Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a component of the triple vulnerability theory of the cause of mental disorders?

Accepted Answer

The triple vulnerability theory includes three components: generalized biological vulnerability, specific psychological vulnerability, and generalized psychological vulnerability. There is no component called specific-global vulnerability.

Question 2

Which of the following is true regarding the categorization of obsessive-compulsive and trauma-related disorders in the DSM-5?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 groups obsessive-compulsive and trauma-related disorders into their own independent categories, separate from anxiety disorders. They have not been replaced by personality disorders or medical diagnoses, and OCD is not considered a type of bipolar disorder. PTSD is also not considered a kind of extreme panic disorder.

Question 3

This disorder was formerly grouped with anxiety disorders prior to the DSM-5, and is characterized by persistent, intrusive, anxiety-provoking thoughts, often combined with a strong urge to perform repetitive, ritualistic behaviours.

Accepted Answer

The disorder described is obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD. It is characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause anxiety, often accompanied by repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing the anxiety. Prior to DSM-5, it was grouped with anxiety disorders, but now OCD has its own category.

Question 4

Post-traumatic stress disorder is unique among psychological disorders because

Accepted Answer

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is unique among psychological disorders because its cause can often be identified with certainty as stemming from a traumatic event or series of events. Unlike many other psychological disorders where the causes can be multifactorial and less specific, PTSD is directly linked to experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.

Question 5

The mood state characterized by exaggerated and prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, grief, guilt, and low feelings of self-worth is called

Accepted Answer

The mood state characterized by exaggerated and prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, grief, guilt, and low feelings of self-worth is known as depression. Mania is a mood state characterized by elevated mood, hyperactivity, racing thoughts, and grandiosity. Hypomania is a milder form of mania that is not severe enough to cause significant impairment. Dysthymia is a chronic subtype of depression characterized by milder symptoms that persist for a longer period of time.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about major depressive disorders is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements about major...

Question 7

The chemical imbalance description of depression and the link to serotonin levels in the brain is controversial because

Accepted Answer

The chemical imbalance theory is an oversimplification of the complex relationship between neurotransmitters and mood. While serotonin levels have been implicated in depression, there is not enough evidence to support the idea that low serotonin directly causes depression. Additionally, other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine are also involved in mood regulation, and research has shown that these neurotransmitters can also play a role in treating depression. Therefore, reducing depression to a simple serotonin deficiency is overly reductionist and may not fully capture the complexity of the disorder.

Question 8

Martin Seligman proposed that if human beings come to believe for whatever reason that they have no control over the negative events of their lives, they may experience this aspect of depression.

Accepted Answer

Martin Seligman's concept of learned helplessness proposes that when individuals believe they have no control over negative events in their lives, they may become helpless and passive in the face of adversity, which can lead to symptoms of depression. Hopeless cognition, negative triadic thoughts, and stable pessimism are related concepts but do not directly correspond to Seligman's learned helplessness theory.

Question 9

The proponents of hopelessness theory claimed that learned helplessness is not enough to explain depression because helplessness is

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness is a concept that can be observed in various psychological conditions, including both depression and anxiety. The proponents of hopelessness theory argue that the mere presence of learned helplessness does not fully explain depression because it is also found in individuals suffering from anxiety, indicating that additional factors must be involved in the development of depression.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is least likely to lead to depression, according to hopelessness theory?

Accepted Answer

According to hopelessness theory, the belief that negative events will persist and cannot be changed is a strong predictor of depression. Option D suggests a goal or outcome that is more ambiguous and less concrete than the other options and may therefore be less likely to lead to a belief in inevitable failure.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT part of Beck's negative cognitive triad?

Accepted Answer

The negative cognitive triad consists of negative beliefs or thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future. However, anxiety about the past is not specifically mentioned in Beck's theory.

Question 12

All of the following are reasons why women suffer depression more frequently than men, EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Women are not necessarily less resistant to the effects of stormy relationships than men; rather, the way they process and react to relationship stress can differ. The other options (A, B, D) are supported by research as factors contributing to higher rates of depression in women.

Question 13

The tendency to focus inwardly and brood on the possible causes and consequences of negative emotions and events is called

Accepted Answer

The tendency to focus inwardly and brood on the possible causes and consequences of negative emotions and events is known as rumination. It often involves obsessing over past mistakes, dwelling on negative thoughts, and feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions. This tendency can lead to increased feelings of depression and anxiety.

Question 14

This category of psychological disorders is characterized by a large increase in the risk of suicide among sufferers.

Accepted Answer

Depressive and bipolar disorders, such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, are known to significantly increase the risk of suicide among individuals who suffer from them. This is due to the intense feelings of hopelessness, despair, and worthlessness that often accompany these disorders, which can make individuals feel like there is no way out of their emotional pain except through suicide. It is important for individuals with these disorders to seek appropriate treatment and support in order to manage their symptoms and reduce their risk of suicide.

Question 15

The statement that suicide is the third leading cause of death among 10- to 18-year-olds is misleading mainly because

Accepted Answer

The statement is misleading because the mortality rate of the 10- to 18-year-old age group is generally very low, therefore even a small number of suicides can make it appear as though it is a leading cause of death. It is important to note that while suicide is a serious issue that needs attention, it should not overshadow other leading causes of death in this age group such as accidents and illness.

Question 16

This is a group of related psychotic disorders characterized by severely distorted perception and experience of reality, disorganized thought and speech, and inappropriate emotions or emotional responses.

Accepted Answer

The description given matches the symptoms of schizophrenia, which includes hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and behaviors, and a distorted sense of reality. Hypomania and dysthymia are mood disorders, while dissociative identity disorder involves a disruption of a person's sense of identity, rather than a distortion of reality.

Question 17

Schizophrenic symptoms in which something is added to the person's behaviour that should not be there, such as hallucinations and delusions, are called

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms are those that add something to the person's behaviour that should not be there, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Psychotic symptoms are similar but also include severe disruptions in thinking, emotions, and perceptions. Negative symptoms, on the other hand, involve a decrease in normal behaviours or functions, such as flattened affect, alogia, and apathy. Active symptoms is not a clinical term used to describe symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 18

Which of the following is the best characterization of a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

A positive symptom of schizophrenia involves the presentation of an abnormal behavior or experience that is added to the person's usual way of functioning. Option B is the best choice as it represents a delusion, or a false belief that is not based on reality, which is a classic positive symptom of schizophrenia. Option A represents a negative symptom, which involves the absence of typical behavior or experience, while Option C is more related to the person's affect or emotional experience. Option D represents a different diagnosis altogether, which is depression.

Question 19

Though similar to delusions of persecution, these schizophrenic delusions often cause the sufferer to interpret newspaper headlines and other mass forms of communication as hidden messages intended for him or her alone.

Accepted Answer

Delusions of reference involve the belief that everyday events, objects, or actions have special significance or meaning particularly directed towards the individual experiencing the delusion. This can include interpreting messages in the media as specifically meant for them.

Question 20

These types of schizophrenic symptoms are marked by their absence, as in lack of affect, or apathy.

Accepted Answer

Negative symptoms refer to the absence or lack of normal behaviors, emotions, or thought processes in individuals with schizophrenia. Apathy or lack of affect are common examples of negative symptoms. Positive symptoms, on the other hand, are marked by the presence of abnormal behaviors, such as hallucinations or delusions. Psychotic symptoms can refer to both positive and negative symptoms, as they are characterized by a break with reality. Passive symptoms is not a recognized term in the context of schizophrenia symptoms.

Quiz 18: Issues in Mental Health