Question 1

Your doctor has just prescribed a new drug for the treatment of your mental disorder. You're not sure what exactly the drug does, but you know it effectively raises the level of serotonin. Most likely, you are suffering from

Accepted Answer

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is often linked to mood regulation, and low levels of serotonin are commonly associated with depression. Drugs that raise serotonin levels, such as SSRIs, are typically prescribed for depression.

Question 2

Of the following, which one is not a variable that would affect the outcome of therapy?

Accepted Answer

A low dose-response effect refers to the relationship between the amount of therapy (dose) and its effectiveness (response), which is more about the general principle of how therapies work rather than a variable affecting the outcome of a specific therapy session or treatment plan. Variables like self-relatedness, openness, the fit to the therapy, and the quality of the relationship with the therapist directly impact how an individual might respond to therapy.

Question 3

During your psychoanalytic therapy session, you begin to treat the therapist with feelings of intense affection. You even think that perhaps you are falling in love. In psychodynamic terms, this can be explained by

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as positive transference, where the patient projects intense feelings of affection or love onto the therapist, often as a replication of feelings they have for significant others in their life. It's a common occurrence in psychoanalytic therapy, where understanding and analyzing these transference feelings can be a key part of the therapeutic process.

Question 4

A friend of yours is in therapy. He comments that the therapist uses a variety of techniques including mindfulness. What type of therapy is he receiving?

Accepted Answer

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is known for incorporating mindfulness strategies along with other cognitive-behavioral techniques to help individuals manage emotions, cope with stress, and improve interpersonal relationships.

Question 5

You are working for a drug company that has just designed a new drug-Ziffrin-that works in the same way as the medication for schizophrenia. What process does Ziffrin target?

Accepted Answer

Medications for schizophrenia often target the dopaminergic system, specifically by decreasing the action of dopamine, which is implicated in the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 6

For your current mental issue, you've asked to see a humanistic therapist because you like the non-directive, empathetic approach. But you find that the therapist you are seeing is very directive and wonder if someone made a mistake. They assure you that your therapist is, in fact, a humanist. What kind of therapist are you seeing?

Accepted Answer

Gestalt therapy, a form of humanistic therapy, can sometimes appear more directive compared to other non-directive humanistic approaches. This is because Gestalt therapists often use techniques that directly engage clients in the present moment or in specific tasks to increase self-awareness and personal responsibility.

Question 7

You are treating a patient for depression and have decided on drug therapy. However, your patient has a blood pressure problem. Which of the following drugs should you prescribe?

Accepted Answer

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are generally considered safe for patients with blood pressure problems, unlike MAO inhibitors and tricyclics, which can affect blood pressure. Major tranquilizers and buspirone are not primarily used for treating depression.

Question 8

Gestalt therapy is very directive. But if you had to classify it, Gestalt therapy is really a form of

Accepted Answer

Gestalt therapy is classified as a form of humanistic therapy, which emphasizes personal growth and the concept of self-actualization. It focuses on the present moment and the individual's experience in that moment, rather than delving into past experiences or cognitive processes, distinguishing it from the other options listed.

Question 9

In discussing the effectiveness of behavioural therapy, cognitive therapy, and humanistic therapy with a colleague, she suggests that the outcome is related to the dodo bird verdict. What does she mean?

Accepted Answer

The dodo bird verdict suggests that all therapies are equally effective, implying that the specific type of therapy (behavioral, cognitive, or humanistic) may not be as important as other factors in determining the outcome of therapy.

Question 10

Your doctor has just prescribed a new drug for the treatment of your mental disorder. You're not sure what exactly the drug does, but you know it effectively lowers the level of GABA. Most likely, you are suffering from

Accepted Answer

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity. Lowering GABA levels can increase neural activity, which is often used to treat anxiety disorders, as they are associated with excessive neural inhibition.

Question 11

Your doctor has just prescribed a new drug for the treatment of your mental disorder. You're not sure what exactly the drug does, but you know it effectively lowers the level of serotonin. Most likely, you are suffering from

Accepted Answer

Drugs that effectively lower the level of serotonin are typically used to treat schizophrenia. In schizophrenia, there's often an imbalance of neurotransmitters, including potentially high levels of serotonin, and reducing these levels can help manage symptoms. Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and dissociative identity disorder are often treated with drugs that increase serotonin levels, as low serotonin is more commonly associated with these conditions.

Question 12

You are treating a patient for post traumatic stress disorder and want to start drug therapy. You should probably choose a drug that

Accepted Answer

Enhancing the postsynaptic activity of GABA is a mechanism that can help in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including PTSD, by promoting a calming effect on the nervous system. GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and drugs that enhance its activity can reduce anxiety symptoms.

Question 13

You are treating a patient for schizophrenia and have decided on drug therapy. You need to treat both the positive and negative symptoms. Which of the following drugs should you prescribe?

Accepted Answer

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic known for its effectiveness in treating both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, making it a suitable choice for comprehensive management of the condition.

Question 14

Whether you suffer from schizophrenia or depression, it is likely that any drug you are on will target

Accepted Answer

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is involved in mood regulation. Drugs that target serotonin are often used to treat depression and schizophrenia.

Question 15

You are treating a patient for depression and have decided on drug therapy. However, your patient has a blood pressure problem. Which of the following drugs should you avoid, but still treat the depression?

Accepted Answer

MAO inhibitors can cause significant interactions with drugs used for treating blood pressure, potentially leading to dangerous spikes in blood pressure. Therefore, they should be avoided in patients with blood pressure problems.

Question 16

You are working for a drug company that has just designed a new drug-Ziffrin-that works in the same way as a tricyclic antidepressant. What process does Ziffrin target?

Accepted Answer

Tricyclic antidepressants primarily work by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, thereby increasing their levels in the synaptic cleft and enhancing mood.

Question 17

You are working for a drug company that has just designed a new drug-Ziffrin-that works in the same way as an MAO inhibitor. What exactly does Ziffrin do?

Accepted Answer

Ziffrin, working in the same way as an MAO (Monoamine Oxidase) inhibitor, would reduce the activity of MAO. MAO inhibitors function by inhibiting the activity of the monoamine oxidase enzyme, which is responsible for breaking down neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. By reducing MAO activity, these neurotransmitters are not broken down as quickly, potentially leading to increased levels in the brain and improved mood in conditions like depression.

Question 18

Let's say that you work for a drug company. You are trying to develop a new drug for the treatment of mental disorders. This drug will replace a tricyclic. What disorder are you working on?

Accepted Answer

Tricyclic antidepressants are primarily used for the treatment of depression. They can also be used for some other conditions, but their main indication is depression, making it the disorder being targeted for replacement therapy.

Question 19

You are watching a discussion between two therapists. Therapist A stresses the importance of self-defeating irrational thoughts, while Therapist B talks about developing a stimulus hierarchy and finding a response that is incompatible with anxiety. Most likely, Therapist A practices ________, while Therapist B follows the _________ tradition.

Accepted Answer

Therapist A, who focuses on self-defeating irrational thoughts, is likely practicing rational-emotive therapy, a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy developed by Albert Ellis. Therapist B, discussing a stimulus hierarchy and finding a response incompatible with anxiety, is describing techniques used in behavioral therapy, particularly in the context of systematic desensitization.

Question 20

You are working for a drug company that has just designed a new drug-Ziffrin-that works in the same way as the anti-anxiety drug buspirone. What process does Ziffrin target?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are working for a drug company...

Quiz 17: Treatment of Psychological Disorders