Question 1

Carmen does not want to take medication for her depression because she is concerned about putting toxins into her body. Based on research by Trivedi and colleagues (2011), Carmen's therapist might suggest that, in conjunction with psychotherapy, Carmen also ____.

Accepted Answer

Trivedi and colleagues (2011) found that moderate- to high-intensity exercise for 30 minutes two to four times a week was as effective as medication in reducing symptoms of depression. Therefore, Carmen's therapist might suggest exercise as an alternative to medication for treating her depression. Choices A and B involve alternative medicine practices that do not have strong empirical support for treating depression, and choice D may be helpful for overall well-being but is not specifically effective for treating depression.

Question 2

Dr. Meredith works with clients from different cultural backgrounds who suffer from depression. Which of her clients is most likely to interpret his symptoms as being "heartbroken"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr. Meredith works with clients from different...

Question 3

In therapy, a psychologist tries to convince a depressed woman that her actions do affect the environment and that even though uncontrollable events happened in the past, they need not happen again. This therapist is making use of principles from ____.

Accepted Answer

The therapist is using principles from learned helplessness theory, which suggests that depression is caused by a person's belief that they have no control over the outcomes of their actions. By convincing the woman that her actions do affect the environment and that past uncontrollable events need not happen again, the therapist is directly addressing and attempting to reverse the feelings of helplessness that are central to this theory.

Question 4

Individuals from which culture are especially likely to present bodily complaints when they are depressed?

Accepted Answer

In Chinese culture, there is often a strong emphasis on somatization, or the expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms. This means that individuals who are experiencing depression may be more likely to present with bodily complaints rather than explicitly verbalizing their emotional distress.

Question 5

According to Hammen and colleagues (1992), some people who respond to stress with depression ____.

Accepted Answer

Hammen and colleagues (1992) found that individuals who respond to stress with depression often contribute to their own stressors, creating a cycle that perpetuates their depressive symptoms.

Question 6

Imagine that there is an equal level of stress in Gerald's and Mary's lives. Ruling out biological differences, we might expect Mary to be more prone to depression if she ____.

Accepted Answer

The tendency to ruminate and amplify depressive moods is a known risk factor for depression, and can exacerbate the effects of stress. Thus, Mary may be more prone to depression if she tends to ruminate and amplify her depressive moods.

Question 7

Research addressing the relationship between stress and depression suggests that ____.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that stress and depression have a bidirectional relationship, meaning that stress can lead to depression and depression can increase stress levels.

Question 8

Suppose you will win $10,000 if you can find a person who had a mood disorder. The person cannot be anyone you have met, interviewed, or know personally. Who should you pick to win the money?

Accepted Answer

Identical twins share 100% of their genes, and the genetic component of bipolar disorder is strong, making the identical twin of a person with bipolar disorder the most likely to also have a mood disorder.

Question 9

When exploring the respective influences of heredity and environment in contributing to mood disorders, many researchers compare the instances of the disorders among the biological and adoptive families of people who have bipolar disorder. What do these comparisons show?

Accepted Answer

Comparisons of instances of bipolar disorder among biological and adoptive families have consistently shown that the disorder has a strong hereditary component. This suggests that the contribution of heredity to mood disorders is stronger than that of the environment.

Question 10

Research that assessed the role of stress in people's lives suggests that ____.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that various factors of stress, such as severity, chronicity, onset, and type, interact and contribute to the development of depression.

Question 11

Evidence for heritability of bipolar disorders suggests that ____.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that there is a complex genetic basis for bipolar disorders, involving interactions among multiple genes. While no single gene has been conclusively linked to bipolar disorder, evidence suggests that it is highly heritable. Additionally, concordance rates for monozygotic twins are significantly higher than for dizygotic twins, supporting a genetic component to the disorder.

Question 12

Which treatment is considered by many clinicians to be an effective for treating profound depression but remains controversial among the general public?

Accepted Answer

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is considered effective for treating severe depression, especially when other treatments fail, but it remains controversial due to historical stigma and misconceptions.

Question 13

The basic assumption of Seligman's explanation for depression is that ____.

Accepted Answer

Seligman's explanation for depression is based on learned helplessness theory, which suggests that individuals who experience uncontrollable negative events may learn to feel helpless and powerless in the face of future challenges. This learned sense of helplessness can lead to depressive symptoms. Seligman proposed that both cognitions (thought processes) and feelings of helplessness are learned, and that depression results from learned helplessness.

Question 14

The gender difference in depression may be more apparent than real. One factor that could explain why women seem to be more prone to depression is that ____.

Accepted Answer

Depression in men may be masked by behaviors like substance abuse, making it less apparent compared to women.

Question 15

All of the following people were unsuccessful in getting a job after undergoing three interviews. Which person's thinking illustrates the depressive attributional style?

Accepted Answer

Theresa's thinking illustrates the depressive attributional style, which involves attributing negative outcomes to internal, stable, and global factors. In this case, Theresa believes that her lack of success in job interviews is due to her overall incompetence, which is an internal and stable factor. This type of thinking can contribute to feelings of helplessness and depression.

Question 16

Which sociocultural factor has been found to be significantly associated with depression?

Accepted Answer

Gender has been found to be significantly associated with depression. It has been observed that women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.

Question 17

Many studies have found that social support is especially important as a buffer against depression when people are exposed to stress. Recent research by Kasen, Wickramaratne, Garneroff, & Weissmam (2012) showed that what specific kind of social support is particularly beneficial?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many studies have found that social support...

Question 18

A physician notices that twice as many female patients complain of depression as male patients. The physician's first thought is that the cause is hormonal or genetic differences in the sexes. Research has ____.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that environmental and socio-cultural factors, along with biological factors, contribute to gender differences in depression, rather than solely hormonal or genetic differences.

Question 19

Rose, an elderly woman, suffers from depression. An evaluation at a sleep clinic finds that Rose has in increased need for sleep during the winter months, but not in the summer months. What might her diagnosis be?

Accepted Answer

Rose's symptoms of increased need for sleep during the winter months suggest a pattern consistent with seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is characterized by depression that occurs at a specific time of year, usually in the winter.

Question 20

Depressed behavior is related to ____.

Accepted Answer

Low levels of serotonin have been found to be associated with depression. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep. When its levels are low, it can lead to symptoms of depression.

Quiz 7: Depressive and Bipolar Disorders

Carmen does not want to take medication for her depression because she is concerned about putting toxins into her body. Based on research by Trivedi and colleagues (2011) , Carmen's therapist might suggest that, in conjunction with psychotherapy, Carmen also ____.