Question 1

Which of the following is a criteria that must be present during a 12-month period for a diagnosis of "Internet Gaming Disorder" to be made?

Accepted Answer

Internet Gaming Disorder includes criteria such as needing to spend increasing amounts of time engaged in internet games, which is similar to the concept of tolerance in substance use disorders.

Question 2

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, genetically, if a first-degree relative has schizophrenia, the odds of a person having the disorder rise to ________.

Accepted Answer

The National Institute of Mental Health states that if a first-degree relative (such as a parent or sibling) has schizophrenia, the likelihood of an individual developing the disorder increases to about 10 percent, compared to 1 percent in the general population.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of dementia and Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are indeed neurocognitive disorders that are primarily related to aging. Alzheimer's is a specific form of dementia, characterized by particular brain changes, including the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, leading to cognitive decline. Dementia serves as an umbrella term for a range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities.

Question 4

Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder ________.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with bipolar disorder often find the initial onset of the manic phase pleasant due to the increased energy, creativity, and euphoria that can accompany it. This contrasts with the depressive phase, which is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and disinterest.

Question 5

What happens when a person experiences anxiety about future attacks?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety about future attacks can create a positive feedback cycle where the fear and anticipation of an attack actually hijack the body's emergency response system, leading to increased anxiety and potentially triggering further attacks, thus spiraling out of control rather than bringing it under control.

Question 6

Autumn has been married to Mark for five years. She has uncontrollable emotions and cries when Mark raises his voice. She is always scared that he will abandon her. She loves him to the core sometimes and despises him at other times. She has even attempted to commit suicide. Which of the following psychological disorders does Autumn have?

Accepted Answer

Autumn's symptoms align with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), characterized by intense fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, emotional instability, and self-harming behaviors including suicidal attempts.

Question 7

As per research on brain development, which of the following statements is true of living under a constant threat of abuse and stress?

Accepted Answer

Living under constant threat of abuse and stress can lead to changes in neural connectivity in the brain, making it less likely to develop many complex synaptic connections. This is because the brain adapts to a high-stress environment by streamlining its processes to deal with immediate threats, often at the expense of more complex brain functions.

Question 8

Telma's father suffers from anxiety and depression. However, the last few months, she observes him sleeping for less than two hours a day. She also notices that he is either extremely depressed or full of energy with delusions of grandeur. Telma's father will most likely be diagnosed with ________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Telma's father exhibits symptoms of bipolar disorder, characterized by extreme mood swings from depression to periods of high energy or mania (delusions of grandeur). The other options do not typically include such wide mood swings or delusions of grandeur as symptoms.

Question 9

Which of the following major psychological disorders is characterized by an individual's deliberate fabrication of a medical or mental disorder to gain medical attention?

Accepted Answer

Factitious disorder is characterized by an individual's intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological symptoms, aimed at assuming the sick role to receive medical attention, without external incentives for such behavior.

Question 10

Derrick is lethargic and not motivated to do anything. He has difficulty sleeping, and he feels guilty about ill-treating his wife. Additionally, there is a recurrent feeling of worthlessness and a strong desire for suicide. Which of the following explains Derrick's condition?

Accepted Answer

Derrick's symptoms, including lethargy, lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and suicidal ideation, are indicative of major depressive disorder.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Accepted Answer

OCD is characterized by repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and irrational, excessive urges to do certain actions (compulsions), such as cleaning, checking, or counting, which can significantly interfere with a person's daily activities and life.

Question 12

Tony's behavior often causes his parents a lot of anguish, pain, and discomfort in addition to embarrassment in front of guests. According to the "4 Ds" of determining whether something is a mental disorder, such behavior is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Distressing behavior causes anguish or discomfort, fitting the description of Tony's behavior and aligning with the "4 Ds" (distress, dysfunction, deviance, and danger) used to help determine if a behavior is part of a mental disorder.

Question 13

Hazel suffers from a host of emotional issues. She is forgetful, has wavering moods, and also experiences inexplicable anxieties. Which of the following, if present, will make her most vulnerable to depression?

Accepted Answer

Neuroticism, a personality trait characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, worry, and envy, makes individuals more susceptible to depression. This is because people with high levels of neuroticism are more likely to respond negatively to stress and to interpret ordinary situations as threatening, which can lead to depression.

Question 14

Which of the following is a characteristic of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is associated with structural changes in the brain, including an increase in the size of the ventricles, which are fluid-filled cavities. This reflects a reduction in the volume of brain tissue, a characteristic observed in many individuals with schizophrenia.

Question 15

________ disorders are characterized by distressing emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ disorders are characterized by distressing emotional...

Question 16

If a baby is exposed to factors causing schizophrenia while still a developing fetus, which of the following conditions is true of the baby's brain?

Accepted Answer

The path taken by neurons during their migration in fetal brain development can be affected by factors that increase the risk of schizophrenia. This can lead to abnormalities in brain structure and function associated with the disorder.

Question 17

Which of the following is a cause of the development of dissociative identity disorder?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is often linked to severe trauma during early childhood, such as extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Question 18

If Mariana is a schizophrenic who has trouble with selective attention, cognitive control, and working memory, it suggests that she has ________.

Accepted Answer

Low levels of glutamate are associated with schizophrenia, which can affect selective attention, cognitive control, and working memory. Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter involved in cognitive functions.

Question 19

As a child, Ethan was sexually and physically abused by his neighbor for almost three years. While growing up, a split began to develop in his memory and consciousness. Ethan is most likely to be diagnosed with ________.

Accepted Answer

Ethan's experience of a split in memory and consciousness as a result of prolonged trauma is indicative of a dissociative disorder. Dissociative disorders involve a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity, often as a coping mechanism for trauma.

Question 20

Travis is a child with above-average intelligence and is quite advanced in his speech. He engages his parents in long-winded discussions on one rather narrow topic. However, he is not interested in making friends. All these symptoms point to the fact that he is most likely to have ________.

Accepted Answer

Travis's symptoms, such as above-average intelligence, advanced speech, focus on narrow topics, and lack of interest in making friends, align with characteristics of Asperger's syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum that affects communication and social interaction.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders