Question 1

When people with PTSD are able to integrate the experience of trauma and find some broader reason or higher value for enduring it, they are engaging in the task of

Accepted Answer

When people with PTSD are able to find some broader reason or higher value for enduring trauma, they are engaging in the task of meaning making. This means that they are trying to make sense of their experiences and find a sense of purpose or understanding in what they have gone through. This can be an important part of the healing process for individuals with PTSD. Emotional reintegration may be a part of this process, but it is not the same as meaning making. Intellectualizing and denying the reality of pain are not effective strategies for healing from trauma.

Question 2

The National Comorbidity Study found that the course of posttraumatic stress disorder is best described as follows:

Accepted Answer

The National Comorbidity Study found that the course of PTSD tends to diminish gradually. While some people may fully recover, others may experience symptoms for a longer period of time, but overall the symptoms tend to lessen. Choice A is incorrect because not everyone fully recovers from PTSD. Choice C is incorrect because while some people may experience symptoms of PTSD 10 years later, it is not true for most people. Choice D is incorrect because while there is a link between PTSD and substance use disorders, it does not mean that PTSD usually leads to severe alcohol and drug problems.

Question 3

What are the elements of the two-factor theory explanation of the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder?

Accepted Answer

The two-factor theory of PTSD suggests that classical conditioning leads to the association of a previously neutral stimulus (such as a loud noise) with a traumatic event, causing fear and arousal. Then, operant conditioning maintains the fear response as avoidance and safety-seeking behaviors are reinforced through negative reinforcement (reducing anxiety by avoiding triggers) and punished by exposure to the anxiety-provoking stimuli.

Question 4

The term given to positive changes resulting from trauma is

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic growth refers to positive changes in an individual's life following a traumatic event. These changes can include a greater appreciation for life, increased resilience, improved relationships, and a newfound sense of personal strength and purpose. Hardiness is a related concept referring to resilience and the ability to adapt to stress. Integration and meaning making are also common outcomes of trauma, but specifically refer to the process of incorporating the traumatic experience into one's identity or worldview.

Question 5

What accounts for the reports of higher incidence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder in recent research?

Accepted Answer

Recognition that traumatic stresses are common

Question 6

New York City college students had lower rates of PTSD following September 11 if they were better at enhancing and suppressing emotional expression. This is an example of what psychologist Edna Foa calls emotional processing, which involves three key stages. Each of the following is one of her stages EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The three stages of emotional processing according to Edna Foa are engaging emotionally with the traumatic memories, articulating and organizing the experience, and changing beliefs about the world and oneself. Engaging in specialized counseling as soon as possible after the event is not one of her stages.

Question 7

A national study found that approximately ___ percent of the people in the United States suffered from PTSD at some point.

Accepted Answer

Approximately 7 percent of people in the United States have suffered from PTSD at some point, according to national studies.

Question 8

If you were to summarize the main results with regard to the biological factors in the cause of PTSD from the study of twins who served in Vietnam, what would you say?

Accepted Answer

The main results of the study suggest that genetic factors were significant in accounting for arousal/anxiety symptoms in PTSD.

Question 9

A person with acute stress disorder is most likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder when

Accepted Answer

Symptoms of numbing, depersonalization, and reliving the trauma are characteristic of both acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. If these symptoms persist for longer than one month, the diagnosis may be changed to PTSD. Therefore, the presence of these symptoms indicates a higher likelihood of developing PTSD. The severity of the trauma or the possibility of death may increase the likelihood of developing acute stress disorder but is not necessarily a predictor of future PTSD. Complete amnesia for the traumatic event may indicate dissociative amnesia but does not necessarily increase the likelihood of developing PTSD.

Question 10

With respect to the value of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD),

Accepted Answer

Research has not supported the use of CISD in preventing PTSD. In fact, some studies suggest that CISD may even be harmful in certain situations by reinforcing traumatic memories or pressure to conform to others' reactions to the trauma. Other forms of early intervention, such as psychological first aid, may be more effective in reducing distress and preventing long-term problems.

Question 11

What event seemed to trigger Dallae's case of dissociative fugue reported in the text?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What event seemed to trigger Dallae's case...

Question 12

Which of the following is the best description of the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that PTSD is the result of a complex interaction between a traumatic event and individual risk factors. Some of the risk factors associated with an increased risk of PTSD include a history of mental disorders, a lack of social support, and a predisposition to anxiety. However, it is important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD, and individuals who do not have these risk factors may still develop PTSD if they experience a traumatic event. Therefore, D is the best description of the development of PTSD.

Question 13

What is the single most common traumatic event that can lead to PTSD?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the single most common traumatic...

Question 14

Which of the following types of medication is most often prescribed for PTSD?

Accepted Answer

Anti-depressant medications are the most often prescribed medication for PTSD, as they have been shown to improve symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and hyperarousal. While anti-anxiety medications may also be prescribed, they are generally used as a short-term solution due to their potential for addiction and side effects. Anti-hypertensive medications and stimulant medications are not typically used in the treatment of PTSD.

Question 15

Evidence suggests that individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder have regions of their brains that are structurally and functionally different than controls. All of the following are suggested in the textbook as an explanation of this observation EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The textbook suggests that the structural and functional differences observed in individuals with PTSD are not caused by drug treatments for the disorder. Rather, the differences may be due to the effects of trauma on brain function, normal adaptations to stress, or preexisting differences in brain structure/function.

Question 16

Research on social factors and the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder suggests a role of social support in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was found that

Accepted Answer

Research on social factors and PTSD suggests that social support plays a crucial role in the development of PTSD. Veterans who did not receive social support upon return had high rates of PTSD compared to those who did receive social support. Options A, B, and D are not supported by existing research.

Question 17

The name "hysteria" (Greek for "uterus") reflects the erroneous idea that somatoform and dissociative disorders were caused by

Accepted Answer

The term "hysteria" historically linked women's mental health issues to their reproductive organs, reflecting the outdated belief that such disorders were due to women's unfulfilled desires to have children.

Question 18

Your friend has just come from a therapist who has recommended eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for posttraumatic stress disorder. Because you are taking a course in abnormal psychology, your friend asks what you think. Based on the literature, what would you say?

Accepted Answer

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) lacks a strong theoretical basis, and its effectiveness is often attributed to the exposure component rather than the eye movements themselves.

Question 19

Jane has been diagnosed with PTSD and has begun seeing a psychotherapist. Which of the following will be the most important strategy for her therapist to employ to achieve long-term benefit?

Accepted Answer

Reexposure to the traumatic event, often through controlled therapeutic techniques like prolonged exposure therapy, is a key strategy in treating PTSD. It helps the patient process the trauma and reduce the power it holds over them, leading to long-term benefits.

Question 20

Which symptom of dissociative fugue can be used to distinguish fugue from the other dissociative disorders?

Accepted Answer

The symptom of purposeful, unplanned travel is specific to dissociative fugue and helps distinguish it from the other dissociative disorders. In dissociative fugue, individuals may suddenly and unexpectedly travel away from their normal environment and have no memory of their past identity or life. However, the travel is purposeful and goal-directed, unlike in other dissociative disorders where the individual may feel lost or confused about their identity and actions. Malingering refers to faking symptoms for secondary gain, identity confusion is a common symptom in dissociative identity disorder, and inability to remember past details is a common symptom in amnesia.

Quiz 7: Acute and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Dissociative Disorders, and Somatoform Disorders