Deck 15: A: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

To reduce the diagnostic difficulties caused by variability in approaches to psychological disorders,what does the DSM-IV-TR emphasize?

A)the treatment strategies that professionals should employ.
B)the description of symptoms and courses of disorders.
C)the etiological theories of various disorders.
D)the ten most common categories of psychological disorders.

Answer 1

the description of symptoms and courses of disorders.

Question 2

Which view of psychopathology places the most emphasis on the role of the context or environment in which someone lives as an important factor in both the diagnosis and etiology of abnormal behaviour?

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

Answer 2

sociocultural

Question 3

Which statement about mental disorders is generally true?

A)The term,'mental disorder' is considered invalid by most of the scientific community.
B)Normality and abnormality are separate and distinct categories.
C)Mental disorders can be understood in terms of neurotransmitter function.
D)Mental disorders are conditions that vary on a continuum from mental health to mental illness.

Answer 3

Mental disorders are conditions that vary on a continuum from mental health to mental illness.

Question 4

According to Freud,what is the primary cause of psychological disorders?

A)early childhood experiences.
B)social and cultural norms.
C)interpersonal relationships.
D)negative self-attributions.

Question 5

What were neurotic disorders,or neuroses,originally conceived to be?

A)relatively common psychological problems.
B)extremely rare psychological problems.
C)characterized by brain abnormalities.
D)accompanied by irrational thinking and violation of basic norms.

Question 6

"There is no question that what we call psychopathology is caused by unconscious conflicts that trigger anxiety and malfunctioning." Which approach to psychopathology is consistent with this view?

A)biological
B)psychodynamic
C)behavioural
D)sociocultural

Question 7

What is the definition of comorbidity?

A)a disorder that is characterized by a fascination with death.
B)the existence of more than one disorder in a person at the same time.
C)a form of multiple personality disorder that is sometimes confused with schizophrenia.
D)a disorder that is characterized by excessive,deep-sleep patterns.

Question 8

Talya is a clinician working in the field of psychological disorders in Canada.What would her primary reference tool most likely be?

A)Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
B)Psychological Diagnosis Reference Profiles.
C)Classification and Listings of Psychiatric Maladies.
D)International Classification of Diseases.

Question 9

A person has hallucinations,"hearing" things that no one else can hear.With respect to this behaviour,which criterion of abnormality has been met?

A)personal distress.
B)irrationality.
C)violation of moral and ideal standards.
D)maladaptiveness.

Question 10

Which statement about the criteria used to label behaviour as "abnormal" is accurate?

A)none of the criteria are necessary conditions shared by all cases of abnormality.
B)only the criterion of "statistical rarity" is common to all cases of abnormal behaviour.
C)only the criterion of "personal distress or disabled functioning" is a necessary condition shared by all cases of abnormality.
D)the criterion of "maladaptiveness" is a necessary condition,but not a sufficient condition shared by all cases of abnormality.

Question 11

A man describes himself as someone who exercises poor judgement and inevitably hinders his own goal-seeking behaviour.He also tends to interfere with the goals of family members.Which criterion of abnormality does this type of behaviour meet?

A)unpredictability.
B)irrationality.
C)maladaptiveness.
D)observer discomfort.

Question 12

When Christie speaks in front of a group,she becomes anxious and nauseated.When asked why she feels this way,she says that she is afraid to embarrass herself in front of others.Which psychological perspective best explains Christie's response?

A)psychodynamic
B)psychopathological
C)cognitive
D)sociocultural

Question 13

A defendant on trial says that although he knows he pulled the trigger that killed the victim,he did not know that what he was doing was wrong.Under the guidelines of the M'Naghten rule,could the man claim insanity?

A)Yes,because he did not know he was doing something wrong.
B)Yes,because he experienced a psychotic break.
C)No,because he knew that he pulled the trigger.
D)No,because he should have been able to suppress his actions.

Question 14

A therapist believes that his client's depression is caused by her inability to express anger and her tendency to restrain her feelings.With respect to the goal of classification of psychological disorders,in what area are the therapist's observations most beneficial?

A)in understanding the etiology.
B)in increasing the validity of the diagnosis.
C)in suggesting the treatment plan.
D)in developing a common shorthand language.

Question 15

In the latter part of the 18th century,Philippe Pinel became one of the first clinicians to use a classification system for psychological difficulties.Which concept is the foundation of this classification system?

A)behaviours are less important than thoughts.
B)thoughts are less important than behaviours.
C)psychological problems are similar to physical illnesses.
D)childhood experiences are the root cause of psychological problems.

Question 16

What type of information does Axis III of the DSM-IV-TR incorporate?

A)personality disorders.
B)clinical disorders.
C)general medical conditions.
D)psychosocial problems.

Question 17

A lawyer is presenting an insanity case to the jury and in his argument,he states that the DSM-IV-TR defines insanity as a mental disorder with a genetic basis.What makes this lawyer's statement questionable?

A)Insanity is not defined in the DSM-IV-TR.
B)Insanity is defined as behaviour that is agreed upon by professionals to be psychotic.
C)Insanity is defined as behaviour that is rare,maladaptive,injurious to the self or others,and culturally unacceptable.
D)Insanity has many different definitions,each keyed to a specific psychopathological disorder.

Question 18

Which statement supports Thomas Szasz' view of mental illness?

A)It is a myth and does not exist.
B)It is best treated through biological interventions.
C)It is caused by overwhelming stress in people's lives.
D)It is a major social problem that must be addressed.

Question 19

What is the DSM-IV-TR?

A)the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,fourth edition,revised.
B)the most recent version of the classification system proposed by Kraeplin.
C)the most recent version of the ICD.
D)the most recent classification of psychoses and psychoneuroses.

Question 20

Why is it more difficult to make a psychological diagnosis than a medical one?

A)Psychological diagnoses rely on interpretations of a person's action,whereas medical diagnoses rely on physical evidence.
B)Those who make psychological diagnoses use a vast array of diagnostic tools that may or may not be complementary.
C)Psychologists do not undergo the medical training that psychiatrists are required to undergo.
D)The range of psychological illnesses is greater than that for medical illnesses.

Question 21

A woman did not know why,but suddenly she was gripped by a feeling of intense terror.Her heart started to race and she felt as though she could not breathe.She felt like she was going to die.Which term best characterizes this experience?

A)phobia.
B)obsession.
C)compulsion.
D)panic attack.

Question 22

A student is so anxious about giving his speech in front of the class that he actually becomes nauseous and has to leave the classroom.Which diagnosis is most appropriate?

A)agoraphobia.
B)social phobia.
C)specific phobia.
D)situational phobia.

Question 23

With respect to the prevalence of symptoms of the various anxiety disorders in the adult population,what do the statistics reveal?

A)anxiety disorders are extremely rare and characteristic symptoms are experienced by few individuals.
B)about 12% of the population has experienced symptoms characteristic of the various anxiety disorders within a single year.
C)more than 50% of the all adults will experience symptoms of anxiety disorders in their lifetime.
D)most individuals experience severe symptoms characteristic of anxiety disorders at one point in their lifetime.

Question 24

A patient reports that her first panic attack was frightening and embarrassing.She was in the mall and people gathered around her.Over the next few months,the attacks started occurring more frequently,almost always in public places.Now she is afraid to leave the safety of her house.Which diagnosis is most appropriate?

A)agoraphobia.
B)schizophrenia.
C)bipolar disorder.
D)dissociative fugue.

Question 25

How do phobias differ from fears?

A)Phobias cause less distress.
B)Phobic objects can be avoided.
C)Phobias are less specific.
D)Phobias are excessive and unreasonable.

Question 26

Milo has such a fear of flying insects that he refuses to go outdoors in the summer.When asked to explain Milo's phobia,what would a behavioural psychologist most likely say?

A)Milo is being reinforced for not going outdoors by a reduction in anxiety.
B)Milo believes that flying insects are symbolic of freedom from dependency.
C)Milo has a neurological disorder that is causing his symptoms.
D)Milo has a misperception that flying insects are dangerous.

Question 27

In a study that is described in the textbook,researchers used fMRI scans to compare patterns of brain activity in individuals who developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)in response to traumatic experiences and in those who did not.What did the researchers discover?

A)there were no differences between the brain activity of individuals who did and did not experience PTSD.
B)individuals who did experience or did not experience PTSD were different only when recalling memories of traumatic events.
C)individuals who did experience PTSD were different when recalling memories of sad,anxious,or traumatic events compared to individuals who did not experience PTSD.
D)individuals who did experience or did not experience PTSD were different when recalling happy memories,but not traumatic memories.

Question 28

For almost a year,Ted has felt worried,irritable,and uneasy,although he does not feel threatened by anything specific.In addition,his muscles seem tense,he feels fatigued,and he is having problems sleeping.Which diagnosis is most appropriate?

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

Question 29

Genetic predispositions make an individual vulnerable to a psychological disorder,but psychological stress is necessary for the disorder to develop fully.Which term best characterizes this view?

A)psychodynamic.
B)cognitive.
C)interactionist.
D)behavioural.

Question 30

What are the two categories of phobias defined by the DSM-IV-TR?

A)voluntary and involuntary.
B)real and imagined.
C)social and specific.
D)global and natural.

Question 31

What do the research findings suggest about panic disorder?

A)0)7 percent of Canadian adults have experienced panic disorder in a single year.
B)17.4 percent of Canadian adults have experienced panic disorder in a single year.
C)29.5 percent of Canadian adults have experienced panic disorder in a single year.
D)the majority of Canadian adults have experienced a form of panic disorder at some point in their lives.

Question 32

Before going to sleep,a man checks his alarm clock to make sure it is set.A short while later,he checks it again and turns off his light.Then he turns the light back on and checks his alarm again.This goes on repeatedly each night until he is so tired he falls asleep.Which type of psychological disorder is being characterized?

A)personality disorder.
B)dissociative disorder.
C)schizophrenia.
D)anxiety disorder.

Question 33

What is the major goal of research on disorders that are already included in the DSM or are being considered for inclusion in the DSM?

A)to find cures for the disorders.
B)to provide the most valid diagnoses.
C)to prevent the occurrence of the disorders.
D)to decrease the number of disorders included in the DSM.

Question 34

What do obsessions and compulsions involve,respectively?

A)fears; phobias
B)phobias; fears
C)thoughts; actions
D)actions; thoughts

Question 35

Ian has a terrible fear of flying insects.How would a behavioural therapist explain the origins of Ian's fear?

A)His thought processes surrounding insects are maladaptive.
B)He has unconscious conflicts that originated in his childhood.
C)He has learned from a bad experience with bees.
D)He has an excess of GABA.

Question 36

While watching one of Shakespeare's plays,Rachel notices that Lady Macbeth seems to have an anxiety disorder.In one scene,Lady Macbeth repeatedly washes nonexistent blood off her hands.If Rachel were to adopt a psychodynamic explanation for Lady Macbeth's behaviour,what might Rachel suggest?

A)her parents consistently reinforced cleanliness in her childhood.
B)she is suffering from a neurological disorder.
C)her behaviour is a consequence of an evolutionary predisposition.
D)her hand washing is a symbolic representation of an underlying conflict.

Question 37

A psychologist with a cognitive orientation is counselling a person who is afraid of speaking in front of others.What is the psychologist most likely to focus upon?

A)the experiences the person had in the past when speaking in front of others.
B)the related electrical activity in certain parts of the brain.
C)the self-defeating attitudes and perceptions that feed the anxiety.
D)the type of medication that can be prescribed to reduce the level of anxiety.

Question 38

Although she knows it does not make sense and she dreads having to do so,a woman must count to a million before she gets out of bed.This takes her most of the day.Which diagnosis best captures this behaviour?

A)posttraumatic stress disorder.
B)schizophrenia.
C)a mood disorder.
D)obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 39

Some theorists have looked to our evolutionary past to understand certain types of psychological disorders.Which psychological disorder has been partially explained through the preparedness hypothesis?

A)residual schizophrenia.
B)bipolar disorder.
C)phobic disorder.
D)paranoid personality disorder.

Question 40

Which brain receptors function differently in individuals who suffer from panic disorder?

A)serotonin
B)norepinephrine
C)GABA
D)glutamate

Question 41

According to the DSM-IV-TR,what are the two major types of mood disorders?

A)mania and sadness.
B)depression and elation.
C)major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
D)seasonal affective disorder and suicidal ideation.

Question 42

In a study that is described in the textbook,researchers recruited 15 participants who were currently experiencing depression and 45 control participants with no history of depression.Participants wore a device that allowed researchers to monitor eye movements.What was discovered when photographs representing different emotions were displayed?

A)participants who were currently depressed spent more time looking at sad photos and less time looking at positive photos.
B)participants who had recovered from depression had particular difficulty looking at sad photos,preferring the positive ones.
C)participants who had no history of depression had particular difficulty looking at happy photos.
D)participants who were currently depressed had particular difficulty looking at sad photos,preferring the positive ones.

Question 43

A man feels as though his life is like a rollercoaster.He goes through periods of severe depression that alternate with manic episodes.Which diagnosis is most appropriate?

A)dissociative disorder.
B)undifferentiated schizophrenia.
C)panic disorder.
D)bipolar disorder.

Question 44

Which statement about depressed individuals is consistent with the views of Seligman?

A)They are more susceptible to stress in their lives.
B)They are in a state of learned helplessness.
C)They have low levels of the neurotransmitter,serotonin.
D)They have low levels of the neurotransmitter,dopamine.

Question 45

Which disorder is characterized as "the common cold of psychopathology"?

A)generalized anxiety disorder
B)phobic disorder
C)depression
D)panic disorder

Question 46

Which psychological perspective suggests that holding the belief that one has little personal control over events contributes to depression?

A)cognitive
B)psychodynamic
C)behavioural
D)biological

Question 47

The types of attributions that individuals make when explaining the causes of failure can make them vulnerable to depression.According to explanatory style theory,what types of attributions do these individuals typically make?

A)internal,unstable,and specific
B)external,unstable,and global
C)external,stable,and specific
D)internal,stable,and global

Question 48

What has the research on depression indicated?

A)men and women suffer from depression in equal numbers.
B)depression accounts for the majority of all mental hospital admissions in Canada.
C)depression is unlikely to reappear once the symptoms have resolved.
D)most individuals who suffer from major depressive disorder receive professional help.

Question 49

What subject pool did Martin Seligman study when developing his "explanatory style" theory of depression?

A)rats that were required to run complex mazes.
B)dogs that were subjected to unavoidable shocks.
C)pigeons that had to peck a light in order to receive food.
D)individuals who had recently lost their spouses.

Question 50

Two girls are identical twins and two boys are fraternal twins.If one girl and one boy are afflicted by a mood disorder,what can be expected of the remaining twins?

A)there is a better chance that the other boy will have a mood disorder.
B)there is a better chance that the other girl will have a mood disorder.
C)there is an equal chance that the other boy and girl will have mood disorders.
D)neither the other boy nor the other girl is likely to have a mood disorder.

Question 51

Based on the relationship between explanatory style and depression,which statement would most likely be associated with depression?

A)"I'll always be a failure because I can't do anything right."
B)"This is the hardest course I have ever taken in my life."
C)"The teacher gave me a bad grade because he doesn't like blondes."
D)"Sure he did well,he spent the whole week studying."

Question 52

In a study that is described in the textbook,the ability of participants to recognize anxiety-related words versus neutral words was measured.What do the results of this study suggest?

A)people without a history of panic attacks can develop panic attacks when shown anxiety-related words.
B)people suffering from anxiety disorders focus their attention on stimuli that sustain their anxiety.
C)people with high anxiety deny having seen words that have a high anxiety-related content.
D)people's thought processes are not systematically related to their levels of anxiety.

Question 53

A therapist believes that the cause of her client's depression is anger directed inwardly against himself.Which psychological perspective is most likely being characterized?

A)biological
B)psychodynamic
C)behavioural
D)cognitive

Question 54

According to Aaron Beck,what is the primary cause of the "paralysis of will" that is prominent in depression?

A)insufficient positive reinforcement.
B)an accumulation of punishments.
C)a negative view of the future.
D)a loss or other major life change.

Question 55

An individual who suffers from bipolar disorder is asked to name the colours in which words are printed while undergoing an fMRI scan.What type of activity would most likely be recorded in the caudal ventral prefrontal cortex (cVPFC)?

A)elevated activity.
B)depressed activity.
C)differences in brain activity dependent on the words being presented.
D)differences in brain activity dependent on the moods being experienced.

Question 56

When the dogs in Seligman and Maier's study of learned helplessness appeared rigid,listless,and distressed,what type of deficits were being expressed?

A)motivational
B)emotional
C)cognitive
D)behavioural

Question 57

Laurel has recently been diagnosed as suffering from periods of deep depression alternating with manic episodes.Which term best reflects this diagnosis?

A)bipolar disorder.
B)cyclothymia.
C)dysthymia.
D)major depressive disorder.

Question 58

Which explanation for a client's lingering state of depression would most likely be given by a behavioural therapist?

A)the individual has not had enough positive reinforcement and has become sad and withdrawn.
B)the individual was especially dependent during childhood.
C)the individual has a maladaptive explanatory style.
D)the individual expresses self-criticism and guilt.

Question 59

According to recent research on the biology of mood disorders,which disorder is associated with increased levels of serotonin and norepinephrine?

A)mania
B)depression
C)seasonal affective disorder
D)suicidal thoughts

Question 60

According to a proposal by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema,how are women more likely to respond to sadness?

A)by seeking the company of others.
B)by thinking about their feelings.
C)by eating foods high in carbohydrates.
D)by engaging in physical activity.

Question 61

A man has an exaggerated sense of self-importance and is preoccupied with the fantasy that he is going to run a major company some day.He does not have any friends,would never think to ask about anyone else,and seems to need constant admiration.Which personality disorder is being characterized?

A)paranoid
B)histrionic
C)narcissistic
D)antisocial

Question 62

Joe is well known at the police station.Although only in his twenties,Joe has been arrested many times for a variety of unlawful behaviours.He usually denies any involvement,but eventually says that his victims are losers and that their loss is his gain.Which diagnosis best captures Joe's behaviour?

A)conduct disorder
B)attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
C)antisocial personality disorder
D)histrionic personality disorder

Question 63

Which disorder is popularly known as "split personality" and was referred to as "multiple personality disorder" in early editions of the DSM?

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

Question 64

Jack spends most of his time frozen in a bizarre posture.Occasionally he refuses to do what is requested of him and sometimes he waves his arms in a windmill fashion.Which type of schizophrenia is being described?

A)paranoid
B)catatonic
C)undifferentiated
D)disorganized

Question 65

At times,a patient with schizophrenia imagines herself to be the devil.Which term best characterizes this phenomenon?

A)illusion
B)misperception
C)hallucination
D)delusion

Question 66

Marcus has a personality disorder.Based on this information alone,what can be assumed?

A)the onset of the disorder occurred in middle age.
B)he has one of two forms of the disorder,according to the DSM-IV-TR.
C)the problem developed suddenly and could be classified as acute.
D)his behaviour is inflexible and maladaptive.

Question 67

A study described in the textbook established an important relationship between genetic variations and life experiences in the etiology of depression.What did the results indicate?

A)Genetic differences in combination with negative life events greatly increase the likelihood that individuals will experience depression.
B)Life events alone increase the likelihood that individuals will experience depression.
C)Genetic variations alone increase the likelihood that individuals will experience depression.
D)There is a negative correlation between the number of negative life events experienced and the incidence of depression.

Question 68

Which disorder is characterized by paralysis or blindness without a medical cause?

A)conversion disorder.
B)hypochondriasis.
C)Munchuasen Syndrome.
D)dissociative amnesia.

Question 69

What does research on gender differences in depression suggest about the relationship between rumination and depression?

A)It is stronger in adolescent girls than adolescent boys.
B)It is a very weak one.
C)It only exists in adolescent boys.
D)It is slightly stronger in adolescent boys than in adolescent girls.

Question 70

Researchers who have investigated depression have focused on long and short genes as well as the impact of negative life events.On the basis of research findings,which individual has the greatest probability of experiencing an episode of major depression?

A)One who has experienced three or more stressful life events.
B)One who possesses one copy of the short version gene.
C)One who has experienced three or more stressful life events and has two copies of the long version of the gene.
D)One who has experienced three or more stressful life events and has two copies of the short version of the gene.

Question 71

An adult patient who was repeatedly molested during childhood has no recollection of the incidents.Which diagnosis best characterizes this scenario?

A)a mood disorder.
B)generalized anxiety disorder.
C)dissociative amnesia.
D)schizophrenia.

Question 72

What did studies on suicide reveal?

A)most depressed people commit suicide.
B)suicide is the leading cause of death for individuals aged 15 to 24.
C)gay and lesbian youths are at even higher risk for suicide than other adolescents.
D)adolescent girls are more likely to succeed when attempting suicide than adolescent boys.

Question 73

According to research,what is a common cause of dissociative disorders?

A)substance abuse at an early age.
B)psychosexual conflict.
C)physical abuse during childhood.
D)social isolation and introversion.

Question 74

During acute or active phases of schizophrenia,which positive symptom is prominent?

A)lack of speech
B)social withdrawal
C)disorganized behaviour
D)flattened emotions

Question 75

In a study that is described in the textbook,researchers attempted to determine if there was a relationship between parenting practices and antisocial personality traits.What did the results of the study indicate?

A)improper parenting behaviours were directly responsible for antisocial personality traits.
B)there was no relationship between parenting practices and antisocial personality traits.
C)low levels of parental care were associated with high levels of antisocial personality traits.
D)antisocial personality traits were associated with fathers who were overly protective.

Question 76

A friend who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia has recently isolated himself from others and avoids most social contact.In addition,his face seems to be rigid,rarely showing any emotion.Which term best characterizes this category of symptoms?

A)acute
B)active
C)positive
D)negative

Question 77

Which psychological disorder is associated with the terms,"borderline," "antisocial," "histrionic," and "narcissistic" ?

A)anxiety
B)personality
C)mood
D)dissociative

Question 78

Which form of psychopathology is characterized by illogical thinking,distorted perrceptions,and blunted emotions?

A)schizophrenia
B)dissociative identity disorder
C)conversion disorder
D)borderline personality disorder

Question 79

Gloria has been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder.Which description would best characterize Gloria?

A)She has a grandiose sense of self-importance.
B)She has a disturbance in her identity and memory.
C)She experiences bouts of severe depression.
D)She feels anxious or worried most of the time.

Question 80

What is a controversial cause of dissociative symptoms?

A)Symptoms appear as a result of therapist influence.
B)Symptoms appear because they are reinforced.
C)Symptoms appear as a result of parental neglect.
D)Symptoms appear as a result of severe substance abuse during childhood.