Deck 6: Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders

Question 1

Herman has been diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder. He often misinterprets his bodily symptoms that results in increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and dizziness. He states regularly, "If the pain doesn't stop soon, it will probably cause damage to the other parts of my body." Herman is most likely catastrophizing his symptoms. This maladaptive way of thinking is linked with the _____ theoretical perspective.

A) cognitive
B) behavioral
C) psychodynamic
D) existential

Answer 1

cognitive

Question 2

When a woman believes she is pregnant but physical examination and laboratory tests show negative results this syndrome is called _____.

A) pseudocyesis
B) misconception syndrome
C) pseudo expectancy
D) miscarriage

Answer 2

pseudocyesis

Question 3

Bertram has spent years being concerned about his health even though he has no symptoms or pain. Several years ago, he read an article on tumors and became preoccupied with thoughts about getting a tumor. He rarely seeks medical help and in fact avoids doctors and hospitals. Bertram is most likely experiencing a(n) _____.

A) illness anxiety disorder
B) somatic symptom disorder
C) dissociative disorder
D) acute stress disorder

Answer 3

illness anxiety disorder

Question 4

_____ was formerly known as hypochondriasis.

A) Illness anxiety disorder
B) Conversion disorder
C) Factitious disorder
D) Munchhausen syndrome

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true of somatic symptom disorder?

A) Moderate degrees of somatic symptoms are common and quite a few people meet the diagnostic criteria for somatic symptom disorder.
B) Somatic symptom disorder tends to be a short-term problem and symptoms disappear soon after they become apparent.
C) Studies have shown that changes in the symptoms of people with somatic symptom disorder mirror their emotional well-being.
D) A loss of functioning in a part of the body can be the person's only complaint in somatic symptom disorder.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of somatic symptom disorder in the U.S.?

A) Children rarely complain of somatic symptoms.
B) Adolescents are the most common group to be diagnosed with the disorder.
C) Middle-aged adults are more likely to report somatic symptoms than older adults.
D) Older adults are more likely to report multiple somatic symptoms than middle-aged adults.

Question 7

Bethany is experiencing dizziness, head pain and numbness in her lower limbs all with no apparent medical reason. Bethany is most likely experiencing a(n) _____.

A) pseudocyesis disorder
B) somatic symptom disorder
C) dissociative disorder
D) acute stress disorder

Question 8

Vickianna's doctor is trying to distinguish between illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder. According to the DSM-5, to make the distinction he should be determine if Vickianna _____.

A) has physical symptoms
B) seeks medical help
C) has anxious thoughts
D) experiences acute stress

Question 9

Studies of refugees who fled to the United States found that these groups often had:

A) post-traumatic stress disorder and conversion disorder.
B) post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder.
C) post-traumatic stress disorder and somatic symptom disorder
D) post-traumatic stress disorder and pain disorder.

Question 10

According to DSM-5, which of the following is a diagnostic criterion for illness anxiety disorder?

A) Somatic symptoms must be present that are severe in intensity.
B) Illness preoccupation should have been present for at least one month.
C) The individual must perform excessive health related behaviors.
D) The individual should show symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function.

Question 11

Which treatment focuses on helping clients recall events and memories that may have triggered their somatization symptoms?

A) Psychodynamic
B) Cognitive-behavioral
C) Behavioral
D) Existential

Question 12

Cognitive therapies for somatization disorder focus on:

A) challenging the client's maladaptive interpretations of physical symptoms and teaching them techniques for appropriate interpretations.
B) identifying the behavioral reinforcers that contribute to the manifestation of symptoms.
C) providing insight into the client's somatization symptoms and discussing early childhood experiences.
D) designing a behavior modification plan with punishers to discourage maladaptive ways of thinking.

Question 13

Family studies suggest that somatic symptom and pain disorders run primarily among _____ and _____ have higher rates of alcoholism.

A) female relatives; female relatives
B) female relatives; male relatives
C) male relatives; male relatives
D) male relatives; female relatives

Question 14

The _____ are a group of disorders in which people experience significant physical symptoms for which there is no apparent organic cause.

A) dissociative disorders
B) psychotic disorders
C) adjustment disorders
D) somatic symptom disorders

Question 15

In the treatment of somatic symptom and pain disorder, _____ attempt to determine and eliminate the reinforcements individuals receive for their symptoms, while increasing positive rewards for healthy behavior.

A) behavioral therapies
B) cognitive therapies
C) psychodynamic therapies
D) humanistic therapies

Question 16

Sherry believes that she has a serious illness. She has had a headache for several days with no relief from traditional over-the-counter medicines. Her visit to the doctor revealed no organic reason for the headaches. Unsatisfied with the results, she goes to several other medical professionals for treatment. Sherry is most likely suffering from a(n) _____.

A) illness anxiety disorder
B) somatic symptom disorder
C) dissociative disorder
D) acute stress disorder

Question 17

Marcus spends a lot of time at doctors dealing with his pain in his side. He has had several gastrointestinal tests as well as other diagnostic tests and the doctors can find nothing to explain his pain. He spends much time worrying about his mystery pain and is anxious that it is something serious. Marcus is most likely experiencing a(n) _____.

A) illness anxiety disorder
B) somatic symptom disorder
C) dissociative disorder
D) acute stress disorder

Question 18

Which of the following disorders may appear similar in their presentation?

A) Somatic symptom disorder and dissociative identity disorder
B) Somatic symptom disorder and conversion disorder
C) Somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder
D) Somatic symptom disorder and body dysmorphic disorder

Question 19

Which of the following represents one of the difficulties in diagnosing somatic symptom disorders?

A) The person is probably faking the symptoms
B) The person has difficulty pinpointing the physical discomfort
C) The person may have a real physical problem that is difficult to detect
D) The person does not consciously produce or control the symptoms

Question 20

People diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder frequently have periods of all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A) substance abuse
B) depression
C) anxiety
D) psychotic disorders

Question 21

People with conversion disorder:

A) are usually willing to receive treatment.
B) can be difficult to treat because they have difficulty believing that something is wrong with them psychologically.
C) deny the existence of a traumatic experience that might have precipitated the disorder.
D) cannot differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Question 22

Mary created an illness in her younger daughter to draw attention to herself. This is known as a _____.

A) psychosomatic disorder
B) factitious disorder
C) factitious disorder by proxy
D) somatization disorder

Question 23

Freud and his contemporaries viewed conversion symptoms as results of:

A) the preconscious state of mind attempting to control the conscious state of mind.
B) the id trying to surpass the functioning of the ego and super ego.
C) the transfer of psychic energy attached to repressed emotions or memories into physical symptoms.
D) the displacement of unconscious anxiety onto a neutral or symbolic object.

Question 24

Which of the following somatic symptom disorders is considered to be the most dramatic due to symptoms like, blindness, seizures, loss or hearing, and mutism?

A) Pain disorder
B) Conversion disorder
C) Somatization disorder
D) Hypochondriasis

Question 25

Somatic symptoms and dissociative disorders are considered by some theorists to be the result of a psychological process known as _____, in which different parts of an individual's identity, memories, or consciousness split off from one another.

A) dissolution
B) disintegration
C) degeneration
D) dissociation

Question 26

Jaclyn has been complaining for several weeks that she has lost all feeling in her right hand. Her physical exam revealed no nerve damage. However, Jaclyn insists that something is wrong because she feels as though she has on a tight glove. Jaclyn is mostly experiencing _____ associated with _____ disorder.

A) local anesthesia; body dysmorphic disorder
B) regional anesthesia; hypochondriasis
C) general anesthesia; somatization disorder
D) glove anesthesia; conversion disorder

Question 27

Conversion disorder is usually characterized by:

A) sensory and motor deficits.
B) loss of memory.
C) pain in different areas of the body.
D) sexual dysfunction.

Question 28

The idea that dissociation is a process in which systems of ideas are split off from consciousness but are accessible through dreams and hypnosis was conceptualized by _____.

A) Jean Piaget
B) Thomas Simon
C) Pierre Janet
D) Alfred Binet

Question 29

In the context of the theories of conversion disorder, which of the following best describes secondary gain?

A) The reduction in anxiety as a result of the symptoms of conversion
B) The attention and sympathy received as a result of the conversion symptoms
C) The lack of concern or distress in the wake of a traumatic event
D) The hysteria that comes with the repression of agonizing memories

Question 30

People with conversion disorder:

A) appreciate psychological interpretations of their problems.
B) tend to assume that serious illnesses are uncommon.
C) have an inability to cope with distress or trauma in adaptive ways.
D) are not actually prone to chronic depression and anxiety.

Question 31

It was observed during the two world wars that many soldiers would inexplicably become paralyzed or blind and therefore were unable to return to the front. Most of them seemed unconcerned about their paralysis or blindness. This phenomenon is known as _____.

A) la belle indifference
B) coup d'état
C) esprit de corps
D) sang-froid

Question 32

In Hilgard's study on the "hidden observer" phenomenon, he argued that there are two modes of consciousness: the _____ and _____.

A) repressive mode; active mode
B) active mode; receptive mode
C) receptive mode; suppressive mode
D) suppressive mode; repressive mode

Question 33

Factitious disorders are also referred to as _____.

A) Korsakoff's syndrome
B) Down's syndrome
C) Munchhausen's syndrome
D) Tourette's syndrome

Question 34

For most people, the active mode and receptive mode:

A) act as separate entities.
B) weave our experiences together so seamlessly that we do not notice any division between them.
C) work together to process and store only our most pleasant memories.
D) hide the true meaning of a person's dissociative experiences.

Question 35

The active mode in Hilgard's study referred to:

A) the preconscious state of mind that creates pleasant memories.
B) the conscious state of mind that registers and stores information without being aware that the information has been processed.
C) the mind's short-term or working memory that can only hold information for up to 20 seconds.
D) the conscious state of mind that includes a person's conscious plans and desires and voluntary actions.

Question 36

_____ for conversion disorder focus on relieving the person's anxiety around the initial trauma that caused the conversion symptoms and on reducing any benefits the person is receiving from the conversion symptoms.

A) Humanistic treatments
B) Behavioral treatments
C) Cognitive treatments
D) Psychoanalytic treatments

Question 37

Candice faked her symptoms to gain medical attention. She exaggerated her symptoms to the point that exploratory surgery was conducted. Candice most likely has a _____.

A) factitious disorder by proxy
B) factitious disorder
C) somatic symptom disorder
D) psychosomatic disorder

Question 38

Which of the following statements is true of conversion disorder?

A) Research studies have shown that people with conversion symptoms are not hypnotizable.
B) The symptoms of conversion disorder are usually clear-cut and hence there is little room for misdiagnosis.
C) Emotional stressors can inhibit the circuits between the sensorimotor areas of the brain and areas involved in emotions, causing a loss of sensation or motor control.
D) Physiological tests often give definitive proof that a person's symptoms do not have physical causes.

Question 39

Which of the following statements is true of conversion disorder?

A) The conversion symptom develops after a trauma or psychological stressor.
B) Conversion disorder is quite common, with a high lifetime prevalence rate.
C) Loss of bodily functioning in conversion disorder is due to subconscious processes.
D) Conversion disorder typically involves multiple symptoms during a single episode of conversion.

Question 40

Lorna found her husband dead in their bedroom. He had been shot in the chest. After this incident, Lorna has been unable to see. Most likely Lorna is exhibiting a symptom of _____ disorder.

A) dissociative
B) post-traumatic stress
C) conversion
D) malingering

Question 41

Which of the following alters found in dissociative identity disorder offers advice to the other personalities or performs behaviors the host is unable to handle?

A) The helper
B) The host
C) The persecutor
D) The child

Question 42

People who develop dissociative identity disorder tend to be:

A) less suggestible and hypnotizable.
B) somewhat suggestible and hypnotizable.
C) highly suggestible and hypnotizable.
D) suggestible and hypnotizable to only a small extent.

Question 43

Lucas reported to his therapist that he hears several voices in his head. Each voice seems different from his, and they seem to talk to each other. Lucas' symptoms seem representative of _____.

A) childhood onset of schizophrenia
B) adolescent bipolar disorder
C) dissociative identity disorder
D) adjustment disorder with psychotic features

Question 44

Dissociative identity disorder was formerly known as _____.

A) multiple personality fugue
B) multiple disintegration disorder
C) multiple personality disorder
D) dissociative personality disorder

Question 45

When people with dissociative identity disorder report hearing voices talking inside their heads, they may be misdiagnosed as having _____.

A) bipolar disorder with psychotic features
B) schizophrenia
C) major depressive disorder with psychotic features
D) brief psychotic disorder

Question 46

Dissociative symptoms may be part of the syndrome of _____, a culturally accepted reaction to stress among Latinos.

A) ataque de nervios
B) mal de ojo
C) susto
D) amok

Question 47

A disorder that has high comorbidity with DID is _____.

A) post-traumatic stress disorder
B) depression
C) somatoform disorder
D) autism

Question 48

Which of the following is true of dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

A) The host is always in control of the other alters.
B) The alters in DID have no awareness of each other.
C) People diagnosed with DID claim to have significant periods of amnesia.
D) Persecutor alters are often responsible for switching between personalities.

Question 49

DSM-5 has added the words _____ to the DID criterion A. This makes the criteria more applicable to diverse cultural groups and is related to why some studies suggest that Latinos may be more likely than other ethnic groups to experience dissociative symptoms in response to traumas.

A) possession
B) communing with god
C) victim of torture
D) religious persecution

Question 50

Which of the following explains why dissociative identity disorder was not diagnosed before 1980?

A) The symptoms were rarely reported prior to 1980
B) There was no such diagnostic category in the DSM-II
C) The disorder lacked empirical evidence until after 1980
D) No DSM existed prior to 1980

Question 51

Which of the following dissociative disorders is characterized by a person developing one or more distinct personalities?

A) Dissociative identity disorder
B) Dissociative fugue
C) Dissociative amnesia
D) Depersonalization disorder

Question 52

Which of the following is the most common contributor to dissociative identity disorder?

A) Genetic predisposition to the disorder
B) Chronic physical or sexual abuse during childhood
C) Low socioeconomic family status
D) Being diagnosed with several other disorders

Question 53

Which of the following is the most common alter found in dissociative identity disorder?

A) The helper
B) The host
C) The persecutor
D) The child

Question 54

Which of the following is a treatment goal for dissociative identity disorder?

A) Identifying ways to help clients create a hierarchy of traumatic experiences and learning relaxation techniques to handle the stressors
B) Helping the client work through the trauma to integrate all the alternative personalities into one coherent personality
C) Identifying the traumatic experience and implementing behavior modification to reward or punish the alters
D) Helping the host concentrate on health-enhancing behaviors using exercise and dietary supplements

Question 55

A person diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder may have several alters. An alter is a(n):

A) alternate personality.
B) means of creating pleasant experiences.
C) ambiguous personality.
D) out of body experience.

Question 56

Some studies suggest that _____ may be more likely than other ethnic groups to experience dissociative symptoms in response to traumas.

A) African Americans
B) Latinos
C) Asians
D) Native Americans

Question 57

Which of the following individuals is most likely to receive a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder?

A) Shiloh makes repetitive strange utterances and movements as if in a trance.
B) Jack often wanders away from his home and can't recall anything he does during those periods.
C) Ellen appears to have alternate personalities that are extremely different from each other.
D) Ronald often inflicts self-injuries and turns up at hospitals.

Question 58

In which of the following countries is dissociative identity disorder diagnosed most frequently?

A) United States
B) Great Britain
C) Japan
D) India

Question 59

In dissociative identity disorder, an alter that inflicts pain or punishment on the other personalities by engaging in self-mutilative behaviors (such as self-cutting or self-burning) and suicide attempts is called _____.

A) the oppressor
B) the persecutor
C) the tyrant
D) the bully

Question 60

Which of the following is considered to be the most dangerous alter found in dissociative identity disorder?

A) The helper
B) The host
C) The persecutor
D) The child

Question 61

In the case of dissociative identity disorder, patients who are able to integrate their personalities are:

A) more likely to relapse with more serious problems.
B) more likely to remain relatively free from the dissociative identity disorder symptoms and reduce their use of medications.
C) more likely to struggle with symptoms of other psychological disorders.
D) encouraged to discontinue psychotherapy to measure the effectiveness of the treatment.

Question 62

Which of the following statements is true of psychogenic amnesia?

A) It often involves anterograde amnesia.
B) It typically involves the inability to remember new information.
C) It involves a generalized loss of memory for the past.
D) It involves memory loss that is limited to personal information.

Question 63

Marsha has dementia. It is becoming increasingly difficulty for her to remember her past. Sometimes she forgets her children's names. Marsha's amnesia would be categorized as _____.

A) anterograde
B) infantile
C) factitious
D) retrograde

Question 64

Which of the following techniques is heavily used to contact alters in the case of dissociative identity disorder?

A) Channeling
B) Dream analysis
C) Hypnosis
D) Memory exercises

Question 65

Which of the following is true of organic amnesia?

A) Organic amnesia is often caused by psychosocial factors.
B) Organic amnesia typically involves anterograde and retrograde amnesia.
C) Organic amnesia is caused by brain injury.
D) Organic amnesia results from early childhood unconscious conflicts.

Question 66

One complication that arises in diagnosing amnesias is the possibility that:

A) amnesias are being faked by people to escape punishment for crimes committed.
B) amnesias may be the result of using dissociation as a defense against intolerable memories or stressors.
C) amnesia may occur because individuals are in such a high state of arousal during the events that they do not encode and store information.
D) people may forget some, but not all, events which may therefore lead to an inconclusive diagnosis.

Question 67

Which of the following is a reason an individual may develop dissociative identity disorder?

A) Inability to control their behavior
B) As a strategy to cope with traumas
C) In order to gain attention for themselves
D) Constant preoccupation with illness

Question 68

Karen had a hiking accident that resulted in head trauma. She now has difficulty remembering new information. Karen's amnesia would be categorized as _____.

A) anterograde
B) infantile
C) psychogenic
D) retrograde

Question 69

Unlike a person with dissociative identity disorder, a person in a fugue state:

A) actually leaves the scene of the trauma or stress.
B) maintains his or her original identity.
C) will not remember what happened during the fugue state.
D) will behave quite abnormally in the new environment.

Question 70

Korsakoff's syndrome is characterized by:

A) global retrograde amnesia associated with severe alcohol consumption.
B) anterograde amnesia resulting from structural damage to the brain.
C) anterograde and retrograde amnesia due to organic and psychological factors.
D) a fugue state that results in loss of identity and the creation of a new identity.

Question 71

The inability to remember information from the past is known as _____.

A) anterograde amnesia
B) retrograde amnesia
C) retrospective amnesia
D) regressive amnesia

Question 72

Brian has a history of drinking heavily before going to bed. One morning his family accused him of kicking the dog, breaking several dishes, and being verbally abusive. Brown says he has no memory of the incident. Most likely Brown's memory loss is related to _____.

A) Korsakoff's syndrome
B) PTSD
C) GAD
D) depersonalization

Question 73

Organic amnesia often involves the inability to remember new information, known as _____.

A) anterograde amnesia
B) retrograde amnesia
C) retrospective amnesia
D) regressive amnesia

Question 74

Steven left his home abruptly without taking any of his belongings. He relocated to a nearby town. Several months later he returned to his old home with no memory of his absence. Steven would most likely be diagnosed with _____.

A) schizophrenia
B) dissociative identity disorder
C) dissociative fugue
D) depersonalization disorder

Question 75

Amnesia is categorized as either _____ or _____.

A) organic; physiological
B) physiological; biopsychological
C) biopsychological; psychogenic
D) psychogenic; organic

Question 76

The main difference between the amnesia in dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue is that:

A) people with dissociative amnesia typically leave home and create a new life for themselves in another area, while people with dissociative fugue do not take flight and create new identities.
B) people with dissociative fugue typically leave home and create a new life for themselves in another area, while people with dissociative amnesia do not take flight and create new identities.
C) people with dissociative amnesia typically create alternative personalities, whereas people with dissociative fugue typically do not create new identities.
D) people with dissociative fugue typically maintain their original personalities, whereas people with dissociative amnesia create new identities.

Question 77

Verna has no idea how she ended up in her current surroundings. She feels comfortable, and is not bothered by the fact that she cannot remember her past. Most likely, Verna is experiencing a(n) _____.

A) dissociative fugue
B) retrograde state
C) regressive state
D) unconscious state

Question 78

Janet has been diagnosed with dissociative fugue. She is typically likely to:

A) experience autobiographical memory loss.
B) exhibit signs of a false pregnancy.
C) exhibit maladaptive avoidance.
D) experience a high level of anxiety about personal health.

Question 79

Robert has an accident when he is out trekking with his friends. He cannot recall anything that happened just before slipping and hitting his head on a boulder. He most likely has _____.

A) psychogenic amnesia
B) anterograde amnesia
C) retrograde amnesia
D) repressive amnesia

Question 80

When retrograde amnesia is due to organic causes, people will typically remember:

A) where they lived.
B) their personal identities.
C) the names of their children.
D) major historical events of the period.