Question 1

If you are the parent of a child who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and who is being treated with Ritalin or similar drugs, what side effects might you expect to see in your child?

Accepted Answer

Common side effects of Ritalin and similar drugs include sleep problems, a pause in growth, and reduced appetite.

Question 2

Which of the following adolescents would be most likely to experience suicidal thinking during treatment?

Accepted Answer

Prozac, an SSRI, has been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thinking in adolescents, especially during the initial treatment period.

Question 3

Your cousin has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the age of 6. What is the probability that she will still be suffering this disorder during her adolescent years?

Accepted Answer

According to the American Psychiatric Association, up to 70 percent of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms or meet the criteria for the disorder during adolescence. While some children may outgrow ADHD, many will continue to struggle with it into adulthood.

Question 4

Brandon is a 6-year-old who was diagnosed with autism at age 2. He has been receiving a treatment called applied behavioural analysis (ABA) for the past 4 years. Which of the following outcomes is most likely for Brandon after 4 years of receiving ABA, according to research presented in the textbook?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that ABA can lead to improvements in cognitive functioning, including IQ, for children with autism.

Question 5

Based on what is known about the characteristics of autism, which of the following therapy techniques would be most effective in encouraging a child with autism to make appropriate eye contact with a therapist?

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement with food is a form of positive reinforcement, which is a common and effective behavioral technique used in autism therapy to encourage desired behaviors, such as making eye contact.

Question 6

Malik, a child in intensive applied behaviour analysis treatment for autism, has improved in a number of ways after 4 years with this treatment. However, the major difficulty for his parents is:

Accepted Answer

The time commitment involved in intensive applied behaviour analysis treatment can be very demanding and stressful for families. It often requires several hours of therapy every day, which can be challenging to balance with other responsibilities and activities. While cost and educational outcomes may also be concerns for some families, the time commitment is often the most difficult aspect of this type of treatment. The statement about intelligence not improving with treatment is not accurate, as research has shown that many children with autism can make significant gains in cognitive ability with appropriate interventions.

Question 7

When the drug Ritalin is given to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder it:

Accepted Answer

Ritalin is known to slightly increase positive behaviors and dramatically reduce negative behaviors in children with ADHD, helping to manage symptoms like hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Question 8

Psychotherapeutic treatments of adolescent depression:

Accepted Answer

Psychotherapeutic treatments of adolescent depression are effective but may take longer than drug treatments. While they may not be as well-developed as adult treatments, they have been shown to be effective and are often used in combination with medications for moderate to severe depression. They are not three times more effective than treatment with drugs alone, and they may be effective on their own without drug treatment.

Question 9

A paradoxical aspect of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is that:

Accepted Answer

Children with ADHD often appear hyperactive, but they are actually underaroused and have difficulty focusing their attention. This paradoxical aspect of the disorder can make it challenging to diagnose and treat.

Question 10

Sam, a 10-year-old male, has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following would you expect to see as Sam gets older?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals diagnosed with ADHD as children have a higher likelihood of continuing to experience symptoms in young adulthood. However, this does not necessarily mean that the symptoms will be as severe or impairing as they were during childhood. Treatment can help manage symptoms and improve overall functioning.

Question 11

One of the negative aspects of treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with drugs is that:

Accepted Answer

One of the negative aspects of treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with drugs is that the effects are not maintained over a long period. This means that the medication may have to be regularly adjusted or changed to maintain effectiveness, which can be a challenge for patients and their families.

Question 12

Thomas, a 12-year-old male, is showing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For example, he does not pay attention in school and does not complete, or misplaces, homework. Other students regard his frequent disruptive behaviour in the classroom as an annoyance. He has trouble playing sports or sticking with any activity that requires his attention for prolonged periods. The first-line treatment for Thomas would typically be ____________; however, ____________ is also recommended because its effects tend to be more long-lasting.

Accepted Answer

Ritalin (a stimulant medication) is often the first-line treatment for ADHD to help improve focus and reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity. Behaviour therapy is also recommended as it provides long-lasting strategies and skills for managing symptoms.

Question 13

The drug Ritalin is a ____________ which leads to ____________ in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Accepted Answer

Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant, meaning that it increases activity in the brain. This increased activity can lead to improved attention and focus in children with ADHD.

Question 14

The fact that more antidepressants have been prescribed to adolescents in recent decades while the adolescent suicide rate has gone down provides evidence that:

Accepted Answer

The decrease in adolescent suicide rates despite the increase in antidepressant use suggests a correlation between the two. However, it does not necessarily prove that antidepressants directly reduce suicide risk, nor does it suggest that they are the treatment of choice for adolescent depression or that other forms of therapy are not effective.

Question 15

Which of the following psychological treatments appears to have the most research support in terms of large-scale treatment studies of adolescent depression?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has the most research support in treating adolescent depression, based on large-scale treatment studies. CBT is a talk therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviours. It has been shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms and preventing relapse in adolescents. Group behaviour therapy and behaviour therapy have also been shown to be effective, but not to the same extent as CBT. Brief psychodynamic therapy has not been widely researched in terms of treating adolescent depression.

Question 16

The major benefit of ____________ for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is ____________.

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy provides more long-lasting outcomes than medication alone for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as it helps individuals develop skills and strategies to manage symptoms effectively over time.

Question 17

Based on the results of the Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS), which of the following conclusions would be most appropriate if a doctor was interested in prescribing Prozac for an adolescent patient with depression?

Accepted Answer

The TADS study found that Prozac (fluoxetine) was effective in treating adolescent depression, but there was a small increased risk of suicidal thoughts in some patients taking the medication. Therefore, it is appropriate for the doctor to prescribe Prozac but warn the patient and their family about the potential risk. However, the doctor should also consider other treatment options and discuss them with the patient and their family. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a recommended treatment option for adolescent depression, and medication may be used in conjunction with CBT or as a second line of treatment if CBT alone is not effective. Tricyclic antidepressants are not recommended for adolescent depression due to their potential for serious side effects.

Question 18

A drug representative who works for the company that makes Prozac has to make a pitch to a group of doctors regarding using Prozac to treat adolescent depression. The most accurate statement the drug representative could make would be:

Accepted Answer

This choice acknowledges the potential risks of using Prozac to treat adolescent depression but also emphasizes the benefits of the drug for individuals and society. It presents a balanced and realistic view of the situation, and would likely be the most responsible and ethical statement for a drug representative to make.

Question 19

Dr. Ramos is a psychiatrist who treats many adolescent patients who suffer from depression. She often treats these patients with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac. If she would like to add a treatment component that has been shown to improve outcomes for adolescents, she should recommend both Prozac and:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioural therapy has been shown to be effective in treating depression in adolescents, particularly when used in combination with medication like Prozac. It focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviours, which can improve mood and decrease symptoms of depression. Therefore, Dr. Ramos should recommend both Prozac and cognitive-behavioural therapy to improve outcomes for her adolescent patients.

Question 20

Based on the evidence provided in the textbook regarding behavioural effects of Ritalin therapy, which of the following outcomes is most likely in a group of 12-year-old boys taking the drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Accepted Answer

Ritalin is commonly used to treat ADHD and is known to improve attention and reduce hyperactive and impulsive behaviors, leading to better academic and social performance in many children.

Quiz 15: Treatment of Psychological Disorders