Question 1

Therapies that have no scientific basis, such as re-enacting one's birth and screaming, all have in common that they:

Accepted Answer

Therapies that have no scientific basis may not only be ineffective, but they can also be harmful. It's important to seek out evidence-based treatments to ensure that the therapy is safe and effective.

Question 2

For which of the following problems would you most likely not recommend treatment because most treatments are not more effective than simply allowing the person to recover on their own?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For which of the following problems would...

Question 3

Dr. Prajna treats patients with anxiety and mood disorders. She bases her therapeutic techniques and medication choices on recent scientific literature. She only uses treatments which have been shown to be effective in large, double-blind, controlled clinical trials. She never prescribes a drug or talk therapy for which she does not know the research findings related to its effectiveness. Dr. Prajna's views are similar to those of ____________, who emphasized the use of ____________.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Prajna's emphasis on using treatments that have been shown to be effective in clinical trials is consistent with the approach of David Barlow, who is known for promoting evidence-based treatments for mental health disorders.

Question 4

Based on what you know about the following treatments, an evidence-based approach to psychological treatment would lead one to favour ____________ for a wide variety of psychological disorders.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a well-researched and evidence-based approach to psychological treatment that has been shown to be effective for a wide range of psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders. It focuses on changing negative patterns of thinking and behaviour by teaching clients to identify and challenge their distorted beliefs and replace them with more rational and realistic ones. Long-term psychoanalysis is less supported by empirical evidence and may not be appropriate or necessary for all psychological disorders. Scream therapy and deep brain stimulation are not well-established or evidence-based treatments for psychological disorders.

Question 5

John is being treated with a biological therapy for a disorder. He has side effects which include twitching muscles in his neck and face. John probably has ____________ and is being treated with ____________.

Accepted Answer

The side effect of twitching muscles in the neck and face is a common side effect of traditional antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia. The incorrect options are easily eliminated as the first two options refer to depression, which is not the disorder being treated in John's case, and the last option refers to a very invasive form of treatment that is not typically used to treat schizophrenia.

Question 6

Across a number of anxiety disorders, drug therapy:

Accepted Answer

Drug therapy can be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety disorders in the short term, but may not provide a long-term solution. Additionally, discontinuing the medication can result in relapse, highlighting the need for ongoing therapy and management of symptoms. Negative side effects can occur with any medication, but the benefits of drug therapy may outweigh the potential risks for some individuals with anxiety disorders. Finally, while anxiety disorders do have psychological components, there is also evidence of biological factors contributing to these disorders, making drug therapy a viable treatment option.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an action of at least one type of antidepressant?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the action of monoamine oxidase (MAO) is not an action of any type of antidepressant. In fact, MAO inhibitors are a type of antidepressant, but they work by decreasing the activity of MAO. Antidepressants typically work by increasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, in the brain.

Question 8

Phoua has been severely depressed for the last year and has been hospitalized for the past 3 months because she is suicidal and a danger to herself. Many of the "first line" or typical treatments for depression have not been effective for Phoua, including cognitive therapy and drug therapy. Phoua will most likely:

Accepted Answer

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is often used as a treatment for severe depression when other treatments, such as medication and therapy, have not been effective.

Question 9

With the development of ____________ used to treat serious mental disorders, the use of ____________ declined starting in the 1950s.

Accepted Answer

The answer of With the development of ____________ used to...

Question 10

One of the important differences between drugs and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in the treatment of anxiety disorders is that:

Accepted Answer

CBT has longer-lasting effects than drugs, as it teaches individuals coping strategies and new ways of thinking that can be applied long-term, rather than just treating symptoms temporarily as drugs do. Additionally, CBT does not have the potential for addiction or negative side effects that drugs have. While CBT may require more sessions upfront, it can ultimately be more cost-effective and sustainable in the long run.

Question 11

Virtual environments or virtual realities are useful in treating:

Accepted Answer

Virtual environments can be particularly helpful in treating phobias by providing a safe and controlled way for patients to confront their fears.

Question 12

A lobotomy for a psychotic disorder is:

Accepted Answer

Lobotomies were a common "treatment" for psychotic disorders in the early to mid-20th century, but have largely fallen out of favor due to their invasive nature and potential for serious side effects. Other treatments, such as medication and therapy, are typically used as the first line of intervention for psychotic disorders.

Question 13

The best approach for treating anxiety disorders is:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be the most effective approach for the treatment of anxiety disorders. CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours that are associated with anxiety. It helps individuals understand the root cause of their anxiety and provides them with tools and strategies to manage it. While psychoanalytic therapy may help some individuals gain insight into their underlying emotional conflicts, it is not as effective as CBT in treating anxiety disorders. The use of psychoactive drugs may provide temporary relief, but it does not address the underlying issues that are causing the anxiety. Deep brain stimulation is a relatively new treatment for anxiety disorders and is still undergoing clinical trials.

Question 14

Serotonin affects mood but is also the neurotransmitter most associated with appetite. Which of the following medications would be most disruptive of normal hunger cues?

Accepted Answer

Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that increases the levels of serotonin in the brain. Elevated levels of serotonin can suppress appetite and disrupt normal hunger cues, leading to weight loss as a side effect.

Question 15

Based on what you know about the biological effects of Prozac, if it did not increase the activity of ____________, it would not be effective in treating depression.

Accepted Answer

Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which means it increases the activity of serotonin in the brain by blocking its reuptake into nerve cells. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood, emotions, and anxiety. Therefore, if Prozac did not increase the activity of serotonin, it would not be effective in treating depression.

Question 16

As a treatment for depression, Dr. Leslee uses a powerful electric current to create a magnetic field that is placed over the scalp of the client. Dr. Leslee is using a technique called:

Accepted Answer

The technique described in the question involves a magnetic field being placed over the scalp, which is indicative of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a non-invasive alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (A) and deep brain stimulation (B), which both involve more invasive procedures. Shallow electromagnetic therapy (C) is not a recognized term in the treatment of depression.

Question 17

Who is usually given credit for introducing surgical treatments of mental disorders?

Accepted Answer

Moniz is credited for introducing surgical treatments of mental disorders, specifically the prefrontal lobotomy. Freud is known for psychoanalytic therapy, Gottman is known for his research on relationships, and Erikson is known for his theory of psychosocial development.

Question 18

The fact that people used to engage in ____________ means that ____________.

Accepted Answer

Trepanning, or the practice of drilling a hole in the skull to treat mental illness, dates back thousands of years and is evidence that people have sought ways to treat mental disorders for centuries. Options B and D are incorrect because prefrontal lobotomies and electroconvulsive therapy were both controversial treatments that were not widely accepted. Option C is incorrect because while ritualistic cleansing may have been a practice in some cultures, it is not necessarily indicative of a longstanding effort to treat mental disorders.

Question 19

Barlow, among many other clinical and research psychologists, has argued that:

Accepted Answer

Barlow and many others strongly advocate for evidence-based treatments in psychology, meaning treatments that have been validated through scientific research. They argue that relying on treatments that have little evidence of effectiveness can be harmful to clients and hinder the advancement of the field.

Question 20

____________ was originally developed to treat the medical condition ____________, but after use on other psychological disorders is was found to be effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.

Accepted Answer

Deep brain stimulation was originally developed to treat Parkinson's disease, but it has also been found effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.

Quiz 15: Treatment of Psychological Disorders