Question 1

Rudolph, a client, was asked a set of questions by his clinician in his initial interview.The questions were highly standardized and objective.Rudolph was surprised because his friends had told him to expect general and open-ended questions such as, "Tell me about yourself." The clinician most likely conducted a

Accepted Answer

The use of standardized and objective questions indicates that the clinician conducted a structured interview, which is a type of clinical interview that utilizes a set of predetermined questions in a specific order to gather specific information from the client.

Question 2

Which of the following is a quick way for a clinician to determine a client's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

A symptom questionnaire is a quick and efficient way for a clinician to determine a client's symptoms. It allows them to gather information on specific symptoms, their severity, and duration in a short amount of time. Personality inventories and the Luria-Nebraska Test are not efficient in determining symptoms, and a CT scan would be an invasive and unnecessary procedure.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true about the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)?

Accepted Answer

Additional scales have indeed been added to the MMPI-2 to assess vulnerability to eating disorders, substance abuse, and poor functioning at work. However, option A is incorrect; the original MMPI was developed by administering a large group of inventory items to several different groups of people, including both clinical and nonclinical populations. Option B is also incorrect; the original MMPI measured 10 clinical scales, not 18. Finally, option D is incorrect; the MMPI actually includes several validity scales that assess different aspects of a person's response style, not just one.

Question 4

Which of the following terms is used to describe a method of comparing an individual's score on an intelligence test with the performance of individuals of the same age group?

Accepted Answer

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is a measure of intelligence based on an individual's performance on a standardized intelligence test compared to the scores of others in the same age group.

Question 5

An important advantage of direct behavioral observation is that:

Accepted Answer

Direct behavioral observation does not rely on self-reports, which can be biased or inaccurate. Instead, it involves directly observing and recording behavior as it occurs, which allows for a more objective assessment of behavior.

Question 6

If direct observation or role-playing is not possible, clinicians may require individuals to:

Accepted Answer

If direct observation or role-playing is not possible, clinicians may require individuals to self-monitor, which involves tracking and recording their own behavior or symptoms. This can provide valuable information for clinicians to make assessments and develop treatment plans. Self-discipline, self-regulation, and self-diagnosis are not appropriate or ethical practices for clinicians to require of individuals.

Question 7

Sarah's parents were concerned because she seemed "slow" for her age.Sarah had a complete physical and mental examination.In addition, she took a battery of tests.The results of one test revealed that Sarah suffered from mild mental retardation.Most likely, this test was a(n)

Accepted Answer

An intelligence test is specifically designed to assess cognitive abilities, including intelligence, problem-solving skills, and abstract reasoning, and is commonly used to diagnose mental retardation.

Question 8

Clinicians will often use ________ to assess deficits in individuals' skills or ways of handling situations.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral observation is used by clinicians to assess how individuals handle situations and identify any skill deficits.

Question 9

Critics of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)argue that it:

Accepted Answer

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) has been criticized for not clearly differentiating between depressive symptoms and general distress related to other disorders, which can lead to confusion in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Question 10

In a mental status exam, when a clinician takes note of how coherently and quickly a client speaks, the clinician is primarily assessing the client's

Accepted Answer

When a clinician assesses how coherently and quickly a client speaks, they are primarily evaluating the client's thought processes. This can include assessing if there are any signs of disorganization, tangentiality, or flight of ideas in the client's speech.

Question 11

In a mental status exam, the clinician evaluates a client's ________ by observing how well the client speaks and looking for indications of memory or attention difficulties.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive functioning is evaluated in a mental status exam by observing how well the client speaks and looking for indications of memory or attention difficulties. Mood and affect are evaluated separately, appearance and behavior are also part of the exam but do not specifically relate to cognitive functioning, and orientation to place, time, and person is assessed as a specific component of cognitive functioning.

Question 12

________ are used to measure abilities such as abstract reasoning, verbal fluency, and spatial memory.

Accepted Answer

Intelligence tests are designed to measure cognitive abilities such as abstract reasoning, verbal fluency, and spatial memory. Personality tests, on the other hand, are designed to assess traits such as emotional stability, extraversion, and conscientiousness. Verbal tests measure someone's knowledge and mastery of language, while projective tests explore unconscious emotions and personality traits.

Question 13

Which kind of interview is standardized and uses concrete criteria to score the person's answers?

Accepted Answer

A structured interview is standardized and uses concrete criteria to score the person's answers. Initial interviews are simply the first round of interviews, while unguided interviews allow for more open-ended responses. Definitive interviews do not typically exist as a distinct category of interview.

Question 14

Which of the following is a criticism leveled against the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)?

Accepted Answer

The criticism that the norms for the original MMPI were not representative of people from a wide range of ethnic and racial backgrounds, age groups, and social classes is a commonly cited issue with the test. This can lead to inaccurate or biased results for individuals who do not fit the normative sample.

Question 15

Which of the following is used to assess people's typical ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving?

Accepted Answer

A personality inventory is a standardized tool used to assess an individual's personality traits, behaviors, and patterns. It measures various aspects of personality such as agreeableness, extraversion, neuroticism, openness, and conscientiousness. Personality inventories are commonly used by psychologists and mental health professionals to help diagnose and treat a variety of mental health conditions.

Question 16

During an initial interview, Diane, a clinician, notes that her client tends to laugh excessively at his own jokes.He has disheveled hair and soiled clothes.Which types of information has Diane noted about her client?

Accepted Answer

The clinician has noted the client's excessive laughter (mood and affect) and disheveled appearance (behavior and appearance), indicating that she has noted information regarding his mood and affect and appearance and behavior. Orientation to place, time, and person and thought processes are not mentioned in the given information.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true about the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)?

Accepted Answer

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) consists of 21 items, each describing a specific symptom or attitude related to depression. Each item has four statements arranged in increasing severity about a particular symptom of depression.

Question 18

Cynthia wants to become a police officer.Applicants for the police academy must take a battery of tests before admission.Cynthia took a test that had sentences describing moral and social attitudes, behaviors, psychological states, and physical conditions.She was also instructed to respond to each sentence with either "true," "false," or "can't say." Cynthia most likely took the

Accepted Answer

The test described is most likely the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), which is commonly used in law enforcement and other fields to assess personality traits and potential behavioral issues. The MMPI includes items related to moral and social attitudes, behaviors, and psychological states, and asks respondents to indicate whether each statement is true, false, or cannot say. The other options listed (Beck Depression Inventory, Bender-Gestalt Test, Thematic Appreciation Test) are all valid psychological assessments, but they are not typically used in the context of police officer selection.

Question 19

During 28-year-old Sophia's second visit to the psychologist, the clinician gave her a symptom questionnaire that assessed her symptoms of loss of interest, low motivation, and changes in her appetite.Sophia most likely received the

Accepted Answer

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a widely used self-report questionnaire that assesses symptoms related to depression such as loss of interest, low motivation, and changes in appetite. This would be a suitable tool for a psychologist to use when assessing Sophia's symptoms. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is specific to older adults, so it wouldn't be appropriate for Sophia. The Insomnia Severity Index measures the severity of insomnia, which isn't mentioned in the scenario. The Bender-Gestalt Test is a measure of visual-motor skills and would not be relevant to Sophia's symptoms.

Question 20

On Lee's first visit to a psychologist's office, the psychologist asks him a series of questions about his personal and family history.These questions:

Accepted Answer

The questions about personal and family history are part of the psychologist's initial interview and are used to gather information that can help with diagnosis and treatment planning.

Quiz 3: Assessing and Diagnosing Abnormality