Question 1

Lithium regulates the availability of the excitatory neurotransmitter _____ and helps prevent the excesses that may cause mania and the deficits that may cause depression in bipolar disorder.

Accepted Answer

Lithium regulates the availability of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, which helps prevent the excesses that may cause mania and the deficits that may cause depression in bipolar disorder.

Question 2

According to research on prevalence rates for depression, which of the following individuals is most likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is more commonly diagnosed in individuals who engage in creative professions such as artists, writers, and musicians. Therefore, Iris, who is a highly creative artist, is the most likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Age, occupation (unless related to creative pursuits), and caregiving responsibilities are not significant predictors of bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Question 3

According to the information presented in the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders:

Accepted Answer

The Critical Thinking box states that people with multiple psychological disorders have higher rates of smoking and smoke more cigarettes per day than people with one or no psychological disorders. The other choices either present inaccurate information (A and C) or are not supported by the information provided in the box (D).

Question 4

Paige is 20 years old and started smoking when she began dating Garrett, who smokes. Since breaking up with Garrett about four months ago, she continued to smoke. Currently, Paige smokes almost two packs of cigarettes per day. Which of the following statements is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that heavy smoking (defined as smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day) is associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder. Therefore, because Paige smokes almost two packs of cigarettes per day, she is considered a heavy smoker and has a higher likelihood of experiencing major depressive disorder. Option B is incorrect because the "brain buffer" theory is not supported by all studies and is still under investigation. Neither option C nor option D is a reasonable conclusion based on the information presented.

Question 5

Research has shown that depressive and bipolar disorders occur more frequently among _____ than among the general population.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that there is a link between creative professions, such as writing and art, and higher prevalence of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. This may be due to the heightened emotional intensity and sensitivity that is often associated with creativity.

Question 6

According to the information presented in the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, people with a psychological disorder are:

Accepted Answer

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, people with a psychological disorder are nearly twice as likely to smoke cigarettes as people who do not have a psychological disorder. This is likely due to a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Question 7

About four months ago, 16-year-old Amanda went on a drastic diet that caused her to drop from her normal weight of 120 pounds to less than 90 pounds. Although her weight is dangerously low, she continues to undereat because she thinks she looks fat. Amanda suffers from:

Accepted Answer

Amanda is showing signs of anorexia nervosa, a serious eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and severe weight loss due to restrictive eating habits. Her belief that she looks fat despite being underweight is a common symptom of anorexia nervosa.

Question 8

Severely restricted eating and an intense fear of weight gain is to _____ as binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting is to _____.

Accepted Answer

Severely restricted eating and an intense fear of weight gain are key symptoms of anorexia nervosa, while binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting are key symptoms of bulimia nervosa.

Question 9

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The statement "People diagnosed with schizophrenia or another mental illness were four times less likely to smoke than the general population" is false. In fact, individuals with schizophrenia are more likely to smoke than the general population.

Question 10

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, research strongly suggests that smoking contributes to the development of all of the following psychological disorders EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, research strongly suggests that smoking contributes to the development of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. However, there is no evidence to suggest that smoking contributes to the development of dissociative identity disorder.

Question 11

_____ is an eating disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight, is extremely afraid of gaining weight or becoming fat, and has a distorted perception about the size of his or her body.

Accepted Answer

The description fits the criteria for anorexia nervosa, which is a serious eating disorder characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, and refusal to maintain a healthy weight.

Question 12

According to the research presented in the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, nicotine is implicated in psychological disorders because:

Accepted Answer

Nicotine affects many of the same neurotransmitters and brain areas that are involved in mental disorders, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. This suggests that nicotine may contribute to the development or exacerbation of these disorders.

Question 13

One of the best predictors of whether a person will experience a recurrence of major depressive disorder is having:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals who have experienced recent stressful events are at a higher risk for experiencing a recurrence of major depressive disorder. This is because stressful events can trigger depressive symptoms and increase the likelihood of a relapse. Other factors that may increase the risk of recurrence include a history of early onset of depression, severity of symptoms during previous episodes, and inadequate treatment or medication management. Delusions of persecution, dissociative fugue, and schizophrenia are not necessarily predictors of major depressive disorder recurrence.

Question 14

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, some researchers believe that:

Accepted Answer

According to the Critical Thinking box, some researchers believe that smoking triggers the onset of symptoms in people who are already vulnerable to the development of a mental disorder, especially major depressive disorder. This is supported by studies showing that smoking is more prevalent among individuals with mental illness compared to the general population, and that quitting smoking can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Question 15

Antidepressant medications are often used in the treatment of major depressive disorder. In general, these medications work by:

Accepted Answer

Antidepressant medications work by increasing brain levels of serotonin and norepinephrine. This can help regulate mood and alleviate symptoms of depression. Lithium is not an antidepressant medication, but is sometimes used as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder.

Question 16

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, which of the following is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the Critical Thinking box on...

Question 17

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders, what is one possible explanation for the fact that people with psychological disorders have a much higher rate of smoking than people who do not have a psychological disorder?

Accepted Answer

People with a psychological disorder may tend to use cigarettes as a form of self-medication.

Question 18

Owen's brother and mother have both had occurrences of major depressive disorder. Owen himself has had two episodes of major depressive disorder in the past five years. Given this background information, which of the following is one of the best predictors as to whether Owen will experience another episode of major depressive disorder in the future?

Accepted Answer

The best predictor for whether Owen will experience another episode of major depressive disorder in the future is stressful life events, as individuals with a family history of depression and a personal history of past episodes are more susceptible to future episodes triggered by stressful events. Options A, B, and C may have some impact on Owen's overall well-being, but they are not as strongly associated with the recurrence of major depressive disorder.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT one of the key defining features of anorexia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

One of the key defining features of anorexia nervosa is a lack of recognition of the severity of the disorder and the refusal to maintain a normal weight. Therefore, option A is NOT one of the key defining features of anorexia nervosa.

Question 20

What do the famous writers Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and Sylvia Plath share in common?

Accepted Answer

Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and Sylvia Plath all suffered from severe bouts of depression, which is a common theme in their personal lives and sometimes reflected in their works.

Quiz 13: Section 2: Psychological Disorders