Deck 16: Psychological Disorders of Childhood

Question 1

What is the Continuous Performance Test used for?

A) as a measure of sustained attention
B) as a measure of hyperactivity
C) as a measure of neurological abnormalities
D) as a measure of academic achievement

Answer 1

as a measure of sustained attention

Question 2

Hyperactivity is most notable in

A) unfamiliar places.
B) a physician's office.
C) structured situations such as classrooms.
D) unstructured situations such as playgrounds.

Answer 2

structured situations such as classrooms.

Question 3

What are the most commonly diagnosed psychological problems in children?

A) eating disorders
B) internalizing disorders
C) externalizing disorders
D) developmental disorders

Answer 3

externalizing disorders

Question 4

Why are negativity, anger, and aggression, as motivations in children, important in our consideration of behavior disorders in children?

A) They influence our judgments of intent and remorse.
B) They tend to be associated with higher than average rates of brain damage.
C) The presence of these characteristics indicates a greater likelihood of a suicide attempt.
D) The DSM diagnostic criteria for several externalizing disorders place great emphasis on these characteristics.

Question 5

Chris begins to show externalizing and antisocial behaviors at age 6. Doug begins to show these behaviors at age What would a clinical psychologist conclude concerning the differences in the problems these two individuals present?

A) Chris's problems are less disruptive to other people.
B) Chris's problem is likely to persist throughout life.
C) Chris's problem will probably have a shorter duration.
D) Chris's problem will be more related to health problems.

Question 6

Six-year-old Nick's parents have been called to school repeatedly during the past two years for a variety of problems ranging from disobeying teachers to bullying classmates. Their position is that like any other boy his age, Nick is testing the limits. How should school officials respond if they are taking a developmental psychopathology perspective?

A) All children test the limits, but the only way they become adults is to stop that testing.
B) Although it is normal for children to test the limits, your son's limit testing is not age appropriate.
C) We just want to make you aware of your son's behavior, we do expect that he will outgrow this stage soon.
D) Testing the limits is a sign of a deeply rooted psychological disturbance that needs to be treated.

Question 7

What is the major contribution of a developmental psychopathology perspective on children's problems?

A) offers greater focus on genetic factors
B) suggests ways that biological processes account for these types of problems
C) provides norms across the lifespan that can be used to determine whether a behavior is abnormal
D) highlights the importance of environmental differences across different socioeconomic groups

Question 8

Which of the following is likely to be diagnosed as an internalizing disorder?

A) excessive anxiety
B) conduct problems
C) oppositional behavior
D) problems with attention and hyperactivity

Question 9

Adolescents often engage in rule violations, so it is essential to distinguish between _________ and _________ antisocial behavior.

A) externalized; internalized
B) biologically-based; psychologically-based
C) adolescent-limited; life-course-persistent
D) intentional; unintentional

Question 10

You are listening to a radio talk show and you hear the terms "hyperactivity" and "ADD," but with your knowledge of abnormal psychology you know that these two terms now referred to in DSM-IV-TR as

A) hyperkinesis.
B) hyperactivity/impulsivity disorder.
C) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
D) soft neurological syndrome.

Question 11

The PTA invited a speaker to address the topic of crime and adolescents. What information might the speaker cite in this talk to parents of young people?

A) The rate of crime committed by young people is increasing in spite of intervention efforts.
B) Five percent of juvenile offenders account for about half of all juvenile arrests.
C) Most of the crimes committed by young people are committed against schools and are generally taken as signs of rebellion.
D) Young people under the age of 18 frequently engage in serious, violent crimes.

Question 12

Which of the following is likely to be diagnosed as an externalizing disorder?

A) excessive anxiety
B) depressive mood
C) somatic complaints
D) serious misconduct

Question 13

General "spaciness," frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to another, careless mistakes, and poor organization are descriptors for

A) normal children.
B) attention deficits.
C) conduct disorders.
D) None of the above fit.

Question 14

Jeremy is an eight-year-old boy whose case is described in the text. Based on a recommendation from his teacher, he was evaluated by a psychologist. Which of the following was a finding that would be significant in planning a treatment program for Jeremy?

A) Jeremy has a sibling who was mentally retarded and autistic.
B) He had an older sister who expressed herself better verbally than did Jeremy.
C) Although he had an IQ of 108, his achievement test scores were a grade behind his current grade.
D) His mother took him to the psychologist only reluctantly because she did not believe he had a problem.

Question 15

In the DSM-IV-TR classification of mental disorders, children and adolescents

A) are only diagnosed with Axis II disorders.
B) may suffer from most of the disorders included in DSM-IV-TR.
C) are only diagnosed with Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence.
D) are not given any diagnosis of mental disorder until they have reached age 12.

Question 16

Evidence for a syndrome of externalizing behavior problems has been demonstrated by statistical analysis of

A) arrest reports.
B) clinicians' diagnoses of children.
C) children's descriptions of their own behavior.
D) checklists on which adults rate children's psychological symptoms.

Question 17

A researcher is looking for a way to predict adult personality disorder. Based on recent research it would be a good idea to focus on the variable of ____________.

A) callousness.
B) anxiety.
C) persistence.
D) intelligence.

Question 18

Many externalizing disorders are characterized by

A) overcontrolled behavior.
B) symptoms of sadness and anxiety.
C) violations of age-appropriate social rules.
D) expression of worry through physical symptoms.

Question 19

According to the DSM-IV-TR which conditions must be met before a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder can be assigned?

A) The individual in question must be male.
B) At least some symptoms must be evident before age 7.
C) There can be no symptoms of conduct disorder.
D) All of the above must be met.

Question 20

How does DSM-IV-TR handle internalizing disorders?

A) They are coded on Axis III because many of these disorders have biological causes.
B) Childhood disorders are listed on Axis I as "early onset" versions of adult disorders.
C) DSM does not have a separate listing of such disorders; it notes that children may qualify for many "adult" disorders.
D) DSM has a limited list of childhood disorders because the manual focuses on disorders that begin and continue into adulthood.

Question 21

What did Michael Rutter find in the study of the association between family adversity and externalizing disorders?

A) There were no externalizing problems if there were no family problems.
B) There was no association between family problems and externalizing disorders.
C) The presence of one adversity factor was associated with a much higher rate of externalizing disorders.
D) The presence of two adversity factors was associated with a much higher rate of externalizing disorders.

Question 22

Jack lives in a small apartment with his mother, father, and four brothers and sister. The family struggles to pay the rent and put food on the table. His mother has been quite depressed. What is the future for this child?

A) Jack is at high risk for developing Down syndrome.
B) Jack is at high risk for an externalizing problem.
C) Jack is at high risk for an internalizing problem.
D) Jack is at high risk for developing an eating disorder.

Question 23

Inborn behavioral characteristics including activity level, emotionality, and sociability are known as

A) genotype.
B) personality.
C) temperament.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 24

Psychologists typically do not use a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of some larger group of people. Instead, they often use convenience samples-groups of people who are easily recruited and studied. A more generalizable sample would be known as

A) representative.
B) random.
C) cross-sectional.
D) None of the above are accurate.

Question 25

With regard to the attempt to differentiate between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), it is known that

A) ADHD is a psychological problem while ODD is biological.
B) ADHD is a biological problem while ODD is psychological.
C) ADHD is an internalized problem while ODD is externalized.
D) None of the above is widely agreed to by the professionals.

Question 26

A psychologist is evaluating a child and trying to determine if the child loses his temper, argues with adults, is often spiteful and vindictive. Which disorder is the focus of the psychologist's questions?

A) conduct disorder
B) Tourette's syndrome
C) oppositional defiant disorder
D) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Question 27

How would a psychologist describe the relationship of the symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

A) They are independent symptoms.
B) Hyperactivity causes attention problems.
C) The attention problems cause hyperactivity.
D) They are two ways of identifying the same set of symptoms.

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT one of the subtypes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder currently included in DSM-IV-TR?

A) predominantly inattentive type
B) predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type
C) predominantly conduct disordered type
D) combined type

Question 29

Everyone in the sixth grade and throughout the entire school knows Carl is a bully. He likes his reputation and calls himself the "enforcer." He gets a kick out of being cruel to small animals and has used a baseball bat as a weapon. He was referred to the mental health center for an evaluation. When the report is returned to the school, what diagnosis is likely to have been made?

A) conduct disorder
B) juvenile delinquent
C) oppositional defiant disorder
D) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Question 30

Your friend is looking over your shoulder while you are reading in your abnormal psychology textbook about conduct disorders, and your friend says, "Conduct disorder just sounds just another term for juvenile delinquency." What should you say to your friend?

A) "That's correct."
B) "That's incorrect, because people with conduct disorders do not usually break the law."
C) "That's incorrect, because conduct disorder is diagnosed in children, not adolescents."
D) "That's incorrect, because juvenile delinquency is a legal classification, not psychological."

Question 31

Which is NOT a criteria for the diagnosis of conduct disorder in the DSM-IV-TR?

A) often initiates physical fights
B) has been physically cruel to animals
C) frequently breaks the law
D) has forced someone into sexual activity

Question 32

What percentage of the variance in the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder seem to be explained by genetic factors?

A) 5 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 90 percent

Question 33

What is Michael Rutter's family adversity index?

A) a measure of family predictors of behavior problems among children
B) an index of the number of arguments within a family during a specified period of time
C) a summary of the number of family members who have ever experienced any mental disorder in the past
D) an indication of the likelihood that family members are genetically predisposed to develop mental disorders

Question 34

Offenses against the law that are crimes against people or property that are illegal at any age are known as _________________.

A) status offenses.
B) index offenses.
C) immoral behavior.
D) felonies.

Question 35

What is the general conclusion of researchers who have investigated the influence of genetic factors on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

A) Genetic factors substantially contribute to this disorder.
B) The concordance rate for MZ twins is high, however, symptoms appear to be reactions to other mental disorders.
C) Genetic factors seem to play no role in the development of this disorder, which is related to rapid alterations in environmental stimulation.
D) The concordance rate among dizygotic twins is higher than for monozygotic twins, suggesting that environmental factors are the most important determinant of this disorder.

Question 36

Tim has been diagnosed as having oppositional defiant disorder; Vince has been diagnosed as having conduct disorder. What is the major difference between these two boys?

A) Tim is older than Vince.
B) Compared to Tim, Vince has a much better prognosis.
C) Vince has engaged in more serious forms of rule violations than has Tim.
D) They demonstrate the same symptoms, but Tim is more likely to be mentally retarded.

Question 37

What would a researcher want to use in order for research results to be generalizable?

A) a small convenience sample
B) a large representative sample
C) data on the whole population of interest
D) information from interviews and other "global" measures

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT one of the temperaments described by Chess and Thomas?

A) easy
B) difficult
C) slow-to-warm-up
D) aggressive

Question 39

What is the current consensus regarding the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional-defiant disorder?

A) The two disorders are essentially the same.
B) Conduct disorder tends to resolve itself with time, ADHD is more often a lifelong problem.
C) The two disorders are fundamentally different.
D) The two are separate but frequently comorbid.

Question 40

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately ___ percent of children in the United States had a lifetime diagnosis of ADHD.

A) 1
B) 5
C) 10
D) 15

Question 41

Approximately what percentage of ADHD children who are treated with psychostimulant medication for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder show improvement in behavior?

A) 5 percent
B) 30 percent
C) 75 percent
D) 90 percent

Question 42

In a large sample of males followed from birth into adulthood, child maltreatment predicted significantly more adolescent conduct problems if the boys were genetically predisposed to

A) high rather than low MAOA activity.
B) low rather than high MAOA activity.
C) low rather than high dopamine activity.
D) high rather than low dopamine activity.

Question 43

Which of the following most accurately describes the role of genetics in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD)?

A) substantial for ADHD but less substantial for ODD and CD
B) substantial for ODD but less substantial for ADHD and CD
C) substantial for all three disorders
D) not substantial for any of these disorders

Question 44

Ted's pediatrician has prescribed Ritalin for the young boy. Which of the following is the most likely pattern of drug use that will occur?

A) Ted will take multiple doses every day throughout the year.
B) Ted will take one dose each day when he feels the need to concentrate.
C) Ted will take one dose per week throughout the year and into his adolescent years.
D) Ted will take several doses per day during the school year, but will not take the drug when school is out.

Question 45

Children with serious conduct problems often have parents who are

A) indulgent.
B) neglectful.
C) authoritarian.
D) authoritative.

Question 46

Ricky's mother tends to scold him when he fights with other children while Ricky's father tends to encourage him to fight. This pattern of inconsistent discipline has been linked to

A) internalizing disorders.
B) externalizing disorders.
C) higher levels of anxiety.
D) higher levels of depression.

Question 47

In a hospital corridor you overhear physicians discussing a patient's "soft signs." You ask your own physician what they meant and find that they were referring to

A) neurological symptoms such as delays in fine motor coordination.
B) symptoms that only appear in evidence from low-tech types of testing equipment.
C) indications that suggest a low level of a certain neurotransmitter is present.
D) an area of the brain that experienced a direct blow that causes seizure-like symptoms.

Question 48

According to the textbook, what is the most effective parenting style?

A) secure
B) indulgent
C) authoritarian
D) authoritative

Question 49

Researchers have given children either psychostimulant drugs or placebo for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. They were interested in mothers' reaction to their children. What did they find?

A) Parent's behavior seems to be the primary cause of much of a child's hyperactivity.
B) When their children are on medication, mothers are less negative and less controlling.
C) Based on the response of parents, the effects of psychostimulant can be attributed to a placebo effect.
D) Parents do not seem to respond any differently to children when they are on or off psychostimulant medication.

Question 50

Which of the following most clearly captures how Gerald Patterson uses the term coercion?

A) purposeful punishment for bad behavior
B) inadvertent punishment for bad behavior
C) purposeful reinforcement for bad behavior
D) inadvertent reinforcement for bad behavior

Question 51

The people next door emphasize obedience through the enforcement of their guidelines and the use of punishment. For example, when their 14-year-old was five minutes late returning from a basketball game last weekend, they immediately grounded the youngster for two weeks. What style of parenting has been described?

A) indulgent
B) neglectful
C) authoritative
D) authoritarian

Question 52

One reason why a child might turn out well-behaved despite growing up in difficult family circumstances involves what temperament theorists call

A) goodness of fit.
B) age-appropriate accommodation.
C) life-course persistence.
D) the internalization of an externalized disorder.

Question 53

What term is used for a brief period of isolation after misbehavior?

A) coercion
B) time-out
C) detachment
D) negative attention

Question 54

Which of the following is likely to characterize children with externalizing disorders?

A) detachment
B) hallucinations
C) anaclitic depression
D) inability to delay gratification

Question 55

A group of children previously identified as having various externalizing problems were put in a social situation and observed. Based on the research of Dodge what are observers likely to see?

A) These children tend to ignore the behavior of other children.
B) They tend to overinterpret the aggressive intentions of their peers.
C) Their high level of energy is seen as a positive element by other children.
D) These children tend to be preoccupied with their own behavior and its effects on others.

Question 56

The process of shaping children's behavior and attitudes to conform to the expectations of parents, teachers, and society as a whole is known as

A) shaping.
B) behavior modification.
C) parenting style.
D) socialization.

Question 57

How do psychostimulant drugs affect normal children?

A) induce a period of depression
B) increase energy but decrease alertness
C) have no observable effects on normal children
D) improve attention and decrease motor activity

Question 58

Which of the following situations illustrates the concept of negative attention and its potential consequences?

A) When a child misbehaves he or she is sent out of the class for a specified period of time as a time-out.
B) The parents of a two-year-old pay no attention to the child until she is quiet for least two minutes.
C) The second-grade teacher says the entire class must be quiet before they go for recess. Any sounds from the class delay or reduce recess time. Now the class remains quiet on cue from the teacher.
D) The parents of a young man tend to punish his misbehaviors in front of their other children who find his antics during the punishment to be entertaining.

Question 59

Eight-year-old Julio attends an elementary school where a lot of children are taking Ritalin. After his teacher suggested that his parents take him to a pediatrician for an evaluation, Julio was put on Ritalin. If Julio has a typical response to the drug, what is likely to happen?

A) Julio has a minor improvement in his hyperactivity.
B) Julio responds positively to the drug and his hyperactivity decreases.
C) Julio has strong side effects and must be taken off the drug immediately.
D) Julio experiences the paradoxical effect and his behavior actually gets worse.

Question 60

Cross-cultural research that compared Japan, Canada, Europe, and the United States with regard to correlates of crime in those countries suggests that which variable most effectively reduces crime rates?

A) stiffer penalties for youth offenders.
B) more crimes that carried mandatory minimum sentences which result in longer prison terms.
C) programs to reduce the rate of child poverty.
D) Based on the research none of these would likely have an effect on crime rates.

Question 61

An expert on problem behaviors of adolescents tells a gathering of professionals the following, "The primary goal of treating these young people should be diversion." If the group then goes out and follows this suggestion, what will they try to accomplish?

A) They will develop more after-hour programs for young people.
B) They will develop more family-based treatment programs because these adolescents are the products of their environments.
C) They will do whatever they can to keep youngsters out of a juvenile justice system that seems to create more delinquency.
D) The seriousness of the crimes that they commit must be impressed upon these young people in order that they accept responsibility and have any chance of living a normal adult life.

Question 62

Compared to Europe, Canada, and Australia, psychostimulant use in the United States is

A) about equal.
B) about half the rate.
C) three to 10 times higher.
D) None of the above are accurate.

Question 63

The criteria for the diagnoses of phobia and depression in children are slightly different from those used to diagnose these disorders in adults. What do the criteria take into account in defining disorders in children?

A) Children experience more frequent suicidal ideation.
B) Children have limited cognitive capacity for insight.
C) The response of children to medications is more variable.
D) Children experience an array of different physiological symptoms.

Question 64

What is one of the key elements of behavioral family therapy?

A) teaching parents to systematically reward positive behavior and ignore or mildly punish misbehavior
B) teaching both parents and their children to use the techniques of progressive relaxation training
C) contacting a negotiator immediately when there is any hint that a serious situation is about to erupt
D) encouraging both parents and their children to go to "neutral corners" for at least 30 minutes following any confrontation

Question 65

A psychologist is reluctant to use parents' observations of their children in determining levels of their children's depression. However, parents often insist on being consulted. What is the psychologist likely to find when parents are asked to evaluate their children's levels of depression?

A) Parents tend to underestimate the extent of depression reported by their children.
B) Parents frequently mistake the symptoms of depression as signs of a developing psychotic process.
C) Parents tend to overreact to minor symptoms and overestimate the severity of the depression.
D) Whenever parents are involved in such data collection, they immediately put themselves in the role of the therapist and begin treatment, often with disastrous results.

Question 66

What did a 13-year follow-up study find about the effect of multisystemic therapy on recidivism rates among seriously troubled youth?

A) increased rates when compared to those not receiving the treatment
B) decreased rates but rates that are still quite high
C) decrease rates from high to quite low
D) no effect

Question 67

What is a central process for many behavioral family therapists in treating adolescents with conduct disorder?

A) getting the parents to be less authoritative
B) promoting adolescent's involvement in deciding the rules
C) helping the parents gain more control over the adolescent
D) fostering empathic understanding rather than behavior management

Question 68

Which of the following would NOT be considered a symptom of an internalizing disorder?

A) sadness
B) anxiety
C) aggression
D) somatic complaints

Question 69

The parents of a child who has just been put on Ritalin are given a pamphlet describing some of the benefits and side effects of the drug. What types of side effects might the parents expect to see?

A) itching and rashes
B) nausea and vomiting
C) depression and anxiety
D) decreased appetite and sleeping difficulties

Question 70

Which fear is prevalent between ages 5 to 8?

A) darkness
B) school-related fears
C) separation from parents
D) not being able to breathe

Question 71

Which of the following is an example of an internalizing symptom?

A) sadness
B) fighting
C) talking back
D) hyperactivity

Question 72

Behavioral family therapy seems to be promising as a treatment for

A) conduct disorder.
B) oppositional defiant disorder.
C) antisocial personality disorder.
D) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Question 73

What has research shown concerning residential programs such as Achievement Place?

A) long-term reductions in aggression
B) few results while the teen is still in the group home
C) lower rates of recidivism once the teen leaves the program
D) effective results while the teen is living in the group home

Question 74

The main difference between children's fears and anxiety is

A) that fear is a reaction to a real and immediate danger.
B) anxiety is a reaction to a real and immediate danger.
C) fear involves the brain's limbic system.
D) anxiety involves the brain's limbic system.

Question 75

All of the following children are eight years old. Which of them is likely to be free of the major symptoms of their disorders by late adolescence?

A) Dean, who has a fear of water
B) Jill, who has severe depression
C) Juan, who has an obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) Jack, who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Question 76

What is the long-term prognosis for children who have oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder into adulthood?

A) about half have problems with antisocial behavior in adulthood
B) there is a high probability of full recovery of normal functioning in the majority of cases
C) although some of their symptoms will decrease, they often have trouble with peers and tend to be mentally retarded
D) there is a high rate of development of a wide range of pathologies from anxiety disorders to psychotic disorders

Question 77

What has research shown concerning the association between diet and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

A) Sugar increases hyperactivity.
B) Preservatives increase hyperactivity.
C) Food additives increase hyperactivity.
D) There is no relationship between diet and hyperactivity.

Question 78

If a child diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder does not respond to psychostimulant drugs, which of the following categories of drugs would most likely be prescribed?

A) antimanic
B) antianxiety
C) antipsychotic
D) antidepressant

Question 79

The parents of an eight-year-old boy are talking to their pediatrician who has just prescribed Ritalin for their son. The pediatrician wants to make sure that the parents are aware of the possible side effects and will report them if and when they occur. Which of the following side effects might occur?

A) hallucinations and nervousness
B) heart palpitations and enuresis
C) suicidal thoughts and agitation
D) slowed physical growth and motor tics

Question 80

Studies of the long-term benefits of psychostimulant medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder show

A) significant improvement in both learning and behavior.
B) no significant improvement in learning or behavior.
C) improved learning but no improvement in behavior.
D) improved behavior but no improvement in learning.