Question 1

The co-occurrence of different disorders, whereby individuals who have one mental disorder also suffer from another, is identified by the DSM as ____.

Accepted Answer

Comorbidity refers to the co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual. This term is used in the DSM to describe situations where an individual has more than one mental disorder at the same time.

Question 2

Dr. Cohen says to her patient, "We believe there may be problems with the way your brain functions. We're going to do a test that uses a radioactive substance that we can trace as it's metabolized in your brain." What procedure is Dr. Cohen describing?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Cohen is describing a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan, which involves the use of a radioactive tracer to observe metabolic processes in the body, including the brain.

Question 3

What is a common criticism of PET testing?

Accepted Answer

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans involve the use of radioactive tracers, which is a common point of criticism due to the exposure to radioactive substances. This exposure is generally considered safe but can be a concern for certain populations or with frequent use.

Question 4

With magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ____.

Accepted Answer

MRI provides a clear cross-sectional picture of the brain and its tissues by using magnetic fields and radio waves, not by injecting substances, attaching electrodes, or using x-rays.

Question 5

A major criticism of the DSM is the lack of clarity regarding differential categorization to reflect the distinction between major and less severe symptom states. What has been proposed to change this?

Accepted Answer

A dimensional model has been proposed to address the criticism by allowing for the assessment of symptoms on a continuum, rather than distinct categories, to better reflect the severity and range of symptoms.

Question 6

Which statement below about the DSM-5 is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 acknowledges the spectrum of symptom severity and variation among individuals with the same diagnosis, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of mental disorders. This approach recognizes that the manifestation of symptoms can differ significantly from person to person.

Question 7

Another important mental health disorder classification system other than the DSM is the ____.

Accepted Answer

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is another important classification system for mental health disorders, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is used globally for the diagnosis of all types of health conditions, including mental and behavioral disorders.

Question 8

Early studies of the DSM found that ____.

Accepted Answer

Interrater reliability was low in early studies of the DSM, indicating that different clinicians often disagreed on diagnoses when assessing the same patients.

Question 9

Which statement is accurate with regard to the DSM-5?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 maintains a primarily categorical approach to diagnosing mental disorders but introduces some dimensional assessments for certain conditions, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of severity and symptom variation.

Question 10

A psychologist says, "The pictures that come from the testing are amazing-clear and detailed depictions of brain structures. Not only that, they do not require giving radioactive substances to patients." The psychologist is referring to a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) provides clear and detailed images of brain structures without the need for radioactive substances, unlike PET scans which do require them.

Question 11

One major problem with early versions of the DSM was that most DSM categories were purely descriptive. A second major problem was that ____.

Accepted Answer

The early versions of the DSM faced issues with validity (whether it measured what it was supposed to measure) and reliability (whether it could produce consistent results across different situations or observers). These were significant concerns because the DSM's diagnostic categories needed to be both accurate and consistently applicable by different professionals to be useful in clinical practice.

Question 12

Which statement regarding the validity of psychological and medical tests is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Psychological tests, when properly developed and applied, can be as valid as medical tests for their intended purposes. This includes diagnosing mental health conditions, assessing cognitive abilities, and understanding personality traits. The validity of a test, whether psychological or medical, depends on how well it measures what it is supposed to measure and how accurately it can predict outcomes or diagnose conditions.

Question 13

What can be said about the use of neurological techniques and other assessments, such as psychological tests, with regard to evaluating mental disorders?

Accepted Answer

Neurological techniques, such as brain imaging, can offer insights into the biological underpinnings of mental disorders, while psychological tests can assess behavior, thought processes, and emotions. Combining these approaches can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a patient's condition, leading to increased diagnostic accuracy.

Question 14

Providing distinct categories for different patterns, indicators, and names of abnormal behavior is the goal of ____.

Accepted Answer

A classification system is designed to organize and categorize different patterns, indicators, and names of abnormal behavior to facilitate understanding, communication, and treatment.

Question 15

Which of the following is a limitation of personality inventory assessment?

Accepted Answer

Personality inventories often use fixed response options, which may not capture the full complexity of an individual's personality, leading to potential inaccuracies.

Question 16

Norman was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. When he meets with a therapist to deal with his depression, the therapist should ____.

Accepted Answer

The therapist should consider the medical diagnosis as a relevant factor in Norman's depression because it is likely a significant contributing factor to his emotional state. Understanding the impact of the terminal cancer diagnosis is crucial in providing appropriate psychological support.

Question 17

What led to the discussion of changing to a dimensional system in the DSM-5?

Accepted Answer

The discussion of changing to a dimensional system in the DSM-5 was primarily driven by dissatisfaction with the categorical model of previous DSM editions, which often did not capture the complexity and variability of mental health disorders.

Question 18

A positive feature of the DSM-5 is that it ____.

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) has been praised for devoting more attention to cross-cultural assessment issues, recognizing the importance of cultural context in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. This inclusion helps clinicians consider cultural factors that may influence the presentation and understanding of mental health conditions.

Question 19

Dr. Cooper says, "What abnormal psychology needs is a system of categories for different patterns of behavior that can be agreed on by all professionals." Dr. Cooper is asking for a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Cooper is asking for a reliable classification system, as indicated by the desire for a system of categories for different patterns of behavior that can be agreed upon by all professionals. This aligns with the need for a standardized way to classify and diagnose psychological disorders.

Question 20

Which new category developed for the DSM-5 reflects dimensional ratings of symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 introduced "risk syndromes" as a new category to allow for the dimensional ratings of symptoms, reflecting a more nuanced approach to diagnosing mental health conditions that are in an early, at-risk stage.

Quiz 3: Assessment and Classification of Mental Disorders