Question 1

Tom has auditory hallucinations in which he hears voices saying, "cut yourself and die." This is an example of a positive symptom of schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that are present in individuals with schizophrenia but absent in individuals without the condition. Auditory hallucinations in which an individual hears voices saying harmful things, such as to harm oneself, are considered positive symptoms.

Question 2

Rachel and Rhonda are identical twins, and they have each just broken off relationships with their boyfriends. Rachel feels guilty and sad about ending her relationship; Rhonda feels ending her relationship is probably a good decision. According to the research, Rachel and Rhonda are equally likely to develop depression following this same, negative life event.

Accepted Answer

Identical twins, like Rachel and Rhonda, share the same genetics but can have different responses to the same life events due to differences in their individual experiences, personalities, coping mechanisms, and perceptions of the event. Rhonda's positive outlook on the breakup could serve as a protective factor against depression, while Rachel's guilt and sadness might increase her risk.

Question 3

Norbert suffers many negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Norbert is more likely to be given an atypical antipsychotic drug than a traditional antipsychotic.

Accepted Answer

Atypical antipsychotics are more commonly prescribed for the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia as they have a lower risk of causing extrapyramidal side effects compared to traditional antipsychotics.

Question 4

Avoidance learning offers one good explanation for why phobias are not ordinarily extinguished without treatment.

Accepted Answer

Avoidance learning occurs when an individual learns to avoid certain situations or stimuli that are associated with fear or anxiety. This can perpetuate a phobia, as the individual continues to avoid the feared object or situation, which doesn't allow for the extinction of the fear response. Without treatment, phobias may persist for years or even a lifetime due to avoidance learning.

Question 5

People are not born with phobias. Therefore, there is no genetic predisposition for phobias.

Accepted Answer

While people are not born with specific phobias, there is evidence to suggest that a genetic predisposition for anxiety disorders, including phobias, can be inherited. This means that while the phobias themselves are not present at birth, the susceptibility to develop them can be passed down through families.

Question 6

Nearly all drugs that commonly produce addictions stimulate receptors in the hippocampus.

Accepted Answer

While some drugs can affect the hippocampus, not all of them stimulate receptors in this area of the brain. Different drugs can affect different areas and receptors in the brain, and addiction is a complex phenomenon with multiple factors.

Question 7

Panic disorder is more commonly diagnosed in men than in women.

Accepted Answer

Panic disorder is actually twice as common in women as it is in men, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Question 8

Some people who suffer from the seasonal affective disorder experience periods of depression during the summer months.

Accepted Answer

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is commonly associated with the winter months due to reduced sunlight, but it can also occur in the summer, leading to depression during warmer periods for some individuals.

Question 9

Research has demonstrated that monkeys can learn to fear snakes by watching videotapes of other monkeys showing fear of snakes.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Research has shown that monkeys can learn to fear snakes through social learning, such as watching other monkeys exhibit fear towards snakes.

Question 10

On the average, antidepressant medications are more effective than the known types of psychotherapy in treating depression.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Research has shown that certain types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can be just as effective as antidepressant medication in treating depression, especially for milder forms of depression. Additionally, a combination of both medication and therapy may be the most effective treatment for some individuals.

Question 11

Tina is constantly bothered by worries that others see as exaggerated. There are times that Tina finds herself worrying and she doesn't even know why. Tina has recently begun to take antidepressants, and they have improved her condition. Based on this information, the most appropriate diagnosis for Tina would be generalized anxiety disorder.

Accepted Answer

Tina's constant worrying, exaggeration of worries, and not knowing why she is worrying are all symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. The fact that antidepressants have improved her condition also supports this diagnosis.

Question 12

Women are about twice as likely to suffer depression as men. The explanation for this difference that currently has received the strongest research support has to do with the hormonal differences between the sexes.

Accepted Answer

While hormonal differences may play a role, the strongest research support points to a combination of factors including social, psychological, and biological influences, not just hormonal differences.

Question 13

The process of addiction changes the organization of several brain areas, including areas involved in motivation and attention.

Accepted Answer

Addiction has been linked to changes in the brain's reward system, involving areas such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). These changes lead to heightened motivation to seek out and use drugs or engage in addictive behaviors. Addiction also affects areas involved in attention and impulse control, such as the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. These changes can contribute to the continued use of drugs or engagement in addictive behaviors despite negative consequences.

Question 14

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective in treating depression because it helps people to forget depressing memories.

Accepted Answer

ECT works by altering brain chemistry and activity, not by making people forget memories.

Question 15

Most people with major depression experience sleep abnormalities such as awakening earlier than usual without being able to go back to sleep.

Accepted Answer

Sleep abnormalities, including early morning awakening, are common symptoms of major depression.

Question 16

There is a stronger genetic basis for Type I alcoholism than there is for Type II alcoholism.

Accepted Answer

Type II alcoholism, also known as early-onset alcoholism, has a stronger genetic component and is more likely to run in families compared to Type I alcoholism, which is characterized by later onset and is less influenced by genetic factors.

Question 17

People diagnosed with schizophrenia typically have two or more personalities that alternate taking control of the body.

Accepted Answer

People diagnosed with schizophrenia do not have multiple personalities taking control of the body. This is a common misconception about schizophrenia, but it is not accurate. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects a person's thinking, emotions, and behavior.

Question 18

Schizophrenia has been found in all ethnic groups.

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects people of all ethnic groups, and has been found in populations worldwide.

Question 19

At this point in time, there is strong agreement among psychologists that alcoholism is a disease.

Accepted Answer

The answer of At this point in time, there is...

Question 20

Alfred believes that his wife is trying to poison him so she can collect his life insurance. Alfred is experiencing a delusion of persecution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Alfred believes that his wife is trying...

Quiz 16: A--Specific Disorders and Treatments