Question 1

Anxiety is considered disordered if it is

Accepted Answer

Anxiety becomes disordered when it is persistent and distressing, meaning that it interferes with daily life and functioning. While anxiety can have genetic and environmental influences, these factors alone do not classify it as a disorder. Additionally, anxiety can sometimes be a conditioned response, but this is only one possible explanation and is not a defining characteristic of a disorder. Finally, anxiety is recognized as a biopsychosocial phenomenon, meaning that it involves biological, psychological, and social factors, but this does not determine whether it is disordered or not.

Question 2

Indira,a third-grade teacher,frequently suffers from dizziness,an irregular heartbeat,and sweating palms.She is also continually agitated and unable to relax outside the classroom,but she cannot pinpoint a reason for her problems.Her symptoms are most indicative of

Accepted Answer

Indira's symptoms are indicative of generalized anxiety disorder since she experiences physical symptoms such as dizziness and sweating as well as mental symptoms such as agitation and inability to relax. This disorder is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry and anxiety that interferes with daily life.

Question 3

In which of the following disorders is a person continually tense,fearful,and in a state of autonomic arousal?

Accepted Answer

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive and persistent worry and anxiety about everyday events and activities. This worry is often accompanied by physical symptoms of tension and nervousness, such as muscle tension, restlessness, and insomnia. It is a chronic disorder that can have a significant impact on a person's functioning and quality of life. The other disorders listed do not typically involve this level of persistent anxiety and autonomic arousal.

Question 4

In the DSM-5,a condition formerly known as mental retardation is now labeled

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 has replaced the term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" in order to reflect a more sensitive and accurate understanding of the condition. This change acknowledges that individuals with intellectual disabilities have a wide range of abilities and that labels like "retarded" are stigmatizing and can contribute to discrimination and social exclusion. Choice A (ADHD), B (bulimia nervosa), and D (schizophrenia) refer to different conditions and are not related to mental retardation or intellectual disability.

Question 5

Generalized anxiety disorder is often accompanied by

Accepted Answer

While generalized anxiety disorder can sometimes co-occur with obsessions and compulsions (which are characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder), the most common accompanying condition is depression. Panic attacks are also associated with anxiety disorders, but they are not exclusively tied to generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 6

After Anika learned that her history professor had suffered an anxiety disorder,she concluded that the professor's tendency to talk loudly was simply a way of disguising feelings of personal insecurity.This best illustrates the

Accepted Answer

Anika's conclusion suggests that she believes the professor's behavior is a result of the diagnostic label "anxiety disorder," rather than considering the individual's unique experiences and personality traits. This highlights the potential biasing power of diagnostic labels.

Question 7

The ability of mental health professionals to quickly communicate the characteristics of their patients' complex symptoms is most clearly improved by the use of

Accepted Answer

Diagnostic labels provide a shorthand way of conveying information about a patient's symptoms and are commonly used by mental health professionals to communicate their observations and diagnoses to others in the field. While the use of labels can sometimes be controversial, they can be a useful tool for improving communication and understanding among clinicians. The other options (field studies, the medical model, and the biopsychosocial approach) are all important concepts in mental health, but they do not specifically address the issue of communication among professionals.

Question 8

Research on ________ shows that our environment can affect whether a gene is expressed,thus affecting the development of psychological disorders.

Accepted Answer

Epigenetics refers to the study of how environmental factors interact with our genes, ultimately affecting their expression. This means that even if someone carries a specific gene that predisposes them to a psychological disorder, the environment they are in can influence whether or not that gene is expressed and therefore impact the individual's overall mental health.

Question 9

Which of the following would be considered a symptom of an anxiety disorder?

Accepted Answer

The symptom described in option C - unjustified, persistent worrying about a variety of things - is characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder. Options A, B, and D could be considered normal levels of worry, stress, or concern, and do not necessarily indicate an anxiety disorder.

Question 10

An incapacitating and highly distressing fear of being embarrassed in the presence of others is most characteristic of

Accepted Answer

The fear of being embarrassed in social situations is a hallmark symptom of social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. Panic disorder is characterized by panic attacks, which are sudden and intense episodes of fear or terror. Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and uncontrollable worry and anxiety about a variety of life situations. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. While embarrassment may be a component of OCD, it is not the defining feature.

Question 11

Field trials assessing clinician agreement when using the new DSM-5 categories indicate that diagnoses of adult posttraumatic stress disorder fared ________and diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder fared ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Field trials assessing clinician agreement when using...

Question 12

Some of the new diagnoses in the DSM-5 concern many physicians and mental health workers because

Accepted Answer

Many professionals worry that expanding the criteria for mental disorders in the DSM-5 will lead to over-diagnosis and pathologizing of everyday behavior. The other options are not relevant concerns regarding the DSM-5 updates.

Question 13

Marshall has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.Because this disorder is included as a diagnosis in the DSM-5

Accepted Answer

The inclusion of autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5 means that therapists and medical professionals will be more knowledgeable about the disorder and able to suggest appropriate treatment options for Marshall's symptoms. This can help provide Marshall with the support and resources he needs for his condition.

Question 14

To promote diagnostic reliability,the DSM-5 typically bases diagnoses on

Accepted Answer

One of the goals of the DSM-5 is to increase the reliability of diagnoses by providing detailed criteria for each disorder. Chemical analyses of blood and urine samples and epigenetic research are not typically used to determine psychiatric diagnoses.

Question 15

The diagnostic labels provided by the DSM-5 help mental health professionals to do all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 diagnostic labels do not predict who is susceptible to a psychological disorder. They describe the symptoms present in an individual who meets the criteria for a specific disorder.

Question 16

Manuel is extremely shy and is so easily embarrassed when he is with other people that he often misses his college classes just to avoid social interactions.Manuel appears to suffer from

Accepted Answer

Manuel's symptoms of extreme shyness and avoidance of social interactions indicate that he may have social anxiety disorder, which is characterized by intense fear or anxiety about social situations and being judged or scrutinized by others. This often leads to avoidance of social interactions, which can impair daily functioning and negatively impact one's quality of life. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (A) involves repetitive and intrusive thoughts and rituals, panic disorder (B) involves sudden and unexpected panic attacks, and generalized anxiety disorder (D) involves excessive worry and anxiety about a variety of everyday events and situations. While these disorders may also involve social anxiety as a component, social anxiety disorder is more specific to fear and avoidance of social situations.

Question 17

Many clinicians diagnose disorders by using the detailed diagnostic criteria in the

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 is a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders based on specific criteria for each disorder. It provides clinicians with a standardized system for diagnosis and helps ensure consistency in treatment and research.

Question 18

If individuals expect someone labeled as mentally ill to be hostile,they may act in unfriendly ways that provoke that person to respond with hostility.This illustrates that labels can

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates how the label of mental illness can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Expectations and stereotypes about mental illness can influence how others perceive and interact with individuals labeled as mentally ill, which can in turn affect their behavior and reinforce those expectations.

Question 19

A psychotherapist is most likely to use the DSM-5 to ________ various psychological disorders.

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) is primarily used by mental health professionals to identify and diagnose various psychological disorders based on specific criteria and symptoms. It is a reference tool for diagnosing mental illness and can be used in treatment planning, research, and communication between mental health professionals. It is not used for the purpose of curing or preventing psychological disorders, but rather for identifying and understanding them.

Question 20

In a study by David Rosenhan,researchers were admitted as patients into various mental hospitals after they falsely claimed to be "hearing voices." This study best illustrated the negative effects of

Accepted Answer

The study by David Rosenhan demonstrated the negative effects of diagnostic labels, as it showed how individuals who falsely claimed to hear voices were diagnosed with mental illnesses, despite not actually exhibiting any symptoms, and were subsequently admitted into mental hospitals. This highlights the potential harm of diagnostic labeling and the importance of accurate diagnoses.

Quiz 13: Psychological Disorders