Question 1

If you had an experience where you almost fell from a high place, being far off the ground in the future could elicit strong feelings of fear and turn into a phobia. This would explain a mental illness using _________ conditioning.

Accepted Answer

The given scenario describes a fear response that has been conditioned through a previous traumatic experience, which is an example of classical conditioning.

Question 2

The fact that Vincent Van Gogh's brother committed suicide just a year after Vincent did, and suffered from anxiety and depression symptoms, suggests that there is a ________ component to the mental illnesses that may exist in a person.

Accepted Answer

The fact that both Vincent and his brother suffered from anxiety and depression symptoms and that his brother also committed suicide suggests a strong genetic component to their mental illnesses. This means that there may be a hereditary predisposition towards developing mental illnesses in their family.

Question 3

A diathesis is a ________.

Accepted Answer

A diathesis is a predisposition to a disorder. This means that an individual may have certain genetic, environmental, or physiological factors that make them more susceptible to developing a particular disorder. While a diathesis does not necessarily mean that an individual will develop a disorder, it suggests that they may be more vulnerable to it if they are exposed to certain stressors or triggers.

Question 4

Axis III of the DSM-IV-TR includes_____________.

Accepted Answer

Axis III includes physical or medical conditions that affect a person's psychological adjustment, such as chronic pain or a medical illness.

Question 5

Ancient Greeks believed that abnormal behaviors came about due to ________.

Accepted Answer

The ancient Greeks believed in the theory of the four humors, which was an imbalance of bodily fluids that resulted in abnormal behavior.

Question 6

At the level of the person, what can help explain some psychological disorders?

Accepted Answer

Culture can influence the development of psychological disorders by shaping beliefs, values, and norms about mental health and illness.

Question 7

The most recent version of the DSM is the ________.

Accepted Answer

The most recent version of the DSM is the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision) which was published in 2000. The DSM-V (Fifth Edition) was published in 2013, but it is not the most recent version since the DSM-VI has not yet been developed or released. The DSM-I and DSM-VI-R are outdated versions that have been replaced by newer editions.

Question 8

Axis I of the DSM-IV-TR consists of_____________.

Accepted Answer

Axis I of the DSM-IV-TR consists of clinical disorders and other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention, such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance-related disorders. The other options listed, global assessment of functioning, psychosocial and environmental problems, and personality disorders and mental retardation, are each their own category on a different axis of the DSM-IV-TR.

Question 9

Axis II of the DSM-IV-TR consists of_____________.

Accepted Answer

Axis II of the DSM-IV-TR consists of personality disorders and mental retardation.

Question 10

Which of the following is a disorder that takes the form of a bodily ailment that has no physical cause?

Accepted Answer

A somatoform disorder is a mental disorder in which a person experiences physical symptoms that have no physical cause. Anxiety (A) is a general term for a variety of disorders that involve excessive worry and fear. Dissociative disorders (C) involve disruptions in a person’s memory, consciousness, or sense of identity. Psychophysiological disorders (D) involve both psychological and physical factors.

Question 11

The most recent edition of the DSM has 17 major categories of disorders. Which category directly pertains to disorders of feelings?

Accepted Answer

Mood disorders directly pertain to disorders of feelings, including depression and bipolar disorder. Substance-related disorders pertain to substance abuse and addiction, eating disorders pertain to disorders of eating habits, and adjustment disorders pertain to difficulties in adapting to life changes.

Question 12

Steve's psychiatrist notes that Steve is experiencing a disruption of the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity. Therefore, Steve most likely has a(n).________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

The disruption of integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity is a hallmark symptom of dissociative disorders. Schizophrenic disorders involve symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Adjustment disorders involve psychological distress in response to stressful life events. Impulse-control disorders involve a failure to resist impulses or urges that lead to harmful behaviors.

Question 13

Axis IV of the DSM-IV-TR includes_____________.

Accepted Answer

Axis IV of the DSM-IV-TR includes information about problems in the person's life that might affect adjustment, such as death of a loved one. It is meant to provide contextual information about a person's life and environment that might be relevant to their mental health and overall functioning.

Question 14

If Jerry has some sort of psychological disorder about which there are relevant social and/or environmental problems, then his clinician will likely note those problems on Axis ________ of the DSM-based diagnosis.

Accepted Answer

Axis IV of the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) is specifically used for reporting psychosocial and environmental problems that might affect the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mental disorders.

Question 15

Ancient Greeks believed imbalances in ________ caused abnormality, while people living during the 17th century in New England believed it was caused by ________. However, many contemporary psychologists try to understand psychological disorders in terms of the________ model.

Accepted Answer

The first part of the statement refers to the ancient Greek belief in the theory of bodily fluids or humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) causing abnormality, while people in 17th century New England believed that abnormality was caused by the devil or evil. However, contemporary psychologists use the biopsychosocial model which takes into consideration biological, psychological, and social factors as causes of psychological disorders. Therefore, the best choice is D which references both the theory of bodily fluids and the biopsychosocial model.

Question 16

Which of the following is one of the bodily fluids that ancient Greeks linked to abnormal behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Ancient Greeks believed that abnormal behaviors were caused by an imbalance of the four humors, which included black bile, blood, phlegm, and yellow bile.

Question 17

Seetra is seeing a therapist for the first time. Her psychologist notes that her severe facial acne may contribute significantly to her depressive symptoms, since her high school classmates tend to be mean about her pimples. On which axis of a DSM diagnosis would Seetra's acne be noted?

Accepted Answer

Axis III is used to note any physical or medical conditions that may be relevant to the individual's psychological symptoms. Seetra's severe facial acne falls under this category.

Question 18

The DSM has five ________ that are types of information that should be considered in the assessment of a patient.

Accepted Answer

The DSM uses five axes (Axis I, Axis II, Axis III, Axis IV, and Axis V) to consider different types of information in assessing a patient. These axes include clinical disorders, personality disorders and mental retardation, general medical conditions, psychosocial and environmental factors, and global assessment of functioning.

Question 19

Seetra is seeing a therapist for the first time. Her psychologist notes that her severe facial acne may contribute significantly to her depressive symptoms, since her high school classmates tend to be mean about her pimples. On which axis of a DSM diagnosis would Seetra's difficulties with her classmates be noted?

Accepted Answer

Difficulties with peers and stressors related to social environment are noted on Axis IV of a DSM diagnosis, while Axis I includes clinical disorders like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Axis II includes personality disorders and intellectual disabilities, while Axis III includes any relevant medical conditions.

Question 20

Which of the following is a criticism of the most recent version of the DSM?

Accepted Answer

One criticism of the most recent version of the DSM is that the categories used to define psychological disorders are too medicalized, meaning that they focus too much on physiological symptoms and do not take into account the social and cultural factors that may play a role in mental health. This has led to some critics arguing that the DSM pathologizes normal human behavior and emotions.

Quiz 11: Psychological Disorders: More Than Everyday Problems