Question 1

Name the major similarity between the DSM and ICD‐10 codes, and the major difference between these two systems.

Accepted Answer

Similarity: Both systems are examples of categorical systems.
Difference: DSM is primarily used in North America, ICD‐10 is primarily in Europe.

Question 2

Name the Five Axes of the DSM and what they represent.

Accepted Answer

The Five Axes of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) are:

1. Axis I: Clinical Disorders - This axis includes major mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and substance abuse.

2. Axis II: Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation - This axis covers long-standing patterns of behavior that cause impairment in social or occupational functioning, as well as intellectual disabilities.

3. Axis III: General Medical Conditions - This axis includes any medical conditions that may be relevant to understanding or treating a person's mental disorder.

4. Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems - This axis considers any social or environmental factors that may be contributing to a person's mental health issues, such as family problems, financial difficulties, or exposure to trauma.

5. Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) - This axis provides a numerical rating of a person's overall level of functioning, taking into account both psychological and social factors.

These axes are used to provide a comprehensive understanding of an individual's mental health and to guide treatment planning.

Question 3

The DSM system and the Dimensional System are two different ways of classifying child problems. Fill in the chart regarding differences between the two systems:
 $$\begin{array} { | l | l | l | } 
\hline & \text { DSM System } & \text { Dimensional System } \
\hline \begin{array} { l } 
\text { How Data is obtained } \
\text { (2 points for each } \
\text { system) }
\end{array} & & \
\hline \begin{array} { l } 
\text { Characteristics of each } \
\text { system } \
\text { (3 points for each } \
\text { system) }
\end{array} & & \
\hline \begin{array} { l } 
\text { Judgment Derived } \
\text { (1 point each system) }
\end{array} & & \
\hline \begin{array} { l } 
\text { Strengths } \
\text { (3 points each system) }
\end{array} & & \
\hline \begin{array} { l } 
\text { Weaknesses } \
\text { (3 points each system) }
\end{array} & & \
\hline
\end{array}$$

Accepted Answer

\[\begin{array} { | l | l | l | } \hline & \text { DSM System } & \text { Dimensional System } \\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { How Data is obtained } \\text { (2 points for each } \\text { system) }\end{array} & \text{Data is obtained through structured interviews and observations. It relies on categorical diagnoses based on specific criteria.} & \text{Data is obtained through continuous measures of symptoms and behaviors. It focuses on the severity and frequency of symptoms.} \\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Characteristics of each } \\text { system } \\text { (3 points for each } \\text { system) }\end{array} & \text{1. Categorical classification of disorders.} & \text{1. Dimensional classification of symptoms.} \
& \text{2. Emphasizes specific criteria for diagnosis.} & \text{2. Considers the severity and frequency of symptoms.} \
& \text{3. Provides clear diagnostic categories.} & \text{3. Allows for a more comprehensive understanding of symptoms.} \\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Judgment Derived } \\text { (1 point each system) }\end{array} & \text{Judgment is derived from meeting specific criteria for a diagnosis.} & \text{Judgment is derived from the severity and frequency of symptoms.} \\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Strengths } \\text { (3 points each system) }\end{array} & \text{1. Provides clear diagnostic categories.} & \text{1. Allows for a more comprehensive understanding of symptoms.} \
& \text{2. Useful for treatment planning and research.} & \text{2. Captures the complexity of mental health issues.} \
& \text{3. Helps in communication among professionals.} & \text{3. Can lead to more personalized treatment approaches.} \\hline \begin{array} { l } \text { Weaknesses } \\text { (3 points each system) }\end{array} & \text{1. May oversimplify complex presentations.} & \text{1. Can be more challenging to use in clinical practice.} \
& \text{2. Relies on specific criteria that may not capture individual experiences.} & \text{2. Lack of clear diagnostic categories.} \
& \text{3. May lead to overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis.} & \text{3. Limited research on its effectiveness.} \\hline\end{array}\]

Question 4

In their discussion of evidence‐based assessments, Mash and Hunsley (2005) highlight six potential reasons for conducting assessments with children. Name five of the six reasons.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In their discussion of evidence‐based assessments, Mash...

Question 5

There are three main types of observational recording methods. For each of the three methods, indicate the main types, application, advantages and disadvantages.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are three main types of observational...

Question 6

According to the Surgeon General's Report on Children and Mental Health (2000), one of the major goals of child assessment should be to

Accepted Answer

The Surgeon General's Report on Children and Mental Health (2000) emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique functional characteristics of the individual child and diagnosing signs and symptom presentations that are suggestive of specific mental disorders as major goals of child assessment.

Question 7

All of the following are goals of a case formulation, except

Accepted Answer

Problem prevention is not typically a goal of case formulation. Case formulation focuses on identifying, clarifying, and classifying the client's current problems to guide treatment, rather than preventing future problems.

Question 8

A clinician is probing for answers to the questions as to why a behavior continues to persist, even though there seems to be no obvious reinforcement patterns evident. The clinician is interested in determining

Accepted Answer

Maintaining factors are those elements that continue to support the existence of a behavior even when it is not immediately clear how or why. These factors can be subtle and not always obvious, which is why the clinician is probing for answers to understand the persistence of the behavior in question.

Question 9

A clinician hypothesizes that a child's agitated behavior is a sign of separation anxiety. He then sets out to collect data to confirm this ___________ diagnosis.

Accepted Answer

A provisional diagnosis is made before all information is available, reflecting the clinician's initial hypothesis before confirmation through further data collection.

Question 10

Mash and Wolfe (2002) suggest three goals of assessment. Which of the following is not one of the goals?

Accepted Answer

Mash and Wolfe (2002) identify diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning as the three primary goals of assessment in clinical settings. Research, while important in the field of psychology, is not listed among these specific goals of assessment.

Question 11

Which of the following is true regarding the DSM Classification System?

Accepted Answer

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) Classification System is a categorical system, meaning it classifies mental disorders into categories based on criteria sets with defining features.

Question 12

A clinician discovers that a child who is anxious has had repeated operations for stomach problems. This important information would be coded on which Axis of the DSM?

Accepted Answer

Axis III is used for coding physical conditions and medical disorders that are relevant to understanding or treating a patient's mental disorder. In this case, the child's repeated operations for stomach problems would be coded on Axis III.

Question 13

All of the following are true regarding the DSM, except

Accepted Answer

The DSM-III, published in 1980, significantly expanded the number of recognized childhood disorders beyond just Autism and Schizophrenia, introducing a more systematic approach to diagnosis and classification.

Question 14

All disorders are coded on Axis I, except

Accepted Answer

In the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision), most disorders are coded on Axis I, but Mental Retardation and Personality Disorders are coded on Axis II. This was designed to help clinicians focus on long-term aspects of mental health, as both Mental Retardation and Personality Disorders are seen as enduring issues unlike the often more transient conditions listed under Axis I.

Question 15

The DSM is published by APA, which stands for:

Accepted Answer

The DSM, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Question 16

Which of the following is not one of the categories of disorders usually with onset in infancy, childhood, and adolescence?

Accepted Answer

Social Anxiety Disorders are typically classified under anxiety disorders, not specifically as disorders with onset in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Learning, Elimination, and Communication Disorders are categories that are more commonly associated with early developmental stages.

Question 17

Which of the following is not one of the DSM qualifiers to refer to symptom severity?

Accepted Answer

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) uses mild, moderate, and severe as qualifiers to refer to symptom severity, but does not use "profound" in this context.

Question 18

Which of the following is true regarding the DSM?PC Child and Adolescent Version?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-PC Child and Adolescent Version was specifically developed to assist primary care physicians in identifying and managing mental health issues in children and adolescents.

Question 19

Externalizing problems have also been referred to as ______ in the past.

Accepted Answer

Externalizing problems are often referred to as behavior excesses because they involve outward-directed behaviors that exceed typical or expected levels, such as aggression or hyperactivity, rather than deficits or over-control.

Question 20

Which of the following has been reported by researchers concerning responses to rating scales?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that parents and youth may provide different perspectives on the youth's mental health issues, with each being more informative in certain areas. Parents tend to be better informants for externalizing problems such as oppositional defiant disorder and ADHD, while youth are reliable informants for internalizing problems such as depression and anxiety.

Quiz 6: Issues in Diagnosis, Assessment, Treatment