Deck 3: Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis

Question 1

In order to develop useful standards for a test, it is important to use a normative group that consists of a

A)small group of people who are very similar to each other.
B)large group of people who all share a key characteristic.
C)large group of very diverse people.
D)small group that differs from the population at large.

Answer 1

large group of very diverse people.

Question 2

All of the following describe how a psychologist conducts a clinical encounter EXCEPT

A)attempts to facilitate communication.
B)uses non-threatening ways of seeking information.
C)keeps patient information confidential in all circumstances.
D)applies appropriate listening skills.

Answer 2

keeps patient information confidential in all circumstances.

Question 3

In a clinical encounter, the law regarding confidentiality does NOT apply if the patient

A)threatens self-harm or harm to another person.
B)relates a history of sexual abuse.
C)has been mentally ill for more than five years.
D)is hospitalised in a psychiatric facility.

Answer 3

threatens self-harm or harm to another person.

Question 4

In order to be useful, assessment techniques should be based on

A)beliefs.
B)attitudes.
C)evidence.
D)assumptions.

Question 5

Observing appearance and behaviour during a mental state examination

A)is simply done to give the appearance that the clinician is paying attention.
B)rarely yields useful information.
C)can yield clues regarding the presence of certain disorders.
D)may just confuse the diagnostic process.

Question 6

Masego had been experiencing a number of psychological issues, so he decided to go to a psychiatrist to see what was wrong.Dr A.told him he had major depressive disorder.He decided to seek a second opinion.Dr B.diagnosed him with generalised anxiety disorder.Wanting yet another opinion, he went to Dr C.who told him he was obsessive-compulsive.This demonstrates poor

A)test-retest reliability.
B)concurrent validity.
C)descriptive validity.
D)inter-rater reliability.

Question 7

In terms of psychological assessment, which of the following describes the concept of validity?

A)Two or more 'raters' get the same answers.
B)An assessment technique is consistent across different measures.
C)Scores are used as a norm for comparison purposes.
D)An assessment technique measures what it is designed to measure.

Question 8

As part of a psychological assessment, a mental state examination is used to find out how a person thinks, feels and behaves; its primary purpose, however, is to determine

A)if a psychological disorder might be present.
B)what type of treatment should be used.
C)which medication would be most effective.
D)whether the individual also has a medical condition.

Question 9

The systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological and social factors in a person with a possible mental disorder is known as clinical

A)assessment.
B)interpretation.
C)validation.
D)standardisation.

Question 10

In trying to understand and help an individual with a psychological problem, the psychologist will obtain detailed information about the person's life as part of a

A)physical exam.
B)clinical encounter.
C)mental state exam.
D)brain scan.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT one of the three basic concepts that help determine the value of a psychological assessment procedure?

A)reliability
B)subjectivity
C)validity
D)standardisation

Question 12

Nomvula, who had recurrent headaches, fatigue and loss of appetite, received different diagnoses from several psychologists.In terms of assessment, this indicates a problem with

A)reliability.
B)subjectivity.
C)validity.
D)standardisation.

Question 13

Mr J., a 40-year-old recent immigrant to South Africa, comes from a working-class background and is just learning to speak English.He applies for a job and is given a test.His score is compared to others who have taken the test, mostly young college graduates whose first language is English.Mr J.thinks this is unfair.In fact, this is an issue of

A)reliability.
B)classification.
C)validity.
D)standardisation.

Question 14

A measurement that is consistent is considered to be

A)valid.
B)reliable.
C)standardised.
D)accurate.

Question 15

If the short version of a test yields the same results as a longer version, then you could conclude that the brief version had _________ validity.

A)concurrent
B)divergent
C)predictive
D)excessive

Question 16

The process of determining whether an individual's symptoms meet the criteria for a specific psychological disorder is called

A)prognosis.
B)diagnosis.
C)classification.
D)analysis.

Question 17

A mental state examination covers all of the following categories EXCEPT

A)intellectual functioning.
B)appearance.
C)behaviour.
D)physical symptoms.

Question 18

The process of clinical assessment results in narrowing the focus to

A)concentrate on problem areas that seem most relevant.
B)consider a broad range of problems.
C)cover all possible problems.
D)concentrate on all problem areas equally.

Question 19

A patient named Mohammed stated that he had been having intrusive thoughts that he tried to prevent by performing certain movements.Based on this information, you might predict that Mohammed would be diagnosed with

A)major depressive disorder.
B)obsessive-compulsive disorder.
C)a personality disorder.
D)schizophrenia.

Question 20

A clinical interview should be based on information from the client's

A)past behaviours, attitudes and emotions.
B)interpersonal and social history.
C)present behaviours, attitudes and emotions.
D)all of the above

Question 21

An observation that involves identifying specific behaviours that are observable and measurable is called a(n)

A)informal observation.
B)formal observation.
C)unstructured observation.
D)self-observation.

Question 22

A psychoanalytic therapist who wants to assess the unconscious thoughts and feelings of a patient would be most likely to use the __________ test.

A)MMPI
B)Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test
C)Rorschach inkblot test
D)Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery

Question 23

A clinician who wished to assess the effects of treatment over a period of time would be most likely to do so by repeatedly administering a(n)

A)neuropsychological test battery.
B)projective test.
C)intelligence test.
D)behaviour rating scale.

Question 24

Most of the 'psychological tests' in popular magazines are

A)reliable.
B)valid.
C)for entertainment only.
D)informative and educational.

Question 25

The projective type of psychological tests is based on _____________ theory.

A)behavioural
B)cognitive
C)humanistic
D)psychoanalytic

Question 26

The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-5 (ADIS-5) is an example of a

A)personality inventory.
B)semistructured clinical interview.
C)projective test.
D)behavioural intervention.

Question 27

The reactivity phenomenon of self-monitoring procedures has been shown to

A)increase desired behaviours.
B)decrease undesired behaviours.
C)both increase desired behaviours and decrease undesired behaviours.
D)neither increase desired behaviours nor decrease undesired behaviours.

Question 28

As part of a behavioural assessment, psychologists sometimes use ___________ settings when it is not possible to do direct observation in a naturalistic setting.

A)imaginary
B)empirical
C)analogue
D)virtual

Question 29

Behavioural assessments are used to formally assess an individual's thoughts, feelings and behaviour in

A)general.
B)context.
C)the abstract.
D)theory.

Question 30

The comprehensive system for administering and scoring the Rorschach inkblot test was developed because

A)a lack of standardised procedures affects the way the test taker responds to the questions.
B)it was discovered that inter-rater reliability had increased significantly.
C)Hermann Rorschach was dissatisfied with the way his test was being given.
D)the previous scoring system was found to be difficult and time-consuming.

Question 31

Which of the following people would make a good candidate for a behavioural assessment?

A)a very verbal adult
B)a young child
C)a person with a cognitive deficit
D)both b and c

Question 32

The Rorschach test is considered controversial because of all of the following concerns EXCEPT that

A)for some time there was no standardised way of administering the test.
B)there is little or no data regarding its reliability or validity.
C)the inkblots have been changed many times since the test was developed.
D)until recently there were no standardised procedures for administering the test.

Question 33

The ABCs of observation refer to the ___________ sequence.

A)affect-behaviour-cognition
B)antecedent-behaviour-cognition
C)antecedent-behaviour-consequence
D)affect-behaviour-consequence

Question 34

Four-year-old Jaco is very aggressive toward his peers, which results in poor peer relationships.A psychologist has been asked to assess Jaco's aggressiveness and determine if he needs intervention.The psychologist would probably do what type of assessment?

A)general
B)projective
C)cognitive
D)behavioural

Question 35

Which of the following is an example of the reactivity phenomenon?

A)A man joins a weight-loss centre, but quits after he feels he is not getting the desired results.
B)After joining a fitness club, a woman stops exercising in her home and instead walks 5 km a day by herself.
C)A man changes his brand of cigarettes after his father dies of lung cancer.
D)On parents' visiting day at a school, the children who often misbehave in class are unusually compliant and well behaved.

Question 36

With regard to projective tests, research has found that most clinicians

A)do not use projective tests.
B)have their own ways of administering and scoring the tests.
C)use standardised procedures when administering and scoring the tests.
D)rely on these tests to diagnose psychopathology.

Question 37

An operational definition refers to identifying specific behaviours that are

A)abnormal.
B)harmful.
C)long-standing.
D)measurable.

Question 38

Dr Abrahams is using Exner's Comprehensive System to administer and score the Rorschach inkblot test.This specifies all of the following EXCEPT

A)how the cards with the inkblots should be presented.
B)exactly what the psychologist administering the test should say.
C)the way in which the test taker's responses should be recorded.
D)the amount of time allowed for each inkblot card to be presented.

Question 39

The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) differs from the Rorschach inkblot test in that the person taking the TAT is asked to use his or her imagination to

A)tell a complete story about a picture.
B)draw a picture based on a story that is read aloud by the examiner.
C)write down responses after reading a short story.
D)tell a story and draw a picture about it.

Question 40

Hannibal is presented with a series of cards that are blots of ink.He is asked to state what he sees on these cards. Hannibal is probably taking a(n)

A)personality inventory.
B)response inventory.
C)projective test.
D)intelligence test.

Question 41

Neuropsychological tests are used to assess whether or not an individual might

A)suffer from a dissociative disorder.
B)have a brain dysfunction.
C)have had a psychotic episode.
D)be in a depressed state.

Question 42

The MMPI-2 differs from earlier versions of the MMPI because it

A)is shorter.
B)was normed on a much more diverse sample.
C)is less reliable.
D)is normed on a much more selective sample.

Question 43

With regard to IQ tests, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)IQ and intelligence are the same thing.
B)An IQ test has some validity with respect to predicting academic success.
C)IQ tests measure abilities such as attention, memory, reasoning and perception.
D)Psychologists have different theories about which skills and abilities constitute intelligence.

Question 44

All of the following statements are TRUE about the MMPI EXCEPT that

A)there is little room for interpretation.
B)the test is tedious and time-consuming.
C)there is a version for adolescents.
D)individual responses are examined to determine a diagnostic pattern.

Question 45

'The questions make sense to the person reading them and the wording of the questions seems to fit the type of information desired.' With regard to personality inventories, which type of validity is defined by the preceding statement?

A)predictive
B)face
C)construct
D)analytic

Question 46

Which of the following describes a personality inventory?

A)It determines the possible contribution of brain damage to the person's condition.
B)It uses imaging to assess brain structure and/or function.
C)It involves self-report questionnaires that assess individual traits.
D)It ascertains the structure and patterns of cognition.

Question 47

The performance scales on the WISC-IV (Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children) measure all of the following EXCEPT

A)factual knowledge.
B)psychomotor abilities.
C)ability to learn new relationships.
D)non-verbal reasoning.

Question 48

Intelligence tests were originally designed to

A)determine a person's mental status.
B)predict academic success.
C)identify potential psychopathology.
D)indicate the presence of neurological problems.

Question 49

The MMPI-2, a more recent version of the personality inventory, has been updated to reflect all of the following EXCEPT

A)cultural diversity.
B)gender equality.
C)contemporary issues.
D)sexual values.

Question 50

If you were asked to compare and contrast the MMPI and the Rorschach inkblot test, you could say correctly that

A)responses are interpreted individually in the MMPI.
B)the pattern of responses is evaluated in the MMPI.
C)the Rorschach test is more tedious and time-consuming for the patient to complete.
D)the Rorschach test more accurately predicts psychopathology.

Question 51

As an assessment measure, the MMPI is considered unique because it is

A)empirically based.
B)theory based.
C)based on the biological model.
D)based on the humanistic approach.

Question 52

Since the MMPI is ____________, the assessment concept known as reliability is increased.

A)often interpreted by computer
B)made up of many scales
C)non-sexist
D)well researched

Question 53

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?

A)Most psychologists interpret responses to the TAT cards in the same way.
B)High inter-rater reliability exists among those administering the test.
C)The TAT is used as a diagnostic test because validity is high.
D)Many clinicians use the TAT to encourage people to talk more openly about their lives.

Question 54

The MMPI-A, a new version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, has been developed specifically for testing

A)children with ADHD.
B)children with autism.
C)adults.
D)adolescents.

Question 55

The calculation of an IQ, previously done by using a child's mental age, is now done by using a deviation IQ.This means that the child's score is compared to the scores of others

A)of the same age.
B)in the same grade.
C)who took the test at the same time.
D)with the same level of intelligence.

Question 56

A neuropsychological test measures abilities in all but which of the following areas?

A)attention and concentration
B)perceptual abilities
C)learning and abstraction
D)adaptive personality traits

Question 57

IQ tests measure all of the following abilities EXCEPT

A)attention.
B)memory.
C)reasoning.
D)adaptability.

Question 58

Which of the following describes a neuropsychological test?

A)It determines the possible contribution of brain impairment to the person's condition.
B)It uses imaging to assess brain structure and/or function.
C)It assesses long-standing patterns of behaviour.
D)It ascertains the structure and patterns of cognition.

Question 59

The MMPI is a notable measurement instrument because it

A)has been shown to be valid with a range of psychological problems.
B)relies on subjective interpretations of patterns.
C)is short and easy to administer.
D)is the oldest test measure developed.

Question 60

Heinrich falsifies answers his answers on the MMPI so that he will look good.He will probably have a high score on the __________ scale.

A)cannot say
B)lie
C)paranoia
D)defensiveness

Question 61

Sweat gland activity (electrodermal activity) is measured in order to assess

A)stress and emotional arousal.
B)exhaustion.
C)brain damage.
D)sexual dysfunction and disorders.

Question 62

In addition to MRI, PET and CT, other brain-imaging techniques are currently in use or are now being developed.Which of the following is one of these newer neuroimaging techniques?

A)EEG
B)TMS
C)SPECT
D)EMG

Question 63

According to the textbook, assessment of psychophysiological responses to emotional stimuli is important in treating all of the following EXCEPT

A)sexual dysfunctions.
B)post-traumatic stress disorder.
C)hypertension.
D)cancer.

Question 64

When a taxonomic system is applied to a psychological problem, it becomes a

A)diagnosis.
B)prognosis.
C)nosology.
D)nomenclature.

Question 65

The terms taxonomy and nosology refer to

A)scientific classification.
B)the accuracy of a diagnostic system.
C)the reliability of a grouping of clinical symptoms.
D)theoretical ideas that cannot be tested objectively.

Question 66

If it were important to determine the exact location of brain impairment, which of the following tests would most likely be used?

A)Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test
B)Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery
C)Gall Phrenological Brain Scan
D)Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

Question 67

Although abnormalities in the structure and functioning of the brain can be detected by neuroimaging techniques, current research is also looking at

A)a possible association of these abnormalities with psychological disorders.
B)using brain-imaging techniques as a treatment for psychological disorders.
C)preventing psychological disorders with neuroimaging techniques.
D)changing brain functioning from abnormal to normal.

Question 68

When brief periods of EEG patterns are recorded in response to a specific event, the response is called a(n)

A)evoked potential.
B)alpha wave.
C)electrodermal response.
D)artefact.

Question 69

Recent research involving PET scans has shown that patients with Alzheimer's disease have

A)increased dopamine reuptake in the occipital lobes.
B)increased serotonin levels in the temporal lobes.
C)reduced glucose metabolism in the parietal lobes.
D)reduced amino acid production in the frontal lobes.

Question 70

When an assessment strategy shows a problem when none exists, it is referred to as a

A)false negative.
B)false positive.
C)negative outcome.
D)forecast error.

Question 71

Identifying the general class of problems to which a presenting problem belongs is known as a(n) ________ strategy.

A)idiographic
B)nomothetic
C)classification
D)categorical

Question 72

The likely future course of a disorder is called its

A)prognosis .
B)diagnosis.
C)aetiology.
D)inference.

Question 73

A primary diagnostic technique for identifying seizure disorders is the

A)EEG.
B)DOT.
C)GSR.
D)ERP.

Question 74

The dimensional approach to the classification of mental disorders differs from the categorical approach because the dimensional system provides

A)lists of symptoms that are associated with all of the forms of psychopathology that are currently believed to exist.
B)diagnostic labels based on the presence of specific symptoms.
C)information that is used to determine the cause and treatment of the disorder.
D)scales that indicate the degree to which patients are experiencing various cognitions, moods and behaviours.

Question 75

The term that describes the names or labels of disorders is

A)taxonomy.
B)nomenclature.
C)nosology.
D)aetiology.

Question 76

A healthy adult at rest is most likely to show an EEG pattern characterised by a high level of

A)alpha waves.
B)delta waves.
C)critical waves.
D)irregular.

Question 77

A procedure used to assess brain functioning that is much like a PET scan but less accurate and uses a different tracer substance is

A)SQUID.
B)SPECT.
C)TCM.
D)JCT.

Question 78

Determining what is unique about an individual's personality, cultural background or circumstances can be termed a(n) ________ strategy.

A)idiographic
B)nomothetic
C)classification
D)categorical

Question 79

One important advantage of using a classification and diagnostic system such as DSM-5 is that knowing a patient's diagnosis

A)helps the therapist to develop a treatment plan and prognosis.
B)allows patients to fully participate in their own treatment.
C)permits the insurance company to have access to patients' records.
D)allows the therapist to see the patient as an individual.

Question 80

The problem with generating a false negative during an assessment strategy is that the patient

A)will not receive treatment for an actual disorder.
B)will receive treatment for a disorder they don't have.
C)will be tired of being tested.
D)will be discredited.