Question 1

Candice faked her symptoms to gain medical attention. She exaggerated these symptoms to the point that exploratory surgery was conducted. What is Candice most likely suffering from?

Accepted Answer

Candice is most likely suffering from factitious disorder, where individuals intentionally create or exaggerate symptoms in order to gain medical attention. Malingering is a similar concept, but the individual does it for some external gain, such as financial compensation or avoiding legal consequences. Generalized anxiety disorder and somatization disorder do not fit the description of intentionally faking or exaggerating symptoms.

Question 2

People who chronically worry about being ill without any physiological reason, and have been checked by medical professionals, would likely be diagnosed with which of the following disorders?

Accepted Answer

Hypochondriasis is a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious illness despite lacking any physical symptoms or evidence of illness. This is also known as illness anxiety disorder. Somatization disorder is characterized by a history of many physical complaints over several years that are not fully explained by a medical condition. Conversion disorder is characterized by the presence of neurological symptoms, such as paralysis or blindness, that are not supported by medical findings. Dissociative fugue involves sudden unexpected travel away from home with an inability to recall one's past and confusion about personal identity, which is not related to illness anxiety.

Question 3

Mary created an illness in her younger daughter to draw attention to herself. What diagnosis would Mary most likely receive?

Accepted Answer

Factitious disorder by proxy, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, is a mental disorder in which a caregiver creates or exaggerates symptoms or illness in a person under their care to gain attention or sympathy. In this case, Mary is creating an illness in her daughter to draw attention to herself. Malingering is intentionally faking or exaggerating symptoms for external gain, whereas factitious disorder with a known cause involves intentionally causing illness or injury but with a clear motivation, such as to obtain medication. Somatization disorder by proxy involves the caregiver insisting that their child has physical symptoms despite no medical evidence to support it.

Question 4

Jaclyn has been complaining for several weeks that she has lost the feeling in her hands. Her physical exam revealed no nerve damage. However, Jaclyn insists that something is wrong because her hand feels as though she has on a tight glove. Which disorder would Jaclyn most likely be diagnosed with?

Accepted Answer

Jaclyn's symptoms are consistent with a conversion disorder, which involves physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition. Her feeling of a tight glove on her hand is an example of a somatic symptom, and the absence of nerve damage suggests that it is not a physical problem. Body dysmorphic disorder involves excessive preoccupation with an imagined or slight physical defect, while hypochondriasis involves persistent and excessive fear of having a serious illness. Somatization disorder involves multiple physical complaints that cannot be explained by a medical condition.

Question 5

Which of the following is true of people diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

Accepted Answer

People diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) develop multiple separate personalities, each with distinct traits, memories, and behaviors. These personalities can take turns controlling the individual's behavior and may not even be aware of each other's existence. DID was previously known as multiple personality disorder.

Question 6

A woman who believes she is pregnant, but a physical examination and laboratory tests are negative, would likely be diagnosed with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Pseudocyesis, also known as phantom pregnancy, is a rare condition where a woman believes she is pregnant and experiences symptoms of pregnancy, even though she is not actually pregnant. A physical examination and laboratory tests may show no signs of pregnancy, but the woman may continue to strongly believe she is pregnant. Misconception syndrome and pseudoexpectancy are not recognized medical diagnoses, while miscarriage refers to the loss of a pregnancy that was previously confirmed to be present.

Question 7

What is one of the difficulties in diagnosing somatoform disorders?

Accepted Answer

Somatoform disorders involve physical symptoms that are not explained by medical conditions, substance use, or other mental disorders. Diagnosing somatoform disorders is challenging because the symptoms can mimic those of real physical illnesses, making it difficult to determine if the symptoms are due to a psychological issue or an undetected physical problem.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a somatoform disorder?

Accepted Answer

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is not a somatoform disorder. It is classified as an anxiety disorder in which people experience persistent and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to relieve anxiety. The other options listed (Conversion disorder, Hypochondriasis, Body dysmorphic disorder) are all somatoform disorders, which are characterized by physical symptoms or complaints that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition.

Question 9

Which of the following was a former term for conversion disorder?

Accepted Answer

"Conversion hysteria" was a former term for conversion disorder, which refers to the experience of physical symptoms (such as paralysis, blindness, or seizures) that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition but are thought to be related to psychological factors. While historically, the concept of hysteria was associated with women, the current diagnostic criteria for conversion disorder do not specify gender.

Question 10

Which of the following refers to the class of disorders in which people experience significant physical symptoms without an organic reason?

Accepted Answer

Somatoform disorders are characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be attributed to any medical condition or physical disorder. Dissociative disorders refer to disruptions in consciousness, memory, or identity, while psychotic disorders involve a loss of contact with reality. Adjustment disorders involve emotional or behavioral reactions to stressful life events.

Question 11

Which of the following is a conversion symptom in which people lose feeling in their hands, and their hand feels as if they are wearing a glove?

Accepted Answer

Glove anesthesia is a conversion symptom in which people lose feeling in their hands, and their hand feels as if they are wearing a glove.

Question 12

Conversion disorder is characterized by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder is a somatic symptom disorder that involves sensory and motor deficits. These deficits cannot be explained by a medical condition or neurological disorder, and are instead believed to be caused by psychological factors. The deficits can include paralysis, blindness, or loss of sensation in different areas of the body.

Question 13

Lorna found her dead husband in their bedroom. He had been shot in the chest. After experiencing the incident, Lorna has been unable to see. What kind of symptoms is Lorna most likely experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Lorna is most likely experiencing conversion symptoms, which are a type of somatic symptom disorder where psychological stress is converted into physical symptoms. In this case, the trauma of finding her husband has led to a loss of sight, which doesn't have a physical cause but is a response to psychological stress.

Question 14

Which of the following terms refers to an individual being unconcerned about his/her presenting symptoms?

Accepted Answer

La belle indifference refers to an individual's lack of concern or indifference toward their presenting symptoms, despite the severity of the symptoms. Dissociative fugue refers to a dissociative disorder where an individual suddenly and unexpectedly leaves their usual surroundings and experiences memory loss. Ataque de nervios is a culture-bound syndrome characterized by acute emotional distress and physical symptoms in response to stressors. Taijin kyofu-sho is a cultural syndrome in Japan characterized by fear of offending or harming others.

Question 15

Which of the following is not a dissociative disorder?

Accepted Answer

Acute stress disorder is not a dissociative disorder but rather a trauma and stressor-related disorder. The other options, dissociative fugue, dissociative amnesia, and depersonalization, are all classified as dissociative disorders.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Factitious disorders involve individuals deliberately faking illness or injury to receive attention, care, or sympathy, not because of a desire for material gain (which would be malingering) but rather for the psychological need to play the "patient" role. This distinguishes factitious disorders from other conditions where symptoms are not intentionally produced.

Question 17

Jonathan pretended to have a stomachache to avoid taking his algebra test. What is Jonathan's faking behaviour referred to as?

Accepted Answer

Jonathan's behavior is referred to as malingering, which is the deliberate and conscious faking or exaggeration of symptoms for the purpose of avoiding responsibility or gaining some kind of personal benefit.

Question 18

Bethany has hypertension. Her friends call her a worrier. Her worrying impacts her hypertension. What is Bethany most likely experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Psychosomatic disorder refers to physical symptoms that are caused by psychological factors such as stress and anxiety. In this case, Bethany's hypertension is likely worsened by her worrying, which is a psychological factor.

Question 19

Anna O's (Bertha Pappenheim) most prominent complaints were associated with which disorder?

Accepted Answer

Anna O (Bertha Pappenheim) exhibited symptoms consistent with conversion disorder, which involves the manifestation of physical symptoms without a medical explanation for them. This disorder is often associated with underlying psychological stress or trauma, which can be expressed through bodily symptoms. Factors such as cultural and social influences can also play a role in the expression of this disorder.

Question 20

According to ancient Greeks, which of the following is true of conversion disorder?

Accepted Answer

According to ancient Greeks, conversion disorder was experienced by women whose wombs had dislodged and wandered. This belief was based on the concept of "hysteria," derived from the Greek word for uterus, which was thought to be the source of various physical and emotional symptoms in women.

Quiz 8: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders