Question 1

There are major gaps in your memory of events; you feel like you are a robot or a stranger to yourself; or others tell you that you have done things that you don't remember doing. If you showed these symptoms, you would most likely be diagnosed with some form of __________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

These symptoms are indicative of a dissociative disorder, which is characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. People with dissociative disorders often experience a sense of being detached from themselves and their surroundings, which can include gaps in memory and a feeling of being a stranger to oneself.

Question 2

When depression alternates with periods of mania, meaning the person is agitated, elated, and hyperactive, one would suspect that which type of disorder is involved?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania, where the individual experiences episodes of extreme sadness and hopelessness followed by periods of elevated mood, energy, and activity.

Question 3

Although it has been over a year since Superstorm Sandy, Jack still has frequent nightmares about the hurricane and also relives the event in his mind every time there is a thunderstorm. Jack appears to be suffering from a disorder within which DSM-5 category?

Accepted Answer

Jack's symptoms of having frequent nightmares about the hurricane and reliving the event during thunderstorms are indicative of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is classified under "trauma- and stressor-related disorders" in the DSM-5.

Question 4

Unhealthy behavior patterns, such as being narcissistic, dependent, or antisocial, can repeatedly cause problems at work, at school, and in your relationships with others. These unhealthy behavior patterns are characteristic of which disorders?

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders are characterized by unhealthy behavior patterns, such as being narcissistic, dependent, or antisocial, which can cause problems in various areas of life, including work, school, and relationships.

Question 5

Which category of disorders involves extreme preoccupation with certain thoughts and the repetitive performance of certain behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are characterized by the presence of obsessions (persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly). This category specifically involves extreme preoccupation with certain thoughts and the repetitive performance of certain behaviors.

Question 6

If you are experiencing episodes of depersonalization, you are most likely suffering from a

Accepted Answer

Depersonalization is a symptom of dissociative disorders, where individuals feel detached from themselves or their surroundings, as if they are an outside observer of their own actions or body.

Question 7

Which of the following would be a major symptom of a dissociative disorder?

Accepted Answer

Amnesia is a major symptom of dissociative disorders, where individuals may experience gaps in memory for personal information, events, or periods of time, which is not due to ordinary forgetting.

Question 8

You feel physically sick, but your doctor says nothing is wrong with you; or you suffer from pain that has no physical basis; or you are preoccupied with thoughts about being sick. If you showed these symptoms, you would most likely be diagnosed with some form of __________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

These symptoms are indicative of a somatic symptom disorder, where a person experiences physical symptoms that have no identifiable physical cause. The focus is on the somatic (bodily) symptoms leading to significant distress and problems functioning.

Question 9

Multiple personalities as well as a psychologically caused amnesia would both be classified as __________ disorders.

Accepted Answer

Multiple personalities (now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder) and psychologically caused amnesia are both classified as dissociative disorders. These disorders involve a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity.

Question 10

You have panic attacks and feel like you are going to die, or you are afraid to do normal everyday activities that most people can do. If you showed these symptoms, you would most likely be diagnosed with some form of __________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, such as panic attacks and an intense fear of engaging in normal everyday activities, are characteristic of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders encompass a range of conditions where fear and anxiety become overwhelming and interfere with daily life.

Question 11

Persons who are either euphoric and hyperactive or severely depressed may be suffering from

Accepted Answer

Mood disorders include conditions where the primary symptom is a disturbance in mood. In particular, bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of euphoria and hyperactivity (manic episodes) as well as episodes of severe depression. This makes mood disorders the correct answer.

Question 12

Over the last week, Carmen has had several frightening episodes in which she feels that she is outside her body, sort of lost in a dream world, and behaving like a robot. Carmen is experiencing a dissociative condition known as

Accepted Answer

Depersonalization disorder is characterized by a feeling of detachment or being outside oneself, experiencing a sense of unreality or being an outside observer to one's thoughts, feelings, body, or actions. Carmen's symptoms align with this description, distinguishing it from the other options listed.

Question 13

Which of the following would be evidence of a dissociative disorder?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative disorders are characterized by an involuntary escape from reality characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. The scenario where a woman is found unable to remember her name or where she lives is indicative of dissociative amnesia, a type of dissociative disorder.

Question 14

Carrie sometimes feels very depressed, while at other times she talks too loud and too fast and has a rush of ideas and feelings that others think are unreasonable. Carrie would most likely be diagnosed with a disorder within which DSM-5 category?

Accepted Answer

Carrie's symptoms of alternating periods of depression and episodes of excessively elevated mood, characterized by rapid speech and a rush of ideas, are indicative of bipolar disorder, which is classified under "bipolar and related disorders" in the DSM-5.

Question 15

Which of the following disorders involves a person exhibiting bodily complaints, such as chronic pain that suggest illness or injury but for which there is no identifiable organic cause?

Accepted Answer

Somatic symptom and related disorders involve the manifestation of physical symptoms that suggest illness or injury but are not explained by medical conditions, substance use, or other mental disorders. Individuals with these disorders experience significant distress and impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning due to their physical symptoms.

Question 16

When Sara returned from her tour of duty in Iraq, she experienced symptoms of a posttraumatic stress disorder, which is a part of which DSM-5 category of disorders?

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified under the "trauma- and stressor-related disorders" category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This category is specifically for disorders that are associated with exposure to a traumatic or stressful event.

Question 17

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders involve

Accepted Answer

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are characterized by a preoccupation with uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) and the need to perform certain rituals (compulsions) in an attempt to control these thoughts.

Question 18

Aaron has had to reschedule his voice recital four times. Each time on the day before his recital, he loses his voice. Aaron's doctor CANNOT find anything that could physically cause Aaron to lose his voice. Thus, psychological factors appear to underlie Aaron's symptoms, which indicates that Aaron most likely has a disorder within which DSM-5 category?

Accepted Answer

Aaron's symptoms, which lack a physical cause and seem to be related to psychological factors, align with the characteristics of somatic symptom and related disorders. This category includes conditions where patients experience physical symptoms that are distressing and may not have a diagnosable medical condition, suggesting a significant psychological component to their physical distress.

Question 19

In which DSM-5 category do some of the disorders involve feelings of panic, while others take the form of phobias and still others involve a state of overwhelming nervousness?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders in the DSM-5 include various conditions that involve feelings of panic (such as panic disorder), phobias (such as specific phobias and social anxiety disorder), and overwhelming nervousness (such as generalized anxiety disorder). These symptoms are characteristic of anxiety disorders, distinguishing them from the other categories listed.

Question 20

Mark spends unusual amounts of time washing his hands, while Cary is always counting his heartbeats whenever he is nervous. Their symptoms are characteristic of which category of disorders?

Accepted Answer

Mark's excessive hand washing and Cary's compulsive heartbeat counting are indicative of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which falls under the category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. These behaviors are compulsions that are typically performed in response to obsessive thoughts.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders