Question 1

In the movie As Good As It Gets, actor Jack Nicholson plays Melvin Udall, a gifted writer who always eats in the same restaurant, brings his own plastic utensils, and engages in strict patterns of behavior, such as repetitive hand washing or walking carefully on the sidewalk to avoid stepping on a crack. Failure to follow these ritual behaviors results in extreme anxiety and distress. The character Nicholson was portraying would probably be diagnosed with:

Accepted Answer

The character's pattern of behavior and extreme anxiety when failing to follow these patterns suggest symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Question 2

Kleptomania and pyromania are both examples of _____ disorders.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

A(n) _____ is a brief, sudden, uncontrollable episode of acute anxiety and fear that rapidly escalates in intensity and usually includes physical symptoms like a pounding heart, rapid breathing, trembling, and feeling as if you are choking or cannot breathe.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the symptoms of a panic attack, which is a sudden and intense episode of anxiety that can last from a few minutes to an hour. Panic attacks can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, sweating, and dizziness. Manic episodes are episodes of elevated mood, energy, and activity that are characteristic of bipolar disorder, while rapid cycling refers to the frequent occurrence of mood episodes in bipolar disorder. Dissociative experiences are characterized by a sense of disconnection or detachment from one's surroundings or sense of identity.

Question 4

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by ongoing and persistent anxiety that is not tied to a specific object, situation, or event. This anxiety is typically global in nature, meaning it affects multiple areas of the person's life. It can include symptoms like excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating.

Question 5

The viral infection theory of schizophrenia:

Accepted Answer

The viral infection theory of schizophrenia suggests that the development of schizophrenia is related to exposure to a virus during prenatal development or early infancy. This theory proposes that certain viruses can affect the developing brain, leading to changes in brain structure and function that contribute to schizophrenia later in life.

Question 6

According to "Culture and Human Behavior: Culture-Bound Syndromes," the Japanese culture-specific disorder hikkomori:

Accepted Answer

The article specifically mentions that hikkomori is characterized by extreme social withdrawal, preoccupation with video games and internet surfing, inability to work or attend school, and no social interactions with family members or the outside world.

Question 7

Agoraphobia is characterized by the intense fear of:

Accepted Answer

Agoraphobia is a fear of situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment, and the fear is usually out of proportion with the actual danger of the situation. The fear is often related to the fear of having a panic attack in a situation where escape would be difficult or embarrassing, or where help would not be available.

Question 8

Some people experience a relatively mild form of depressive disorder that is characterized by chronic low-grade depression with symptoms persisting for two years or longer. This less intense type of depression is called:

Accepted Answer

The less intense type of depression characterized by chronic low-grade depression with symptoms persisting for two years or longer is called persistent depressive disorder. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs during specific seasons, typically during winter months. Cyclothymic disorder is a chronic mood disorder characterized by numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that last for at least two years. Dissociative disorder is a group of disorders characterized by difficulties with memory, identity, emotion, perception, behavior, or sense of self.

Question 9

Taijin kyofusho is:

Accepted Answer

Taijin kyofusho (TKS) is a form of social anxiety disorder that is commonly seen in Japan, especially among young males. It is characterized by a fear of offending others or causing embarrassment by one's appearance, odor, facial expressions, or other physical aspects. People with TKS tend to avoid or endure social situations with intense distress.

Question 10

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition:

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 is a manual used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify psychological disorders. It provides diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and other essential information for more than 260 specific psychological disorders.

Question 11

In terms of suicidal behavior, one consistent gender difference is that:

Accepted Answer

Men outnumber women in suicide deaths because they are more likely to use more lethal methods such as firearms or hanging. However, women are more likely to attempt suicide overall.

Question 12

In answer to a question on the exam, Richard wrote the following definition: "Inflexible, maladaptive patterns of thoughts, emotions, behavior, and interpersonal functioning that are stable over time and across situations, and that deviate from the expectations of the individual's culture." Richard is describing:

Accepted Answer

The definition provided by Richard is a clear description of personality disorders, which are characterized by rigid and persistent patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions that deviate from cultural norms and cause impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. Anxiety, dissociative, and mood disorders are not necessarily characterized by these traits.

Question 13

An eating disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight, is extremely afraid of gaining weight or becoming fat, and has a distorted perception about the size of his or her body is called:

Accepted Answer

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, and a distorted perception of body size.

Question 14

A commonly seen _____ symptom that occurs in schizophrenia is _____.

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms, which involve the presence of something that should not be present, such as hallucinations and delusions, are commonly seen in schizophrenia. Negative symptoms, which involve the absence of something that should be present, such as lack of emotion or motivation, are also a common symptom. However, choice A is incorrect because delusions are a positive symptom, not negative. Choice C is partially correct in that flat affect is a negative symptom, but it is not commonly seen as a primary symptom in schizophrenia. Choice D is incorrect because sensory distortion is not a recognized symptom in schizophrenia.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about social anxiety disorder is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Social anxiety disorder is more commonly diagnosed in women than in men.

Question 16

Sean has a preoccupation with imagined diseases and often misinterprets his normal bodily symptoms or functions as severe illnesses. Sean has a _____ disorder called _____ .

Accepted Answer

Sean's preoccupation with imagined diseases and misinterpretation of bodily symptoms as severe illnesses point towards somatic symptom disorder. Specifically, his fear of having a serious illness without any or with few physical symptoms aligns with illness anxiety disorder, which is a type of somatic symptom disorder. Choice B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not fit Sean's symptoms as described in the question.

Question 17

Dr. Zink is a clinical psychologist. Dr. Zink explains to his patient, Dave, that the reason Dave is so prone to panic attacks after he walks up three flights of stairs is that Dave is oversensitive to sensations of physical arousal and tends to irrationally distort the meaning of these sensations as calamitous or disastrous. From reading the chapter, you know that Dr. Zink is actually describing the _____ of panic disorder to Dave.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Zink is describing the catastrophic cognitions theory of panic disorder, which suggests that individuals with panic disorder have a tendency to catastrophize bodily sensations and interpret them as signs of impending doom or danger.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people with psychological disorders are often portrayed with stigma on television shows. This can lead to negative perceptions and discrimination towards individuals with mental illnesses.

Option A is incorrect as comorbidity is high in psychopathology, meaning that an individual diagnosed with one mental disorder is likely to be diagnosed with another.

Option C is incorrect as research has shown that individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses are not more likely to engage in violent behavior than the general population.

Option D is incorrect as the definition of normal versus abnormal behavior varies depending on social and cultural contexts. What is considered normal in one culture may be considered abnormal in another.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about major depressive disorder is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in Americans is generally estimated to be around 16-20%, not 25%.

Question 20

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with impulsive behavior. Symptoms include intense fears of abandonment, unstable sense of self, self-harm, suicidal ideation or behavior, and unstable relationships with others.

Quiz 13: Psychological Disorders