Question 1

Which assessment finding in a 3-year-old child increases the suspicion for a possible diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder?&#10;A)Language skills are delayed.&#10;B)The child is very near-sighted.&#10;C)Height is below the fifth percentile.&#10;D)The child does not sit still during the assessment interview.

Accepted Answer

Delayed language skills are a common early indicator of autism spectrum disorder. The other options do not necessarily suggest autism spectrum disorder.

Question 2

Which statement regarding behavioral genetics is accurate?&#10;A)Genes and gene products have been discovered that directly control behavior.&#10;B)A genetic predisposition toward a specific behavior can be modified by altering environmental influences.&#10;C)The genotypes and phenotypes of behavioral problems or deviations follow Mendelian autosomal recessive inheritance patterns.&#10;D)The genetic susceptibility or predisposition toward a behavioral disorder requires the trigger of an infectious disease for expression.

Accepted Answer

While genes can influence behavior, they do not directly dictate it, and environmental influences can modify genetic predispositions. The inheritance patterns of behavioral problems are not always clear-cut, and a genetic susceptibility to a behavioral disorder does not always require the trigger of an infectious disease for expression.

Question 3

What is the best description of the genetic contribution to onset of autism?&#10;A)Autism spectrum is caused by a single gene mutation in most,but not all,cases.&#10;B)Exposure to a teratogen can be a cause of autism spectrum in many cases.&#10;C)Known causes of autism spectrum include copy number variants and chromosomal problems.&#10;D)Autism spectrum disorders have a much stronger environmental input than genetic input to expression of the phenotype.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that certain copy number variants (CNVs) and chromosomal problems can contribute to the onset of autism spectrum disorders. While genetic factors play a significant role in the development of autism, it is not caused by a single gene mutation and the environmental contribution is not as strong as the genetic contribution. Teratogens have not been identified as a consistent cause of autism spectrum disorders.

Question 4

Why is direct-to-consumer marketing of diagnostic tests for mental illness a dangerous practice?&#10;A)Because the tests are expensive and not ordered by a health-care provider,they are not covered by insurance.&#10;B)The tests are not predictive of which psychiatric medications are most likely to be beneficial to a specific individual.&#10;C)People using such tests may not receive professional counseling for interpretation of results and accurate risk assessment.&#10;D)These tests are often misused by employers to support the dismissal of employees who express opinions that are different from those of the company.

Accepted Answer

Direct-to-consumer marketing of diagnostic tests for mental illness can be dangerous because people using them may not receive professional counseling for interpretation of results and accurate risk assessment. This lack of professional guidance can lead to misinterpretation of results, misdiagnosis, and inappropriate treatment. It is important for individuals to seek guidance from healthcare professionals who can provide appropriate diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Question 5

What is the heritability estimate for schizophrenia in the general population?&#10;A)40%&#10;B)60%&#10;C)80%&#10;D)100%

Accepted Answer

The heritability estimate for schizophrenia is approximately 80%, indicating a strong genetic component in the risk of developing the disorder.

Question 6

What is the heritability estimate for addiction to alcohol in both males and females?&#10;A)10% to 20%&#10;B)20% to 40%&#10;C)50% to 60%&#10;D)60% to 80%

Accepted Answer

It appears that nearly equal genetic and environmental influences contribute to addiction to alcohol. The heritability estimate is between 50% and 60%.

Question 7

Which condition or behavior suggests attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?&#10;A)A 5-year-old who does not want to go to bed at 8:00 p.m.and begs to be allowed to stay up later.&#10;B)An 8-year-old who can hop on one foot but cannot ride a bicycle without training wheels.&#10;C)A 9-year-old who does not focus on a favorite story or game for longer than 3 minutes.&#10;D)A 10-year-old who prefers to play basketball rather than chess.

Accepted Answer

Not being able to focus on a favorite story or game for more than 3 minutes is a common symptom of ADHD. The other options do not necessarily suggest ADHD.

Question 8

An adult daughter whose mother has bipolar disorder is concerned that she may also have the disorder because she engages in all of the following behaviors.Which behavior should be explored further as a manifestation of bipolar disorder?

A)Crying whenever she looks at a picture of a close friend who died 3 months ago
B)Refusing to allow her husband to participate in general housekeeping chores
C)Having a strong sense of sleepiness daily in the middle of the afternoon
D)Making frequent purchases of expensive clothing that she never wears

Accepted Answer

Making frequent purchases of expensive clothing that she never wears is a symptom of impulsivity that is commonly associated with bipolar disorder. This behavior is often linked with manic episodes where individuals experience elevated mood, increased energy, and racing thoughts, leading to impulsive spending sprees. The other behaviors described may have other explanations and are not necessarily indicative of bipolar disorder on their own.

Question 9

Why is pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics of particular interest in treating patients with psychiatric/mental health problems?&#10;A)Psychiatric medications may be effective in only a small group of patients.&#10;B)Genetics restricts patients to only one drug in each classification.&#10;C)Most psychiatric illnesses are single gene disorders with predictable drug responses.&#10;D)Psychotropic medications have few side effects.

Accepted Answer

Psychiatric medications may be effective in only a small group of patients, so determining which patients will respond well to a particular medication based on their genetic makeup can improve treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of adverse reactions. Pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics can help identify which patients may require higher or lower doses of a medication, which medications may be more effective for them, and whether they may be at risk for certain side effects.

Question 10

Which &#34;schizophrenia fact&#34; is correct?&#10;A)When schizophrenia has more genetic influence,its onset begins in very early childhood.&#10;B)Copy number variants appear to play the most important role in genetic risk for schizophrenia.&#10;C)When one identical twin is affected with schizophrenia the other most certainly will be affected.&#10;D)Because the phenotype of schizophrenia is so obvious,diagnosis and inheritance risk are the most easily determined of all the psychiatric disorders.

Accepted Answer

While genetics do play a role in the development of schizophrenia, it is not strictly determined by genes and is a complex disorder with multiple factors involved. Copy number variants have been found to be a significant genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, but it is not the only one.

Note: None of the options presented is entirely correct, and some contain incorrect information.

Question 11

What is meant by the phrase &#34;behavioral genetics&#34;?&#10;A)Identification of the single gene that corresponds to a specific undesired behavior&#10;B)An area of research aimed at controlling behavior by genetic manipulation&#10;C)The study of the behavior of genes in diverse settings&#10;D)The examination of gene variants that influence behaviors

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by the phrase &#34;behavioral...

Question 12

Which condition provides the greatest support for a strong genetic contribution to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)?&#10;A)Concordance among dizygotic twins is 10%.&#10;B)Males are affected four times more frequently than females.&#10;C)People with some neurologic disorders also have features of ASDs.&#10;D)ASDs are more likely to occur in children of parents who are over 35 at time of conception.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which condition provides the greatest support for...

Deck 13: Genetic Contributions to Psychiatric and Behavioral Disorders