Deck 14: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

A man describes himself as someone who "shoots himself in the foot" and inevitably hinders his own goal-seeking behavior, but he is concerned that he interferes with the goals of family members as well. This man's behavior may be validly labeled abnormal according to the

A) distress or disability criterion of abnormality.
B) irrationality criterion of abnormality.
C) maladaptiveness criterion of abnormality.
D) members of his family.

Answer 1

maladaptiveness criterion of abnormality.

Question 2

A person has hallucinations, "hearing" things that no one else can hear. With respect to the criteria that might be used to label behavior as "abnormal," this individual would be meet the criterion of

A) personal distress or disability.
B) irrationality.
C) violation of moral and ideal standards.
D) maladaptiveness.

Answer 2

irrationality.

Question 3

With respect to the criteria used to label behavior as "abnormal,"

A) none of the criteria are necessary conditions shared by all cases of abnormality.
B) only the criterion of "statistical rarity" is common to all cases of abnormal behavior.
C) only the criterion of "personal distress or disabled functioning" is a necessary condition shared by all cases of abnormality.
D) the criterion of "maladaptiveness" is a sufficient condition, but not a necessary condition shared by all cases of abnormality.

Answer 3

none of the criteria are necessary conditions shared by all cases of abnormality.

Question 4

Mental disorders are best thought of as

A) syndromes that are no longer considered valid by most of the scientific community.
B) separate and distinct categories of mental illnesses.
C) conditions that have a biological reality in the brain.
D) conditions that vary on a continuum from mental health to mental illness.

Question 5

In his investigation designed to examine the effects of labeling people as "abnormal," David Rosenhan and seven other sane people gained admission to psychiatric hospitals by pretending to have hallucinations. Once these "pseudopatients" were admitted, all of the following happened EXCEPT that

A) they were diagnosed as either paranoid schizophrenic or manic depressive.
B) they behaved in a normal fashion in every way.
C) they were immediately discharged and the psychiatrists acknowledged their mistakes.
D) not one of the pseudopatients was identified by the professionals as sane.

Question 6

Near the end of the 18th century, Emil Kraepelin created a classification system for psychological difficulties that was based on the idea that

A) behaviors are less important than thoughts.
B) thoughts are less important than behaviors.
C) psychological problems are rooted in physical causes
D) childhood experiences are the root cause of psychological problems.

Question 7

The DSM-IV-TR is the most recent

A) version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
B) version of the classification scheme as propagated by Kraepelin.
C) version of the ICD.
D) classification of psychoses and psychoneuroses.

Question 8

If you were a clinician working in the field of psychological disorders in the United States, one of your primary reference tools would be the

A) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
B) Psychological Diagnosis Reference Profiles.
C) Classification and Listings of Psychiatric Maladies.
D) ABCs of Mental Disabilities.

Question 9

The DSM-IV-TR contains ________ axes or dimensions, one of which classifies information based on ________.

A) two; extraversion
B) seven; genetic susceptibility
C) five; general medical conditions
D) four; self-concept

Question 10

How does DSM-IV-TR deal with the concept of "insanity"?

A) It is not defined in the DSM-IV-TR.
B) It is defined as behavior that is agreed upon by professionals to be psychotic.
C) It is defined as behavior that is rare, maladaptive, injurious to the self or others, and culturally unacceptable.
D) Different definitions of insanity are given, each keyed to a specific psychopathological disorder.

Question 11

With respect to the psychological models of abnormality, all of the following belong together EXCEPT for which one?

A) psychodynamic
B) behavioral
C) genetic
D) cognitive

Question 12

"There is no question that what we call psychopathology is caused by unconscious conflicts that trigger anxiety and malfunctioning." The person who is most likely to agree with this statement probably classifies herself as an adherent of the ________ approach to psychopathology.

A) biological
B) psychodynamic
C) behavioral
D) sociocultural

Question 13

Your teacher has assigned an article that outlines Sigmund Freud's view on the etiology of psychological disorders. Because you are very familiar with Freud, you correctly anticipate his suggestion that psychological disorders are the result of

A) early childhood experiences.
B) social and cultural norms.
C) interpersonal relationships.
D) negative self-attributions.

Question 14

Which view of psychopathology places the most emphasis on the role of the culture in the diagnosis and etiology of abnormal behavior?

A) sociocultural
B) cognitive
C) biological
D) psychodynamic

Question 15

In an article on psychopathology that is assigned by your teacher, the author argues that genetic predispositions make a person vulnerable to a psychological disorder, but psychological stress is necessary for the disorder to develop fully. This perspective is best characterized as

A) psychodynamic.
B) cognitive.
C) interactionist.
D) behavioral.

Question 16

With respect to the degree of prevalence of symptoms of the various anxiety disorders in the adult population, statistics show that

A) anxiety disorders are extremely rare and characteristic symptoms are experienced by few individuals.
B) about one-quarter of the population has experienced symptoms characteristic of the various anxiety disorders.
C) more than half of the all adults will experience symptoms of anxiety disorders in their lifetime.
D) just about all individuals experience severe symptoms characteristic of anxiety disorders in their lifetime.

Question 17

All of the following disorders belong together, EXCEPT for which one?

A) panic disorder
B) dissociative identity disorder
C) phobic disorder
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 18

For almost a year, a friend has felt worried, irritable, and uneasy, although he does not feel threatened by anything specific. In addition, his muscles seem tense, he feels fatigued, and he is having problems sleeping. The most likely diagnosis would be ________ disorder.

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

Question 19

Research suggests that

A) 4.7 percent of U.S. adults have experienced panic disorder.
B) 17.4 percent of U.S. adults have experienced panic disorder.
C) 29.5 percent of U.S. adults have experienced panic disorder.
D) The majority of U.S. adults have experienced a form of panic disorder at some point in their lives.

Question 20

Phobias differ from fears in that phobias

A) are less likely to cause distress.
B) do not interfere with one's behavior.
C) are not tied to a specific stimulus or situation.
D) are excessive and unreasonable.

Question 21

The study of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has revealed all of the following EXCEPT that

A) people who suffer from PTSD are also likely to suffer simultaneously from other psychopathologies.
B) PTSD may develop in response to rape, other life-threatening events, or natural disasters.
C) a person cannot develop PTSD just by watching others being victimized.
D) victims of childhood sexual abuse often exhibit psychological consequences that fit the diagnosis of PTSD.

Question 22

Some theorists have looked to our evolutionary past to understand certain types of psychological disorders. One such approach, called the "preparedness hypothesis," has attempted to explain some elements of

A) residual schizophrenia.
B) bipolar disorder.
C) phobias.
D) paranoid personality disorder.

Question 23

Research support for the existence of a biological role in anxiety disorders comes from several imaging techniques. PET scans have revealed a difference in the function of ________ receptors of individuals who suffer from panic disorder. MRI images of OCD patients' brains have found ________ cortical thickness in areas that normally allow inhibition of behaviors.

A) serotonin; greater
B) serotonin; less
C) GABA; greater
D) GABA; less

Question 24

A behavioral therapist has a client who has a terrible fear of flying insects. If she is asked to explain the origins of his fear, she is most likely to look for an explanation that focuses on

A) thought processes whenever he encounters the word "insect."
B) unconscious conflicts that originated in his childhood.
C) bad experiences that he may have had with bees.
D) brain mechanisms that are active during his phobic responses.

Question 25

Imagine that you are a behavioral psychologist. A person you know has such a fear of flying insects that she refuses to go outdoors in the summer. If asked to explain her phobia, you would most likely say that she

A) is being reinforced for not going outdoors by a reduction in anxiety.
B) believes that flying insects are symbolic of freedom from dependency.
C) clearly has a neurological disorder that is causing her symptoms.
D) needs to be shown that her perception that flying insects are dangerous is distorted.

Question 26

The two major types of mood disorders are formally known as

A) mania and sadness.
B) depression and elation.
C) major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
D) seasonal affective disorder and suicidal ideation.

Question 27

Because it occurs so frequently and because almost everyone has experienced elements of the disorder at some time in life, ________ is characterized as "the common cold of psychopathology."

A) dissociative identity disorder
B) dissociative amnesia
C) depression
D) disorganized schizophrenia

Question 28

Research on depression has found that

A) men are much more likely to suffer from depression than women.
B) depression accounts for the majority of all mental hospital admissions in the United States.
C) depression is very unlikely to reappear once an individual has gotten over his or her symptoms.
D) almost all of the individuals who suffer from major depressive disorder receive professional help.

Question 29

A relative confides in you that she has recently been diagnosed as suffering from periods of depression alternating with states of mania. Your relative probably has a type of

A) mood disorder.
B) personality disorder.
C) dissociative disorder.
D) schizophrenia.

Question 30

All of the following are true of bipolar disorder EXCEPT that

A) it is more common than major depressive disorder.
B) the duration and frequency of mood disturbance varies from person to person.
C) some individuals go right from manic episodes to clinical depression.
D) manic episodes may be accompanied by irritability rather than elation.

Question 31

Research on the biology of mood disorders has shown that increased brain levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine are associated with ________ and reduced levels of these neurotransmitters are associated with ________.

A) mania; depression
B) depression; mania
C) seasonal affective disorder; bipolar disorder
D) suicidal thoughts; homicidal thoughts

Question 32

Two girls are monozygotic twins and two boys are dizygotic twins. If one girl and one boy are afflicted by a mood disorder, you can expect that, of the remaining twins,

A) there is a better chance that the other boy will have a mood disorder.
B) there is a better chance that the other girl will have a mood disorder.
C) there is an equal chance that the other boy and girl will have mood disorders.
D) neither the other boy nor the other girl is likely to have a mood disorder.

Question 33

A behavioral therapist is explaining the cause of prolonged depression in a client. He is most likely to suggest that his client's state of sadness might be lingering because the individual

A) has not had enough positive reinforcement and has become sad and withdrawn.
B) was especially dependent during childhood.
C) has a maladaptive explanatory style.
D) expresses self-criticism and guilt.

Question 34

Research shows that depressed people tend to ________ positive feedback and ________ negative feedback.

A) underestimate; underestimate
B) overestimate; overestimate
C) underestimate; overestimate
D) overestimate; underestimate

Question 35

The "explanatory style" view of depression developed by Martin Seligman evolved from research that he conducted on

A) rats that were required to run complex mazes.
B) dogs that were subjected to unavoidable shocks.
C) pigeons that had to peck a light in order to receive food.
D) people who had recently lost their spouses.

Question 36

In their research with dogs that led Seligman and Maier to postulate the concept of learned helplessness, when dogs appeared rigid, listless, and distressed, they were said to be marked by ________ deficits.

A) motivational
B) emotional
C) cognitive
D) behavioral

Question 37

According to Martin Seligman, people who are depressed

A) have low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
B) are in a state of learned helplessness.
C) believe they are in control of their own lives.
D) are more susceptible to stress in their lives.

Question 38

Research supports the predictions of explanatory style theory that individuals who attribute failure to ________ causes are vulnerable to depression.

A) internal, unstable, and specific
B) external, unstable, and global
C) external, stable, and specific
D) internal, stable, and global

Question 39

Suppose you are sad. According to a proposal by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, if you are a woman you are more likely to ________ in response to your sadness, and if you are a man you are more likely to ________ in response to your sadness.

A) seek the company of others; prefer to remain alone
B) think about your feelings and possible causes of them; attempt to distract yourself
C) attempt to distract yourself; dwell on your feelings
D) blame others; blame yourself

Question 40

Individuals who believe that they have physical illnesses despite assurances from medical practitioners have________. Individuals who experience paralysis or blindness without a medical cause have ________.

A) hypochondriasis; conversion disorder
B) conversion disorder; hypochondriasis
C) phobias; panic disorders
D) dissociative disorders; phobias

Question 41

Which of the following is the gene that has been identified by research described in your textbook as having an impact on the serotonin system and, by extension, may be directly connected to several mental disorders?

A) 5-HTTLPR
B) Gamma-ABA
C) EDTA
D) beta-amyloid protinase

Question 42

A study in your textbook establishes an important relationship between genetic variations and life experiences in the etiology of depression. Results indicate that

A) known genetic differences in combination with negative life events greatly increase the likelihood that people will experience depression.
B) only people's life events increase the likelihood that they will experience depression.
C) genetic variations solely account for the likelihood of depression that people will experience.
D) there is no relationship between genetic variation and life experiences regarding the etiology of depression.

Question 43

A woman has been diagnosed as having a dissociative disorder. She is most likely to

A) have a grandiose sense of self-importance.
B) have a disturbance in her identity, memory, or consciousness.
C) experience severe depression or depression coupled with mania.
D) feel anxious or worried most of the time.

Question 44

Popularly known as "split personality" and sometimes called "multiple personality disorder," ________ is a disorder in which two or more distinct personalities exist within the same individual.

A) dissociative amnesia
B) schizophrenia
C) bipolar disorder
D) dissociative identity disorder

Question 45

Although this conclusion is controversial, some psychologists believe that individuals with dissociative identity disorder develop multiple personalities

A) as a way of pushing traumatic events out of conscious awareness.
B) because they are reinforced for doing so, through the attention they receive.
C) as a result of having been hypnotized by close friends or relatives.
D) as a result of severe substance abuse during childhood.

Question 46

Research has shown that higher levels of dissociative symptoms are associated with a history of

A) substance abuse at an early age.
B) psychosexual conflict.
C) physical, emotional, or sexual abuse during childhood.
D) social isolation and introversion.

Question 47

A student who missed a class because he was sick has photocopied some class notes, but the top of one page is missing, so he cannot find the name of the disorder. The notes concern a severe form of psychopathology in which personality seems to disintegrate, thought and perception are distorted, and emotions are blunted. The class notes must be related to ________ disorder.

A) schizophrenic
B) personality
C) bipolar
D) anxiety

Question 48

In a made-for-TV movie you are watching, a woman hears the voices of angels every night before she falls asleep and at other times imagines herself to be the devil. Psychologists would classify the former behavior as a(n) ________, and label the latter as a(n) ________.

A) illusion; delusion
B) delusion; hallucination
C) hallucination; illusion
D) hallucination; delusion

Question 49

During acute or active phases of schizophrenia, ________ symptoms are prominent, such as ________.

A) negative; hallucinations, delusions, incoherence, and disorganized behavior
B) negative; social withdrawal and flattened emotions
C) positive; hallucinations, delusions, incoherence, and disorganized behavior
D) positive; social withdrawal and flattened emotions

Question 50

A friend who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia has recently isolated himself from others and avoids most social contact. In addition, he rarely shows any emotion. These changes in his behaviors are considered part of the ________ category of symptoms associated with schizophrenia.

A) acute
B) active
C) positive
D) negative

Question 51

The major types of schizophrenic disorders include all of the following EXCEPT

A) undifferentiated.
B) residual.
C) organized.
D) disorganized.

Question 52

Which of the following pairings of schizophrenic disorders and symptoms is NOT correct?

A) catatonic; frozen, rigid, or excitable motor behavior
B) paranoid; delusions of persecution or grandeur
C) disorganized; inappropriate behavior and emotions as well as incoherent language
D) undifferentiated; free of major symptoms but evidence for minor symptoms

Question 53

Late at night you are watching an old movie on TV that is set in a mental institution. One of the main characters spends most of his time frozen in a bizarre posture. Occasionally he refuses to do what is requested of him and sometimes he waves his arms in a windmill fashion. This patient would probably be classified as having the ________ type of schizophrenia.

A) paranoid
B) catatonic
C) undifferentiated
D) residual

Question 54

Delusions of persecution, delusions of grandeur, or delusional jealousy are commonly found in individuals who have the ________ type of schizophrenia.

A) paranoid
B) catatonic
C) residual
D) undifferentiated

Question 55

Based on the research into genetic factors, the risk of having schizophrenia is

A) unrelated to the presence of schizophrenia in family members.
B) greatest among people when a fraternal twin has suffered from the disorder.
C) greatest among people when both parents have suffered from the disorder.
D) greatest when no one in the family has suffered from the disorder.

Question 56

All of the following biological markers have been linked to schizophrenia EXCEPT

A) enlarged ventricles.
B) an increase of neural tissue in the frontal lobes.
C) substantial loss of gray matter in the brain over time.
D) thinner regions in frontal and temporal lobes of cerebral cortex.

Question 57

Imagine a hypothetical situation in which a teenage child has begun to exhibit the first symptoms of schizophrenia. Based on prospective studies of schizophrenia, parents should

A) arrange for the transfer of the child to a suitable foster home.
B) increase the child's allowance and reduce the child's family workload.
C) institute a "family meeting" program in which parent grievances with the child can be raised.
D) reduce their criticism, hostility, and intrusiveness toward the child.

Question 58

All you know about a person is that he has a personality disorder. Based on this information, you can assume that

A) the onset of the disorder occurred in middle age.
B) he has one of two forms of the disorder, according to the DSM-IV-TR.
C) the problem came on suddenly and could be classified as acute.
D) his behavior is inflexible and maladaptive.

Question 59

Imagine that you are watching a slide presentation. When the words "borderline," "antisocial," "histrionic," and "narcissistic" appear on the screen, the lecturer apologizes for the missing category label. You know, however, that these types refer to ________ disorders.

A) anxiety
B) personality
C) depressive
D) dissociative

Question 60

A person who has been diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder is LEAST likely to

A) be quiet and subdued.
B) be excessively emotional.
C) seek out attention
D) do something inappropriate.

Question 61

They know the young man well at the police station. Although only in his twenties, he has been arrested many times for a variety of unlawful behaviors. He usually denies any involvement, but eventually says that his victims are losers and that their loss is his gain. He would most likely be classified with ________ disorder.

A) anxiety
B) posttraumatic stress
C) antisocial personality
D) histrionic personality

Question 62

Research has reported that ________ in families that lack ________ (families in which members are not committed to providing support to each other) are more at risk for ADHD than are ________ siblings in such families.

A) eldest children; cohesion; younger
B) youngest children; cohesion; older
C) middle children; cohesion; older
D) eldest children; affection; younger

Question 63

The consequences of being labeled as suffering from a mental illness are real. In one study conducted with 84 men who had been hospitalized for mental illness that is described in the textbook, it was found that

A) 85 percent of the men had lost their job because of their hospitalization.
B) 10 percent of the men reported having been denied a room or apartment.
C) all of the men reported incidents of rejection.
D) only after a year-long course of treatment that resulted in improved functioning did the perception of stigma disappear.

Question 64

In a study that is described in the textbook, when individuals had more personal contact with those who they believed suffered from a mental disorder, all but which of the following occurred?

A) They were less likely to physically distance themselves from those individuals.
B) They were less likely to direct blame toward those individuals.
C) They were less likely to develop a mental illness themselves.
D) They were less likely to direct anger toward those individuals.

Question 65

In the United States, depression accounts for the majority of all mental hospital admissions.

Question 66

Characterized by thoughts, images, or impulses that recur or persist despite efforts to suppress them, and repetitive, purposeful acts performed according to certain rules or in a ritualized manner, ________ is a mental disorder that affects an estimated 1.6 percent of adults in the United States at some point in their lives.

Question 67

The ________ personality disorder is characterized by patterns of excessive emotionality and attention seeking. People with this disorder may engage in inappropriate sexual or seductive behavior.