probe a client's unconscious processes
D) to determine a client's level of intelligence