Deck 13: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true regarding the distinction between normal and abnormal behaviour?

A) You are either totally normal, or totally abnormal; there is no middle ground.
B) If a person is considered normal in one culture, then they are normal in all cultures.
C) Not all people whose behaviour is abnormal experience personal distress.
D) It is relatively easy to differentiate normal behaviour from abnormal behaviour.

Answer 1

Not all people whose behaviour is abnormal experience personal distress.

Question 2

Charlene gets hysterical when she sees any knife that is larger than a paring knife and cannot keep them in her house. Her therapist believes that her fear of knives is a defence against an unconscious desire to kill her husband who is psychologically abusive to her. The therapist's belief is based on the

A) psychodynamic perspective.
B) biological perspective.
C) cognitive perspective.
D) learning perspective.

Answer 2

psychodynamic perspective.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is not true according to the biological perspective?

A) Brain structure abnormalities can be a cause of mental disorder.
B) Biochemical imbalances can be a cause or a result of a mental disorder.
C) People can directly inherit some mental disorders.
D) Biological treatments such as drugs or electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) are often favoured by people advocating the biological perspective.

Answer 3

People can directly inherit some mental disorders.

Question 4

Which of the following perspectives has, as its goal, getting rid of the behavioural symptoms of the disorder (such as the fear, the inappropriate behaviour, etc.) rather than identifying and treating an underlying cause?

A) the biological perspective
B) the psychodynamic perspective
C) the humanistic perspective
D) the learning perspective

Question 5

The basic function of the DSM-5 is to

A) suggest effective treatments for various mental disorders.
B) provide a clear distinction between neurosis and psychosis.
C) provide a set of diagnostic categories for classifying mental disorders.
D) describe internal personality factors that are involved in mental disorders.

Question 6

Marita is seeing a therapist because she is hearing voices that tell her to do bad things to her neighbour. The doctor prescribes medication for the hallucinations and explores her family history for signs of mental illness. Which of the following perspectives is the therapist using?

A) the cognitive perspective
B) the biological perspective
C) the psychodynamic perspective
D) the learning perspective

Question 7

Which perspective suggests that the way to treat psychological disorders is to increase self-acceptance and become more inner-directed?

A) the psychodynamic perspective
B) the learning perspective
C) the humanistic perspective
D) the cognitive perspective

Question 8

Which is a suggested cause of abnormal behaviour from the humanistic perspective?

A) unconscious, unresolved conflicts
B) faulty learning
C) a blocking of the natural tendency toward self-actualization
D) faulty and negative thinking

Question 9

Which of the following perspectives suggests that faulty thinking or distorted perceptions contribute to some types of psychological disorders?

A) the learning perspective
B) the biological perspective
C) the cognitive perspective
D) the humanistic perspective

Question 10

The term neurosis was used

A) to designate a severe mental disorder.
B) to suggest the presence of hallucinations and delusions.
C) frequently to label disorders in the DSM-5.
D) for a disorder that involved much personal distress and some impaired functioning.

Question 11

Although the term neurosis has not been used officially since 1980, it applied to

A) disorders that cause people considerable personal distress and some impairment in functioning, but do not cause them to lose contact with reality or to violate important social norms.
B) people who have lost touch with reality.
C) people who have violated important social norms.
D) disorders that include psychosis.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a question offered by the text to determine what behaviour is abnormal?

A) Is the person a danger to him- or herself or others?
B) Is the person legally responsible for his or her acts?
C) Are family members bothered by the behaviour?
D) Is the behaviour maladaptive?

Question 13

The DSM-5, a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association, enables

A) the treatment and cure of psychological disorders.
B) the outline of treatments for various psychological disorders.
C) the general public to understand the causes of psychological disorders.
D) a diverse group of professionals to speak the same language.

Question 14

The earliest explanation of abnormal behaviour was that disturbed people

A) were possessed by evil spirits or demons.
B) acted oddly by their own free will.
C) had biological imbalances.
D) came from dysfunctional families.

Question 15

Which of the following causes of mental disorders is not consistent with the biological perspective?

A) genetic inheritance
B) biochemical imbalances or abnormalities
C) structural abnormalities within the brain
D) negative thinking as a cause of psychological disorders

Question 16

Niall is going to see a therapist for his anxiety attacks. The therapist spends the session discussing with Niall his negative thinking about himself and his abilities. The therapist attempts to have Niall replace his negative thoughts with rational, positive ones. Which of the following perspectives is the therapist using?

A) the cognitive perspective
B) the biological perspective
C) the learning perspective
D) the humanistic perspective

Question 17

Graham consults with a patient who is complaining of hearing voices and having strange thoughts. He asks the patient to undergo a series of tests, including a brain scan and a complete blood test. The perspective that Graham has on abnormal behaviour is most likely the

A) learning perspective.
B) cognitive perspective.
C) psychodynamic perspective.
D) biological perspective.

Question 18

Which is a suggested cause of abnormal behaviour from the learning perspective?

A) unconscious, unresolved conflicts
B) faulty learning
C) faulty thinking
D) early childhood experiences

Question 19

Jefferson is convinced that abnormal behaviours arise from structural abnormalities and chemical imbalances in the brain. His view of abnormal behaviour is most consistent with

A) the biological perspective.
B) the psychodynamic perspective.
C) the humanistic perspective.
D) the cognitive perspective.

Question 20

Which of the following is not a question offered by the text to determine what behaviour is abnormal?

A) Is the person considered by people in authority to be abnormal?
B) Is the behaviour considered strange within the person's own culture?
C) Is the behaviour maladaptive?
D) Is the person a danger to him- or herself or to others?

Question 21

The disorder in which a person fears situations where escape is difficult, or help is not immediately available, is called

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) social anxiety disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) agoraphobia.

Question 22

A generalized feeling of fear, tension, and apprehension is called

A) anxiety.
B) depression.
C) neurosis.
D) frustration.

Question 23

Alicia is jittery and tense much of the time, and spends hours worrying about her children-who are well-adjusted-and worrying about her finances even though she is actually financially secure. Alicia might be diagnosed as suffering from

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) bipolar depression.
C) a somatoform disorder.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 24

Ilana experiences excessive anxiety over her performance at work and at school, although she is doing quite well at both. Ilana would most likely be diagnosed as suffering from

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B) phobias.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) panic disorder.

Question 25

Compared to the average person, an individual with panic disorder is

A) more likely to have an abnormal blood-flow pattern in the limbic system.
B) at less risk for alcohol and drug abuse.
C) less likely to have impaired social and marital functioning.
D) less likely to attempt suicide.

Question 26

Phobias involve a

A) series of episodes where the person losses consciousness and continues to behave.
B) persistent, irrational fear of some object, situation, or activity that a person feels compelled to avoid.
C) generalized feeling of apprehension, fear, or tension that may be associated with a particular object or situation, or that may be free-floating.
D) persistent, recurring, involuntary thought or image that invades consciousness and causes great distress.

Question 27

Which of the following disorders is the least associated with anxiety?

A) agoraphobia
B) depression
C) panic disorder
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 28

Healthy, normal anxiety

A) continues long after the danger is over.
B) is all out of proportion to the seriousness of the situation.
C) occurs in the absence of real danger.
D) helps us to take useful action.

Question 29

Which of the following statements about anxiety is not true?

A) Too much anxiety can be a symptom of a psychological disorder.
B) Anxiety is almost always associated with something specific-a particular object, person, or situation.
C) Some anxiety prompts us to take useful action.
D) Some anxiety is normal and healthy.

Question 30

People who are unduly worried about their finances or their health may be experiencing

A) a mild form of psychosis.
B) personality disorder.
C) a deep depression.
D) general anxiety disorder.

Question 31

Which of the following would not be a typical reaction during a panic attack?

A) Maria feels like she is smothering and is sure that she is going to die.
B) Joseph is shaking uncontrollably.
C) Paula's heart is pounding and she feels like she is going crazy.
D) Babette feels dead inside, experiencing no physical or emotional responses.

Question 32

The biological perspective on panic attacks has been supported by which of the following?

A) PET scans reveal that panic-disorder patients show a greatly increased blood flow to parts of the right hemisphere of the limbic system.
B) MRI scans have shown that different electrical activity occurs in the brains of panic-disorder patients.
C) PET scans reveal that panic-disorder patients show a greatly decreased blood flow to the right parietal lobe, associated with the secretion of calming hormones.
D) MRI scans have revealed significant brain size differences between the brains of panic-disorder and phobic patients.

Question 33

Panic disorder, social anxiety disorders, and agoraphobia are types of

A) somatoform disorders
B) anxiety disorders.
C) dissociative disorders.
D) mood disorders.

Question 34

Louie periodically experiences brief but intense periods of fear and dread that do not seem to be triggered by a specific object or event. Physical symptoms such as a pounding heart, dizziness, and trembling also occur. Louie is probably suffering from

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) phobic disorder.

Question 35

The disorder characterized by recurrent and unpredictable attacks of anxiety, panic, or terror is known as

A) phobia.
B) generalized anxiety disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) panic disorder.

Question 36

Family and twin studies of those who suffer from panic attacks suggests that panic attacks

A) do not have a genetic component.
B) have a genetic component.
C) are associated with a history of child abuse.
D) have a neurological cause.

Question 37

Which of the following is not true of people suffering from a psychosis?

A) They have seriously impaired functioning in everyday life.
B) They rarely lose contact with reality.
C) They sometimes require hospitalization for their disorder.
D) They may have delusions or hallucinations.

Question 38

Which of the following individuals might be diagnosed as having panic disorder?

A) Juliana, who gets hysterical when a dog approaches her
B) Lauren, who has incapacitating attacks of anxiety that come upon her suddenly
C) Louie, who is excessively anxious about his health and his job, even though there is no concrete reason for it
D) Ruth, who refuses to eat in front of others for fear her hand will shake

Question 39

For a fear to be defined as a phobia, the fear must be disproportionate to the situation and there must be evidence of

A) autonomic reactivity.
B) vigilance.
C) perceptual distortion.
D) avoidance.

Question 40

Phobias are a type of

A) somatoform disorder.
B) personality disorder
C) affective disorder.
D) anxiety disorder.

Question 41

According to the textbook, in most cases phobias are acquired through a combination of

A) social pressure and experience.
B) conditioning and observational learning.
C) psychosis and anxiety.
D) genetics and subconscious influences.

Question 42

What is the term for a catch-all category for any phobia other than agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder?

A) specific phobia
B) social anxiety disorder
C) complex phobia
D) agoraphobia

Question 43

All of the following persons might be diagnosed as having social anxiety disorder, except

A) Leigh, who worries excessively about her performance at work.
B) Mindy, who will not write in front of others for fear her hand will shake.
C) Jerre, who has not left her house for two years.
D) Jillian, who will not go to the dentist.

Question 44

Sandra will not eat in front of other people because she fears that her hand will shake. She probably suffers from

A) specific phobia.
B) social anxiety disorder.
C) panic disorder.
D) agoraphobia.

Question 45

Which of the following would not be considered a specific phobia?

A) Fear of snakes
B) Fear of speaking in front of large groups of people
C) Fear of heights
D) Fear of enclosed spaces, such as elevators

Question 46

Most simple phobias are grossly exaggerated fears of things that

A) most people are drawn to.
B) cause no fear in most people.
C) cause great fear in most people.
D) cause some fear in most people.

Question 47

What is the term for an intense fear of being in a situation where immediate escape is not possible or help is not immediately available in case of incapacitating anxiety?

A) social anxiety disorder
B) agoraphobia
C) complex phobia
D) specific phobia

Question 48

One evening, Sarah went to see a film that contained disturbing scenes of violence. The next day, Sarah kept thinking about these scenes over and over again. This is a mild version of

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) a compulsion.
C) an obsession.
D) panic disorder.

Question 49

Every time Leo and Dana are driving out of town for vacation, Dana worries that she forgot to turn off the oven. She insists on returning to check it. Dana has

A) a hallucination.
B) an obsession.
C) a compulsion.
D) a delusion.

Question 50

Which of the following is not a class of phobias?

A) complex phobia
B) social anxiety disorders
C) specific phobia
D) agoraphobia

Question 51

Arnold is extremely frightened of grasshoppers, Jeff is overly fearful of lightning and thunder, and Igor is afraid of the dentist. All three suffer from

A) specific phobias.
B) agoraphobia.
C) complex phobias.
D) social anxiety disorders.

Question 52

Genes appear to play a role in all of the following, except

A) agoraphobia.
B) social anxiety disorder.
C) specific phobias.
D) general phobia.

Question 53

Which of the following persons might be diagnosed as having agoraphobia?

A) Julianne gets hysterical when a dog approaches her.
B) Lauren has incapacitating attacks of anxiety that come on her suddenly.
C) Paloma has been housebound for four years.
D) Ruth refuses to eat in front of others for fear her hand will shake.

Question 54

Which of the following persons might be diagnosed as having a specific phobia?

A) Paloma has been housebound for four years.
B) Juliana gets extremely frightened when a dog approaches her.
C) Ruth refuses to eat in front of others for fear her hand will shake.
D) Lauren has incapacitating attacks of anxiety that come upon her suddenly.

Question 55

Most specific phobias and social anxiety disorder results from

A) learning.
B) genetic programming.
C) unconscious sexual or aggressive impulses.
D) low self-esteem.

Question 56

Which of the following is considered the most serious and debilitating type of phobia?

A) agoraphobia
B) social anxiety disorder
C) complex phobia
D) specific phobia

Question 57

What is the term for an irrational fear and avoidance of situations in which people believe they might embarrass or humiliate themselves by appearing clumsy, foolish, or incompetent?

A) social anxiety disorder
B) specific phobia
C) agoraphobia
D) complex phobia

Question 58

Evelyn, who becomes unbearably anxious when she thinks about leaving her home, has the disorder called

A) somatization disorder.
B) acrophobia
C) agoraphobia.
D) conversion disorder.

Question 59

Which of the following is not one of the probable causes of phobia given in the text?

A) genetic predisposition
B) faulty perceptions of highly traumatic experiences
C) observational learning
D) learning based on actual experience

Question 60

Obsessions involve a

A) persistent, irresistible, irrational urge to perform an act or ritual repeatedly.
B) generalized feeling of apprehension, fear, or tension that may be associated with a particular object or situation.
C) sudden loss of consciousness and a failure to recall what took place during the episode.
D) persistent recurring involuntary thought, image, or impulse that invades consciousness and causes great distress.

Question 61

Which neurotransmitter appears to play a role in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

A) norepinephrine
B) acetylcholine
C) serotonin
D) dopamine

Question 62

Which of the following is not typical of people with illness anxiety disorders?

A) Their symptoms are not usually consistent with known physical disorders.
B) They are preoccupied with the fear that their bodily symptoms are a sign of some serious disease.
C) They are easily treated.
D) They may doctor shop.

Question 63

What is the class of disorders in which the physical symptoms present are psychological rather than physical in origin?

A) mood disorders
B) somatoform disorders
C) affective disorders
D) dissociative disorders

Question 64

It used to be assumed that people with obsessive-compulsive disorder were extremely insecure individuals who viewed the world as threatening and unpredictable. Their ritualistic behaviour was thought to be a means for

A) imposing some order, structure, and predictability on the world.
B) keeping the world at a distance.
C) distracting themselves from their fears.
D) getting help from family and friends.

Question 65

Which of the following is not one of the anxiety disorders?

A) illness anxiety disorder
B) panic disorder
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) social anxiety disorder

Question 66

Compulsive behaviours are usually attempts to

A) distract oneself from the obsessive thoughts.
B) avoid anxiety by avoiding the targets of phobias.
C) relieve the anxiety caused by an obsession.
D) protect one's self-concept by repressing and "forgetting" painful memories.

Question 67

When both compulsion and obsession occur, what function does the compulsion often serve?

A) It is an explanation of the obsession's existence.
B) It provides relief from the anxiety of the behaviour.
C) It provides relief from the anxiety caused by the obsession.
D) It provides a constructive and satisfying outlet for the obsession.

Question 68

Who would be most likely to receive a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

A) Joan, who feels she must avoid certain objects or situations
B) Jane, who feels as though she is going to die
C) June, who feels an urge to perform some action repeatedly
D) Jan, who complains of headaches and dizziness

Question 69

Whenever Sherry is away from home, she worries about whether she locked her doors. She can hardly think of anything else. This is an example of

A) a delusion.
B) an obsession.
C) a hallucination.
D) a compulsion.

Question 70

Which of the following challenges has not been associated with the development of OCD?

A) early streptococcal infections
B) inconsistent parenting
C) autoimmune diseases
D) genetic factors

Question 71

Compulsions include all of the following, except

A) fear of crowds.
B) excessive ordering.
C) cleanliness.
D) hoarding.

Question 72

Repeated thoughts are to ________ as repeated acts are to ________.

A) anxiety; panic attacks
B) normal; abnormal
C) obsession; compulsion
D) hallucinations; paranoid behaviour

Question 73

Raymond repeatedly washes his hands after touching money or the objects he has just brought home from the store. Raymond may be suffering from

A) a hallucination.
B) an obsession.
C) a compulsion.
D) a delusion.

Question 74

In the general population, what percentages of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder have both an obsession and compulsive behaviour?

A) 16 percent
B) 34 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 70 percent

Question 75

Jordan feels that he must tie his tie over and over again before delivering a speech at work. He feels that his tie must be just right, otherwise he will not give a good talk. This repetitious behaviour is an example of

A) a compulsion.
B) conversion disorder.
C) a phobia.
D) an obsession.

Question 76

Connie adopts ritualistic behaviours to help reduce anxiety that occurs when unwanted thoughts intrude into her awareness. Connie is displaying symptoms of

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B) dissociative disorder.
C) histrionic personality disorder.
D) conversion disorder.

Question 77

Obsessions differ from compulsions in that obsessions are ________, while compulsions are ________.

A) neurotic; psychotic
B) behaviours; thoughts
C) abnormal; normal
D) thoughts; behaviours

Question 78

When Lady Macbeth washed her hands repeatedly until they were red and raw, William Shakespeare provided an example of

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B) schizophrenia.
C) major depression.
D) dissociative identity disorder.

Question 79

What does soma mean?

A) fake
B) illness
C) body
D) pain

Question 80

Which of the following is not one of the common themes contained in obsessive thoughts?

A) humiliation
B) aggression
C) doubt
D) contamination