Question 1

Tina is constantly bothered by worries that others see as exaggerated.There are times that Tina finds herself worrying and she doesn't even know why.Tina has recently begun to take antidepressants,and they have improved her condition.Based on this information,the most appropriate diagnosis for Tina would be generalized anxiety disorder.

Accepted Answer

Tina's excessive worrying and inability to identify the source of her worry are both symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, and her positive response to antidepressants further supports this diagnosis.

Question 2

At this point in time,there is strong agreement among psychologists that alcoholism is a disease.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)is effective in treating depression because it helps people to forget depressing memories.

Accepted Answer

ECT works by passing a mild electrical current through the brain, inducing a controlled seizure to alter brain chemistry and alleviate symptoms of depression. It does not specifically target or erase memories.

Question 4

Norbert suffers many negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Norbert is more likely to be given an atypical antipsychotic drug than a traditional antipsychotic.

Accepted Answer

Atypical antipsychotics are preferred over traditional antipsychotics in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia because they have fewer side effects and are more effective in improving these symptoms.

Question 5

Tom has auditory hallucinations in which he hears voices saying,"cut yourself and die." This is an example of a positive symptom of schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Auditory hallucinations are a positive symptom of schizophrenia, and hearing voices that give harmful commands (like "cut yourself and die") is an example of a positive symptom.

Question 6

The process of addiction changes the organization of several brain areas,including areas involved in motivation and attention.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that addiction causes changes in the brain's reward system, which affects motivation, as well as the prefrontal cortex and other areas involved in attention and decision-making.

Question 7

Some people who suffer from the seasonal affective disorder experience periods of depression during the summer months.

Accepted Answer

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is commonly associated with the winter months due to reduced sunlight, but it can also occur in the summer, leading to depression during warmer periods for some individuals.

Question 8

Avoidance learning offers one good explanation for why phobias are not ordinarily extinguished without treatment.

Accepted Answer

Avoidance learning refers to the tendency to learn to avoid a feared object or situation in order to prevent anxiety or fear. Phobias are often maintained by this avoidance behavior, which prevents the individual from experiencing the feared stimulus and inhibits the process of extinction, or unlearning the fear response. Without treatment to address both the avoidance behavior and underlying fear, phobias are unlikely to be extinguished on their own.

Question 9

Women are about twice as likely to suffer depression as men.The explanation for this difference that currently has received the strongest research support has to do with the hormonal differences between the sexes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Women are about twice as likely to...

Question 10

Schizophrenia has been found in all ethnic groups.

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia has been found in all ethnic groups, although its prevalence and severity may vary among different populations.

Question 11

Rachel and Rhonda are identical twins,and they have each just broken off relationships with their boyfriends.Rachel feels guilty and sad about ending her relationship;Rhonda feels ending her relationship is probably a good decision.According to the research,Rachel and Rhonda are equally likely to develop depression following this same,negative life event.

Accepted Answer

Identical twins, like Rachel and Rhonda, share the same genetics but can have different responses to the same life events due to differences in their individual experiences, personalities, coping mechanisms, and perceptions of the event. Rhonda's positive outlook on the breakup could serve as a protective factor against depression, while Rachel's guilt and sadness might increase her risk.

Question 12

Nearly all drugs that commonly produce addictions stimulate receptors in the hippocampus.

Accepted Answer

While many addictive drugs do affect the hippocampus, not all of them do, and addiction is caused by a complex interplay of factors beyond just the stimulation of certain receptors.

Question 13

Panic disorder is more commonly diagnosed in men than in women.

Accepted Answer

Panic disorder is actually more commonly diagnosed in women than in men. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, twice as many women are diagnosed with panic disorder than men.

Question 14

Alfred believes that his wife is trying to poison him so she can collect his life insurance.Alfred is experiencing a delusion of persecution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Alfred believes that his wife is trying...

Question 15

People diagnosed with schizophrenia typically have two or more personalities that alternate taking control of the body.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not accurate. Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder characterized by a range of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking, and abnormal behavior. It does not involve multiple personalities taking control of the body, which is a symptom of dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder).

Question 16

On the average,antidepressant medications are more effective than the known types of psychotherapy in treating depression.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Studies have shown that both psychotherapy and antidepressant medications can be effective in treating depression, and the choice of treatment often depends on the individual's preferences, severity of symptoms, and other factors. Additionally, combining psychotherapy and medication may provide even more effective treatment.

Question 17

People are not born with phobias.Therefore,there is no genetic predisposition for phobias.

Accepted Answer

While people are not born with specific phobias, there is evidence to suggest that a genetic predisposition for anxiety disorders, including phobias, can be inherited. This means that while the phobias themselves are not present at birth, the susceptibility to develop them can be passed down through families.

Question 18

Most people with major depression experience sleep abnormalities such as awakening earlier than usual without being able to go back to sleep.

Accepted Answer

Sleep disturbances are a common symptom of major depression, and many individuals with depression experience early morning awakening. This can result in significant fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and other negative consequences.

Question 19

There is a stronger genetic basis for Type I alcoholism than there is for Type II alcoholism.

Accepted Answer

Type II alcoholism, also known as early-onset alcoholism, has a stronger genetic component and is more likely to run in families compared to Type I alcoholism, which is characterized by later onset and is less influenced by genetic factors.

Question 20

Research has demonstrated that monkeys can learn to fear snakes by watching videotapes of other monkeys showing fear of snakes.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. There have been several studies that have shown monkeys can learn to fear snakes by observing the fear reactions of other monkeys. This suggests that fear of certain stimuli can be socially transmitted within a group or species.

Quiz 16: Specific Disorders and Treatments