Question 1

Jamie's sleep patterns have been erratic over the course of the past few months, and she lacks the energy to do anything except lay on her couch. Jamie also feels completely hopeless, and she wonders if life is worth living anymore. Jamie is most likely suffering from ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jamie's sleep patterns have been erratic over...

Question 2

For the past few months, Val felt completely hopeless and unmotivated. She would not eat much and felt worthless. Then, she suddenly felt unusually elated, full of energy, and bursting with ideas. Val is probably suffering from ____ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Val's sudden shift from feeling hopeless to feeling elated and full of energy suggests she may be experiencing a manic episode. This is a common symptom of bipolar I disorder, which is characterized by cycling between episodes of depression and mania. The other choices such as major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder would not account for Val's sudden burst of energy and ideas. Conversion disorder is a somatic symptom disorder characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be explained by any known medical condition.

Question 3

Maggie has been living in Alaska for several months. She has noticed that as the daylight hours get shorter and shorter she feels more and more depressed. Joel, her doctor, should prescribe ____ to help Maggie's symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Maggie is experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. One effective treatment for SAD is light therapy, which involves exposure to full-spectrum light for a few hours each day. This can help regulate the body's circadian rhythms and improve mood. Antidepressant drugs, positive thinking, and exercise may also be helpful in treating depression, but they are not specifically targeted at SAD.

Question 4

Since Jack's forced retirement, he has experienced overwhelming sadness and has withdrawn from his friends and family. He has gained twenty pounds and has been sleeping much more than usual. Most noticeably, he is no longer interested in participating in his life-long hobby of playing several rounds of golf each week. Most likely, Jack is experiencing ____.

Accepted Answer

Jack's symptoms are indicative of major depressive disorder, including sadness, withdrawal from social activities, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and loss of interest in hobbies.

Question 5

​ A psychologist who believes in the learned helplessness view of depression wants to create a treatment program for his clients. The major focus of this treatment will probably be on ____.

Accepted Answer

The learned helplessness view of depression suggests that individuals feel powerless in their situations and may have given up on trying to change things. The focus of the treatment program, therefore, would be on helping the clients gain control over their lives, which would combat their feelings of helplessness. This would involve teaching them strategies to take action and make positive changes to improve their situations. Focusing on the bright side of a situation (B), teaching clients not to blame themselves (C), and reducing search for sympathy and attention (D) may also be important components of treatment, but gaining control and overcoming learned helplessness would likely be the primary focus.

Question 6

Max felt so low and unhappy that he did not leave his room for six weeks. Two months later, Max has so much energy that he stays up all night redecorating the entire house and goes for days without sleep. This pattern repeats itself. Max would be most likely diagnosed with ____ disorder.

Accepted Answer

The pattern of Max's low and unhappy state followed by a period of high energy and lack of sleep suggests bipolar disorder, particularly bipolar I which involves both manic and depressive episodes. The other options (cyclothymic, bipolar II, major depressive) do not fully account for the cycling pattern and extremes of mood that Max is experiencing.

Question 7

Lewis is depressed for about three months. Now, however, he feels more energetic than normal and starts up several creative projects that he thought he'd never have the motivation to start again. Lewis most likely suffers from ____ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Lewis is experiencing a period of increased energy and motivation after a period of depression, which is a characteristic of bipolar II disorder. This disorder is defined by episodes of depression alternating with hypomania (less severe than mania).

Question 8

In the United States, which group is most likely to commit suicide?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the United States, which group is...

Question 9

Breanna is more likely to feel depressed than Terron. When Breanna is sad, she constantly thinks about negative events, why they occurred, and how depressed she is about them. When Terron feels down, he goes out jogging until he is exhausted but free of his negative frame of mind. Breanna exhibits a(n)____ cognitive style and Terron uses a ____ cognitive style.

Accepted Answer

Breanna exhibits a ruminative cognitive style, in which she focuses on her negative thoughts and feelings, while Terron uses a distracting cognitive style, in which he engages in physical activity to take his mind off his negative thoughts.

Question 10

One of the major factors in the development of dissociative disorders appears to be ____.

Accepted Answer

Physical abuse or trauma is a major factor in the development of dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder (DID). Trauma can cause an individual to dissociate or disconnect from their surroundings as a coping mechanism. DID, in particular, is often a result of severe and prolonged childhood abuse. Other factors such as chronic mild stress, heredity, and environmental conditions may play a role in the development of dissociative disorders, but physical abuse or trauma is the primary factor.

Question 11

Which of the following is not associated with an elevated risk for suicide?

Accepted Answer

Giving away possessions, making a specific plan, and warning others of the intention to commit suicide are all warning signs associated with an elevated risk for suicide. However, making plans to change jobs is not necessarily a warning sign for suicide.

Question 12

There are many misunderstandings about suicide. Which statement reflects a fact about suicide?

Accepted Answer

It is a fact that females are three times more likely to attempt suicide. This is supported by research and statistical data.

Question 13

Someone with dissociative identity disorder is least likely to ____.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder is not related to cynicism or hostility. It is often triggered by severe trauma, such as abuse, and involves the creation of multiple identities to cope with the trauma. The individual may have experienced events they would like to forget, and may be skilled at self-hypnosis as a result of coping mechanisms developed to deal with trauma.

Question 14

People who talk about suicide are ____.

Accepted Answer

People who talk about suicide are more likely to try it than the general population. It is important to take any mention of suicide seriously and seek professional help.

Question 15

Which factor is least likely to be a biological cause of depressive and bipolar disorders?

Accepted Answer

Abnormally low levels of cortisol are not a biological cause of depressive and bipolar disorders, as high levels of cortisol have been more strongly linked to these disorders. The other options (imbalances in neurotransmitters, defects in brain regions involved in mood, and malfunctions of the endocrine system) have all been implicated as potential biological causes of these disorders.

Question 16

Robert has had major depressive disorder for most of his adult life. As he became older, he would tell his wife that when he uses the kitchen sink, he believes his corpuscles are being washed out of his body. Robert is exhibiting ____.

Accepted Answer

Delusions are beliefs that are not based in reality and are commonly seen in individuals with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia or major depressive disorder with psychotic features. Robert's belief that his corpuscles (which are actually blood cells) are being washed out of his body when he uses the kitchen sink is not based in reality and is a type of delusion.

Question 17

Lark has been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. She experiences times of depression and periods of regular mood. Other times, Lark has bouts of energetic optimism and elation, known as ____.

Accepted Answer

The bouts of energetic optimism and elation described in the question are symptoms of hypomania, a defining feature of bipolar II disorder. A is incorrect because conversion refers to the manifestation of psychological distress as physical symptoms. B is incorrect because catatonia involves motor abnormalities and does not generally occur in bipolar II disorder. D is incorrect because generalized anxiety is a separate mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of worry and anxiousness.

Question 18

Vincent is an artist who has stayed up painting for three days straight. Despite his lack of sleep, he feels as if he has boundless energy and that his paintings reflect a very high level of creativity. Although Vincent rarely feels tired, he only becomes this energetic once in a while. Vincent is most likely suffering from ____.

Accepted Answer

Vincent's symptoms of boundless energy, decreased need for sleep, and high level of creativity are characteristic of an episode of mania, which is most commonly associated with bipolar disorder. This experience of heightened energy and intense creativity is not typical of obsessive-compulsive disorder or persistent depressive disorder, and while schizophrenia can involve manic symptoms, it is not the most likely explanation for Vincent's presentation.

Question 19

Damon is suffering from persistent depressive disorder. We can expect that Damon ____.

Accepted Answer

Persistent depressive disorder is a type of depression where individuals experience persistent feelings of sadness and low mood for a long period of time, typically for two years or more. This is closer to feeling somewhat sad and depressed for years, rather than experiencing extreme shifts between low and high moods (manic episodes) or requiring hospitalization.

Question 20

Holden has been in a sad mood for the last three years. His parents notice that he just does not seem interested in things, does not have any friends, hardly ever seems really happy, and always seems tired. Holden most likely suffers from ____.

Accepted Answer

Holden's symptoms suggest persistent depressive disorder, also known as dysthymia. This disorder is characterized by a low mood that lasts for at least two years, as well as other symptoms such as low energy, trouble sleeping, and a lack of interest in activities. While social anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder can also cause symptoms such as social isolation and low mood, Holden's lack of any manic or hypomanic episodes suggests that cyclothymic disorder is an unlikely explanation for his symptoms.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders