Question 1

Incapacitating efforts to avoid specific anxiety-producing situations is most indicative of

Accepted Answer

Avoidance of specific anxiety-provoking situations is a hallmark of phobias. Depression, compulsions, and obsessions may also be present in individuals with phobias, but the avoidance behavior is most indicative of a specific phobia.

Question 2

A Swedish study examined the progression of obsessive-compulsive disorder.The researchers found that as people aged,the symptoms of the disorder lessened.However,only ________ completely recovered.

Accepted Answer

Only 1 in 5 individuals completely recovered from obsessive-compulsive disorder as they aged, indicating a relatively low full recovery rate despite a general lessening of symptoms.

Question 3

The billionaire aviator Howard Hughes insisted that his assistants carry out elaborate hand-washing rituals and wear white gloves when handling any document he would later touch.His behavior best illustrated the symptoms of

Accepted Answer

Howard Hughes' behavior of insisting on elaborate hand-washing rituals and wearing white gloves is a classic symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is characterized by intrusive and persistent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing harm.

Question 4

An immediate and irrational anxiety response to the mere sight of blood is indicative of

Accepted Answer

A specific phobia is an intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation. In this case, the fear is of blood, which is a common specific phobia known as hemophobia. The immediate and irrational anxiety response to the sight of blood is a typical symptom of this phobia. Obsessions and compulsions are related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and uncontrollable worry about a wide range of topics.

Question 5

Two years after being brutally beaten and raped,Brianna still experiences jumpy anxiety and has trouble sleeping and vivid flashbacks of her assault.Brianna is most clearly showing signs of

Accepted Answer

Brianna is experiencing symptoms characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as hypervigilance (jumpy anxiety), sleep disturbance, and flashbacks. PTSD often occurs in people who have lived through or witnessed a traumatic event, such as rape or combat. Panic disorder (A), generalized anxiety disorder (C), and social anxiety disorder (D) may also involve symptoms of anxiety, but they are not directly related to a specific traumatic event.

Question 6

Omar is so preoccupied by his fear of germs that he always keeps his car and apartment windows sealed tightly,he refuses to allow anyone into his apartment,he carries his own silverware for whenever he eats away from home,and he washes his hands every time he touches anything that has been touched by someone else.Omar would most likely be diagnosed with

Accepted Answer

Omar's behavior is indicative of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety. His preoccupation with germs and hygiene rituals are classic symptoms of OCD. None of the other disorders listed adequately capture Omar's symptoms.

Question 7

Cecil is preoccupied with thoughts of jumping out the window of his tenth-floor apartment.To reduce his anxiety,he frequently counts his heartbeats aloud.Cecil would most likely be diagnosed as experiencing

Accepted Answer

Cecil's behavior of being preoccupied with thoughts of jumping out the window (obsessions) and counting his heartbeats aloud to reduce anxiety (compulsions) aligns with the characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Question 8

Repetitive,intrusive,and unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors that the individual feels driven to perform are characteristic of

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is a mental disorder that is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that individuals feel driven to perform in order to reduce anxiety or prevent harm.

Question 9

The long-lasting disorder that develops in response to being exposed to a severe and often life-threatening trauma is

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a specific disorder that can develop in response to being exposed to a severe and often life-threatening trauma, such as experiencing or witnessing a natural disaster, combat, sexual assault, or a serious accident. The symptoms of PTSD can include intrusive thoughts or memories of the event, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, negative changes in mood or cognition, and increased arousal and reactivity.

Question 10

Mrs.Swift is alarmed by her own intrusive and irrational thoughts that her house is contaminated by germs.Her experience best illustrates the agitating effects of

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Swift's intrusive and irrational thoughts about the contamination of her house suggest that she is experiencing an obsession. Obsessions are unwanted and intrusive thoughts or urges that create anxiety, fear, or distress.

Question 11

Kaylee is so afraid of snakes that she avoids most outdoor activities and even refuses to spend time in her own backyard alone.Kaylee appears to suffer from

Accepted Answer

Kaylee's fear and avoidance of snakes suggest a specific phobia.

Question 12

Some people are more vulnerable to PTSD because they have a sensitive ________,which floods the body with stress hormones.

Accepted Answer

The limbic system, which includes the amygdala and hippocampus, is responsible for processing emotions and memories. In individuals with a sensitive limbic system, traumatic experiences can trigger an exaggerated response that floods the body with stress hormones and can result in the development of PTSD. The other brain regions listed are not directly involved in the development of PTSD.

Question 13

Alan always has been terrified of spiders.He refuses to enter his bedroom at night until it has been thoroughly checked for spiders.Even a picture of a spider makes him extremely uncomfortable.Most likely,Alan is suffering from a psychological disorder called

Accepted Answer

Alan's fear and avoidance of spiders is excessive and irrational, indicating a specific phobia. Social anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear of social situations, posttraumatic stress disorder usually involves avoidance and hypervigilance related to a traumatic event, and obsessive-compulsive disorder involves intrusive and repetitive thoughts and behaviors.

Question 14

Frequent,intrusive recollections of a traumatic event,social withdrawal,nightmares,and the increased physical arousal associated with anxiety are the major symptoms associated with

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by re-experiencing the traumatic event through intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks; avoidance of thoughts, feelings, or reminders associated with the traumatic event; negative mood or thoughts, and increased arousal or reactivity. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that drive individuals to perform repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive worry or anxiety about a variety of events or activities. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by fear or anxiety about social situations in which an individual may be scrutinized or evaluated by others.

Question 15

Obsessions are

Accepted Answer

Obsessions are defined as offensive and unwanted thoughts that persistently preoccupy a person, such as recurrent and disturbing thoughts, impulses, or images. This can lead to the person engaging in repetitive behaviors or mental rituals as a way to alleviate the distress caused by these obsessions.

Question 16

The social withdrawal and haunting nightmares of battle-scarred war veterans best illustrate symptoms of

Accepted Answer

Social withdrawal and haunting nightmares are typical symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that occurs in some people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and SAD (social anxiety disorder) involve generalized or social anxiety, respectively, but do not necessarily involve traumatic experiences. OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) involves intrusive and persistent thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions), and is not directly related to experiences in war or combat.

Question 17

Jayne was in a fast-food restaurant when a man walked in,drew a gun,and started shooting,killing two people before killing himself.Although Jayne was not injured in the shooting spree,she has since been unable to return to work.She can't seem to stop thinking about the event.She has recurrent nightmares,is unable to sleep,and does not want to leave her home.It is most likely that Jayne is suffering from

Accepted Answer

Jayne's symptoms of recurrent nightmares, inability to sleep, and avoidance of leaving her home are consistent with the criteria for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, which can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a shooting. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder may involve symptoms of anxiety or avoidance, but do not necessarily involve exposure to a traumatic event.

Question 18

What percentage of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 25% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders.

Question 19

The incidence of OCD is greatest among

Accepted Answer

OCD tends to onset during adolescence and young adulthood, with symptoms peaking in the late teens to mid-20s. While OCD can affect individuals of all ages, it is less common in preadolescent children and older retired persons.

Question 20

Repeatedly thinking about your own death is to ________ as repeatedly washing your hands is to ________.

Accepted Answer

Repeatedly thinking about one's own death is an obsession, while repeatedly washing one's hands is a compulsion. This is because both actions are repetitive and interfere with normal daily functioning, but the motivations behind them are different.

Quiz 49: Dissociative and Personality Disorders