Deck 6: Dissociative Disorders and Somatoform Disorders

Question 1

Donna was brutally assaulted outside the local 7-Eleven.Although she cannot recall the details of the assault,she becomes terrified when she drives past the 7-Eleven.This is an example of a situation in which

A)a person has an explicit memory,but no implicit memory.
B)a person has neither explicit nor implicit memory.
C)a person will most likely develop dissociative identity disorder.
D)a person has no explicit memory,but has an implicit memory.

Answer 1

a person has no explicit memory,but has an implicit memory.

Question 2

Among the dissociative disorders,dissociative fugue is characterized by

A)massive repression.
B)moving away and establishing a new identity.
C)sudden development following severe stress.
D)memory loss for virtually all past events.

Answer 2

moving away and establishing a new identity.

Question 3

Distinguishing organic brain disorders and dissociative amnesia

A)is only possible using neurological tests such as the CAT scan.
B)can be accomplished only if neuropsychological tests are administered soon after the loss of memory is discovered.
C)is quite difficult since the symptoms of dissociative amnesia perfectly mimic those of organic brain disorders.
D)is fairly easy.

Answer 3

is fairly easy.

Question 4

Simon experienced a dissociative disorder.He submitted a job application at an office in Hawaii.After a check was conducted on his fingerprints,his identity was determined to be a man named Alex who was from Kentucky.He was most likely experiencing

A)dissociative amnesia.
B)dissociative fugue.
C)dissociative identity disorder.
D)depersonalization disorder.

Question 5

Which disorder is illustrated by the following? Joe was stressed by many tests and papers that were coming up soon.One day he disappeared.Two weeks later he was found in another state.He was working in a fast food restaurant and had little memory of how he got there or of his life at school.

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

Question 6

Somatoform and dissociative disorders are similar in that both

A)have symptoms suggesting a physical dysfunction.
B)typically begin after a stressful experience.
C)involve aggressive outbursts.
D)are delusional in quality.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of mild dissociation?

A)worrying excessively over your grades
B)not remembering material you studied for a test
C)difficulty committing to social relationships
D)being so preoccupied you forget an appointment

Question 8

Bradford reports the following unusual experiences: He finds used tea bags in the waste basket,although he does not like tea and lives alone;he discovered several suits in his closet that he had no memory of buying and did not like;he has had people greet him calling him "William" or "Christian" whom he has never met before.Which DSM-IV-TR diagnosis would best fit Bradford's symptoms?

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

Question 9

The prognosis for dissociative amnesia usually involves a _______ remission with ________ recovery.

A)gradual;complete
B)gradual;partial
C)sudden;complete
D)sudden;partial

Question 10

Explicit memory is to conscious recall of experiences as implicit memory is to

A)repressed memories.
B)behaviors based on experiences that cannot be consciously recalled.
C)behaviors based on experiences that occurred before the onset of speech.
D)dreams.

Question 11

Following a dissociative fugue episode,the person often

A)does not remember the events that occurred during the episode.
B)remembers most of the events occurring during the episode,although they may be denied to avoid embarrassment.
C)is predisposed to have further episodes at times of stress.
D)is likely to develop another type of dissociative disorder.

Question 12

Ms.Hall consulted a physician because of the following experience: The week before,she felt that another voice was talking to her,although she tried to ignore it.She then had a period of hours which she was unable to recall,but her boyfriend reported later that during that period she behaved like a completely different person,being loud and boisterous in contrast to her usual shy and sedate personality.She had never had a similar experience and was at a loss to explain it.Ms.Hall's symptoms most likely meet the criteria for

A)schizophrenia.
B)depersonalization disorder.
C)dissociative identity disorder.
D)None of the above is correct.

Question 13

Which of the following disorders is Lakeisha most likely experiencing? Following an auto accident,she reported that "Everything is strange.It's like I'm not me.I'm just going through the motions.Nothing seems real anymore."

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

Question 14

Dissociative amnesia may be BEST distinguished from brain injury by

A)the loss of ego functioning in dissociative amnesia.
B)additional cognitive deficits in brain injury.
C)the presence of prograde memory loss in dissociative amnesia.
D)the presence of severe anxiety in dissociative amnesia.

Question 15

Since watching his mother get hit and killed by a car two years ago,Chris has felt like he has been watching himself from outside of his body and thinks that voices sound strange.He is likely suffering from

A)depersonalization disorder.
B)dissociative identity disorder.
C)dissociative fugue.
D)None of the above;it cannot be determined based on the information given.

Question 16

Mildred has been struggling with feelings of chronic depersonalization for several years.If she has depersonalization disorder,she most likely

A)has impaired memory functioning.
B)has a well-developed sense of self,just feelings of not being present.
C)has experienced some abuse at an earlier age.
D)is not employed.

Question 17

Dissociative disorders share

A)feelings of depersonalization.
B)an alteration in consciousness or identity.
C)an inability to distinguish reality from fantasy.
D)physical symptoms with no physiological basis.

Question 18

With regard to the theory that adults can recover memories of childhood abuse after many years,

A)it is best to assume that such people are malingering.
B)it is viable to assume that such recovered memories are indeed true.
C)it is best to treat these people as sufferers of PTSD.
D)it is safest to regard such theories as tentative.

Question 19

Why are there many questions regarding the role of memory under stress with respect to dissociative disorders?

A)People have trouble recalling events.
B)Few brain-imaging studies have been conducted to date.
C)Some lines of research indicate that high levels of stress enhance memory.
D)Research indicates that,under stress,people store memories in different areas of the brain.

Question 20

The categorization of depersonalization disorder as a dissociative disorder is controversial because

A)there are no somatic symptoms.
B)there is no associated anxiety.
C)only one symptom is required for diagnosis.
D)there is a heightened sensory awareness.

Question 21

John is 'not feeling himself today.' In this light,he has been doing many things out of character,such as getting angry and expressing it,when he is usually shy and reserved,even when upset.He is most likely

A)just having an unusual day.
B)developing dissociative identity disorder.
C)suffering from dissociative fugue.
D)suffering from an impulse control disorder.

Question 22

Hilda is being treated for dissociative identity disorder.It is most likely that as part of treatment she will

A)receive high dose antipsychotic medication.
B)receive hypnosis.
C)have biofeedback.
D)All of the above are correct.

Question 23

One major theory of the etiology of dissociative identity disorder is that it results from

A)fear of facing the complexities of adult living.
B)drug use in predisposed individuals.
C)suggestions by therapists or media influences.
D)having a fantasy life more reinforcing than reality

Question 24

Research on the effectiveness of psychological treatment of dissociative identity disorder

A)shows that behavioral-cognitive therapy is moderately effective.
B)has been hampered by the publicity surrounding known cases.
C)supports the post-traumatic model of its etiology.
D)is limited to observations of a few specialized therapists.

Question 25

The post-traumatic model of DID

A)has the most substantial empirical support.
B)assumes that DID begins in childhood as a result of severe abuse.
C)assumes that DID is created in therapy.
D)assumes DID is due to suggestions from the media.

Question 26

Although different alters report an inability to share memories,

A)studies suggest that alters can share some implicit memories.
B)studies suggest that alters share more explicit memories,but they are just repressed.
C)studies indicate that most alters are completely fabricated.
D)research suggests that role-playing is the best explanation of DID.

Question 27

Dr.Jones believes that different alters appear during adulthood after the suggestion of a therapist.This is consistent with

A)psychoanalytic theory.
B)behavioral theory.
C)social role enactment.
D)self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 28

According to Claire's friends,she never exhibited signs of DID.However,after watching Sybil on TV and visiting a therapist regularly,Claire began exhibiting different personalities.A socio-cultural theory of the development of Claire's DID would suggest that

A)Claire must have been sexually abused as a child.
B)Claire must have come from a dysfunctional family and had few friends growing up.
C)Claire's alters appeared in response to exposure to media and therapists' suggestions.
D)Claire has repressed memories for too long.

Question 29

Therapists who are most likely to diagnose DID tend to

A)practice behavioral techniques.
B)use hypnosis.
C)use biofeedback.
D)support the sociocultural model.

Question 30

Most people with dissociative identity disorder exhibit high _________ and experienced a history of _____________.

A)child abuse;criminal behavior.
B)hypnotic susceptibility;child abuse.
C)hypnotic susceptibility;criminal behavior.
D)sensation seeking;amnesia.

Question 31

The controlled outcome studies on dissociative identity disorder (DID)show

A)superior outcome when psychodynamic treatment is employed.
B)integration of alters is easily achieved in most people with DID.
C)psychotropic medications are effective in eliminating alters.
D)None of the above;no controlled outcomes studies on DID exist.

Question 32

Dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia

A)are two entirely different disorders.
B)are synonyms.
C)are very similar;the person with schizophrenia has two personalities,while the person with dissociative identity disorder has three or more.
D)are similar in that both involve a split between cognition and emotion.

Question 33

All of the following have been cited as reasons for changes in the prevalence of dissociative identity disorder over the years EXCEPT

A)changes in the diagnostic criteria for the disorder.
B)publication of popular accounts such as "Sybil."
C)changes in the medical sophistication and level of education in modern society.
D)changing definitions of schizophrenia.

Question 34

The two major theories of DID are

A)post-traumatic and sociocognitive.
B)post-traumatic and psychoanalytic.
C)behavioral and psychoanalytic.
D)cognitive-behavioral and posttraumatic.

Question 35

The diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder has been controversial,in part due to

A)early confusion with schizophrenia.
B)recent increases in reported cases.
C)distorted views in popular literature.
D)lack of cases in other countries.

Question 36

The most commonly diagnosed comorbid disorders with dissociative identity disorder are

A)anxiety and depression.
B)somatoform and substance abuse disorders.
C)bipolar disorder and depression.
D)schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Question 37

The goal of treatment of dissociative disorders should be to

A)encourage repression of the underlying trauma.
B)encourage others to reinforce symptoms.
C)convince the person that splitting into different personalities is no longer necessary to deal with traumas.
D)provide a confrontational setting where symptoms are not needed.

Question 38

Most approaches to treating dissociative disorders include elements of

A)psychoanalytic techniques.
B)behavioral techniques.
C)cognitive approaches.
D)All of the above are correct.

Question 39

The study by Spanos et al. ,based on the "Hillside Strangler" Ken Bianchi,showed that

A)people without dissociative identity disorder can adopt multiple personalities if a situation demands it.
B)dissociative identity disorder results from people enacting a role.
C)dissociative identity disorder does not sway a jury when used as part of an insanity defense.
D)malingering cannot be detected by psychiatrists.

Question 40

The onset of dissociative identity disorder is generally believed to begin during ____________ and is found most often in people with ___________ history of abuse.

A)adolescence;no
B)adolescence;a severe
C)childhood;no
D)childhood;a severe

Question 41

Which of the following is sometimes used as a synonym for somatization disorder?

A)psychophysiological disorder
B)psychosomatic disorder
C)hysteria
D)Briquet's syndrome

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT presented in the text as a criticism of somatoform disorders?

A)Body dysmorphic disorder does not have much in common with the other somatoform disorders
B)There is incredible diversity among people diagnosed with somatoform disorders
C)The defining feature of somatoform disorders implies that physical and psychological processes can be separated
D)All of the following are criticisms of somatoform disorders

Question 43

Jaclyn is preoccupied with her eyes,feeling that they are asymmetrical.She spends hours applying makeup in an effort to make her eyes appear exactly the same size and shape.The extent of her routine requires hours and has cost her several jobs.She has had plastic surgery,but this has not alleviated her concerns.The most likely diagnosis for Jaclyn would be

A)body dysmorphic disorder.
B)conversion disorder.
C)hypochondriasis.
D)somatization disorder.

Question 44

Paul is seeking a large insurance settlement following a car accident and undergoes a physical evaluation of his injuries.Paul complains of total numbness in his right leg since the accident.Which of the following would indicate that he was malingering?

A)He reports full sensation in his left leg.
B)He reports full sensation along his right side.
C)He reports no medical problems before the accident.
D)He reports being able to reduce the pain at times.

Question 45

Julie experienced inexplicable blindness.She visited several ophthalmologists,all of whom indicated there was no physical basis for her blindness.She most likely has

A)hypochondriasis.
B)dissociative disorder.
C)conversion disorder.
D)body dysmorphic disorder.

Question 46

Which of the following is a potential symptom of conversion disorder?

A)extreme anxiety
B)paralysis in the hand
C)chronic sweating
D)hypersensitivity to pain

Question 47

A psychologist is examining Colleen and thinks that she may have somatization disorder.Which of the following would most refute this idea?

A)She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
B)She actively uses marijuana.
C)She demonstrates "la belle indifference".
D)She reports having irregular menstrual cycles.

Question 48

While sitting at dinner,Mary inexplicably begins to sweat.She immediately thinks that she must have a deadly heart condition.Which diagnosis most appropriately describes Mary?

A)somatization disorder
B)obsessive-compulsive disorder
C)hypochondriasis
D)specific phobia

Question 49

Robert complained of complete lack of sensation in both knees,but a physical exam revealed no physiological damage.Which of the following would be the most likely diagnosis for Robert?

A)body dysmorphic disorder
B)somatization disorder
C)conversion disorder
D)hypochondriasis

Question 50

Fred has pain disorder.His clinician distinguished it from actual pain as

A)Fred was dependent on pain killers.
B)Fred gave very specific descriptions of the location of the pain.
C)Fred was unable to describe situations associated with a decrease in pain.
D)It is impossible to distinguish it from actual pain

Question 51

Louise arrived at the emergency room complaining of severe stomach pain.After careful evaluation,it became clear that Louise had purposely given herself food poisoning.She would most likely

A)be malingering.
B)have somatization disorder.
C)have la belle indifference.
D)have factitious disorder.

Question 52

Rates of somatization disorder are

A)higher in African American women.
B)lower in Puerto Rican people.
C)lowest in Asian women.
D)equally distributed across cultures.

Question 53

Which of the following best illustrates hypochondriasis?

A)An ulcer caused by stress.
B)A persistent unsubstantiated fear of having cancer.
C)Having obsessions with an imagined physical defect,such as facial wrinkles.
D)Experiencing recurring pain with no physical basis.

Question 54

Somatoform disorders all involve

A)physical symptoms.
B)dysphoric mood.
C)disruptions of consciousness.
D)hallucinations.

Question 55

With regard to somatization disorders,cultural differences probably influence

A)whether an individual has a comorbid anxiety disorder.
B)how an individual understands and communicates his or her distress.
C)an individual's sophistication in understanding his or her symptoms.
D)whether an individual has a comorbid mood disorder.

Question 56

Unlike a malingerer,a person with factitious disorder

A)does not exhibit "la belle indifference."
B)has primarily psychological,not physical,symptoms.
C)has physical symptoms that are not under voluntary control.
D)has no clear motivation for adopting the symptoms.

Question 57

Which of the following is most similar to somatization disorder?

A)body dysmorphic disorder
B)conversion disorder
C)hypochondriasis
D)dissociative disorder

Question 58

In the case of Anna O. ,her conversion symptoms involved her

A)left leg.
B)sexual dysfunction.
C)her right side,beginning with her arm.
D)scalp,nose,and lips.

Question 59

William has been diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder because of his excessive concerns about having too much body hair.Which of the following would completely eliminate his symptoms?

A)plastic surgery
B)eliminating all mirrors from his house
C)shaving
D)None of the above would eliminate his symptoms.

Question 60

Conversion disorder is NOT a likely diagnosis for someone experiencing an inexplicable loss of

A)feeling.
B)vision.
C)memory.
D)speech.

Question 61

Conversion disorder was first studied by Freud;before then it was referred to as

A)la belle indifference.
B)hysteria.
C)hypochondriasis.
D)Briquet's syndrome.

Question 62

Conversion disorder occupies a central place in psychodynamic theory because it provides a clear example of the role of

A)repression.
B)the unconscious.
C)the pleasure principle.
D)stages of development.

Question 63

Roseanne is suffering from hysterical blindness.She participates in a study,and it is shown that she

A)is actually faking her blindness.
B)cannot respond to any visual stimuli.
C)responds to visual stimuli but is unaware that she did so.
D)appears to respond to visual stimuli but in fact has learned to detect other sensory cues (e.g. ,heat,noise,etc. ).

Question 64

For a diagnosis of conversion disorder,symptoms must be related to

A)body dysmorphic.
B)derealization.
C)a stressful event.
D)a head injury.

Question 65

Conversion disorder and somatization disorder are distinct because only one involves

A)frequent visits to physicians.
B)long-term complaints.
C)symptoms that worsen under stress.
D)All of the above are symptoms of both disorders

Question 66

What is the basis for sociocultural theories of conversion disorder?

A)The greater prevalence of conversion disorder in urban areas.
B)The increased use of hypnosis by psychiatrists.
C)The increase in conversion disorder during the 1960s.
D)The decrease in conversion disorder over the last century.

Question 67

The onset of conversion symptoms is usually

A)sudden and related to a stressful situation.
B)gradual and subtle.
C)not associated with psychological distress.
D)preceded by a period of physical illness.

Question 68

According to experimental research on the role of the unconscious,if you are shown a hexagon for 1 millisecond (a level too fast for you to actually perceive consciously),when asked to rate preferences for shapes you will

A)not prefer the hexagon over other shapes.
B)be able to indicate that the hexagon 'looks familiar.'
C)likely prefer the hexagon over other shapes.
D)be disinterested in hexagons.

Question 69

The importance of social and cultural factors in conversion disorder is suggested by data showing that the disorder is more common in

A)high stress occupations.
B)psychoanalytic patients.
C)non-Western countries.
D)people with few social supports.

Question 70

Conversion disorder is most common in

A)women.
B)men.
C)They are equally common in men and women.
D)No information is yet available on prevalence among men vs.women.

Question 71

The psychodynamic perspective on conversion disorder was revised in light of experimental findings with hysterically blind people who

A)have underlying brain defects.
B)can see when under hypnosis.
C)can respond to visual information.
D)experienced traumatic visual events.

Question 72

People with blindsight

A)have sustained damage to their brain.
B)do not know that they can see.
C)have sustained no damage to their eyes.
D)All of the above are correct

Question 73

Contemporary psychodynamic research on hysterically blind individuals indicates that they repress

A)the awareness that they see.
B)visual stimuli.
C)information extracted from visual stimuli.
D)their motives about seeing.

Question 74

The higher incidence of conversion disorder during Freud's time has been attributed to

A)prevalent sexually repressive attitudes.
B)pervasive beliefs in mystics and magical thinking.
C)the high incidence of unreported sexual abuse.
D)clinicians inadvertently creating the disorder through hypnosis.

Question 75

The performance of an hysterically blind person on a visual test appears to depend on

A)their motivation to maintain their symptom.
B)the degree of physical impairment.
C)the neurological basis for their symptom.
D)their unconscious need to please the experimenter.

Question 76

The importance of conversion disorder in psychoanalysis is based upon

A)Freud's discovery that patients with conversion disorders were usually victims of sexual abuse.
B)Freud who suffered from and overcame a conversion disorder.
C)Freud's belief that more directive methods were appropriate for treating conversion disorders,paving the way for linking psychoanalysis and behavior therapy.
D)Freud's development of many psychoanalytic concepts while treating patients with conversion disorder.

Question 77

"The finding that conversion disorder is currently more common in Libya than in England means that cultures with increased medical sophistication are less likely to have somatoform disorders." What is a flaw in this argument?

A)Conversion disorder was actually more common in 19th century England.
B)It fails to recognize that differing rates may be caused by variations in diagnostic practices.
C)Conversion disorder is fundamentally different from the somatoform disorders.
D)None of the above is correct.

Question 78

Lucy complained of paralysis in her leg that made it impossible for her to work or do household chores.When in the emergency room,she appeared unconcerned with her ailment and discussed it at great length.She even invited people to come and poke her leg to show that she experienced no sensations.She would most likely be diagnosed with

A)somatization disorder.
B)conversion disorder.
C)malingering.
D)hypochondriasis.

Question 79

Sandra has 'glove anesthesia.' This diagnosis

A)may be incorrect if Sandra has a job involving a great deal of typing.
B)can be made with near certainty.
C)depends on the degree of accompanying anxiety experienced by the patient.
D)is not appropriate;pain disorder is the correct term.

Question 80

Freud's early theory of conversions hypothesized that they resulted from repressed

A)events.
B)conflicts.
C)desires.
D)stimuli.