Question 1

Which neurotransmitter appears to play a role in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that influences mood, anxiety, and impulsivity, may be linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Medications that increase serotonin levels, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been effective in treating OCD.

Question 2

Which of the following is not typical of people with illness anxiety disorders?

Accepted Answer

People with illness anxiety disorders are not easily treated and often require long-term therapy or medication management. The other options are typical symptoms or behaviors associated with illness anxiety disorder.

Question 3

What is the class of disorders in which the physical symptoms present are psychological rather than physical in origin?

Accepted Answer

Somatoform disorders are characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition and are thought to be largely psychological in origin. Mood disorders (A) are a separate class of disorders that involve disturbances in mood and emotional functioning. Affective disorders (C) is another term for mood disorders, so this option is not the best choice. Dissociative disorders (D) involve disruptions in an individual's sense of identity, memory, and consciousness, and do not necessarily involve physical symptoms.

Question 4

It used to be assumed that people with obsessive-compulsive disorder were extremely insecure individuals who viewed the world as threatening and unpredictable. Their ritualistic behaviour was thought to be a means for

Accepted Answer

The sentence states that the ritualistic behavior was a means for "imposing some order, structure, and predictability on the world." Therefore, choice A is the best answer. Choices B, C, and D are not supported by the sentence.

Question 5

Which of the following is not one of the anxiety disorders?

Accepted Answer

Illness anxiety disorder is not classified as one of the anxiety disorders. The other three options (panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder) are considered anxiety disorders according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition).

Question 6

Compulsive behaviours are usually attempts to

Accepted Answer

Compulsive behaviors are often performed in order to reduce the anxiety caused by an obsessional thought. For example, someone with an obsessional fear of germs may repeatedly wash their hands in order to reduce the anxiety they experience.

Question 7

When both compulsion and obsession occur, what function does the compulsion often serve?

Accepted Answer

The compulsion often serves to provide relief from the anxiety caused by the obsession. This is because the individual feels compelled to perform a certain behavior in response to the obsession, which temporarily relieves their anxiety.

Question 8

Who would be most likely to receive a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Accepted Answer

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by intrusive and distressing thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety. June's experience of feeling an urge to perform a certain action repeatedly is consistent with this pattern. Joan's avoidance behavior may be a symptom of anxiety disorders, but not necessarily OCD. Jane's fear of death may be a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder but is not specific to OCD. Jan's complaints of physical symptoms are not indicative of OCD.

Question 9

Whenever Sherry is away from home, she worries about whether she locked her doors. She can hardly think of anything else. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Sherry's preoccupation with whether or not she locked her doors is a persistent and distressing thought that she cannot shake, which indicates an obsession.

Question 10

Which of the following challenges has not been associated with the development of OCD?

Accepted Answer

Inconsistent parenting has not been consistently associated with the development of OCD, while early streptococcal infections, autoimmune diseases, and genetic factors have been linked to the disorder.

Question 11

Compulsions include all of the following, except

Accepted Answer

Fear of crowds is a phobia, not a compulsion. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that are performed in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules, and are intended to prevent or reduce anxiety. The other choices (excessive ordering, cleanliness, and hoarding) are all examples of compulsions commonly seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 12

Repeated thoughts are to ________ as repeated acts are to ________.

Accepted Answer

Repeated thoughts are often associated with obsessive thinking, while repeated acts are often associated with compulsive behavior. Therefore, the best choice is C, which pairs obsession with repeated thoughts and compulsion with repeated acts.

Question 13

Raymond repeatedly washes his hands after touching money or the objects he has just brought home from the store. Raymond may be suffering from

Accepted Answer

Raymond's repeated hand washing is a behavior that is irrational and excessive, indicating a compulsion. Compulsions are a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is characterized by recurrent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that the person feels compelled to perform in order to alleviate anxiety or prevent a negative outcome.

Question 14

In the general population, what percentages of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder have both an obsession and compulsive behaviour?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the general population, what percentages of...

Question 15

Jordan feels that he must tie his tie over and over again before delivering a speech at work. He feels that his tie must be just right, otherwise he will not give a good talk. This repetitious behaviour is an example of

Accepted Answer

Jordan's behaviour of repeatedly tying his tie is a compulsion, which is a component of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to a set of rigid rules. In this case, Jordan's obsession is that his tie must be perfect in order for him to give a good speech, and the compulsion is the repeated tying of his tie.

Question 16

Connie adopts ritualistic behaviours to help reduce anxiety that occurs when unwanted thoughts intrude into her awareness. Connie is displaying symptoms of

Accepted Answer

Connie exhibits symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder as she engages in ritualistic behaviours to cope with the anxiety caused by unwanted thoughts. Dissociative disorder involves a detachment from reality, histrionic personality disorder is characterized by attention-seeking behavior, and conversion disorder involves physical symptoms without a medical cause.

Question 17

Obsessions differ from compulsions in that obsessions are ________, while compulsions are ________.

Accepted Answer

Obsessions are repetitive thoughts, images, or impulses that are unwanted and intrusive, while compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that individuals feel compelled to perform to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. Therefore, the correct answer is D, as obsessions are thoughts, whereas compulsions are behaviors.

Question 18

When Lady Macbeth washed her hands repeatedly until they were red and raw, William Shakespeare provided an example of

Accepted Answer

Lady Macbeth's behavior of repeatedly washing her hands despite not being physically dirty is a clear example of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing harm.

Question 19

What does soma mean?

Accepted Answer

Soma means body in Greek.

Question 20

Which of the following is not one of the common themes contained in obsessive thoughts?

Accepted Answer

Humiliation is not typically classified as one of the common themes of obsessive thoughts in the context of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The most recognized themes involve fears related to contamination, doubts (often manifesting as a need for certainty), and aggression (fears of harming oneself or others), but not humiliation.

Quiz 13: Psychological Disorders