Question 1

Generalized anxiety disorder is usually a chronic condition.

Accepted Answer

Generalized anxiety disorder is typically a long-term condition that may require ongoing treatment and management.

Question 2

Anxiety disorders, although significantly impacting an individual's life, do not cause a significant economic burden on American society.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders have been found to have a significant economic burden on American society due to the costs associated with healthcare utilization, lost work productivity, and disability payments. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that the direct and indirect costs of anxiety disorders in the United States are around $42 billion per year.

Question 3

Ataque de nervios may be a cultural variant of panic disorder.

Accepted Answer

Ataque de nervios is a cultural bound syndrome that includes symptoms of anxiety, dissociation, and loss of control. It can be seen as a variation of panic disorder but may also have cultural and social meanings that differ from Western perspectives on panic disorder.

Question 4

Anatomical differences in brain structures appear to be the cause of many anxiety disorders.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors, rather than being directly caused by anatomical differences in brain structures. Brain structures may play a role in how anxiety is processed, but they are not the sole cause of anxiety disorders.

Question 5

Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the easiest disorders to treat if behavioural interventions are used.

Accepted Answer

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex disorder that can be difficult to treat, particularly if left untreated for a long time. While behavioural interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy can be effective in helping individuals with PTSD, it is not accurate to say that it is one of the easiest disorders to treat. Effective treatment often involves a combination of approaches and may differ for each individual.

Question 6

Repetitive hair pulling that results in noticeable hair loss occurs in excoriation disorder.

Accepted Answer

Repetitive hair pulling that results in noticeable hair loss is characteristic of trichotillomania, not excoriation disorder. Excoriation disorder involves repetitive skin picking.

Question 7

Animal studies have demonstrated that when animals are placed in conditions of high stress, they respond with heightened and persistent CRF activity in both the hypothalamus and the amygdala.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that animals respond to high stress conditions with increased and persistent CRF activity in both the hypothalamus and the amygdala.

Question 8

A diagnosis of excoriation disorder is assigned when an individual tries to stop picking at skin but cannot do so, and some form of social or occupational impairment is present.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the criteria for a diagnosis of excoriation disorder.

Question 9

Social anxiety disorder has the distinction of being one of the earliest occurring psychological disorders in the developmental life span.

Accepted Answer

Social anxiety disorder can manifest as early as childhood, with symptoms typically appearing around age 13.

Question 10

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common types of disorders among adults in the Canada and the U.S.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders are indeed one of the most common types of disorders among adults in Canada and the U.S. It is estimated that approximately 18% of the adult population in these countries suffer from some form of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and others.

Question 11

Most people with panic disorders with or without agoraphobia seek treatment because symptom-free periods are rare.

Accepted Answer

People with panic disorders often seek treatment because they experience frequent panic attacks and symptom-free periods are rare, causing significant distress and impairment in their daily lives.

Question 12

Heritability refers to the proportion of variance accounted for by genetic factors.

Accepted Answer

Heritability is a measure of the extent to which differences in traits are due to genetic differences. It is expressed as a proportion or percentage, often ranging from 0 to 1 or 0 to 100%. A heritability of 1.0 indicates that all of the variation in a trait is due to genetic differences, while a heritability of 0 indicates that none of the variation in a trait is due to genetic differences.

Question 13

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder view intrusive thoughts as coming from within them as opposed to originating externally.

Accepted Answer

This is true. People with OCD may perceive their intrusive thoughts as coming from within them and feel responsible for them, which can contribute to their distress and anxiety.

Question 14

Evidence of one panic attack is indicative of a panic disorder.

Accepted Answer

Evidence of one panic attack is not enough to diagnose a panic disorder. In order to diagnose a panic disorder, a person must experience recurring panic attacks, along with the persistent fear of having future attacks and significant changes in behavior related to the attacks.

Question 15

Among women, about 50% of PTSD cases are related to sexual assault.

Accepted Answer

According to research, approximately 50% of women who experience PTSD have gone through sexual assault or abuse.

Question 16

Specific phobia is one of the most common disorders worldwide.

Accepted Answer

Specific phobia is considered one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of around 12%.

Question 17

Persons with panic "False alarms" would be more likely to visit a hospital ER after an attack than would someone diagnosed with panic disorder with agoraphobia.

Accepted Answer

Persons with panic disorder with agoraphobia are more likely to avoid situations where they might have a panic attack, such as going to the hospital ER.

Question 18

Personality disorders are rarely comorbid with obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Personality disorders are actually commonly comorbid with obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Question 19

The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are similar cross-culturally.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that OCD symptoms are relatively consistent across cultures, with similar themes and intrusive thoughts reported by individuals from different backgrounds. However, differences may exist in the specific types of obsessions and compulsions experienced by individuals in different cultural contexts.

Question 20

Exposure to trauma alone automatically leads a person to develop PTSD.

Accepted Answer

Exposure to trauma does not guarantee the development of PTSD. Factors such as coping strategies, social support, and individual differences can all play a role in whether or not a person develops PTSD after a traumatic event.

Quiz 4: Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders