Question 1

Because of our shared system of classification, we know that at least _____ million people are diagnosed with some form of mental disorder in the United States.

Accepted Answer

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 44 million adults (18.1% of the population) in the United States have a mental illness in a given year.

Question 2

The _____ publishes a manual providing a diagnostic system for describing and classifying psychological disorders.

Accepted Answer

The American Psychiatric Association publishes the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) which provides a diagnostic system for describing and classifying psychological disorders.

Question 3

_____ is the estimate of how likely it is for an individual to be diagnosed with a disorder during the course of their life.

Accepted Answer

Lifetime prevalence refers to the estimated percentage or number of individuals who will be diagnosed with a particular disorder at some point during their lifetime. It takes into account both new and existing cases and provides an estimate of the overall burden of the disorder in the population. The other options (B, C, D) do not focus specifically on lifetime estimation.

Question 4

When describing abnormal behavior, mental health professionals do not use the term _____, which is a _____ term related to responsibility for one's actions.

Accepted Answer

The term "insane" is a legal term related to responsibility for one's actions, and not used in professional mental health contexts. The other options are incorrect because "mental illness" and "psychotic" are both used in mental health contexts, and "crazy" is not a professional term at all.

Question 5

In determining if a behavior is abnormal, a person's _____ should be considered because they vary in what is considered abnormal.

Accepted Answer

Culture plays a significant role in determining what is considered abnormal behavior. What may be abnormal in one culture may be entirely normal in another culture. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of behavior should include an understanding of the cultural context in which it occurs.

Question 6

To be abnormal, a behavior must be _____ and consistent with other _____

Accepted Answer

For a behavior to be considered abnormal, it must be maladaptive, meaning it impairs one's ability to function effectively in everyday life, and it must also meet certain diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5, such as causing distress, impairment, or deviating from social norms. "Odd" (A), "harmful" (C), and "insane" (D) are all too vague and not specific enough to be accurate descriptors of abnormal behavior.

Question 7

Jose is fifteen years old. He is very moody. Little disappointments get him very upset and he seems depressed by them. His hours of sleep are irregular and he has trouble falling asleep before midnight. Sometimes he has outbursts of temper that seem irrational. Which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

At 15, it is not unusual to be moody and over-reactive. This does not mean Jose has no psychological problems, but he should not be diagnosed with a disorder just based on these factors.

Question 8

Behaviors may be classified as abnormal if they _____

Accepted Answer

The other options (B, C, and D) do not necessarily indicate abnormality in behaviors. eccentricity, oddness, or bothering other people may not necessarily be indicators of abnormality, while causing emotional distress may indicate a disturbance in an individual's mental or emotional well-being, which suggests abnormality.

Question 9

Mental processes or behavior patterns that cause emotional distress or substantial impairment in functioning are considered _____

Accepted Answer

Psychological disorders are mental problems or behaviour patterns that interrupt daily life, social interactions, and relationships, causing significant emotional discomfort or impairment in functioning.

Answer: D 
 Cognitive distortions are negative patterns of thinking that can cause psychological problems or disorders, affecting one's feelings, behaviour, and perception of self and the world. They can cause emotional distress or hinder daily functioning.

Question 10

Washing your hands 100 times a day out of an irrational fear of contamination can be considered abnormal and _____

Accepted Answer

The behavior of washing hands excessively out of an irrational fear of contamination can be considered maladaptive because it interferes with daily functioning and may cause distress. It is not necessarily insane or ridiculous, but it could potentially be dangerous if it leads to skin irritation or infection from excessive washing.

Question 11

The diagnostic system for describing and classifying psychological disorders that is used by mental health professionals in the United States and much of the world is commonly known as the _____, which stands for _____

Accepted Answer

The diagnostic system for describing and classifying psychological disorders that is used by mental health professionals in the United States and much of the world is commonly known as the DSM, which stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

Question 12

When doing a psychological assessment to determine whether a behavior is normal in terms of psychological functioning, a person's _____ must also be considered.

Accepted Answer

Developmental age is important to consider in determining whether a behavior is normal in terms of psychological functioning because what may be considered normal or abnormal behavior can vary depending on a person's age and stage of development. For example, temper tantrums may be considered normal behavior for a two-year-old but abnormal for a ten-year-old.

Question 13

Jorinda believes in evil spirits. She thinks she is suffering bad luck due to a curse placed on her. She also tells you that she can hear the spirits talking to her. What do you need to find out before deciding how to classify her perceptions?

Accepted Answer

These can be culture-based beliefs, in which case they are probably not related to a psychotic disorder.

Question 14

Sammy is so anxious about going to school that he throws up every morning and cries all the way there. Once at school, he shakes and is often tearful with anxiety. Which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

This degree of anxiety is outside the range of normal distress provoked by going to school.

Question 15

Without a shared system of diagnosis and classification, we could not _____

Accepted Answer

In order to count how many people experience specific types of disorders we must have an agreed upon description of disorders.

Question 16

The _____ perspective views abnormal behavior as arising from a physical cause, such as genetic inheritance, biochemical abnormalities or imbalances, structural abnormalities within the brain, and/or infection.

Accepted Answer

The biological perspective focuses on physical causes of abnormal behavior, such as genetics, brain structure, and biochemical imbalances. This perspective often involves the use of medication or other biological therapies to treat mental illness.

Question 17

An advantage of using one diagnostic manual is that _____

Accepted Answer

In order to communicate and to research illnesses, it is essential that professionals in the field share a common language and understanding of different disorders.

Question 18

Both men and women in the United States have an approximately _____ percent chance of being diagnosed with some type of mental disorder during their lifetime.

Accepted Answer

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, both men and women in the United States have approximately a 50% chance of being diagnosed with some type of mental disorder during their lifetime. This means that mental disorders are very common and affect a significant portion of the population.

Question 19

Which of the following correctly answers this question: What causes psychological disorders?

Accepted Answer

There are many different ways to explain what causes disorders. Each perspective has research supporting parts of its theory.

Question 20

The category of mental disorder with the highest prevalence is _____ disorders.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders have been reported as the most prevalent category of mental disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect approximately 19% of adults in the United States in any given year.

Quiz 12: Defining Psychological Disorders