Deck 15: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

The critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated show "Hoarders" features original stories of people whose need to keep things overwhelms theirs lives. Hank hates that his home is stuffed to the ceiling but his need to hoard objects overwhelms him and he is overcome by dread if he tries to throw things away. The criteria that govern decisions about abnormality are applicable in this case because

A) Hank's behaviour deviates from the norm and is distressing for him.
B) Hank's behaviour has drawn the attention of other people.
C) hoarding behaviour is normal through adolescence but should disappear by the time the person is in his early-to mid-twenties.
D) the fact that Hank's home has such huge piles of junk in each room makes it a health and fire hazard to live there.

Answer 1

Hank's behaviour deviates from the norm and is distressing for him.

Question 2

Tyson is uncomfortable when he isn't the center of attention. He then becomes unusually dramatic, extremely emotional, and sometimes inappropriately seductive or sexually provocative. He is impressionistic (somewhat shallow and reactive to the environment) and suggestible. Though he believes he has many intimate relationships, others think Tyson is shallow, capricious, and theatrical. If he has a personality disorder, it is most likely to fall into the

A) dramatic/emotional cluster.
B) anxious/fearful cluster.
C) odd/eccentric cluster.
D) superstitious/psychotic cluster.

Answer 2

dramatic/emotional cluster.

Question 3

Astrid told her coworkers that she regularly seeks advice from her dead relatives. If she fasts and meditates for three days and nights, they appear and she talks with them. Astrid's coworkers tell her that sounds strange to them, but Astrid explains that many people in her culture believe these things. Based on this information, we can say that Astrid

A) has schizophrenia-hallucinations of any kind are indicative of this disorder.
B) is probably highly suggestible to mass hysteria.
C) has a somatoform disorder.
D) is probably not diagnosable with any type of mental disorder; her beliefs are completely reasonable in her culture.

Answer 3

is probably not diagnosable with any type of mental disorder; her beliefs are completely reasonable in her culture.

Question 4

Ahmik grew up on a Native American reservation in Saskatchewan, Canada, but is attending a college in the United States that has a primarily Caucasian population. Because he wanted to get the whole college experience, he is living in a dormitory on campus. An unusually heavy snowstorm hits the campus and shuts it and everything around it down for several days. On the second day, Ahmik locks himself in his room and refuses to come out, because he is afraid he is becoming a monster and might eat his friends if the roads don't open up soon so they can get more food. Everyone is confused, because they have plenty of food and see no reason Ahmik should think he is turning into a monster that eats people. Ahmik's hall monitor, who is taking an abnormal psychology class, decides he must have schizophrenia. Based on this information, is she right?

A) She could be, but because Ahmik comes from a different culture, culture-bound disorders must also be taken into consideration.
B) Yes. Talking about nonhuman and non-animal monsters is one of the key diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia.
C) No. Ahmik probably has a paranoid personality disorder.
D) No. Ahmik probably has a somatoform disorder.

Question 5

The metal band Metallica's song "Fade to Black" includes lyrics like "No one but me can save myself, but it's too late/Now I can't think, think why I should even try/Yesterday seems as though it never existed/Death greets me warm, now I will just say good-bye." This song was written during one of the band's lowest periods and appears to be about

A) dissociation.
B) schizophrenia.
C) suicide.
D) delusions.

Question 6

Melba is incapable of making a decision on her own, even about everyday matters. She is terrified that if she disagrees with someone he will abandon her, so she constantly seeks someone to look after and be responsible for her. She feels vulnerable when alone and desperately needs relationships as sources of support. If she has a personality disorder, it is most likely to fall into the

A) dramatic/emotional cluster.
B) anxious/fearful cluster.
C) odd/eccentric cluster.
D) cynosure cluster.

Question 7

Vicky has trouble focusing on her work in school but knows what every classmate is doing at all times. She will blurt out answers to questions the teacher has asked another student. Her assignments are messy and disorganized. Her teacher suggested that she see a therapist to get a diagnosis. The symptoms above are characteristics of

A) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
B) Asperger's syndrome.
C) schizophrenia.
D) anxiety.

Question 8

Because Lia sees relationships as messy and undesirable, she has been a lifelong loner. Though she has a pet snake, she has no desire to marry or have lasting romantic relationships. She prefers to be by herself to the degree that others tend to see her as cold, aloof, and unsociable, especially because she seems indifferent to criticism. If she has a personality disorder, it is most likely to fall into the

A) dramatic/emotional cluster.
B) anxious/fearful cluster.
C) odd/eccentric cluster.
D) superstitious/psychotic cluster.

Question 9

Mireille began having brief episodes of overwhelming anxiety about a year ago. At first she got them only in busy places like shopping malls and crowded restaurants, but in the past few months she has begun having them while walking to work or even while performing her job duties. She has called in sick every day for the past week, afraid that if she leaves her home she will have another episode and be unable to escape to a safe place. The criteria that govern decisions about abnormality are applicable in this case because Mireille's behaviour

A) is interfering with her ability to work.
B) does not bother her.
C) is normal.
D) enhances her ability to work.

Question 10

Ethan has ideas that others think are strange and sometimes hears voices. In spite of all of this, the thing that interferes most with his life is that sometimes he just stops moving and stays frozen in place for long periods of time. If his housemates move his limbs, they will stay that way. Ethan has

A) paranoid personality disorder.
B) schizophrenia.
C) bipolar disorder.
D) dissociative identity disorder.

Question 11

Killian lets her husband keep all the financial records for the family and refuses to make any decisions on her own. She is so needy that if she encounters even a minor unexpected problem during her day, she calls him at work to ask his advice. This behaviour cuts across all situations, causes problems in her relationships with other people, and seems to be Killian's only real approach to dealing with the world. Killian may have

A) a major depressive disorder.
B) bipolar disorder.
C) a conversion disorder.
D) a personality disorder.

Question 12

Margie has a long-standing pattern of unstable and intense relationships and moods. She has a history of trauma and is sometimes inappropriately seductive. She abuses drugs, has threatened suicide several times, and cuts her arms with a razor blade when she feels particularly bad. She desperately tries to keep others from abandoning her, partly because she has a very unstable sense of self. If she has a personality disorder, it is most likely that she has

A) antisocial personality disorder.
B) borderline personality disorder.
C) schizoid personality disorder.
D) cynosure cluster.

Question 13

Tina has been hyperactive for the past week, buying things she can't afford and painting dozens of pictures. Her thoughts seem to be racing out of control and she is convinced that she is going to be the next Jackson Pollock, even though she has never painted before this week. She has also started a major renovation project at home, and since she's hardly sleeping she's keeping her neighbours awake with all her pounding and sawing. Tina's symptoms suggest that she

A) has dysthymia.
B) is currently experiencing a manic episode.
C) is developing a somatic disorder.
D) has a personality disorder.

Question 14

George believes that people in stores are always trying to short change or trick him, and that his professor is secretly laughing at him behind his back. He tends to walk around with a chip on his shoulder and blame other people when things go wrong. If George has a personality disorder, it is most likely to fall into the

A) dramatic/emotional cluster.
B) anxious/fearful cluster.
C) odd/eccentric cluster.
D) superstitious/psychotic cluster.

Question 15

Professor Paragon spends at least half an hour before each class cleaning the whiteboard. Even streaks from the cleaning spray create an overwhelming tension for him, and he is preoccupied by the idea that previous markings are dirty and will contaminate his notes. Over the past month, his inability to stop washing the board has led to increasingly delayed class start times. Professor Paragon's anxious thoughts are _____________ and his repetitive behaviours are _______________.

A) obsessions; compulsions
B) due to panic disorder; due to a somatoform disorder
C) dissociations; obsessions
D) delusional; competitive

Question 16

In 2015, Canadian Forces veterans saddled up for an epic cross-country trail ride that aimed to include Canadians in the fight against strife within the military. Soldiers who have returned from the front lines often struggle with overwhelming anxiety, hypervigilance, depression, and flashbacks. In many cases these characters abuse alcohol, are suicidal, and have a strained or angry relationship with their spouses. These characters demonstrate symptoms of:

A) dementia.
B) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
C) dysthymia.
D) dissociative identity disorder (DID).

Question 17

Jillian can't bear to leave her home without washing all the linens and floors, vacuuming the carpets, and organizing everything in her cupboards. Because she knows that her behaviour is extreme, she has tried to go to work without doing all these things, but she is overcome with such overwhelming dread that she never makes it all the way to the office. Jillian probably has

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

Question 18

Max Braverman, from the TV series Parenthood, has trouble fitting in at school and does not want to play baseball. He is obsessed with everything about bugs ask him anything and he will know it. Not so much into people, and he hates being touched. Max has been diagnosed with

A) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
B) Asperger's syndrome.
C) schizophrenia.
D) anxiety.

Question 19

Most of the people in Fred's class think he's a little odd. He tends to be suspicious, often believes that others are talking about him, and talks in class about his ability to see the future. Sometimes he interrupts the professor to talk about tangential, off-topic philosophical ideas like the unfairness of the system as it relates to drug legalization and the oppression of artists. If he has a personality disorder, it is most likely to fall into the

A) dramatic/emotional cluster.
B) anxious/fearful cluster.
C) odd/eccentric cluster.
D) superstitious/psychotic cluster.

Question 20

Mireille began having brief episodes of overwhelming anxiety about a year ago. She doesn't know what causes them, but she has had them in the grocery store, at busy restaurants, and once while driving. Her heart pounds, she has difficulty breathing, and sometimes she feels like her body no longer belongs to her. She is afraid she will go crazy and embarrass herself in front of other people. Based on this information, Mireille may have

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B) a somatoform disorder.
C) a dissociative disorder.
D) a panic disorder.

Question 21

Following a bitter disagreement about the direction their business should take, Darius and his best friend dissolve their partnership and are currently not on speaking terms. Disappointed and disillusioned, Darius tells his sister he thinks he might be depressed. He knows that she had similar problems after a car accident a year ago, so he isn't surprised when she encourages him to seek treatment. Darius says he would prefer to wait it out, because he believes that the symptoms are simply related to the recent situation. Upset, his sister insists that the problem won't go away unless he gets treatment. Is she right?

A) Yes. Over time, untreated psychological disorders tend to grow worse rather than become better.
B) Yes. Depression in particular rarely gets better without treatment.
C) Maybe. Without experiencing depressive symptoms beforehand, his symptoms could possibly be a normal response to this specific situation.
D) No, unless the depression has a genetic basis.

Question 22

Dexter had lots of freedom as a child. His parents would start drinking as soon as they got home ignoring the children or strongly disciplining them depending on their mood. His cousin slammed the cellar door on his head when he was little. He has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Dexter is likely to

A) be diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has the classic symptoms of schizophrenic patients.
B) kill someone. He has the cluster of traits possessed by most violent criminals.
C) be diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He is exhibiting the key indicators of ADHD.
D) be diagnosed with autism. He is exhibiting the key indicators of autism.

Question 23

Ann is a best-selling science fiction author. She has had an amazing career, but she also has

A) a lowered risk of developing depression in her lifetime.
B) a low probability of developing a psychiatric illness in her lifetime.
C) a lowered risk of developing bipolar disorder in her lifetime.
D) a greater risk for developing a psychiatric illness.

Question 24

Jarman is heading up a project that can make or break his career. His anxiety level has been higher lately than he can ever remember it being. In this case, Jarman ________ diagnosable with an anxiety disorder, because the frequency and intensity of his anxiety is ________________.

A) is not; proportional to the perceived threat
B) is; proportional to the perceived threat
C) is not; not proportional to the perceived threat
D) is; a direct result of the perceived threat

Question 25

Walter's graduate program is extremely demanding, he has been arguing with his girlfriend, and he is struggling financially. He juggles his utility bills to avoid having anything disconnected, but he never answers the phone, because so many collectors call. Because he has such a small stipend, he is forced to live in a noisy, crime-ridden neighbourhood. As finals approach, Walter finally decides he needs to see a therapist. Though he can't pinpoint any single cause, he knows that he constantly feels restless, edgy, and irritable. He is having trouble concentrating in his classes and isn't sleeping well, even though he's tired all the time. The therapist will probably diagnose Walter with

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

Question 26

Charlotte does everything exactly three, four, or seven times. She is unable to relax at night until she has checked three times that all of her doors are locked; she also has to check that her car is in park three times, soap her hands four times, and make sure she has turned off all the appliances seven times. When she walks, she always counts her steps and must always arrive at a place at the end of one of her three "magic numbers." If she sees that she will reach a door in five more steps, she takes smaller steps so she can squeeze in seven before reaching the door. Charlotte probably has

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