Question 1

A psychologist insists that in order to effectively diagnose a patient, she must only use tests and methods that previous research has shown to be valid and reliable. This psychologist is following the approach called:

Accepted Answer

The psychologist is using evidence-based assessment, which emphasizes the use of methods and tests that have been shown to be valid and reliable through previous research, to effectively diagnose patients.

Question 2

What is the most frequently used assessment technique for mental disorders?

Accepted Answer

The most frequently used assessment technique for mental disorders is the clinical interview, which involves talking with the client and potentially their family to gather information about symptoms and history. Brain scans, projective tests, and the mental status exam can also be used, but are typically less frequently utilized.

Question 3

Dr. Leung gives all of her patients a short, valid, and reliable questionnaire wherein they answer a number of questions about sleeping and eating habits, daily activities, and emotional states. Based on this information, Dr. Leung assesses depressive symptoms in each patient. Dr. Leung is making use of:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Leung is using a questionnaire to gather information and assess depressive symptoms; therefore, it falls under the category of psychological testing, which involves the use of standardized methods to assess various aspects of an individual's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Neuropsychological testing focuses specifically on assessing cognitive functioning, while projective models involve ambiguous stimuli that a patient is asked to interpret, and a mental status exam focuses on assessing a patient's current mental state.

Question 4

Cases of dissociative identity disorder:

Accepted Answer

The number of reported cases of dissociative identity disorder increased dramatically in the 1990s, partly due to increased awareness and changes in diagnostic criteria.

Question 5

What evidence suggests that people who appear to have dissociative identity disorder may be faking symptoms of the disorder?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the number of reported personalities has increased over time may suggest that some individuals are faking symptoms or exaggerating them for attention or other reasons. This is also supported by the fact that dissociative identity disorder has gained more public attention and awareness in recent years.

Question 6

A central criticism of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) as a psychological assessment tool is that it:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A central criticism of the Minnesota Multiphasic...

Question 7

Psychologists use the term prognosis to refer to:

Accepted Answer

Prognosis refers to the expected course and outcome of a disorder. It involves predicting how an individual will respond to treatment and whether they will experience a full recovery or suffer ongoing symptoms. It takes into account factors such as the severity of the disorder, the individual's personality and other characteristics, any underlying medical conditions, and the effectiveness of available interventions. Prognosis is an important consideration when planning and implementing treatment for a variety of mental health conditions.

Question 8

Good clinical interviewers tend to:

Accepted Answer

Good clinical interviewers need to create a safe and nonjudgmental environment so that clients feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Trust is important for building a therapeutic relationship, which is necessary for successful therapy. The other options may sometimes be helpful but are not necessarily essential qualities for good clinical interviewers.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of structured versus unstructured interviewing?

Accepted Answer

Structured interviewing is not typically used to come up with an individualized and unique treatment plan. This is more commonly done through a comprehensive assessment that may include structured or unstructured interviewing, as well as other methods of data collection. The other options (A, B, and C) are all advantages of structured interviewing.

Question 10

Dr. Holder recognizes that disorders often do not exist in isolation; if a patient has one mental disorder, he often has other additional disorders. Dr. Holder has recognized the state called:

Accepted Answer

Comorbidity refers to the occurrence of two or more disorders in a single individual, either at the same time or at different points in their life. This is a common phenomenon, especially within the field of psychology and psychiatry, where disorders often share similar symptoms or risk factors. Dr. Holder's recognition of the co-occurrence of multiple disorders in individuals is a testament to the prevalence of comorbidity in mental health.

Question 11

In which of the following scenarios would a person diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder be most likely to report having hundreds of different personalities?

Accepted Answer

The increase in reported cases of dissociative identity disorder with numerous personalities is often linked to suggestive therapeutic practices, where therapists may inadvertently encourage patients to identify multiple personalities.

Question 12

Jaleesa thinks she may be depressed and decides to seek professional help. The first question the psychologist asks, based on a predetermined list of questions, is, "What kind of work do you do?" The psychologist is using a(n) ____________ approach to interviewing.

Accepted Answer

The psychologist is using a structured approach to interviewing because they have a predetermined list of questions. The focus on Jaleesa's work is likely part of the structured approach, but it is not related to any of the other options (neuropsychological, validity testing, unstructured).

Question 13

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI):

Accepted Answer

The MMPI is the most widely used questionnaire for psychological assessment, especially in the United States. It is a standardized assessment tool that has been validated and normed on large samples of individuals, and has been extensively researched and found to have good psychometric properties. While it is possible for individuals to fake responses on the MMPI, the test includes validity scales that can detect this and alert clinicians to potential issues with the results. Additionally, the MMPI has been adapted and translated for use with a variety of cultural and ethnic groups, and has been found to be reliable and valid across these populations.

Question 14

Dr. Brown, as a humanistic psychologist, is not as concerned with diagnosing her clients' disorders as she is with understanding her clients' subjective experiences. In getting information about her clients, Dr. Brown probably uses:

Accepted Answer

An unstructured interview allows for open-ended questions and a free-flowing conversation that can lead to a better understanding of the client's subjective experiences. This is more in line with a humanistic approach to psychology than a structured interview or standardized tests like the mental status interview and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

Question 15

One explanation offered in the textbook for the rapid recent increase in the diagnosis of dissociative disorders is that:

Accepted Answer

The rapid recent increase in the diagnosis of dissociative disorders is partly due to more therapists believing the disorder is real and elicit reports from their patients that confirm it.

Question 16

If a clinician is interested in finding out as much as possible about a client's subjective experience of his/her mental health issues, and if the clinician is NOT necessarily concerned with diagnosis, the clinician should use:

Accepted Answer

A clinician interested in understanding a client's subjective experience of their mental health issues would likely want to use an unstructured interview. This allows for the clinician to explore the client's thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a more open and flexible manner than a structured interview. Neuropsychological testing and psychological testing are more structured and standardized assessments that may be used to aid in diagnosis or evaluate specific cognitive or emotional functioning.

Question 17

There is evidence that a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder may be invalid, at least in some cases. As discussed in your textbook, which of the following statements is NOT a piece of evidence supporting this claim?

Accepted Answer

Many therapists have claimed responsibility for causing dissociative identity disorder is not a piece of evidence supporting the claim that the diagnosis may be invalid. Instead, it suggests that the disorder might be influenced by therapeutic practices.

Question 18

A common problem with all tests that rely on self-report, including the MMPI, is that:

Accepted Answer

People may distort the truth when completing self-report tests, such as the MMPI, in order to portray themselves in a favourable light. This can be a common problem with all self-report tests, as people may not always provide accurate information due to social desirability bias or other factors.

Question 19

What is the difference between psychological testing and neuropsychological testing?

Accepted Answer

Psychological testing typically involves answering questions about mental health functioning, while neuropsychological testing involves performing certain behaviors or completing tasks that assess specific cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and executive functioning. Neuropsychological testing often involves more objective measures, such as standardized tests and computerized tasks, and is often used to assess individuals with neurological disorders or brain injuries.

Question 20

The possible inaccuracy of self-reports is a disadvantage in using ____________ and can be remedied by using ____________.

Accepted Answer

Self-reports are a part of psychological tests, which can have validity scales to check for accuracy. This would help remedy any possible inaccuracies in self-reports. Projective tests rely more on ambiguous stimuli and are not as reliable as psychological tests. Lie detectors are not always accurate and are not commonly used in psychological testing. Better interviewers may help, but they don't directly address the issue of accuracy in self-reports. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders