Question 1

The most common psychological disorders in the United States are

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most common psychological disorders in the...

Question 2

Thomas Szasz would be most critical of the commonly used criterion to diagnose psychological disorders that relates to

Accepted Answer

Thomas Szasz was a critic of the medicalization of mental illness and argued that labeling certain behaviors as mental disorders was a way to exert social control over nonconforming individuals. Therefore, he would likely object to the criterion of deviance, which implies that anything outside of the norm is automatically pathological.

Question 3

Alvin suffers from both major depression and generalized anxiety disrder.Alvin's diagnoses illustrate that mental disorders can be

Accepted Answer

Alvin's diagnoses illustrate comorbidity, which is when a patient has two or more co-occurring mental disorders. This is common among individuals with mental health issues. Choices A and D are not relevant to the scenario, while choice C describes a situation where a confounding variable affects the outcome of a study, which is not applicable here.

Question 4

Frequently people call a psychologist for assistance after "deciding for themselves" that they need help.People would be MOST likely to use which two of the commonly used criteria for psychological disorders when deciding to seek treatment?

Accepted Answer

The two commonly used criteria for psychological disorders are maladaptive behavior and personal distress. Maladaptive behavior refers to behavior that interferes with one's ability to function effectively in daily life, while personal distress refers to the individual's own feelings of discomfort or distress related to their behavior. It is likely that individuals who recognize these criteria in their own behavior would seek help from a psychologist.

Question 5

Treit's best friend was seriously injured in a car accident last month.Since that time Treit has been attending all his classes,but he feels like he is unable to pay attention because he is constantly thinking about his friend.Treit finds he can't seem to think about anything else,and he is frequently overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness.In this example,Treit's feelings would MOST likely be considered

Accepted Answer

The answer of Treit's best friend was seriously injured in...

Question 6

Using the DSM-IV,estimates of the current level of the patients functioning would be recorded on

Accepted Answer

Axis V, also known as the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale, is where the clinician would record the patient's current level of functioning on a scale of 0 to 100. This includes psychological, social and occupational functioning.

Question 7

The biggest issue with respect to the DSM diagnostic approach is

Accepted Answer

The assumptions about nonoverlapping diagnoses have been criticized for not reflecting the complexity of mental disorders and oversimplifying the diagnostic process. This has led to a high level of comorbidity and challenges in accurately diagnosing and treating mental health issues.

Question 8

The study of the incidence and distribution of mental or physical disorders within a population defines the discipline known as

Accepted Answer

Epidemiology is the study of the occurrence and distribution of health-related events, including mental or physical disorders within a population. Etiology is the study of the causes of diseases or disorders. Psychobiology examines the biological basis of behavior and mental processes. Demography is the study of human populations, including their size, growth, density, and distribution.

Question 9

The DSM classification system is said to be "multiaxial." This means that the system

Accepted Answer

The DSM classification system is considered multiaxial because it requires judgments about individuals on numerous separate dimensions, including clinical disorders, personality disorders, general medical conditions, and psychosocial and environmental factors. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of individuals and their unique circumstances.

Question 10

Roger enjoys gambling so much that he does it every day,totally neglecting his family and job.Roger's behavior satisfies which criterion of abnormality MOST clearly?

Accepted Answer

Roger's behavior is maladaptive as it is negatively impacting his family and job.

Question 11

Epidemiology is the study of

Accepted Answer

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health, disease, and health-related behaviors in a population. This includes examining patterns of mental or physical disorders within a population.

Question 12

Using the DSM-IV,disorders of mood would be recorded on

Accepted Answer

Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, are classified as psychiatric disorders and would therefore be recorded on Axis I of the DSM-IV. Axis I includes clinical disorders and other conditions that may be the focus of clinical attention. Axes III and IV record general medical conditions and psychosocial and environmental problems, respectively, and Axis X does not exist in the DSM-IV.

Question 13

DSM-IV uses five "axes" to describe a person's problem.The actual diagnosis of a disorder is made on

Accepted Answer

Axis I is used for clinical disorders, such as anxiety or depression, while Axis II is used for personality disorders or developmental disorders. It is common for a person to have a diagnosis on both axes, which is why the answer is C. Axis V is used for assessing a person's current level of functioning.

Question 14

Behavior that causes anxiety or concern for the affected individual may be considered to be

Accepted Answer

Personally distressing behavior is characterized by causing anxiety or concern for the individual experiencing it.

Question 15

Tom displays very odd behavior.He wears a heavy parka and mittens during the summer and lectures from the steps of City Hall about upcoming invasions by men from outer-space.Most likely,Tom has a psychological disorder since his behavior meets the criterion of

Accepted Answer

Tom's behavior is considered deviant because it significantly deviates from societal norms, such as wearing inappropriate clothing for the season and expressing beliefs about alien invasions.

Question 16

Jefferson has gone in for a psychiatric assessment.He tells the clinician that he has been feeling detached from his surroundings since he started taking medication to control his high blood pressure.The clinician would use

Accepted Answer

Axis III of the DSM-IV is used to record general medical conditions that may be relevant to understanding or managing the individual's mental disorder.

Question 17

Which of the following is a common stereotype about psychological disorders?

Accepted Answer

The stereotype that people with psychological disorders are violent and dangerous is a common one, perpetuated in popular media and by societal stigma surrounding mental illness. However, this stereotype is unfounded and harmful to individuals with mental illness who face discrimination as a result.

Question 18

Wesley has gone in for a psychiatric assessment.He tells the clinician that he has been feeling apprehensive and edgy for the last month,but so far his anxiety hasn't seemed to have had a major impact on either his job or his home life.The clinician should use

Accepted Answer

Axis V of the DSM-IV is used to record the patient's current level of global functioning. This is appropriate in Wesley's case as he is undergoing a psychiatric assessment, and his level of functioning can provide important information about his overall mental health. While Axis III and Axis IV may also be important in some cases, they are not necessary for recording the patient's current level of global functioning. Option C is incorrect as Axis I and Axis II are used to diagnose specific mental health disorders, rather than assess global functioning. Option D is incorrect as Wesley's symptoms suggest a potential anxiety disorder that may require treatment, despite not meeting the criteria for significant impairment in daily functioning.

Question 19

Dr.Smith is a psychiatrist who argues that different diagnoses represent similar underlying psychological symptoms.Dr.Smith is therefore likely to argue for a _________ approach to diagnosis.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Smith's argument for similar underlying psychological symptoms suggests a dimensional approach to diagnosis, which focuses on assessing the severity and extent of specific symptoms rather than assigning categorical labels. A comorbid approach considers multiple diagnoses occurring simultaneously, a categorical approach assigns a specific diagnosis based on a list of criteria, and an epidemiological approach examines patterns and distributions of diseases and disorders in populations.

Question 20

If a psychological disorder results in an individual having difficulty completing routine or necessary everyday activities,the individual's behavior would MOST likely be considered

Accepted Answer

Difficulty completing routine or necessary everyday activities indicates that the individual's behavior is maladaptive, meaning it interferes with their ability to function effectively and achieve their goals. Personal distress may be present, but is not necessarily indicated by difficulty with everyday activities. Incompetence and deviance are not appropriate terms for describing this type of behavior.

Quiz 15: Psychological Disorders