Question 1

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.Nothing she is doing seems to have caused such an episode.Her symptoms most resemble

Accepted Answer

Darcy's symptoms indicate a sudden, intense fear or discomfort, along with physical symptoms like sweating and rapid heartbeat. This is characteristic of a panic attack.

Question 2

From an evolutionary perspective,humans would be most likely to develop a phobia to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A phobia is an extreme and irrational fear of something. From an evolutionary perspective, humans are more likely to develop phobias to things that posed a survival threat to our ancestors. Snakes were a common danger to early humans, and being afraid of them could have helped our ancestors avoid being bitten and poisoned. Atomic weapons and guns are relatively new inventions, and our species has not had enough time to evolve a specific fear response to them. House cats do not pose a significant threat to our survival, and thus it is unlikely that our ancestors would have developed a phobia to them.

Question 3

People who suffer from panic attacks often also experience

Accepted Answer

People who experience panic attacks can develop fears of situations where panic attacks have occurred, which lead them to avoid those situations in order to prevent future attacks. This fear is known as agoraphobia. Obsessions, paranoia, and compulsions are more commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Question 4

Which of the following is most likely to be cited by psychologists as a reason to be skeptical about dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

Accepted Answer

Psychologists are skeptical about the validity of DID as a diagnosis because there was a steep increase in the rates of diagnosis of DID from the 1970s to the 1990s. This has led some to question whether the increase was due to changing cultural attitudes or fads in psychology rather than a true increase in the prevalence of the disorder. PET scan studies (A) and evidence for memory dissociation (C) have been used to support the diagnosis of DID, but these findings are not conclusive and have been criticized for being based on small sample sizes or flawed research methods. The association between DID and stressful events (D) is not itself a reason to be skeptical about the validity of the diagnosis, as it is common for many mental health disorders to be triggered or exacerbated by stressful or traumatic experiences.

Question 5

A disorder marked by the apparent appearance within one person of two or more personalities,each with its own name and distinctive traits,is called _____________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder, is a specific disorder where an individual develops more than one distinct personality within themselves, each with its own characteristics and behaviors. This is not the same as other disorders listed, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, which have different symptoms and diagnostic criteria.

Question 6

Skeptics of dissociative identity disorder (DID)argue that

Accepted Answer

Skeptics of DID argue that some therapists may intentionally or unintentionally influence their clients to develop dissociative symptoms during therapy, leading to the potential overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of the disorder. This has led to controversy and skepticism surrounding the validity of DID as a distinct disorder. The other options are not supported by scientific research and are incorrect.

Question 7

One explanation for _____________ disorders is that the body's flight-or-fight response is overactive.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear and worry, and one explanation for these disorders is that the body's flight-or-fight response (our biological response to stress) is overactive.

Question 8

Jarrod fears leaving his apartment during daylight hours even for a short walk to get his mail.His diagnosis would most likely belong in the category of __________ disorders.

Accepted Answer

Jarrod's fear and avoidance of leaving his apartment indicate an anxiety disorder, specifically agoraphobia, which is characterized by fear and avoidance of situations where escape may be difficult or embarrassing. Mood disorders involve disturbances in mood, personality disorders involve maladaptive personality traits, and impulse-control disorders involve difficulty controlling impulses and behaviors.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of a panic attack often peak within 10 minutes, though the entire attack may last longer.

Question 10

Leo worries all of the time.He worries about his money,his children,and his dog.He cannot identify the specific source of his worry,but rather feels an overall sense of constant concern.Leo's symptoms sound most like

Accepted Answer

Leo's symptoms of constant worry and inability to identify a specific source of his concern are characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder. Panic disorder involves sudden and intense feelings of panic, while obsessive-compulsive disorder involves a pattern of intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in memory, consciousness, or identity.

Question 11

______________ disorders are characterized by fear or nervousness that is excessive,irrational,and maladaptive.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive, irrational, and maladaptive fear or nervousness. Personality disorders involve patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are rigid and maladaptive. Mood disorders involve disturbances in mood such as depression or mania. Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in consciousness, memory, and identity.

Question 12

Agoraphobia is an intense fear of

Accepted Answer

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of situations or places where escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or where help may not be available in case of a panic attack. This fear often leads individuals to avoid certain places or situations, such as public transportation, crowded places, or open spaces. The fear of having a panic attack in a public place is a common feature of agoraphobia. Therefore, the best choice here is B.

Question 13

What is the main difference between generalized anxiety disorder and phobias?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between generalized anxiety disorder and phobias is that phobias are linked to specific triggers, while generalized anxiety disorder is not linked to a specific trigger. Phobias are intense and persistent fears of certain situations or objects, whereas generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and uncontrollable worry about everyday life events and situations.

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 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 that she may meet the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is characterized by excessive worry and anxiety about everyday events and activities, often with little or no apparent reason. Agoraphobia involves a fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult or where help may not be available in case of a panic attack, and social phobia involves a fear of social situations in which the person is exposed to possible scrutiny and embarrassment. Major depression involves persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable. However, Shelby's symptoms do not suggest that she meets the criteria for any of these other disorders.

Question 15

People who have a(n)__________ are afraid of being evaluated in some negative way by others,so they tend to avoid situations that can be embarrassing.

Accepted Answer

Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is characterized by a persistent fear of social situations and being evaluated or judged by others. This fear can lead individuals to avoid social situations or endure them with intense anxiety and distress. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves intrusive and persistent thoughts or impulses (obsessions), that are often followed by repetitive or ritualistic behaviors (compulsions), while specific phobia involves a persistent and intense fear of a specific object or situation (e.g. heights, spiders). Interactive phobia is not a recognized mental health diagnosis.

Question 16

Manny 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

Manny's intense fear of flying insects that results in him hardly ever going outside his house during summer months is indicative of a phobia, which is an extreme and irrational fear towards a particular object or situation.

Question 17

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 fear of clowns, which is not proportionate to the actual danger posed by clowns. This irrational fear is consistent with a phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent, excessive fear of a specific object or situation. Davis does not exhibit the symptoms necessary to meet the diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 18

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 frequently diagnosed psychological disorders?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias are some of the most frequently diagnosed psychological disorders.

Question 19

Which of the following disorders is the most controversial diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder, is controversial because some professionals believe it is a real disorder, while others think it is iatrogenic (i.e., created by the therapist rather than being a legitimate disorder). Additionally, some believe that the symptoms of dissociative identity disorder may be better explained by mood, anxiety, or personality disorders.

Question 20

Anxiety is associated with physiological responses such as a racing heart and increased respiration.Which of the following is true about these physiological changes?

Accepted Answer

Increased heart rate and respiration are part of the fight-or-flight response, which is an adaptive physiological response to perceived threats. It prepares the body for action to either stay and fight or flee from danger.

Quiz 15: B: Psychological Disorders