Question 1

What is the annual cost attributed to the treatment of mental illnesses and the relative loss of income in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The annual cost attributed to the treatment of mental illnesses and the relative loss of income in the United States is estimated to be $467 billion.

Question 2

Which of the following is considered to be a benefit of research on mental disorders?

Accepted Answer

Research on mental disorders can lead to improvements in therapeutic techniques by providing a better understanding of the disorders, which can inform the development of more effective treatments.

Question 3

What framework is used to assess whether an individual meets criteria to be diagnosed with a mental disorder?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States and contains criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.

Question 4

The majority of the economic burden of schizophrenia has been attributed to ______.

Accepted Answer

The majority of the economic burden of schizophrenia is attributed to unemployment. This is because individuals with schizophrenia often face significant challenges in maintaining employment due to the symptoms of their condition, leading to a high rate of unemployment among this population. This, in turn, contributes significantly to the economic burden of the disease, as it not only affects the individuals' ability to earn an income but also impacts societal productivity and increases reliance on social support systems.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The false statement is A because the current trend in research emphasizes understanding the underlying neural causes of schizophrenia rather than merely creating diagnostic categories. Understanding the neural basis is crucial for developing targeted treatments and interventions.

Question 6

When were the earliest reported case of a disorder with psychotic-like symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The earliest reported cases of disorders with psychotic-like symptoms date back to around 4,000 years ago, as evidenced by ancient texts and records.

Question 7

All of the following most likely account for the discordance rate of schizophrenia among twins EXCEPT ______.

Accepted Answer

Identical genomes would not account for the discordance rate of schizophrenia among twins, especially in monozygotic (identical) twins, because they share the same genetic material. Discordance in such cases is more likely due to non-genetic factors such as epigenetic modifications, prenatal malnutrition, and prenatal exposure to influenza, which can affect each twin differently.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT an example of external environmental challenges for the onset of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Poor nutrition is not typically classified as an external environmental challenge related to the onset of schizophrenia. External environmental challenges often refer to psychosocial stressors such as job difficulties, bereavement, and divorce, which can impact mental health and potentially contribute to the onset of conditions like schizophrenia. Poor nutrition, while important for overall health, does not fit the same category of psychosocial stressor.

Question 9

Positive schizophrenic symptoms include ______ and can be characterized as ______.

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions and hallucinations, which are considered behavioral excesses or additions to normal behavior, unlike negative symptoms that involve deficits such as flat affect or impaired social interactions.

Question 10

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include ______ and can be characterized as ______.

Accepted Answer

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as the inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia), are characterized as behavioral deficits, reflecting a diminishment or loss of normal functions.

Question 11

If Albert Einstein truly had schizophrenia characterized by positive symptoms, which of the following would NOT be true?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia does not inherently cause intellectual impairment; cognitive functions can vary widely among individuals with schizophrenia. The other options (B, C, D) are consistent with characteristics or potential treatments of schizophrenia.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about the aberrant salience hypothesis is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The aberrant salience hypothesis primarily links increased dopamine levels to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions, by causing ordinary stimuli to be perceived as highly significant or salient. It does not directly associate increased dopamine levels with triggering negative symptoms, which include apathy, lack of emotion, and poor social functioning.

Question 13

Which of the following is FALSE regarding schizophrenic patients who do not respond to the typical dopamine blocking drugs?

Accepted Answer

The statement that some schizophrenic patients who do not respond to typical dopamine-blocking drugs showed significantly lower levels of dopamine blockage compared to responsive patients is false. Research indicates that non-responsive patients often have similar or even higher levels of dopamine blockage, suggesting that factors other than dopamine blockage might contribute to their lack of response.

Question 14

What is the neurophysiological basis for the glutamate theory?

Accepted Answer

The glutamate theory suggests that reduced NMDA receptor activity leads to an increase in glutamate levels, which then causes a decrease in dopamine levels, affecting brain function and contributing to symptoms of disorders like schizophrenia.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of an anticholinergic side effect of an FGA used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Dry mouth is an example of an anticholinergic side effect, which occurs due to the blockade of acetylcholine receptors by first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs).

Question 16

Which neurotransmitter circuit is implicated in the extrapyramidal effects of FGA drugs used to treat schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The extrapyramidal effects of first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) used to treat schizophrenia are primarily due to their antagonistic action on dopamine D2 receptors in the brain, particularly within the basal ganglia, which is part of the dopamine neurotransmitter circuit.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is TRUE about SGA drugs that are used to treat schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

SGA drugs, or second-generation antipsychotics, can indeed cause serious and sometimes life-threatening side effects, such as severe metabolic changes. Choices A and C are incorrect because Chlorpromazine and Haloperidol are first-generation antipsychotics, and SGAs are generally considered more effective for negative symptoms. Choice B is incorrect because SGAs are more commonly associated with weight gain, not loss.

Question 18

Many individuals with schizophrenia show impaired ability in which task?

Accepted Answer

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Task is known to reveal deficits in executive functions, such as problem-solving and flexibility in thinking, which are areas where individuals with schizophrenia often show impairments.

Question 19

In a test in which individuals are required to change strategies midstream based on changes in criteria in performing the task, schizophrenic patients show ______.

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenic patients often show decreased activation in the prefrontal cortex during tasks that require cognitive flexibility, such as changing strategies midstream. This area of the brain is crucial for executive functions, including planning, decision-making, and adapting to new information or tasks.

Question 20

Which part of the prefrontal cortex, when damaged, shows effects similar to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, when damaged, shows effects similar to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as apathy, lack of motivation, and flattened affect. This area is involved in executive functions like working memory and decision making, which are often impaired in schizophrenia.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders