Question 1

What are the two major categories of the symptoms of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The two major categories of symptoms of schizophrenia are negative symptoms (such as loss of motivation or emotional flatness) and positive symptoms (such as hallucinations or delusions). Choice A (acute and chronic) describes the duration and onset of the illness, but not the symptoms themselves. Choice C (affect and ambivalence) are symptoms that may be present, but are not the two major categories. Choice D (primary and secondary) refers to the underlying causes of the illness, rather than the symptoms.

Question 2

Lisa has just been fired from her new job for consistently arriving 2 hours late for work. Lisa tries to explain that she must often drive back home to ensure that all the doors are locked and that no appliances have been left on. Lisa's condition is abnormal from the ________ definition.

Accepted Answer

Lisa's behavior is maladaptive because it is affecting her ability to maintain employment and functioning in society. Her behavior is not socially deviant or causing her subjective discomfort, and it is not solely related to situational context.

Question 3

Of the following, which would provide the strongest evidence for a genetic component to schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Identical twins raised apart have the same genetic makeup but different environmental factors, so if there is a high concordance rate for schizophrenia, it provides strong evidence for a genetic component to the disorder. The other options (A, B, and D) do not provide as strong of evidence, as they can be explained by both genetic and environmental factors.

Question 4

Nick was admitted to a mental institution because he claimed he was the king of an alien race that would soon return to earth to dominate mankind. He claimed to be in constant communication with these aliens and helping to plan for their return. His symptoms are known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Delusions are fixed, false beliefs that are not based on reality and are not able to be corrected by evidence or argument. In this case, Nick's belief that he was the king of an alien race and in constant communication with them is not based on reality and cannot be corrected by evidence or argument.

Question 5

The belief that you are a special agent for the Intergalactic Supernova is an example of a

Accepted Answer

The belief that you are a special agent for the Intergalactic Supernova is a delusion, which is a false belief that is maintained despite evidence to the contrary.

Question 6

Who is most likely to be diagnosed with a phobic disorder?

Accepted Answer

Jennifer's extreme fear of snakes, to the point where she refuses to even look at pictures of them, is indicative of a possible phobic disorder. Calista and Brianne both have fears of snakes, but their reactions are not as severe as Jennifer's and may not meet the criteria for a phobic disorder.

Question 7

During an interview, a patient says he has frequently seen a hand come out of the bathroom sink to grab a bar of soap. The psychologist who is conducting the interview most likely writes that the patient presents evidence of

Accepted Answer

The patient's experience of seeing a hand come out of the bathroom sink is indicative of a hallucination, which is a sensory experience that is not based in reality.

Question 8

False sensory perceptions that often take the form of hearing voices are called ________.

Accepted Answer

Hallucinations are false sensory perceptions, such as hearing voices, seeing things that are not there, or feeling sensations that are not real. Obsessions are repetitive and unwanted thoughts, while compulsions are repetitive and unwanted actions. Delusions are false beliefs that are not based on reality.

Question 9

False beliefs about reality with no factual basis are known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Delusions are false beliefs with no basis in reality, often associated with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Obsessions and compulsions are symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while hallucinations involve perceiving things that aren't actually there, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren't real.

Question 10

The substance known as ________ has been implicated in the development of schizophrenic symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in regulating reward and pleasure centers in the brain. However, elevated levels of dopamine have been associated with the development of psychotic symptoms, including those seen in schizophrenia. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that an overactivity of dopamine transmission in certain brain regions may cause the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Question 11

In the United States, "insanity" is a term typically used by

Accepted Answer

"Insanity" is a legal term used in the context of criminal law to determine whether a defendant is mentally competent to stand trial or can be held responsible for their actions due to a mental illness or defect. Psychologists and psychiatrists may be called upon to assess a defendant's mental state, but ultimately it is the legal system that determines whether someone meets the legal definition of insanity. The social work system may also work with individuals who have mental illness, but they usually do not use the term "insanity" in their practice.

Question 12

Nick was admitted to a mental institution because he heard voices talking to him that no one else could hear, and he saw demons attacking him, though no one else could see anything near him. Nick's symptoms are known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Nick is experiencing auditory and visual perceptions that are not present in reality, which are known as hallucinations.

Question 13

Which of the following concepts is not specifically associated with the DSM-5 examination of culture-related disorders?

Accepted Answer

Cultural binding is not specifically associated with the DSM-5 examination of culture-related disorders. The other options (B, C, D) are all concepts that are examined in the DSM-5 in relation to culture-related disorders.

Question 14

How would the Greek physician Hippocrates have typically dealt with someone suffering from mental illness?

Accepted Answer

Hippocrates believed that mental illness was caused by an imbalance of bodily fluids or humors. He would have focused on correcting this imbalance and used methods such as bloodletting, purging, and diet changes to restore balance to the body.

Question 15

Delusions and hallucinations are associated with

Accepted Answer

Delusions and hallucinations are characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder that affects a person's ability to perceive reality accurately.

Question 16

Nancy smells smoke when there is no fire. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Nancy is experiencing something that is not actually present in her environment, which is a characteristic of a hallucination. The specific type of hallucination in this case is olfactory, as she is perceiving a smell that is not actually there. A delusion would involve a false belief, and paranoia would involve an unwarranted suspicion of others or a belief in a conspiracy. Olfactory inhibition is not a recognized psychological phenomenon.

Question 17

False sensory perceptions that most often take the form of hearing voices are called ________.

Accepted Answer

False sensory perceptions that most often take the form of hearing voices are called hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs, obsessions are repetitive and intrusive thoughts or images, and compulsions are repetitive behaviors that one feels compelled to perform.

Question 18

Excessive amounts of dopamine in the brain have been proposed as a cause of:

Accepted Answer

Excessive amounts of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain have been associated with the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions. This is supported by the fact that antipsychotic medications, which block dopamine receptors, are effective in treating these symptoms.

Question 19

Elliot became widowed after nearly 40 years of marriage. He has convinced himself that no one will ever love him again. His irrational thinking has caused him to suffer from depression, and he rarely leaves his house. What perspective might BEST explain his behavior?

Accepted Answer

Elliot's belief that no one will ever love him again and his resulting behavior of staying isolated in his house suggest that he has developed negative thought patterns, which are characteristic of the cognitive perspective.

Question 20

Annette talks to her pet elephant, which no one else can see. Annette is having a

Accepted Answer

The answer of Annette talks to her pet elephant, which...

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders