Question 1

Which subtype of schizophrenia is marked by delusions of persecution and grandeur?

Accepted Answer

Paranoid subtype is marked by delusions of persecution and grandeur. Individuals with this subtype often have the belief that others are out to harm or manipulate them, and/or may believe that they have special powers or abilities.

Question 2

Abby was watching a documentary on some of the horrors of the Vietnam War. Even when she saw soldiers being blown up after stepping on land mines, she showed no emotional reaction or response. What symptom does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A flat or blunted affect is a lack of emotional response or expression. Abby's lack of emotional reaction to seeing soldiers being blown up suggests that she may be experiencing this symptom.

Question 3

Nabeel hears voices singing even though none are present. What is Nabeel experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Nabeel is hearing voices that are not there, so he is experiencing a hallucination.

Question 4

What is the likely relationship between social skills and risk for depression?

Accepted Answer

Poor social skills can lead to difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships, which in turn can lead to a lack of social support and reinforcement. This lack of support and reinforcement can increase the risk for depression. While depression may also lead to a decrease in social skills, the causal relationship is typically thought to go from poor social skills to increased risk for depression.

Question 5

Which of the following athletes is most likely to suffer from depression?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes are responsible for regulating emotions and behavior, so a concussion that damages these lobes may result in depression.

Question 6

What is a person experiencing if he perceives stimuli that aren't there?

Accepted Answer

The person is experiencing hallucinations, which involve perceiving stimuli that aren't actually there. Obsessions involve repetitive and intrusive thoughts or impulses, delusions involve a strongly held false belief, and illusions involve misinterpreting stimuli that are actually present.

Question 7

What is the basic type of disturbance associated with the schizophrenic disorders?

Accepted Answer

The basic type of disturbance associated with the schizophrenic disorders is a disturbance in thought process, which can manifest as disorganized or illogical thinking, or as delusions and hallucinations.

Question 8

Cooper is an auto mechanic at a local garage. However, he is convinced that his phone line is tapped and all the rooms in his house have listening devices planted, so that enemy agents can learn all his secret conversations. He never takes the same route to work two days in a row, to prevent the enemy agents from following him and learning where he works. What is Cooper experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Cooper is experiencing delusions, which are fixed false beliefs that are not based on reality. He believes that his phone line is tapped and his house is bugged, which are not true. This is a common symptom of paranoid schizophrenia.

Question 9

What is a delusion?

Accepted Answer

A delusion is a false belief that is maintained even though it is not supported by reality. It is often a symptom of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

Question 10

What is the term for the symptom experienced by a person who maintains bizarre, false beliefs that have no basis in reality?

Accepted Answer

The term for the symptom experienced by a person who maintains bizarre, false beliefs that have no basis in reality is delusions. Hallucinations refer to sensations experienced by a person that are not based in reality, while obsessions and compulsions are symptoms associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 11

Klaus alternates between periods in which he remains motionless and seems oblivious to his environment, and periods of hyperactivity and frenzied excitement. Which disorder is most consistent with Klaus's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Klaus is exhibiting symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia, which is characterized by alternating periods of immobility and hyperactivity. Undifferentiated schizophrenia is a catch-all category for individuals who experience symptoms of schizophrenia but do not fit neatly into any of the other subtypes. Paranoid schizophrenia is characterized by delusions of persecution or grandeur, and disorganized schizophrenia involves disorganized thinking and behavior. Klaus's symptoms are not consistent with these subtypes.

Question 12

Shii-An will sit in one position for long periods of time, evidencing muscular rigidity. Which disorder includes this symptom?

Accepted Answer

Muscular rigidity is a symptom of catatonic schizophrenia.

Question 13

Ivy excitedly tells you that she has been invited to sing at the coronation of the new King of Cyprus. You find this difficult to believe, considering Ivy sings terribly and Cyprus has an elected government, not a monarchy. Ivy's statements are clearly out of touch with reality. What is Ivy experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Ivy is experiencing delusions, as she believes something that is not true and is out of touch with reality. It is important to note that a delusion is a fixed belief that is not based on reality, while a hallucination is a sensory experience that is not based on reality (such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there). Obsessions and compulsions are related to anxiety disorders and refer to intrusive and unwanted thoughts or repetitive behaviors.

Question 14

Tony believes that he is Thomas Edison, and he is convinced that his neighbours are spies who are trying to steal his inventions. He believes the neighbours break into his house and search for plans for new inventions when he is not home. Which disorder is most consistent with Tony's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Tony's symptoms of believing that he is a famous inventor and that his neighbours are trying to steal his inventions are consistent with paranoid schizophrenia. This type of schizophrenia is characterized by delusions (such as the belief that someone is out to get you) and hallucinations (such as hearing voices).

Question 15

Tammy believes that a famous movie star is in love with her, and she saw a message from him in the trailer for his most recent movie. She is also convinced that the star's wife is trying to kill her. Which of the following types of schizophrenia would fit Tammy's symptoms best?

Accepted Answer

Tammy's belief that someone is trying to harm her suggests paranoia. Therefore, paranoid schizophrenia would fit her symptoms best.

Question 16

What does current evidence suggest about the relationship between stress and mood disorders?

Accepted Answer

Current evidence suggests a moderately strong link between stress and the onset of mood disorders. Long-term stress can lead to a dysregulation of the HPA axis and increase inflammation and oxidative stress, which can contribute to the development of mood disorders. Additionally, stress can exacerbate existing mood disorders and increase the likelihood of relapse. However, the relationship between stress and mood disorders is complex and can also be influenced by factors such as genetics and individual coping mechanisms.

Question 17

Hope often sits for hours in extremely rigid positions; during these times she seems to lose contact with the external world and does not respond to people who try to speak to her. At other times she becomes extremely hyperactive and rambles on incoherently. Which disorder is most consistent with Hope's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Hope's symptoms of sitting for hours in rigid positions and losing contact with external world are consistent with catatonic behavior, which is a subtype of schizophrenia. Her hyperactive and incoherent behavior is also characteristic of catatonic schizophrenia.

Question 18

Which of the following disorders is commonly mistaken for schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder) is sometimes mistaken for schizophrenia because individuals with this disorder can also experience auditory hallucinations and delusions. However, dissociative identity disorder involves a fragmentation of identity rather than a distortion of reality as seen in schizophrenia. The other disorders listed (obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder) may share some symptoms with schizophrenia but are typically not mistaken for it.

Question 19

Norton hears disembodied voices all the time that give him strange commands. The voices have told him that a spacecraft will land over the weekend and take him to a more advanced civilization. What is the term for the voices that Norton hears?

Accepted Answer

Norton is experiencing auditory hallucinations, which are defined as hearing voices or sounds without any external stimuli.

Question 20

Johnny believes he is the prime minister of Canada. If Johnny isn't the prime minister, what does his false belief represent?

Accepted Answer

Johnny's false belief represents a delusion, which is a fixed and false belief that is not based on reality and is often resistant to change despite evidence to the contrary.

Quiz 14: A: Psychological Disorders