Question 1

A psychodynamic therapist is most likely to

Accepted Answer

Psychodynamic therapy is based on the belief that unconscious conflicts from childhood can impact a person's current behavior and relationships. The therapist helps the patient explore and understand these unconscious conflicts through interpretation and insight. Therefore, option B, suggesting interpretive insights regarding patients' difficulties, is the best choice. Psychodynamic therapy is based on the theories of Sigmund Freud and emphasizes the role of unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences in shaping behavior. Therefore, a psychodynamic therapist is likely to help patients gain insights into the unconscious conflicts and motivations that underlie their difficulties. This is often done through interpreting the patient's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and identifying patterns that relate to previous experiences.

Question 2

Antidepressant drugs, a fresh perspective on his problems, and a strong therapeutic alliance all contributed to helping David recover from a major depressive disorder. An integrated understanding of David's recovery process is best provided by

Accepted Answer

The mention of antidepressant drugs suggests a biological component to David's depression, while the reference to a fresh perspective and strong therapeutic alliance highlight the psychological and social factors at play. A biopsychosocial approach takes into account all of these factors and provides the most comprehensive understanding of David's recovery process. The integrated understanding of David's recovery process involves various factors, including biological, psychological, and social factors, which align with the biopsychosocial approach. This approach considers all these factors, including medication, therapy, and the therapeutic alliance, as essential in treating mental illness. In contrast, psychoanalysis primarily focuses on early childhood experiences and unconscious conflicts, which may not fully explain David's recovery process. The medical model primarily considers mental illness as a biological problem and may not account for the psychological and social factors contributing to David's depression. Lastly, while the client-centered perspective emphasizes empathy and understanding, it may not provide a comprehensive understanding of all the factors that played a role in David's recovery process.

Question 3

A physician who specializes in the treatment of psychological disorders is called a

Accepted Answer

A physician who specializes in the treatment of psychological disorders is called a psychiatrist. Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental illness through talk therapy, while behavioral neuroscientists study the biological and neurological factors that contribute to behavior. Cognitive therapists help clients change negative patterns of thought, and often work in tandem with clinical psychologists. However, only a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication and offer a wider range of treatment options for psychological disorders. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of psychological disorders and is able to prescribe medication, unlike clinical psychologists or cognitive therapists. A behavioral neuroscientist is a researcher who studies the biological basis of behavior and cognitive processes, but may not necessarily provide treatment for psychological disorders.

Question 4

Aversive conditioning involves

Accepted Answer

Aversive conditioning is a type of behavior therapy that involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an unpleasant stimulus or consequence in order to reduce the likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future. By associating the unwanted behavior with an unpleasant experience, the theory is that the person will be less likely to engage in the behavior in the future. Aversive conditioning involves associating unwanted behaviors with unpleasant experiences, such as pairing smoking with an unpleasant taste or smell to decrease the desire to smoke. It does not involve replacing a negative response with a positive response or identifying a hierarchy of anxiety-arousing experiences. It may involve controlling the consequences of a behavior, but this is not the main focus of the technique.

Question 5

Because Gretchen is afraid of contracting infectious diseases, she compulsively avoids shaking people's hands or touching doorknobs. Research suggests that an especially effective treatment for her difficulty would involve

Accepted Answer

The best choice for Gretchen's difficulty would involve behavior therapy. Specifically, exposure and response prevention would be an effective treatment for her. This involves gradually exposing her to situations that trigger her fears (such as shaking hands or touching doorknobs) and preventing her from engaging in her compulsive avoidance behaviors. Over time, her anxiety and fear towards these situations will decrease. Gretchen's behavior of avoiding shaking hands and touching doorknobs is a specific problem behavior that can be addressed through behavior therapy. A common technique used in behavior therapy for specific phobias, including germophobia, is exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing the person to the feared stimulus in a controlled and safe manner, allowing them to learn that the feared outcome (infection) does not occur. Therefore, behavior therapy is the most effective treatment for Gretchen's difficulty.

Question 6

Albert Ellis emphasized that emotional disturbances result from

Accepted Answer

Albert Ellis developed the theory of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), which emphasizes that emotional disturbances are caused by irrational thinking patterns. According to Ellis, individuals develop "irrational beliefs" about themselves, others, and the world around them, and these beliefs can lead to emotional distress. He believed that by identifying and changing these irrational beliefs, individuals can improve their emotional well-being. Albert Ellis was the founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), which emphasizes that emotional disturbances and psychological problems arise from irrational thinking patterns. He believed that individuals can overcome these disturbances by identifying and challenging their irrational beliefs and replacing them with more rational ones.

Question 7

A brief variation of psychodynamic therapy that has been effective in treating depression is known as

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal psychotherapy is a brief variation of psychodynamic therapy that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication skills. It has been found to be effective in treating depression. EMDR is a therapy commonly used for treatment of trauma, and meta-analysis is a research method used to analyze multiple studies. Spontaneous recovery refers to a natural improvement in symptoms without the use of treatment. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a brief variation of psychodynamic therapy that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning. It has been found to be effective in treating depression. EMDR is a type of therapy used to treat trauma, meta-analysis is a statistical method used to combine results from multiple studies, and spontaneous recovery refers to a natural improvement in symptoms without treatment.

Question 8

Antipsychotic drugs have proved helpful in the treatment of

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic drugs are primarily used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions and hallucinations. They are not typically used in the treatment of dissociative disorders, depression, or anxiety disorders. Antipsychotic drugs, also known as neuroleptics, are primarily used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. They work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, which helps to reduce symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. While they may be effective in treating other mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, their primary use is in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Question 9

A trained therapist who uses psychological techniques to assist someone to overcome excessive anxiety would generally be best described as a

Accepted Answer

A trained therapist who uses psychological techniques to assist someone to overcome excessive anxiety is generally best described as a psychotherapist. Psychotherapists use a variety of approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help clients manage their anxiety and develop coping mechanisms. A psychotherapist is a trained professional who uses psychological techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to assist someone in overcoming excessive anxiety. Psychoanalysts and psychodynamic therapists focus on exploring unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences. Psychopharmacologists specialize in the use of medication to treat psychiatric disorders.

Question 10

Alex feels so hopeless and depressed that he has recently thought about taking his own life. The drug most likely to prove beneficial to him is

Accepted Answer

Prozac is an antidepressant that works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain which helps to regulate mood and reduce symptoms of depression. It has been shown to be effective in treating suicidal ideation in individuals with depression. Ativan and Xanax are benzodiazepines which are primarily used to treat anxiety and are not recommended as a first-line treatment for depression. Thorazine is an antipsychotic which is used to treat psychotic disorders and is not typically used to treat depression or suicidal thoughts. Prozac is an antidepressant medication commonly used to treat depression and suicidal thoughts. It works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which helps to improve mood and decrease the risk of suicide. Ativan, Xanax, and Thorazine are not typically used to treat depression, and may not be effective in addressing Alex's symptoms.

Question 11

Aaron Beck has used gentle questioning intended to reveal depressed clients' irrational thinking. His therapeutic approach best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Aaron Beck's approach involves cognitive therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to psychological problems. Aaron Beck is a pioneer of cognitive therapy, which uses questioning to reveal and challenge clients' irrational beliefs and thought patterns. The other options (A, B, and D) do not apply to Beck's approach. Unconditional positive regard is a concept associated with Carl Rogers and humanistic therapy, systematic desensitization is a technique for treating phobias, and rTMS is a form of brain stimulation used in some cases of depression.

Question 12

Which biomedical therapy is MOST likely to be practiced today?

Accepted Answer

Drug therapy is currently the most common form of biomedical therapy used to treat mental health disorders. This includes medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety medications. Psychosurgery and electroconvulsive therapy are much less commonly used and typically reserved for severe cases that have not responded to other treatments. Counterconditioning is a form of behavioral therapy, not biomedical therapy. Drug therapy is the most common form of biomedical therapy used today. It involves the use of medication to treat mental disorders, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytics. Psychosurgery and electroconvulsive therapy are less common and typically reserved for severe cases, while counterconditioning is a type of behavioral therapy rather than a form of biomedical therapy.

Question 13

Aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, light exposure, and social engagement are important components of

Accepted Answer

The given components are related to therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) which focuses on non-pharmacological approaches to improving mental health. TLC includes regular exercise, good sleep hygiene, exposure to natural light, and socialization as important components to promote mental wellness. Therefore, option D, therapeutic lifestyle change, is the best choice. The answer is therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC), which is a program of lifestyle modifications aimed at reducing stress and improving overall health. Aerobic exercise is one of the key components of TLC, along with adequate sleep, light exposure, and social engagement. Psychopharmacology refers to the use of medications to treat psychiatric disorders, while systematic desensitization is a type of therapy used to treat anxiety disorders. Unconditional positive regard is a concept in humanistic psychology that emphasizes the importance of accepting individuals for who they are without judgment. While these concepts may be important in mental health treatment, they are not directly related to TLC.

Question 14

Although Dr. Anderson uses systematic desensitization for the treatment of phobias, he prescribes antianxiety drugs as well. It is most likely that Dr. Anderson is a

Accepted Answer

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of mental illnesses and disorders. They are able to prescribe medication, including antianxiety drugs, as part of their treatment approach. The other options listed do not typically have the authority to prescribe medication. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication, including antianxiety drugs, as part of their treatment for mental health disorders. This distinguishes them from other types of therapists, such as psychoanalysts, client-centered therapists, and cognitive therapists, who do not have the authority to prescribe medication. Therefore, it is most likely that Dr. Anderson is a psychiatrist.

Question 15

Because she mistakenly thought that completing a diagnostic test was a therapeutic treatment for her anxiety disorder, Mrs. Shyam felt considerable relief for several weeks following the test. Mrs. Shyam's reaction best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Shyam's relief following the completion of the diagnostic test is likely due to the placebo effect, as completing the test was not a therapeutic treatment for her anxiety disorder. The placebo effect occurs when a person experiences a psychological or physical change in response to a perceived treatment, even if the treatment itself is inert or ineffective. Mrs. Shyam's temporary relief following the diagnostic test is likely due to the placebo effect, which occurs when a person experiences a therapeutic benefit from a treatment that has no active ingredients or therapeutic value. In this case, Mrs. Shyam believed that completing the diagnostic test was a therapeutic treatment, and her belief led to the temporary relief of her anxiety symptoms.

Question 16

A Consumer Reports survey found that the level of satisfaction with psychotherapy among clients

Accepted Answer

The survey found that satisfaction levels were not significantly affected by whether therapy was conducted in a group or individual setting.

Question 17

Although Ethan is actually doing very well in college, he feels depressed and academically incompetent. His therapist has instructed him to explain in writing how his good grades resulted from his own hard work and personal abilities. This therapeutic procedure is most characteristic of ________ therapy.

Accepted Answer

This therapeutic procedure involves challenging cognitive distortions and negative automatic thoughts, which is a characteristic of cognitive therapy. It aims to help Ethan reframe his thinking and beliefs about his academic abilities.

Question 18

A useful feature of group therapy is that it

Accepted Answer

Group therapy provides a setting for clients to practice communication skills and receive feedback, ultimately improving their ability to interact with others in their daily lives.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a common criticism of psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

This is not a common criticism of psychoanalysis. In fact, psychoanalysis is often criticized for not providing enough guidance to therapists and for requiring patients to take an active role in their own therapy. The other three options are commonly cited as criticisms of psychoanalysis, but the idea that psychoanalysis gives therapists too much control over patients is not a widely recognized criticism.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT necessarily an advantage of group therapies over individual therapies?

Accepted Answer

While group therapies can be effective for many clients, they are not necessarily more effective than individual therapies. Research shows that both types of therapies can be equally effective, and the effectiveness depends on the individual needs of the client. Therefore, option C is not necessarily an advantage of group therapies over individual therapies. While group therapy can be an effective treatment approach for many people, it is not necessarily more effective than individual therapy for everyone. The effectiveness of therapy depends on many factors, including the individual's needs and preferences, the therapist's approach, and the specific goals of treatment. Therefore, it cannot be claimed that group therapy is always more effective.

Quiz 16: Psychological Disorders