Question 1

One reliable correlate of schizophrenia is the presence of enlarged ventricles, which indicates that schizophrenia is associated with

Accepted Answer

Enlarged ventricles imply neural degeneration, which is often found in conjunction with schizophrenia. It is not linked to excessive dopamine activity, synapses that rely on glutamate, or frontal lobe activity.

Question 2

Which of the following is true regarding the role of genes in schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Current research suggests that there is no single gene responsible for schizophrenia, but rather a large number of genes that may contribute to its development. These genes appear to overlap with those involved in bipolar disorder, and environmental factors may also play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Adoption studies indicate that genetic factors do contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia, but they are not the sole determinant.

Question 3

When compared to normal non-autistic individuals, those with autism spectrum disorder have been found to have smaller minicolumns in the cerebral cortex. Related to information processing, smaller minicolumns

Accepted Answer

Smaller minicolumns in individuals with autism spectrum disorder are associated with a more detailed focus on information processing. This structural difference in the cerebral cortex contributes to the characteristic patterns of attention and perception often observed in autism, such as a heightened attention to detail and difficulties with generalization or extracting the overall gist from complex information.

Question 4

Libby has hallucinations and delusions. Which of the following is a hallucination, as opposed to a delusion?

Accepted Answer

A hallucination is a sensory experience that is not grounded in reality, such as hearing, seeing, feeling, or smelling something that is not actually there. Option B describes Libby hearing critical voices, which is a hallucination. Options A, C, and D are delusions, which are false beliefs or misinterpretations of reality.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements is true...

Question 6

One unfortunate result of the scientifically unsupported contention that vaccinations play a major role in the development of autism spectrum disorder is that in the first half of 2008, rates of _____ cases in the United States doubled as compared to the rates observed between 2000 and 2007.

Accepted Answer

The scientific consensus is that vaccines do not cause autism, but the unfounded fear that they do led some parents to skip or delay their children's vaccines. This resulted in a resurgence of preventable diseases such as measles. In the first half of 2008, rates of measles cases in the United States doubled as compared to the rates observed between 2000 and 2007, making it the best choice for this question.

Question 7

The weight of scientific evidence (Schechter & Grether, 2008) indicates that thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative that has been used in vaccines,

Accepted Answer

The weight of scientific evidence, including studies and reviews by reputable organizations such as the CDC and WHO, has consistently found that thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative previously used in vaccines, plays no part in the development of autism spectrum disorder.

Question 8

A brain imaging study showed that, in healthy children, peak cortical thickness occurred around the age of 7.5 years, and in children with ADHD, on average around 10.5 years. This finding implies that children with ADHD

Accepted Answer

The study suggests that children with ADHD may experience a delay in peak cortical thickness, meaning they may lag behind their same-age peers in certain tasks. However, this delay does not suggest that they will never catch up. The brain continues to develop throughout childhood and adolescence, and interventions such as medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms and cognitive abilities. Therefore, it is incorrect to choose B or D. The study does not provide information on puberty, making C an irrelevant option.

Question 9

The lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia for a person in the general population is about 1%. For an identical twin of someone with schizophrenia, it is about

Accepted Answer

The best choice is D because the lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia for an identical twin of someone with schizophrenia is approximately 50%, which is much higher than the general population's risk of 1%. This suggests a strong genetic component to the development of the disorder.

Question 10

Family and twin studies examining the rates of autism spectrum disorder have provided compelling evidence for a genetic influence in the development of the condition. In fact, the concordance rate of autism spectrum disorder was _____ in identical twins (Ronald & Hoekstra, 2011).

Accepted Answer

The concordance rate of autism spectrum disorder was found to be 76% to 88% in identical twins, indicating a strong genetic influence in the development of the condition.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that there is a correlation between low socioeconomic status and higher rates of ADHD diagnosis, which may explain some of the regional discrepancies in prevalence rates. However, there is no evidence to suggest that ADHD rates are highest in the Northeast or Southwest specifically. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest that regional discrepancies are due to differences in diagnostic criteria.

Question 12

Most patients with schizophrenia demonstrate a lower level of frontal lobe activity than healthy control participants. Why would this difference be significant?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes are responsible for higher cognitive processes such as attention, decision-making, and problem-solving. A lower level of activity in this area can lead to deficits in these abilities, which are commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia.

Question 13

The parts of the brain implicated in ADHD, such as the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia, feature large amounts of _____ activity. Many of the medications used to treat ADHD work by boosting the activity of this chemical.

Accepted Answer

The parts of the brain implicated in ADHD, such as the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia, feature large amounts of dopamine activity. Many of the medications used to treat ADHD work by boosting the activity of this chemical.

Question 14

Recent research attention on the causes of autism focuses on the expression of genes during brain development, with specific attention to

Accepted Answer

Recent research on the causes of autism has shifted towards understanding the role of a large number of genes in brain development, rather than focusing on a single gene, the effects of vaccines, or specific brain regions like the parietal lobe. This approach recognizes the complexity of genetic factors contributing to autism spectrum disorders.

Question 15

Lucy is 5 years old and cannot sit still. She is almost always fidgeting and bursting out in class and has difficulty maintaining keeping her attention and following instructions in her kindergarten class. What condition might she have?

Accepted Answer

Lucy's symptoms of being unable to sit still, constantly fidgeting, having outbursts in class, and difficulty maintaining attention and following instructions are characteristic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Question 16

Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thought and speech, disorders of movement, avolition/asociality, and

Accepted Answer

Restricted affect, or a lack of emotional expression, is a common symptom of schizophrenia. The other options (excessive emotionality/tears, weight fluctuation, and hypersexuality) are not typically associated with schizophrenia.

Question 17

Which of the following is a potential cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Accepted Answer

Food additives have been investigated for their potential role in ADHD, though the evidence is not conclusive, some studies suggest a link between certain food additives and increased hyperactivity in children.

Question 18

John says to his mother, "I will put on my seatbelt when your door is not ajar. Let's jar up the jelly. Don't jar the table Jenga master." This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of loosening of associations, as the speaker is jumping from one unrelated topic to another without any logical connection between them.

Question 19

In the development of autism spectrum disorder, environmental factors are likely to interact with genetics, especially

Accepted Answer

Environmental factors are likely to interact with genetics during sensitive periods of brain development, such as prenatal development and early childhood, which can influence the development of autism spectrum disorder.

Question 20

A delusion is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A delusion is a false, illogical belief that is held despite evidence to the contrary. It is not a perception, belief in the supernatural, or an instinctual reaction.

Quiz 14: The Troubled Mind Psychological Disorders