Question 1

In obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsession/compulsion symptom cluster types include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The symptom clusters for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include dirt and contamination, counting and checking, and hoarding and collecting/saving. Lying and stealing do not fall within the commonly recognized symptom clusters for OCD.

Question 2

Which of the following tricyclic antidepressants is most effective in the treatment of OCD?

Accepted Answer

Clomipramine is the most effective tricyclic antidepressant for the treatment of OCD. It is a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor and is also thought to affect norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain.

Question 3

Deficits of functioning of the striatum (part of the basal ganglia) are believed to be involved in the symptoms of OCD through impaired ability to

Accepted Answer

The striatum plays a crucial role in filtering information going to the thalamus, which is involved in controlling the flow of information among different areas of the brain. Impairments in this filtering process can contribute to the intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors characteristic of OCD.

Question 4

For one-third to one-half of patients with OCD, the onset of the symptoms is

Accepted Answer

OCD typically begins during childhood or adolescence, but can also develop in early adulthood. Only a small minority of cases develop after the age of 30.

Question 5

Obsessions are often accompanied by compulsive behaviors. Which of the following is not true?

Accepted Answer

The obsession of pathological doubt is not linked with hoarding, but rather with constantly seeking reassurance or checking things multiple times to avoid making a mistake. Hoarding is often linked with the obsession of sentimental attachment or perfectionism, where individuals feel the need to keep unnecessary or useless items due to a fear of losing important memories or a desire for control.

Question 6

It can be said of the obsession of hoarding that it is associated with

Accepted Answer

A fear of making a wrong decision in discarding things that might be needed in the future is a common symptom of hoarding disorder.

Question 7

In selecting treatment for a patient with trichotillomania, which of the following evidence-based treatment options would be a logical first choice?

Accepted Answer

Habit reversal therapy has been consistently shown to be effective in treating trichotillomania. It involves the patient learning to identify triggers for hair pulling and engaging in a competing response to replace the hair pulling behavior. Reminiscence therapy is not an evidence-based treatment for trichotillomania. Clomipramine may be used as an adjunctive treatment, but monotherapy with medication is not as effective as behavioral therapies. Exposure and ritual prevention therapy is not typically used in the treatment of trichotillomania.

Question 8

Nonpharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) would most likely include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Nonpharmacological treatment options for OCD include cognitive behavioral therapy, which involves exposure and response prevention to gradually reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Other options may include mindfulness-based therapies or therapy aimed at exploring deeper psychological issues that may be contributing to the OCD symptoms. Electroconvulsive therapy, milieu therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy are not typically utilized as nonpharmacological treatments for OCD.

Question 9

In obsessive-compulsive disorder, patients are likely to experience

Accepted Answer

In obsessive-compulsive disorder, patients are likely to experience obsessions of symmetry and the need to have things just right. Obsessions are often ego-dystonic, meaning they are unwanted and create distress for the individual. They are not typically related to everyday concerns or specific phobias, such as the sight of blood.

Question 10

The obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder that is characterized by pulling out hair is

Accepted Answer

Trichotillomania is the obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder that involves the irresistible urge to pull out hair. Choice A (Erotomania) is a delusional disorder characterized by the false belief of being loved by someone, usually someone famous or high status. Choice B (Pyromania) is a disorder characterized by the deliberate setting of fires for pleasure or satisfaction. Choice D (Dermatillomania) is a disorder characterized by the compulsion to pick at one's skin, leading to skin damage and disfigurement.

Question 11

On clinical presentation, patients with OCD tend to

Accepted Answer

Patients with OCD typically describe sudden and unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause distress and a corresponding need to perform certain rituals or behaviors (compulsions) to alleviate the distress. They may not necessarily be eager to discuss their symptoms and may have poor insight into their condition. While they may be aware of the impact of their symptoms on their families, this is not a consistent finding in all patients with OCD.

Quiz 12: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders