Question 1

When an individual is institutionalised against his will because he poses a danger to himself or others, and he has committed no crime, this is called ________ commitment.

Accepted Answer

Involuntary commitment refers to the legal process of admitting an individual to a psychiatric hospital or institution without his or her consent. This is done when the person is deemed a danger to themselves or others, and poses a threat to their own safety or the safety of others. It is not considered a criminal matter since the person has not committed a crime, but rather a regulatory issue that is dealt with under mental health laws. Statutory and regulatory commitments are not the appropriate terms to describe this situation since they apply to other legal areas.

Question 2

Dikeshia is giving a presentation in her abnormal psychology class on the prevalence of psychological disorders. If you were a student in that class, what general category of disorders would you expect her to mention as one of the most prevalent psychological disorders?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychological disorders worldwide, affecting approximately 10% of the population. They include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

Question 3

What is the main difference between generalised anxiety disorder and phobic disorder?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between generalised anxiety disorder and phobic disorder is that phobic disorder is linked to specific triggers, while generalised anxiety disorder is not linked to a specific trigger. Phobia is an excessive and irrational fear of a particular object, situation or activity that poses little to no threat in reality, while Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive, unrealistic worry and tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.

Question 4

Mark has such an intense fear of flying insects that he hardly ever goes outside his house during the summer months. He is probably suffering from a ________.

Accepted Answer

Mark's fear of flying insects that limits his daily activities is a classic example of a phobic disorder, specifically entomophobia.

Question 5

Which of the following factors demonstrated by mentally ill people is NOT associated with an increased risk for violence?

Accepted Answer

Being engaged in treatment is not associated with an increased risk for violence. In fact, it can help reduce the risk. Poor medication compliance, lack of insight into the illness, and substance abuse are all factors that can increase the risk of violence among mentally ill individuals.

Question 6

Identify the strengths and limitations of categorical and dimensional approaches to psychopathology. Ensure you refer to at least two disorders in your response.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the strengths and limitations of categorical...

Question 7

Which of the following is a disorder that takes the form of a bodily ailment that has no physical cause?

Accepted Answer

a somatic symptom is a physical symptom that has no identifiable physical cause, and is instead due to psychological factors such as stress or anxiety.

Question 8

In Australia, psychiatrists can recommend ________ and temporarily detain a person in a psychiatric institution without prior review of a judge.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Australia, psychiatrists can recommend ________ and...

Question 9

The belief that symptoms of depression lie on a continuum of normality is consistent with which approach to psychopathology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The belief that symptoms of depression lie...

Question 10

Do you think that there is truly room for the concept of "insanity" when a person has been found to have committed a crime? What are the various legal/psychological/ethical considerations that must be given attention in this issue?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you think that there is truly...

Question 11

As a result of a legal proceeding that took place in England in 1843, a test was developed that held two criteria for a person to be judged legally insane. Which of the following was one of those criteria?

Accepted Answer

The "M'Naghten rule", which was established in the legal proceeding, held that a person could only be judged legally insane if they did not know that what they were doing was wrong.

Question 12

Categorical models of psychopathology hold that mental disorders differ in ________ rather than ________; whereas dimensional models hold the opposite to be true.

Accepted Answer

Categorical models of psychopathology posit that mental disorders are distinct kinds or categories that differ qualitatively from one another. In contrast, dimensional models assume that mental disorders are not distinct categories, but rather that they exist on a continuum based on the severity or degree of certain symptoms. Therefore, the statement that "mental disorders differ in kind rather than degree" accurately summarizes the difference between categorical and dimensional models of psychopathology.

Question 13

One of the most pervasive myths in psychology is that mentally ill people are at a grossly heightened risk of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the most pervasive myths in...

Question 14

Shelby is concerned that she is spending too much of her day worrying about things that are out of her control. She often experiences disturbances in sleep and often feels tense, even in situations where there is nothing that is directly threatening her safety. If you were a clinical psychologist, you would be trying to determine if Shelby meets the criteria for ________.

Accepted Answer

Shelby's symptoms suggest a possible diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder, which is characterised by excessive and persistent worry or anxiety about a number of different events or activities, accompanied by symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. Agoraphobia and social phobia are specific phobias characterised by fear and avoidance of certain situations or objects, while major depressive disorder involves symptoms such as persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest or pleasure in activities.

Question 15

Darcy is sitting at her desk in her office one day when, without warning, her heart begins racing rapidly, she starts sweating profusely, and she is gripped with a terrifying fear that she is about to go crazy. She thinks she is having a heart attack. Nothing she is doing seems to have caused such an episode. Her symptoms most resemble ________.

Accepted Answer

Darcy's sudden onset of racing heart, sweating, and terrifying fear suggests a panic attack, which is characterized by sudden and intense episodes of overwhelming fear and physical symptoms that come on without warning. Phobic disorders involve a persistent and irrational fear of a particular object or situation, posttraumatic stress disorder involves symptoms such as flashbacks, avoidance, and hyperarousal following a traumatic event, and compulsions involve repetitive behaviors or mental acts aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing harm. None of these conditions match Darcy's symptoms as closely as a panic attack.

Question 16

Maria is often anxious and tense, though there is no specific reason for these feelings. As a result, she is often irritable with her family, friends, and co-workers without meaning to be. Her family doctor suggests that she meet with a psychiatrist to discuss her generalised ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Maria is often anxious and tense, though...

Question 17

Leo worries all of the time. He worries about his money, his children, and his dog. His muscles are always tense and sore, he has trouble sleeping, and is constantly physically tense. Leo's symptoms sound most like ________.

Accepted Answer

Leo's symptoms are consistent with the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, which involves excessive and persistent worry and anxiety about everyday events and situations. Symptoms can include muscle tension, sleep disturbance, and restlessness. Panic disorder involves recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, while conversion disorder involves neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition or substance use. Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in consciousness or memory.

Question 18

Davis has such an intense, irrational fear of clowns that he cannot take his daughters to see the circus when it is in town. Davis would be most correctly diagnosed as suffering from ________.

Accepted Answer

Davis is experiencing an intense, irrational fear of clowns, which is a classic symptom of phobia.

Question 19

While each panic attack is different, the symptoms of a panic attack often peak in less than ________ minutes.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of a panic attack often peak in less than 10 minutes, although symptoms can last for longer.

Question 20

The symptoms of ________ are often mistaken for those of a heart attack.

Accepted Answer

Panic attacks are characterized by sudden and intense feelings of fear and anxiety, which can include chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. These physical symptoms can be mistaken for those of a heart attack, leading to confusion and anxiety. Other disorders listed may have physical symptoms or triggers, but chest pain and heart symptoms are not usually a prominent feature.

Quiz 16: Psychological Disorders