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OpenStax Psychology Test Bank
Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. A psychological disorder is a ________.
*A. condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
B. condition characterized by normal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
C. manifestation of a psychopathology
D. situational, idiosyncratic, or unconventional inner feelings
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1
2. Etiology is another word for ________.
*A. causes
B. conditions
C. forms
D. psychopathology
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard:1.1
3. Who argued that the notion of mental illness was invented by society (and the mental health
establishment) to stigmatize and subjugate people whose behavior violates accepted social and
legal norms?
A. Isla Fischer
B. John Waller
C. Marcia Cross
*D. Thomas Szasz
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard:1.1, 1.2
4. Who identified psychological disorders as a harmful dysfunction?
*A. Jerome C. Wakefield
B. John Waller
C. Stanley Rachman
D. Thomas Szasz
Difficulty: Easy
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
APA Standard:1.1, 1.2
5. Which classification system is used by most mental health professionals in the United States
of America?
A. Desperate Social and Mental Disorders
B. Determinants of Social Mental Disorders
C. Determining Statistical Manifestation of Disorders
*D. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
6. What is comorbidity?
*A. co-occurrence of two disorders
B. having two causes for a single disorder
C. having two causes of death
D. mental disorder leading to death
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1
7. The ________ model suggests that people with a predisposition for a disorder are more likely
to develop the disorder when faced with adverse environmental or psychological events.
*A. diathesis-stress
B. supernatural
C. Szasz
D. Venn
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
8. ________ disorders are characterized by excessive, persistent fear and apprehension and by
related disturbances in behavior.
*A. anxiety
B. body dysmorphic
C. obsessive-compulsive
D. personality
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
9. A panic disorder is a type of ________disorder characterized by panic attacks, along with at
least one month of worry about panic attacks or self-defeating behavior related to the attacks.
*A. anxiety
B. generalized
C. safety
D. social
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
10. Which childhood disorder is characterized by deficits in social interaction and
communication and repetitive patterns of behavior or interests?
A. antisocial personality disorder
B. attention deficit disorder
C. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
*D. autism spectrum disorder
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
11. People with ________ disorders experience thoughts and urges that are intrusive and
unwanted and/or the need to engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts.
A. anxiety
*B. obsessive-compulsive
C. personality
D. phobia
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
12. Which brain region is believed to play a critical role in OCD?
A. anterior cortex
B. cingulate cortex
*C. orbitofrontal cortex
D. prefrontal cortex
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
13. Which of the following defines antisocial personality disorder?
A. instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
*B. lack of regard for others’ rights, impulsivity, deceitfulness, irresponsibility, and lack of
remorse over misdeeds
C. overinflated and unjustified sense of self-importance
D. pervasive need for perfectionism that interferes with the ability to complete tasks
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
14. ________ is a subtype of depression in which a person experiences the symptoms of major
depressive disorder only during a particular time of year.
A. bipolar disorder
B. mood disorder
C. persistent depressive disorder
*D. seasonal pattern
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
15. Peripartum onset depression is a kind of depression ________.
A. characterized by mood states that vacillate between depression and mania
B. in which an individual experiences mania, characterized by extremely cheerful and euphoric
mood, excessive talkativeness, irritability, increased activity levels, and other symptoms
C. in which an individual has a tendency to repetitively and passively dwell on one’s depressed
symptoms, their meanings, and their consequences
*D. that applies to women who experience an episode of major depression either during
pregnancy or in the four weeks following childbirth
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
16. ________ involves thoughts of death by suicide, thinking about or planning suicide, or
making a suicide attempt.
A. flight of ideas
B. rumination
*C. suicidal ideation
D. suicide
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
17. Which psychological disorder is characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception,
and behavior?
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
A. anxiety
B. bipolar
C. personality
*D. schizophrenia
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
18. Schizophrenia is considered a ________ disorder.
A. mood
B. obsessive-compulsive
C. personality
*D. psychotic
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
19. ________ delusions involve the (false) belief that other people or agencies are plotting to
harm the person.
A. grandiose
B. hallucination
*C. paranoid
D. somatic
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
20. What kind of symptoms involves reflecting noticeable decreases and absences in certain
behaviors, emotions, or drives?
A. absentee
B. invisible
*C. negative
D. positive
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
21. Donna exhibits two separate personalities, each well-defined and distinct from one another,
so Dr. Paulson diagnosed Donna with ________ disorder.
A. anxiety
*B. dissociative identity
C. personality
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D. schizophrenia
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
22. Yuri experiences excessive, distressing, and persistent fear or anxiety about heights. Yuri
suffers from a(n) ________.
A. mood disorder
B. obsessive-compulsive disorder
*C. phobia
D. psychosis
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
23. Piper is diagnosed with agoraphobia because she experiences intense fear and anxiety of
________.
*A. being outside the home alone
B. blood
C. enclosed spaces
D. heights
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
24. ________are mental or behavioral acts that reduce anxiety in social situations, such as
wearing bland, neutral clothes to avoid drawing attention to oneself.
A. obsessions
B. ruminations
*C. safety behaviors
D. therapies
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1
25. Miguel worries excessively about things beyond his control, and his worries often interfere
with his life. He avoids driving because he worries about car accidents. He calls his parents twice
a day because he worries they are dead. He checks his credit card statement three times a day
because he worries about identity theft. Miguel probably suffers from ________.
A. free-floating anxiety disorder
*B. generalized anxiety disorder
C. obsessive-compulsive disorder
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D. persistent depressive disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
26. Due to Dominique’ s obsessive-compulsive disorder, she may ________.
A. exhibit an extreme fear of water
B. insist that she hears voices
C .refuse to leave her bed due to anxiety over what might happen during the day
*D. wash her hands every 10 minutes throughout the day.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
27. Mae notices that her daughter, Natalie, is extremely preoccupied with the freckles on her
nose. Mae can barely see the freckles, but Natalie spends hours in front of the mirror and
recently declared that her nose is deformed and she is ugly. She spent her entire weekend
applying products to eliminate the freckles, and she recently announced her plans to save money
for plastic surgery. Mae believes her daughter may have a ________ disorder.
*A. body dysmorphic
B. generalized anxiety
C. mood
D. neurological
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
28. Which of the following is a good example of a flashback?
A. Eugene was bitten by a snake. Now when he sees a snake, he is careful to move away slowly
and silently.
B. Eugene was in a boating accident. Now he experiences intense fear of large bodies of water
and avoids boats.
C. Eugene was in a car accident. He is convinced that if he starts, stops, and restarts the engine
five times in a row he will avoid having a car accident.
*D. Eugene was in a motorcycle accident. When he hears a sudden loud noise he relives the
accident and feels as if it is happening all over again.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
29. Dr. Griffiths diagnosed Manuel with major depressive disorder because he ________.
*A. appears tearful to others and spends weeks at a time feeling sad, empty, and hopeless
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
B. exhibits three separate personalities, each distinct from the other
C. hates being outside the home alone
D. refuses to leave his room due to anxiety over what might happen during the day
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
30. Which of the following is not an example of suicidal ideation?
*A. fearing you will die
B. making a suicide attempt
C. spending an unusual amount of time talking about death
D. writing suicide letters
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1
31. Identify the obsession in the following sentence. “Keisha is overly concerned about germs, so
she spends hours wiping the surfaces of her home and washing her hands.”
*A. concern over germs
B. germs
C. spending hours washing her hands
D. spending hours wiping the surfaces of her home
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1
32. Cordelia, an active duty marine, served in Afghanistan. While she was on patrol with her
friend, an IED went off, killing her friend and injuring her. In the two months since her friend
died, Cordelia has been jumpy, irritable, avoids talking about her friend, and once every few
days experiences a flashback to the explosion. Cordelia is experiencing a ________ disorder.
A. antisocial personality
B. mood
*C. posttraumatic stress
D. schizotypal personality
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
33. Cole spends a few weeks being treated for major depressive disorder. He eventually stops
exhibiting symptoms, but a few months later they reoccur. Once again the symptoms dissipate,
but a few months later they reoccur. Cole’s major depressive disorder is ________?
A. asymptomatic
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*B. episodic
C. limited in duration to a few weeks
D. reoccurring every few months
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 2.2
34. Joffrey talks and moves slowly. When asked a question, he answers slowly in monotone
monosyllables, if he answers at all. Joffrey is experiencing psychomotor________.
A. agitation
B. deprivation
C. disorder
*D. retardation
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 2.2
35. Which of the following is an example of flight of ideas?
A. Gilbert attempts suicide, then calls 9-1-1.
B. Gilbert exhibits an abundance of energy during his debate session.
C. Gilbert speaks in a monotone voice.
*D. Gilbert talks loudly and quickly, switching topics rapidly.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
36. Identify the compulsion in the following example. Demarco can’t stop thinking about his
book collection, which includes hundreds of first editions. He wants it to be in a particular order.
He spends hours every day organizing his books alphabetically by author, then by color, then by
size.
A. having hundreds of first editions in his book collection
*B. organizing the books
C. thinking about the books all the time
D. thinking about the order of the books all the time
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
37. Janice is in the middle of a distinct period of an abnormally and persistently elevated mood.
In the last week she has cleaned her house from top to bottom (breaking windows and dishes in
the process), bought a new car that she can’t afford, and dug up most of her yard in case she
might want a garden next year. Janice is experiencing ________.
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
A. body dysmorphia
B. flight of ideas
*C. mania
D. rapid cycling
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
38. Apollonia was diagnosed with major depressive disorder five years ago. She knows her
mother took medicine to combat depression and she worries her daughter will experience
depression too. Why?
A. Apollonia also suffers from social anxiety disorder.
B. Mood disorders are more likely to occur in younger people.
*C. Mood disorders have been shown to have a strong genetic and biological basis.
D. People who grow up with a depressed parent become depressed themselves.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
39. Alexis experiences the symptoms of major depressive disorder, but only during midwinter.
What kind of depression does Alexis have?
A. bipolar
B. peripartum/postpartum
C. persistent depressive
*D. seasonal pattern
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
40. Which of the following is an example of a diathesis-stress model?
*A. Ozzie has a genetic predisposition towards depression, but he did not experience depression
until his mother and father died.
B. Ozzie treats his depression by exposing himself to a series of stressors so he can learn coping
skills.
C. Ozzie treats his manic episodes by using medication to induce depression.
D. Ozzie’s doctor does not believe that mental illness has a biological basis.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
41. Veena’s thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors are impaired to the point where she is unable to
function normally in life. She experiences significant difficulties in many day-to-day activities,
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
such as holding a job, paying bills, grooming, maintaining personal hygiene, and sustaining
relationships. Which of the following disorders is Veena living with?
A. anxiety disorder
B. borderline personality disorder
C. major depressive disorder
*D. schizophrenia
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
42. The belief that you ________ is an example of a delusion.
*A. can perform miracles
B. can quit smoking
C. do not love your parents
D. will be arrested for committing a crime
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
43. Diondre harbors the belief that spider eggs have been implanted underneath his fingernails.
What kind of delusion is this?
A. disorganized
B. grandiose
C. paranoid
*D. somatic
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
44. Lovell is noticeably fidgety and jittery. He can’t sit still; he paces, wrings his hands, and
pulls at his clothing constantly. Lovell suffers from psychomotor________.
*A. agitation
B. distress
C. rigidity
D. tension
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
45. Which of the following is an example of hopelessness theory?
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
*A. Rochelle has an expectation that terrible things will happen and there is nothing she can do
about it—this leads her to become depressed.
B. Rochelle is depressed, so she thinks terrible things will happen.
C. Rochelle is in an earthquake and many of her friends die, so she becomes depressed.
D. Rochelle stops taking her medication because she does not think medication will help her
depression.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
46. What symptom of schizophrenia is illustrated by the following example? So bees with knees
have fleas and fleas jump, I jump like a jack, Jack the Giant Killer. Giants kill and transform
things and something happened, but we can’t hear because our eyes are like flies that flew away.
A. catatonic behavior
*B. disorganized thinking
C. hallucinations
D. paranoid delusions
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
47. If Laura has bipolar disorder, then she ________.
A. experiences flashbacks interspersed with depression
B. never thinks about the risk that a major depressive episode will follow a manic episode
*C. often experiences mood states that vacillate between depression and mania
D. once started a day euphoric and ended the day tired
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
48. Which of the following is an example of avolition?
A. inability to enjoy fine dining
B. lack of interest in going out with your friend
*C. lack of motivation to bathe yourself
D. refusing to speak
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1
49. Fidel suddenly wanders away from his home and experiences confusion about his identity.
Fidel may be experiencing a(n) ________.
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
A. associative fugue
B. catatonia
C. depersonalization
*D. dissociative fugue
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
50. Nathan has an overinflated and unjustified sense of self-importance. He is preoccupied with
fantasies of success and believes that he is entitled to special treatment from others. Which of the
following diagnoses accounts for Nathan’s personality?
A. borderline personality disorder
B. histrionic personality disorder
*C. narcissistic personality disorder
D. schizotypal personality disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
51. Which of the following exemplifies a symptom of histrionic personality disorder?
A. Phoebe feels helpless when she is alone, and she can’t make decisions on her own.
*B. Phoebe feels uncomfortable when she is not the center of attention, and she has alienated
friends by demanding excessive amounts of their attention.
C. Phoebe is impulsive, unpredictable, and sometimes engages in self-mutilation.
D. Phoebe often displays an overinflated and unjustified sense of self-importance.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
52. From an early age, Kwaku got into trouble constantly. He continually violates the rights of
others and he often lies, fights, and has problems with the law. Generally, he is impulsive and
fails to think ahead. He is frequently deceitful and manipulative in order to get the things he
wants, and he never regrets his misdeeds or considers the feelings of those he has harmed. Which
of the following diagnoses accounts for Kwaku’s personality?
*A. antisocial personality disorder
B. dependent personality disorder
C. obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
D. paranoid personality disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
53. Which of the following exemplifies a symptom of schizotypal personality disorder?
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
A. Stella is devoted to her work and works so much that she has no time for friends or family.
*B. Stella laughed when her dog died and cried while watching a funny movie.
C. Stella often lies, fights, and gets into trouble with police.
D. When Stella’s father asked how her day was, she interpreted it as a threat.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
54. Phyllis cannot be alone. Her moods and behaviors are unstable, as are her relationships with
other people. She often displays inappropriate and intense anger. Recently, Phyllis wrote a
suicide note and offered to show it to her husband. Which of the following diagnoses accounts
for her personality?
A. antisocial personality disorder
B. avoidant personality disorder
*C. borderline personality disorder
D. schizotypal personality disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
55. Which of the following exemplifies a symptom of paranoid personality disorder?
A. Rafe believes he is entitled to special treatment from those around him.
B. Rafe believes that his dreams are prophetic.
C. Rafe is convinced his life has meaning beyond himself.
*D. Rafe is extremely suspicious of the people around him and mistrusts them for no identifiable
reason.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
56. Jerry allows others to take over and run his life. He is submissive and clings to those around
him. He cannot make decisions without advice and reassurance from others, probably because he
lacks self-confidence. He finds it impossible to do things on his own, and he feels uncomfortable
and helpless when he is alone. Which of the following diagnoses accounts for Jerry’s
personality?
A. avoidant personality disorder
B. borderline personality disorder
*C. dependent personality disorder
D. narcissistic personality disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
57. Egon can’t pay attention in class. He is easily distracted, won’t sit still, and displays poor
impulse control. The school counselor suggested that his parents take him to a doctor to have
him assessed for ________.
A. Asperger’s syndrome
*B. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
C. autism spectrum disorder
D. schizoid personality disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
58. Nicole is socially inhibited and oversensitive to negative evaluation. She was thinking about
a career in nursing, but she changed her mind because she believes the doctors would criticize
her and patients would reject her. She has never been on a date because she feels socially inept
and unappealing; she avoids meeting new people because anything less than immediate,
unconditional acceptance causes her anxiety. Just yesterday she was invited to go on a kayak
trip, but she didn’t go because she was worried she would embarrass herself. Which of the
following diagnoses accounts for Nicole’s personality?
*A. avoidant personality disorder
B. dependent personality disorder
C. obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
D. schizotypal personality disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
59. Which of the following exemplifies a symptom of autism spectrum disorder?
*A. Gemma exhibits deficits in social interaction by not initiating conversations with other
children, and she turns her head away when spoken to.
B. Gemma is quick to anger and is incapable of dealing with a situation in which she is not the
center of attention.
C. Gemma is submissive and physically clings to the people around her.
D. Gemma is very impulsive—as soon as an idea enters her head she acts upon it.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
60. Jeff is an unforgiving perfectionist who would rather deliver work a week late than turn in a
project with even minor mistakes. In fact, he spends so much time working that he never has
time for anything else. Jeff is known to be rigid, inflexible, and stubborn, and he never
compromises. Which of the following diagnoses accounts for Jeff’s personality?
A. histrionic personality disorder
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
B. narcissistic personality disorder
*C. obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
D. schizoid personality disorder
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3
61. Which of the following is false of dissociative disorders?
A. People with these disorders become disconnected from their sense of self.
*B. People with these disorders exhibit a personality style that differs markedly from the
expectations of their culture.
C. People with these disorders experience memory and identity disturbances.
D. These disorders do not have a physical cause.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
62. Which of the following is true about neurodevelopmental disorders?
*A. All neurodevelopmental disorders are diagnosed in early childhood.
B. All neurodevelopmental disorders are diagnosed in middle-aged patients.
C. All neurodevelopmental disorders are disorders of the elderly.
D. Neurodevelopmental disorders are not diagnosed in males.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
63. What should be changed to make the following sentence true? “For centuries, psychological
disorders were viewed from a natural perspective: attributed to a force beyond scientific
understanding.”
A. change the word “beyond” to the word “within”
*B. change the word “natural” to the word “supernatural”
C. change the word “psychological” to the word “psychopathological”
D. change the word “scientific” to the word “spiritual”
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
64. Which of the following is not a reason that ADHD may be overdiagnosed?
A. Doctors are too quick to medicate children as a behavior treatment.
*B. The amount of ADHD in the population has increased tenfold since it was first identified.
C. There is greater awareness of ADHD now than in the past.
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
D. What might seem like inattention to some parents and teachers could simply reflect exposure
to too much technology.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 2.2
65. What should be changed to make the following sentence true? “The psychological
perspective views disorders as linked to biological phenomena, such as genetic factors, chemical
imbalances, and brain abnormalities.”
*A. change the word “psychological” to the word “biological”
B. change the word “abnormalities” to the word “anomalies”
C. change the word “disorders” to the word “pathologies”
D. change the word “perspective” to the word “theory”
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
66. Which of the following is a common characteristic of all anxiety disorders?
A. above average number of phobias
*B. excessive, persistent fear and anxiety
C. inability to control the body’s reaction to fear
D. sporadic, intense panic attacks
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
67. Which of the following is not a risk factor for suicide?
A. alcohol dependence
B. history of previous suicide attempts
*C. popular music that promotes suicide
D. substance abuse
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
68. What should be changed to make the following sentence true? “The stress model suggests
that people with a predisposition for a disorder are more likely to develop the disorder when
faced with stress.”
*A. insert the word “diathesis-” before the first appearance of the word “stress”
B. change the first appearance of the word “stress” with the word “trauma”
C. change the second appearance of the word “disorder” with the word “diathesis”
D. change the word “predisposition” to the word “susceptibility”
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Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 2.2
69. Which of the following statements is true about obsessive-compulsive disorder?
*A. It involves intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
B. It involves persistent, unfocused anxiety.
C. It is most often diagnosed during adolescence.
D. Men are more often diagnosed than women.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
70. Which of the following statements about autism spectrum disorder is incorrect?
A. Exposure to environmental pollutants such as mercury has been linked to the development of
this disorder.
B. Genetic factors appear to play a prominent role in the development of this disorder.
C. It is characterized by a pervasive pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive and impulsive
behavior.
*D. This disorder involves feeling overwhelmed and sad for extended periods of time.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
71. What should be changed to make the following sentence true? “A person diagnosed with a
specific anxiety experiences excessive, distressing, and persistent fear about a particular object or
situation.”
*A. change the word “anxiety” to the word “phobia”
B. change the word “fear” to the word “terror”
C. change the word “specific” to the word “generalized”
D. change the word “specific” to the word “simple”
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
72. Which of the following factors does not strongly predict the development of posttraumatic
stress disorder?
*A. experiencing trauma in isolation
B. greater trauma severity
C. lack of immediate social support
D. trauma experience
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Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
73. Which of the following is a common characteristic of all dissociative disorders?
*A. becoming split off, or dissociated, from one’s core sense of self
B. feeling sad and hopeless over a long period of time
C. memory loss
D. rapidly fluctuating mood
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1
74. Why do so many people believe there is a link between autism and the measles, mumps, and
rubella vaccine?
*A. A prestigious medical journal published a paper, which was later retracted, that identified a
link.
B. Autism rates increased in every city with an aggressive vaccination program.
C. Everyone knows that vaccinations are unhealthy.
D. Parents with autistic children can see a clear link between vaccinations and autism.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
75. The ________ perspective suggests that psychological disorders result largely from faulty
physical processes, and the ________perspective emphasizes the importance of factors such as
stress and thoughts as well as environmental factors in the development of psychological
disorders.
*A. biological; psychological
B. diathesis; supernatural
C. medical; stress
D. psychological; biological
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
76. A recent study compared the vaccination histories of 256 children with autism spectrum
disorder with that of 752 control children across three time periods during their first two years of
life. Researchers found that ________.
A. a combination of genetics, mental predisposition, and bad parenting combined with the MMR
vaccination caused autism spectrum disorder
B. delaying vaccinations lessened the odds that a child would develop autism spectrum disorder
after a vaccination
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C. quantity of immunogens from vaccines received during the first two years of life was related
to the development of autism spectrum disorder
*D. the quantity of immunogens from vaccines received during the first two years of life were
not at all related to the development of autism spectrum disorder
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
77. What should be changed to make the following sentence true? “Acrophobia is characterized
by intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance of situations in which it might be difficult to escape or
receive help if one experiences symptoms of a panic attack.”
*A. change the word “acrophobia” to the word “agoraphobia”
B. change the word “acrophobia” to the word “arachnophobia”
C. change the word “escape” to the word “survive”
D. change the word “panic” to the word “heart”
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1. 1.2
78. Exhibiting a personality that ________ is a common characteristic of all personality
disorders.
*A. differs markedly from the expectations of one’s culture
B. is borderline or narcissistic
C. is incompatible with Western cultural norms
D. is split off, or dissociated, from one’s core sense of self
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
79. Which of the following is a major risk factor for developing a social anxiety disorder?
*A. behavioral inhibition
B. biological predisposition
C. displaying a specific phobia
D. exhibiting stress
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
80. What do obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, and hoarding disorder
have in common?
A. conviction that the patient herself is the cause of many people’s troubles
B. generalized anxiety and specific phobias
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
C. obsession with the suffering of others
*D. repetitive thoughts and urges, as well as an uncontrollable need to engage in repetitive
behavior and mental acts
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
Short Answer
81. Define depersonalization/derealization disorder.
Sample Answer: It is a dissociative disorder in which people feel detached from the self
(depersonalization), and the world feels artificial and unreal (derealization).
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
82. List the symptoms of a personality disorder.
Sample Answer: People with personality disorder exhibit a personality style that differs
markedly from the expectations of their culture; it is pervasive and inflexible, begins in
adolescence or early adulthood, and causes distress or impairment.
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
83. What are the characteristics of borderline personality disorder?
Sample Answer: Borderline personality disorder is characterized by having an unstable selfimage, mood, and behavior; they cannot tolerate being alone and experience chronic feelings of
emptiness; they are unstable and have intense relationships with others; their behavior is
impulsive, unpredictable, and sometimes self-damaging; they show inappropriate and intense
anger; they make suicidal gestures.
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
84. Identify two neurodevelopmental disorders.
Sample Answer: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism are both
neurodevelopmental disorders.
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
85. What did Bruno Bettelheim suggest caused childhood autism?
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
Sample Answer: Bruno Bettelheim suggested that a mother’s ambivalent attitudes and her frozen
and rigid emotions toward her child were the main causal factors in childhood autism.
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
86. Summarize the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia.
Sample Answer: An overabundance of dopamine or too many dopamine receptors are
responsible for the onset and maintenance of schizophrenia. The newest research suggests that an
overabundance of dopamine in the limbic system may be responsible for some symptoms, such
as hallucinations and delusions, whereas low levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex might
be responsible primarily for the negative symptoms (avolition, alogia, asociality, and anhedonia).
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
87. John survived an earthquake, but now he feels detached from himself, as if he is watching his
life on television, and the world feels artificial and unreal. What is wrong with John?
Sample Answer: John is suffering from depersonalization and derealization.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.3, 2.2
88. Contrast obsessive-compulsive disorder with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Sample Answer: People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) experience thoughts and
urges that are intrusive and unwanted (obsessions) and/or the need to engage in repetitive
behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
experience a pervasive need for perfectionism that interferes with the ability to complete tasks;
are preoccupied with details, rules, order, and schedules; are excessively devoted to work at the
expense of leisure and friendships; and are rigid, inflexible, and stubborn.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
89. Is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder caused by bad parenting? Explain.
Sample Answer: Genetics studies suggest that the family environment does not seem to play
much of a role in the development of this disorder. Available evidence suggests ADHD is
triggered more by genetic and neurological factors and less by social or environmental ones.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
90. Define and exemplify prodromal symptoms.
Sample Answer: Prodromal symptoms are minor symptoms of psychosis, such as unusual
thought content, paranoia, odd communication, delusions, problems at school or work, and a
decline in social functioning.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2
91. Contrast schizophrenia with a dissociative identity disorder.
Sample Answer: Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder in which people’s thoughts, perceptions,
and behaviors are impaired to the point where they are not able to function normally in life.
People with dissociative identity disorder exhibit two or more separate personalities or identities,
each well-defined and distinct from one another.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
92. If cognitive theories of panic disorder are correct, how can you treat panic disorder?
Sample Answer: Cognitive theorists argue that those with panic disorder are prone to interpret
ordinary bodily sensations catastrophically, and these fearful interpretations set the stage for
panic attacks. By reducing catastrophic cognitions about their sensations, one can reduce the
likelihood and severity of the panic attack.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
93. List the three major concepts used to characterize antisocial personality disorder and
exemplify one concept.
Sample Answer: The three major concepts are called disinhibition, boldness, and meanness.
Meanness is defined as “aggressive resource seeking without regard for others”(Patrick et al.,
2009, p. 913) and is signaled by a lack of empathy, disdain for and lack of close relationships with
others, and a tendency to accomplish goals through cruelty. An example of meanness is forcing
people to give you money by bullying them.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
94. Compare and contrast dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue.
Sample Answer: Dissociative amnesia is a dissociative disorder characterized by an inability to
recall important personal information, usually following an extremely stressful or traumatic
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Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders
experience. A dissociative fugue is a symptom of dissociative amnesia in which a person
suddenly wanders away from home and experiences confusion about his or her identity.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
95. Describe and exemplify two symptoms of schizophrenia.
Sample Answer: A hallucination is a perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of external
stimulation. For example, hearing children laugh when you are alone in the house. Delusions are
beliefs that are contrary to reality and are firmly held even in the face of contradictory evidence.
An example of delusion is believing you can heal a person’s broken leg by touching it.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
96. Compare and contrast depersonalization and derealization.
Sample Answer: People experiencing depersonalization will feel detached from the self, and
people experiencing derealization will view the world as artificial and unreal.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
97. List, define, and exemplify three kinds of schizophrenic delusions.
Sample Answer: Paranoid delusions involve the (false) belief that other people or agencies are
plotting to harm the person. For example, if I believe the government is trying to assassinate me.
Grandiose delusions are beliefs that one holds special power, unique knowledge, or is extremely
important. For example, if I believe I am the reincarnation of John Kennedy. Somatic delusion is
the belief that something highly abnormal is happening to one’s body. For example, if I believe
my body is turning into water.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
98. Explain the characteristics of schizoid disorder.
Sample Answer: People with schizoid disorder lack interest and desire to form relationships with
others— they lack close friends or confidants. They are aloof, show emotional coldness and
detachment, and are indifferent to approval or criticism of others. Their symptoms are not due to
schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or autism spectrum disorder.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
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99. Dr. Game is writing a brief history of psychological perspectives and he wants to know how
someone taking a supernatural perspective might explain a disorder such as schizophrenia. How
would you explain it to him?
Sample Answer: A supernatural perspective attributes psychological disorders to a force beyond
scientific understanding, such as spirit possession. Someone taking a supernatural perspective to
explain schizophrenia might attribute the symptoms of schizophrenia (e.g., delusions,
hallucinations, and disordered thoughts) to demonic possession.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
100. Explain the characteristics of schizotypal personality disorder.
Sample Answer: A person with schizotypal personality disorder will exhibit eccentricities in
thought, perception, emotion, speech, and behavior. They will show suspiciousness or paranoia.
They will have unusual perceptual experiences. Their speech is often idiosyncratic and they
display inappropriate emotions. These symptoms are not due to schizophrenia, other psychotic
disorders, or autism spectrum disorder.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
101. If Jacabo is diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder, what symptoms might he display?
Sample Answer: Body dysmorphic disorder involves excessive preoccupation with an imagined
defect in physical appearance. If Jacabo is diagnosed with this disorder he might be very
preoccupied with some aspect of his physical appearance. For example, he might be obsessed
with the idea that his stomach is not flat enough or that his biceps are not big enough.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
102. Antisocial personality disorder is much more common among males. Suggest two reasons
why.
Sample Answer: First, men with antisocial personality disorder are more likely to be physically
aggressive and destructive, so they are more likely to come to the attention of law enforcement.
Second, men may not experience higher levels of antisocial personality disorder; men may
instead be more likely to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder than women.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5
103. Major depressive disorder affects approximately 20% of women and 13% of men at some
point in their life. Why are women more often affected?
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Sample Answer: It is possible that women are more likely to seek help for major depressive
disorder, thereby increasing their reported rates; not as many men seek help for the disorder,
which would decrease their reported rates.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5
104. Provide one reason that explains why suicide rates are four times higher for men then for
women.
Sample Answer: Since men are more likely to use firearms and women are more likely to use
poison, perhaps there is more time to intervene in a woman’s suicide attempt, so men are more
likely to complete a suicide attempt than women.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5
105. How can you distinguish depression from ordinary feelings of sadness?
Sample Answer: Depressed people feel sad, discouraged, and hopeless most of the day, every
day. These individuals lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, often experience a decrease
in drives such as hunger and sex, and frequently doubt personal worth. Someone who is sad will
not experience these symptoms over a long period of time.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2
106. Why do you think media coverage of celebrity suicides is more than 14 times more likely to
trigger copycat suicides than coverage of non-celebrity suicides?
Sample Answer: Media coverage of celebrity suicides is more than 14 times more likely to
trigger copycat suicides than coverage of non-celebrity suicides because celebrities are role
models and fans like to emulate their heroes.
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5
Essay
107. Summarize Szasz’s approach to psychological disorders and explain why you agree or
disagree with his approach.
Difficulty: Easy
APA Standard: 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1
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108. In contemporary U.S. society we often casually talk about being depressed, though we may
not fit the criteria for a mood disorder. What effect might this have on someone who actually
does fit the criteria for a mood disorder?
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1
109. Discuss the harm that resulted from the paper that was published in a prestigious medical
journal that linked autism spectrum disorder to vaccinations.
Difficulty: Moderate
APA Standard: 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1
110. What would motivate a researcher to publish conclusions based on false data, such as the
paper that linked autism to vaccinations?
Difficulty: Difficult
APA Standard: 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1
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