Question 1

For the last month,Gabrielle has felt lethargic and has been unable to get out of bed in the morning.She has withdrawn from friends and family because she feels worthless and unlovable.Gabrielle is most likely suffering from

Accepted Answer

Gabrielle's symptoms indicate that she is experiencing major depressive disorder. This disorder is characterized by feelings of worthlessness, lethargy, and withdrawal from social activities. Rumination, bipolar disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder can all involve depressive symptoms, but they typically have additional symptoms that are not described in Gabrielle's case.

Question 2

It has been suggested that compulsive acts typically exaggerate behaviors that contributed to the survival of the human species.This idea best illustrates the ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The suggestion that compulsive acts are related to behaviors that contributed to human survival points toward a biological perspective, which focuses on how biology and genetics influence behavior.

Question 3

After Brian loses his third job in a year,his wife tells him that she wants a divorce.Brian becomes deeply discouraged,demonstrates a loss of self-esteem,and has no energy to find a job or leave his house.He sleeps several hours a day and eats very little.Brian is suffering from

Accepted Answer

Brian is demonstrating symptoms of depression such as loss of self-esteem, lack of energy, changes in sleep and appetite, and social withdrawal. These symptoms are consistent with major depressive disorder.

Question 4

While anxiety is a response to ________,depression is often a response to ________.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety is typically a response to specific objects or events, such as the fear of flying or speaking in public. Depression, on the other hand, is often a response to past or current loss, such as the loss of a loved one or a job. It can also be triggered by the threat of future loss, such as chronic illness or financial difficulties.

Question 5

Professor Pott emphasizes that normal depression serves an adaptive function by slowing people down and preventing them from engaging in life-threatening behaviors.The professor's emphasis best illustrates a ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The professor's emphasis that depression serves an adaptive function suggests a biological perspective, as it relates to how mental and emotional processes are affected by physiological factors. The other options (social-cognitive, psychoanalytic, conditioning) do not directly relate to the specific emphasis on the adaptive function of depression.

Question 6

In people with major depressive disorder,interest in activities is ________ and agitation may be ________.

Accepted Answer

In major depressive disorder, individuals typically experience a loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, also known as anhedonia. This reduction in interest is reflected in choice A, which is incorrect. Although agitation can occur in depression, it is typically associated with anxiety and not major depressive disorder. Therefore, the correct answer is C: reduced interest in activities and possibly increased agitation.

Question 7

Elmer,the owner of an auto service station,suddenly began smashing the front fenders and hoods of two customers' cars.When asked why,he excitedly explained that he was transforming the cars into "real racing machines." When an employee tried to restrain him,he shouted that everybody was fired and quickly began breaking the car windows.Elmer is exhibiting symptoms of

Accepted Answer

Elmer's sudden and extreme behavior, including excitement, shouting, and destructive acts, suggests a manic episode. Mania is a symptom of bipolar disorder, which is characterized by periods of elevated, hyperactive, or impulsive behavior.

Question 8

A major depressive disorder is most likely to be characterized by

Accepted Answer

Feelings of personal worthlessness are one of the main symptoms of major depressive disorder. It is accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, fatigue, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Question 9

Angie is suffering from major depressive disorder.Compared with people who are not depressed,Angie may experience which one of the following symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Repetitive thoughts of death or suicide are common symptoms of major depressive disorder. A heightened ability to think, concentrate, and make decisions is not a typical symptom of depression. Manic episodes and frequent or unexpected panic attacks are more commonly associated with bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders, respectively.

Question 10

The number-one reason people seek mental health services is

Accepted Answer

Depression is the number-one reason people seek mental health services, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Bipolar disorder and mania are related to but not as commonly cited as depression, while disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is a relatively new diagnosis and likely not as widespread.

Question 11

Melissa has been depressed for the last month.Suddenly she has become euphoric and hyperactive,and she runs around the apartment complex claiming that she alone could solve the world's energy problems.Melissa is suffering from

Accepted Answer

Melissa's sudden shift from depression to euphoria and hyperactivity suggests bipolar disorder, which is characterized by both depressive and manic episodes. Mania often involves grandiose or unrealistic thinking, such as the belief that one person alone could solve a global issue like the world's energy problems. Major depressive disorder would not account for Melissa's sudden change in behavior, and rumination and learned helplessness are not specific diagnoses of mental disorders.

Question 12

Distress most of the time over a two-week period because of fatigue or loss of energy is most likely associated with

Accepted Answer

One of the key symptoms of major depressive disorder is experiencing fatigue or loss of energy for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. This can often lead to distress and difficulty carrying out daily activities. Mania is characterized by elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, and impulsivity. Bipolar disorder includes episodes of both mania and depression. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder involves frequent temper outbursts and persistent irritability.

Question 13

The anterior cingulate cortex,a brain region that monitors our actions and checks for errors,seems especially likely to be hyperactive in those with

Accepted Answer

The anterior cingulate cortex is known to be hyperactive in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This hyperactivity is thought to lead to an increased sensitivity to errors, which can contribute to the obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors characteristic of OCD.

Question 14

A seasonal pattern of symptoms is most likely to be a characteristic of

Accepted Answer

A seasonal pattern of symptoms is a hallmark characteristic of bipolar disorder, specifically with the subtype known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This type of mood disorder is marked by depressive episodes that occur during the fall/winter months and remit during the spring/summer months, with elevated or manic episodes occurring during the summer/fall months. Learned helplessness, a negative explanatory style, and rumination are not typically associated with this specific seasonal pattern of symptoms.

Question 15

We can more easily extinguish a fear of driving a car than a fear of holding snakes.This is best explained from a ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The answer of We can more easily extinguish a fear...

Question 16

A disorder in which an individual is overexcited,hyperactive,and wildly optimistic is known as

Accepted Answer

The disorder described is mania, characterized by symptoms of extreme excitement, euphoria, hyperactivity, and grandiosity. Depression (A) is characterized by symptoms of persistent sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (C) is a relatively new diagnosis characterized by severe and recurrent temper outbursts that are out of proportion to the situation. Rumination (D) is a symptom of depression, in which an individual excessively focuses on their negative thoughts and feelings.

Question 17

George Frideric Handel composed his Messiah during three weeks of intense,creative energy.Many believe Handel suffered a mild form of

Accepted Answer

Many historical records suggest that Handel experienced symptoms consistent with bipolar disorder, such as high levels of energy, decreased need for sleep, and increased creativity during the composition of Messiah. Additionally, Handel experienced periods of low mood and depression throughout his life.

Question 18

At different seasons of the year,one survey asked Americans "Have you cried today?" The percentage who said "yes" was highest in

Accepted Answer

December is associated with holidays and end-of-year reflections, which can evoke emotions and lead to crying.

Question 19

In which disorder do people alternate between states of lethargic hopelessness and wild overexcitement?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of manic and depressive symptoms. Manic episodes are marked by elevated or irritable mood, hyperactivity, racing thoughts, reduced need for sleep, and impulsive behavior. Depressive episodes, on the other hand, are characterized by sadness, lethargy, lack of interest in activities, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt. The fluctuations in mood can occur gradually or suddenly and can be severe enough to disrupt daily functioning.

Question 20

During the manic phase of bipolar disorder,individuals are most likely to

Accepted Answer

During the manic phase, individuals with bipolar disorder may experience excessive energy, restlessness, and hyperactivity.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders