Question 1

What assigns numerical values to the stress that most people experience at some time in their lives?

Accepted Answer

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), developed by Holmes and Rahe, assigns numerical values to various life events to quantify the stress they may cause.

Question 2

Relaxation training differs from mediation in that:

Accepted Answer

Relaxation training focuses on the body and physical sensations to induce a state of calmness, while meditation focuses on turning one's concentration inward to achieve mental clarity and awareness.

Question 3

Adrian recently graduated from college and has started a new job in his field of study.He has very long work hours and gets little sleep.He quit exercising and is not eating a balanced diet.If he develops a psychophysiological disorder,it will be because of:

Accepted Answer

Adrian's behavioral changes, such as quitting exercise and not eating a balanced diet, can lead to the development of a psychophysiological disorder. These types of disorders arise from the interactions between psychological factors (such as stress) and physiological processes, such as changes in hormones and the immune system. By neglecting his physical health, Adrian is putting himself at risk for developing a disorder. The other options (biochemical activity, personality style, and social support) may contribute to the development of psychophysiological disorders, but in this scenario, behavioral changes are the most likely cause.

Question 4

Topher often goes to urgent care for a wide variety of physical symptoms.However,no matter what his symptoms are,the healthcare providers never observe physical evidence that explains why the symptoms occur.Topher likely has a:

Accepted Answer

Somatic symptom disorder involves experiencing physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by any underlying medical condition, which aligns with Topher's situation.

Question 5

Most often,conversion disorders begin during which life phases?

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorders most often begin during late childhood and young adulthood, as these are periods of significant psychological and emotional development.

Question 6

A person who has a disorder in which she is translating conflicts and anxiety into physical symptoms is said to have a _____ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder involves translating psychological conflicts and anxiety into physical symptoms without a medical cause.

Question 7

How likely is someone with undiagnosed conversion disorder to seek psychotherapy initially?

Accepted Answer

People with conversion disorder often experience physical symptoms that suggest a medical condition, leading them to seek medical therapy first. Psychotherapy is considered when medical evaluations do not explain the symptoms.

Question 8

If a person's bodily symptoms affect his or her voluntary motor and sensory functions,but the symptoms are inconsistent with any known medical disease,this condition is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder is characterized by neurological symptoms that are inconsistent with or cannot be fully explained by any known medical condition.

Question 9

Abnormalities that are thought to have both biological and psychological causes are diagnosed as:

Accepted Answer

Somatic symptom disorder is a disorder in which a person experiences physical symptoms that are either very distressing or disrupt their daily life, but are not fully explained by a medical condition. The disorder is thought to have both biological and psychological causes. Other options are not specific to both biological and psychological causes.

Question 10

Juanita often feels lonely and does not have many close friends.She also has poor immune functioning and tends to get sick often.This may be due to the factor of:

Accepted Answer

Social support is known to influence both mental and physical health, including immune functioning. Lack of social support can lead to feelings of loneliness and may negatively impact health.

Question 11

Taylor has started smoking to help ease her stress from work.If she develops a psychophysiological disorder,it will be a result of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Taylor has started smoking to help ease...

Question 12

If you looked in Leijla's medicine cabinet,you would find dozens of prescriptions and even more over-the-counter medications.Every time she sneezes,Leijla is sure she has the latest deadly flu,although no physician has ever found anything wrong with her.Leijla probably suffers from:

Accepted Answer

Leijla's excessive concern over her health with no physical or medical basis points to somatic symptom disorder. This disorder involves a preoccupation with physical symptoms and often leads to excessive medical testing and treatments.

Question 13

Which statement would a cognitive-behavioral theorist be MOST likely to make about hysterical disorders?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement would a cognitive-behavioral theorist be...

Question 14

The way a person generally responds to life reflects that person's:

Accepted Answer

Personality style is a relatively stable pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that characterize an individual. How a person responds to life situations is influenced by their particular personality style. A person's biochemical activity, behavioral response pattern, and social support system can also impact how they respond to life, but they are not as closely related to an individual's personality style.

Question 15

A woman has close female relatives diagnosed with a somatization pattern of somatic symptom disorder.According to research,what is the approximate probability of her being diagnosed with the same disorder?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that there is a familial component to somatic symptom disorder, with first-degree female relatives having an increased risk, estimated around 20 percent.

Question 16

A man received kindness and sympathy from his wife when he was mute.What kind of gains is he receiving from his behavior?

Accepted Answer

Secondary gains refer to the advantages or benefits a person receives from their symptoms or condition, such as attention, sympathy, or support from others. In this case, the man receives kindness and sympathy from his wife due to his muteness, which is a secondary gain.

Question 17

The first time the patient reported vague chest pains to a 911 operator,local EMTs responded with obvious attention and concern.Over the next several months,the patient called 911 more and more often,receiving the same concerned care for the same symptoms.This pattern of patient response is MOST easily explained by which theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive-behavioral perspective explains behavior through learned responses and reinforcement. The patient's repeated calls and the consistent concerned response from EMTs could reinforce the behavior, making it more likely to continue.

Question 18

What is the general relationship between gender and somatic symptom disorder?

Accepted Answer

More women than men are diagnosed with both the somatization pattern and predominant pain pattern forms of somatic symptom disorder, reflecting a general trend in the prevalence of these disorders.

Question 19

What is a contributing factor that partly explains why African Americans have more health problems than non-Hispanic white Americans?

Accepted Answer

African Americans are more likely to live in poverty and face discrimination, which contributes to stress and can lead to more health problems compared to non-Hispanic white Americans.

Question 20

Four adults have experienced a stressful event.The individual at greatest risk for developing a physical illness is the person who recently:

Accepted Answer

The death of a spouse is considered one of the most stressful life events on the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, which correlates high stress levels with an increased risk of developing physical illnesses.

Quiz 8: Disorders Featuring Somatic Symptoms