Deck 14: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT one of the axes of the DSM-IV classification system?

A) clinical disorders
B) personality disorders
C) employment status
D) medical conditions

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What characteristic makes a psychopathology different from an everyday problem?

A) severity
B) causes
C) treatment options
D) none of the above

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Arianna has stopped washing her hair,going to the grocery store,going to work,and talking to people.Some people think she must be suffering from a mental disorder.Does her behavior fit the criteria needed to be diagnosed with a disorder?

A) No; her behavior may be odd, but it is adaptive for her.
B) No; although her behavior deviates from the norms of her culture.
C) Yes; her behavior is clearly causing her personal distress.
D) Yes; her behavior is maladaptive.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has _____ axes,and of these axes _____ is/are used to diagnose clinical disorders.

A) three; one
B) three; two
C) five; one
D) five; two

Question 5

Dr.Hunskor is curious about what kinds of stress his patient,Ms.M.,has been experiencing recently.Ms.M.came to see him because she had temporary amnesia,a state that is often brought on by extreme stress.Would Dr.Hunskor include information about life stress as part of a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)diagnosis?

A) No; environmental events or factors are not included.
B) No; previous editions of the DSM included this information, but the current edition does not.
C) Yes; this is the most important part of a DSM diagnosis.
D) Yes; this is one part of a standard five-component DSM diagnosis.

Question 6

Which of the following criteria is used in determining if a behavior represents psychopathology?

A) The behavior deviates from cultural norms.
B) The behavior causes personal distress.
C) The behavior would be considered maladaptive.
D) All of the above are used.

Question 7

Sammy was brought to the hospital because he had been exhibiting some strange behaviors and recently stated he had been hearing voices.When the doctor met him,Sammy was talking in nonsensical sentences and had a very hard time following the doctor's simple directions.In addition,his hair was uncombed,and he wore dirty,mismatching clothes.The doctor took notes about all these details of Sammy's behavior and appearance.The doctor was performing:

A) a subjective, personal assessment
B) a mental status exam
C) something doctors call the "quick-check" approach
D) a structured behavioral assessment

Question 8

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?

Question 9

Amelie,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.She has been hallucinating about people who have passed away and finds this very frightening.She is afraid that if she goes outside,people might be following her.She thinks that there are people watching her from her television set.Her neighbors are very worried about her.Which of the following statements does NOT characterize Amelie's experience?

A) Her behavior may actually be quite adaptive.
B) Her behavior is maladaptive.
C) Her behavior deviates from social norms.
D) Her behavior is personally distressing.

Question 10

As cited in your textbook,one reason to use categories in diagnosing psychopathology is that a category:

A) aids in investigations of the etiology of different disorders
B) allows psychologists to see if the person has a mild form of the disorder or an extreme form of it
C) reflects how the disorder works-either a person has the disorder or does not have it
D) creates a highly unique case study of the person's illness

Question 11

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 12

Which of the following is NOT included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Axis I diagnosis,used for clinical disorders?

A) personality disorders
B) dissociative disorders
C) schizophrenia
D) mood disorders

Question 13

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

A) requires a multidimensional assessment of a patient's symptoms and factors that may be relevant to psychological functioning
B) groups disorders into neurotic disorders and psychotic disorders
C) groups disorders by the theorist who discovered them
D) groups disorders first by gender, then by age, then by culture, then by severity

Question 14

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

A) There are sometimes vast differences between the kinds of professionals who use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for making diagnoses.
B) Classifying disorders into categories causes people to find an excuse for their problems.
C) Classifying disorders into categories often leads to theorizing about the causes of a disorder.
D) People with different sets of symptoms can be diagnosed with the same disorder.

Question 15

The first categorization of mental disorders developed out of:

A) Kraepelin's realization that not all people with abnormal behavior have similar symptoms
B) the statistical finding that mental disorders involve separate traits and behaviors
C) behaviorist treatments that applied to only a few categories of disorder
D) brain imaging studies, which revealed that disorders had unique biological correlates

Question 16

A critical component for labeling a person's behavior a consequence of a mental disorder is that the behavior:

A) must be present in other people who have already been diagnosed with the disorder
B) is under the voluntary control of the person
C) must pose a serious threat to those around the person
D) must interfere with some aspect of the person's life

Question 17

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding newer and older editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual?

A) Older editions used a multiaxial system for classifying disorders, but newer editions do not.
B) Observable symptoms have been used to classify mental disorders in both the newer and older editions.
C) Observable symptoms have not been used to classify mental disorders in either the newer or older editions.
D) Newer editions use a multiaxial system for classifying disorders, but older editions did not.

Question 18

Which of the following statements represents a difference between the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and the older editions?

A) The current version is more popular with psychotherapists, whereas the older versions were more popular with social and personality psychologists.
B) The current edition uses a "multiaxial system" wherein multiple factors involving mental health are addressed.
C) The older editions classified disorders into categories, but the newest edition does not.
D) Most psychiatrists and psychologists used the older editions, but the newest edition is less popular.

Question 19

If a client presents with a diagnosis of epilepsy,this information would be recorded on which axis of the DSM-IV classification system?

A) Axis I
B) Axis III
C) Axis V
D) Axis II

Question 20

Psychologists use the term prognosis to refer to:

A) how a particular disorder is defined
B) the likely cause of the disorder
C) the future course and probable outcome of the disorder
D) whether the diagnosis is correct or not

Question 21

Dawn is a nurse on the psychiatric ward of a hospital.When patients are first admitted to the hospital,she observes whether they make eye contact,what their overall mood is,the kinds of thoughts they are experiencing,and whether they have noticeable tremors.Dawn,therefore,uses ___ to initially evaluate her patients' need for treatment.

A) the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
B) the Thematic Apperception Evaluation
C) the Multidimensional Assessment Tool
D) a mental status exam

Question 22

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) emotions

Question 23

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) validity testing
C) structured
D) unstructured

Question 24

If a clinician is asking questions of a client,guided by her past experiences,her observations of the client,and her anticipation of what problems are most likely to be present,the clinician should be using:

A) neuropsychological testing
B) psychological testing
C) an unstructured interview
D) a structured interview

Question 25

Mary was recently admitted to the psychiatric ward of a hospital.She does not seem to talk,except for mumbling a few incoherent phrases every few hours.When asked why she thought she was brought to the hospital,Mary just shrugged her shoulders,not seeming to understand the question.What is the best way for hospital staff to assess Mary's psychological state,and why?

A) They should use a projective test, such as the Rorshach, because the Rorshach does not require Mary to talk.
B) They should use an objective test, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, because it can be completed by someone other than Mary.
C) They should perform a mental status exam, because it is based primarily on behavioral observation.
D) They should use the Thematic Apperception Test, because it is designed to be used with severely disturbed patients.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is NOT an advantage of structured versus unstructured interviewing?

A) Structured interviewing is less dependent on the skill of the interviewer.
B) Structured interviewing gathers general and specific information.
C) Results using structured interviewing can be directly compared across research studies.
D) Structured interviewing allows the clinician to come up with an individualized and unique treatment plan.

Question 27

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI):

A) has been discredited as a psychological assessment device
B) is the most widely used questionnaire for psychological assessment
C) can be faked so someone can present himself as mentally adjusted when he is not
D) works equally well with people from different ethnic backgrounds

Question 28

The possibility that people may misrepresent themselves in their self-report is a disadvantage in using _____,but this problem can be reduced by using _____.

A) projective tests; lie detectors
B) projective tests; better interviewers
C) psychological tests; validity scales
D) psychological tests; better interviewers

Question 29

Which of the following statements is true concerning assessment of psychological disorders?

A) Assessment may be evidence-based.
B) Assessment may continue throughout treatment.
C) Assessment may involve structured or unstructured interviews.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 30

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) an unstructured interview
B) a structured interview
C) a mental status interview
D) the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Question 31

The diathesis-stress model of mental disorders argues that:

A) stress is the primary cause of mental disorders
B) genetic factors that make us unable to cope with stress are the primary cause of mental disorders
C) we can have predispositions to mental disorders without ever developing a disorder
D) trauma is the primary cause of mental dysfunction

Question 32

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 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) a projective model
D) a mental status exam

Question 33

The first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)included which of the following?

A) an emphasis on the presumed causes of each of the mental disorders
B) a motive to describe disorders rather than identify their causes
C) biological thinking
D) learning theory

Question 34

A central criticism of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)as a psychological assessment tool is that it:

A) depends on self-report
B) is more valid with females than with males
C) is less valid when used outside of North America
D) depends on clinical judgment as to what constitutes "normal" responding

Question 35

According to an important current model of psychopathology,psychopathology is often the result of:

A) both a diathesis and stress
B) unconscious urges
C) primarily environmental factors
D) primarily biological dysfunction

Question 36

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

A) certain biological or environmental factors make us vulnerable to mental illness, but do not directly cause it
B) if stress is sufficiently intense anyone can develop a mental disorder
C) mental disorders are common in families experiencing a high level of stress
D) an individual's ability to cope with stress is the best predictor of mental disorders

Question 37

Good clinical interviewers tend to:

A) be trained within a particular theoretical position
B) have a high IQ
C) be nonjudgmental and trusting
D) be those who get the most information from the client

Question 38

Which assessment technique for mental disorders involves asking about current symptoms and recent experiences that may have contributed to current distress?

A) brain scan
B) clinical interview
C) projective test
D) mental status exam

Question 39

What is the difference between psychological testing and neuropsychological testing?

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

Question 40

The diathesis-stress model of mental disorders focuses on:

A) cultural factors in mental disorders
B) the interaction between parenting style and life stress
C) stress as the primary cause of mental disorders
D) the interaction between underlying predispositions and stressors

Question 41

Joey has had problems with alcohol throughout his life.He has a hard time saying "no" to risky situations and likes doing things that other people think are dangerous.He is easily bored and has been known to get into fights with other people just for fun.It is likely that Joey has:

A) an Axis III syndrome
B) externalizing tendencies
C) attention deficit disorder
D) an Axis V syndrome

Question 42

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

A) American
B) not American
C) male
D) female

Question 43

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) younger generations; older generations
C) people from a higher social class; people from a lower social class
D) females; males

Question 44

If a particular disorder shows itself in similar ways in different cultures around the world,one would be correct to suspect that that disorder is based in:

A) dysfunctional family systems
B) human biology
C) similar environmental events
D) universally held beliefs

Question 45

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 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 46

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 47

Which of the following actions is the best example of an anxiety response rather than a fear response,as defined in your textbook?

A) A person jumps out of the way of an oncoming car.
B) A person worries that she will never graduate from college and will be poor and homeless.
C) A person thinks about strategies to avoid walking alone in a dangerous neighborhood.
D) A person starts crying after receiving the news that he has cancer.

Question 48

Schizophrenia is found more often among poorer people.This phenomenon is evidence that _____ factors are important in mental disorders.

A) cognitive
B) evolutionary
C) sociocultural
D) biological

Question 49

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

A) a depressed mood; severe
B) a social phobia; experienced outside of American culture
C) anxiety; experienced excessively in the absence of a true threat
D) depression; experienced at least once a week

Question 50

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) the feeling of being anxious without the physical symptoms of anxiety
D) that the parasympathetic nervous system is in a state of chronic arousal

Question 51

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 52

Which of the following is a psychological factor that could possibly influence the development of a psychological disorder?

A) malnutrition
B) thoughts
C) maternal illness
D) neurological dysfunction

Question 53

Research suggests that _____ is involved in the expression of many mental disorders.

A) peripheral nervous system pathology
B) neurological dysfunction
C) underactive autonomic nervous system
D) a weak sympathetic nervous system

Question 54

Which of the following perspectives suggests that psychopathology results from interaction between the individual and the culture?

A) family systems model
B) cognitive-behavioral approach
C) sociocultural model
D) none of the above

Question 55

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) the Kraeplin model
B) the Axis IV model
C) the embedded trait model
D) the diathesis-stress model

Question 56

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 and identical twins
B) studies of environmental factors, such as diet and toxins, on mental health
C) structural imaging of the brain
D) experiments involving alteration of genes in humans

Question 57

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
B) Jaleesa, 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 recently was laid off from her job
D) Jennifer, who has a stable personality but who was recently laid off from her job

Question 58

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding biological factors in the development of mental disorders?

A) Maternal malnutrition, ingestion of toxins, or other prenatal factors influence whether offspring develop mental disorders.
B) Fraternal twins are twice as likely as identical twins to have the same mental disorders.
C) Brain scans using computerized tomography show functional deficits in almost all brain regions in people with mental disorders.
D) About 75 percent of people who have a family member with a mental disorder will develop the same mental illness at some point in their lives.

Question 59

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) the family systems model
B) the sociocultural model
C) the cognitive-behavioral model
D) the hierarchy model

Question 60

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
C) abnormal behavior is learned
D) internal conflicts between unconscious and conscious conflicts are the primary causes of mental illness

Question 61

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

A) Having panic attacks has little to do with the development of agoraphobia.
B) Agoraphobia rarely occurs without panic.
C) Both panic attacks and agoraphobia are a function of similar biological factors.
D) Both panic attacks and agoraphobia result from specific phobias in childhood.

Question 62

In this type of anxiety disorder,the person is afraid of NOT being able to escape what she or he perceives to be a threatening situation:

A) posttraumatic stress disorder
B) obsessive-compulsive disorder
C) generalized anxiety disorder
D) agoraphobia

Question 63

People suffering obsessive-compulsive disorder are:

A) unaware of the irrationality of their behavior
B) more likely to be male than female
C) aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational
D) typically diagnosed with the disorder in early childhood

Question 64

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) bipolar disorder

Question 65

This type of anxiety disorder is characterized by overwhelming attacks of terror:

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder
B) posttraumatic stress disorder
C) generalized anxiety disorder
D) panic disorder

Question 66

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) panic disorder

Question 67

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 68

Which of the following disorders have been most closely linked to one another?

A) personality disorder and social phobia
B) obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder
C) schizophrenia and personality disorder
D) panic disorder and agoraphobia

Question 69

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

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

Question 70

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

A) panic disorder; because one's daily life is only minimally affected
B) generalized anxiety disorder; because the fearful feelings one has are usually mild and of a short duration
C) specific phobia; because the feared object or situation can often be avoided
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder; because this disorder involves thoughts that are often easy to ignore

Question 71

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) Infections affecting the cerebellum are widespread in people who have OCD.
D) A severe streptococcal infection can cause symptoms of OCD.

Question 72

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

A) they are to respond quickly to treatment
B) they are to also develop depression
C) they were physically abused
D) they will avoid alcohol or other drugs

Question 73

Fear of specific objects or situations is found in which type of anxiety disorder?

A) panic
B) agoraphobia
C) posttraumatic stress
D) phobia

Question 74

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) heightened anxiety lasting for hours

Question 75

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

A) a panic disorder
B) obsessive-compulsive disorder
C) generalized anxiety disorder
D) phobic disorder

Question 76

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are both characterized by:

A) compulsive behaviors
B) chronic arousal of the parasympathetic nervous system
C) damage to the prefrontal cortex
D) fear in the absence of real danger

Question 77

Which of the following two anxiety disorders are most similar?

A) phobias and generalized anxiety disorder
B) generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder
C) posttraumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder
D) phobias and social anxiety disorder

Question 78

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.The woman is likely suffering from:

A) generalized anxiety disorder
B) a panic attack
C) a panic disorder
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 79

Which of the following are symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) nightmares
B) flashbacks
C) intrusive thoughts
D) all of the above

Question 80

One consequence of suffering from persistent panic attacks is a(n):

A) increased risk of suicide
B) decreased risk of having other forms of anxiety disorder
C) decrease in amygdala functioning
D) increased risk of developing a more serious disorder, such as schizophrenia