Question 1

Disorders such as koro and dhat that are similar to somatic symptom disorders demonstrate the
A) influence of culture on psychopathology.
B) physical basis of many hypochondriacs' complaints.
C) difficulty of accurately diagnosing hypochondriasis.
D) influence of genetics on psychopathology.

Accepted Answer

Koro and dhat are culture-bound syndromes, meaning that they only occur in certain cultures and are not recognized as disorders in Western medicine. This highlights the influence of culture on psychopathology, suggesting that our understanding of mental illness is not universal and may be shaped by our cultural beliefs and experiences.

Question 2

According to psychological theory, neuroses stem from
A) underlying unconscious conflicts.
B) the clash of conscious and unconscious therapy.
C) dream process.
D) identity concepts.

Accepted Answer

According to psychological theory, neuroses stem from underlying unconscious conflicts, which may arise from unresolved childhood experiences or repressed thoughts and emotions. These conflicts can manifest as anxiety, depression, or other symptoms that impact daily functioning.

Question 3

Studies suggest that patients with somatic symptom disorder or illness anxiety disorder are characterized by a tendency to
A) interpret ambiguous stimuli as threatening.
B) minimize physical symptoms.
C) have low sensitivity to perceived illness.
D) avoid bad news cues.

Accepted Answer

Patients with somatic symptom disorder or illness anxiety disorder tend to interpret ambiguous stimuli as threatening and may become preoccupied with the possibility of having a serious illness, even if there is no medical evidence to support this concern. This is referred to as the cognitive distortion of catastrophizing. They may also have a heightened sensitivity to bodily sensations and symptoms, which can amplify their distress and reinforce their negative beliefs.

Question 4

With regard to the treatment of somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder, research exploring the use of reassurance in a process called "explanatory therapy" showed that
A) some significant gains were achieved.
B) reassurance did not work for hypochondriacs.
C) reassurance showed some gains but they lasted less than several days.
D) the gains were so significant that participants were essentially "cured."

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the use of reassurance in a process called "explanatory therapy" for somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder can lead to significant gains. However, it is important to note that reassurance may not work for all individuals and the gains achieved may not be long-lasting.

Question 5

All of the following are classified as somatic symptom and related disorders EXCEPT
A) dissociative identity disorder.
B) factitious disorder
C) conversion disorder.
D) illness anxiety disorder.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder is classified as a dissociative disorder, not a somatic symptom and related disorder. Factitious disorder, conversion disorder, and illness anxiety disorder are all examples of somatic symptom and related disorders.

Question 6

Clients with illness anxiety disorder are likely to
A) avoid doctors.
B) avoid unnecessary medical procedures.
C) soon reject assurances that they are healthy.
D) ignore the long-term process of illness.

Accepted Answer

Clients with illness anxiety disorder often have persistent thoughts and fears about having a serious illness, despite medical reassurance that they are healthy. They may also continue to seek medical care, even for minor symptoms, and may not be convinced by medical tests or examinations that they are not sick. Therefore, they are likely to soon reject assurances that they are healthy.

Question 7

Paradoxically, an effective treatment for somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder involves helping the patient to focus on
A) creating their own symptoms.
B) ignoring their own symptoms.
C) getting reassurance about their symptoms.
D) understanding other life stressors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Paradoxically, an effective treatment for somatic symptom...

Question 8

The common aspect of all somatic symptom disorders is a maladaptive or excessive
A) belief that a serious medical condition will cause death.
B) belief that one's appearance is ugly.
C) response to physical or associated health symptoms.
D) concern with the meaning of a physical pain.

Accepted Answer

The common aspect of all somatic symptom disorders is a maladaptive or excessive response to physical or associated health symptoms. This can manifest as excessive concern about the meaning of a physical pain, or other bodily sensations, and can lead to excessive behaviors such as seeking medical care or avoiding certain activities due to health fears. While beliefs about serious medical conditions or appearance can be present in certain somatic symptom disorders, they are not universal to all of them.

Question 9

Since Jane has been diagnosed with illness anxiety disorder, we can expect her to see her physician
A) often and feel completely reassured that there is nothing wrong with her health.
B) rarely but continue to believe that she is quite ill.
C) almost never because she does not trust physicians.
D) often but continue to be anxious about her health anyway.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with illness anxiety disorder often seek reassurance from physicians despite frequent negative test results. Therefore, we can expect Jane to see her physician often but continue to be anxious about her health anyway.

Question 10

Minor, physical complaints are common among .
A) young children
B) adolescents
C) the middle aged
D) the elderly

Accepted Answer

Young children often experience minor physical complaints such as colds, ear infections, and stomach bugs. Adolescents and the middle-aged are generally healthier and have fewer minor physical complaints, while the elderly may experience more serious and chronic health issues.

Question 11

Hippocrates and the Egyptians before him thought that hysterical disorders were the result of a .
A) dysfunctional ovary
B) tense vagina
C) wandering uterus
D) none of these

Accepted Answer

According to Hippocrates and the Egyptians before him, hysterical disorders were believed to be caused by a wandering uterus, which would move around the body and affect different organs, causing various symptoms. This theory persisted for centuries and was only discredited as medical understanding improved.

Question 12

With regard to the treatment of illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder, some research supports the use of _.
A) conditioning
B) psychoanalysis
C) cognitive-behavioral treatment and stress reduction
D) humanistic therapy

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that cognitive-behavioral treatment, which focuses on changing thinking patterns and behaviors related to health concerns, has been effective in treating illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder. Stress reduction techniques, such as relaxation training and mindfulness, may also be helpful in reducing symptoms. Conditioning, psychoanalysis, and humanistic therapy have not been supported by research as effective treatments for these disorders.

Question 13

Joe just ate six chili dogs and drank a liter of soda. If Joe suffers from illness anxiety disorder, he would probably interpret any resulting stomach discomfort as
A) his own fault for eating so much.
B) the result of poor quality food.
C) gas pains from overeating.
D) a sign that something is seriously wrong with his stomach.

Accepted Answer

Someone with illness anxiety disorder, also known as hypochondria, typically worries excessively about their health and interprets any bodily sensations as potential signs of serious illness. Therefore, Joe, who has this disorder, would likely interpret any discomfort from overeating as a sign of a serious stomach problem rather than attributing it to simply eating too much.

Question 14

An essential element of illness anxiety disorder is .
A) psychosis
B) worry
C) depression
D) dissociation

Accepted Answer

Illness anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondriasis, is characterized by excessive worry and fear about having a serious illness. Symptoms may include checking for signs of illness, seeking reassurance from doctors or loved ones, and avoiding activities or situations that could potentially cause illness. While depression may co-occur with illness anxiety disorder, it is not a defining characteristic. Psychosis and dissociation are not typically associated with the disorder.

Question 15

With regard to a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder, women are
A) equally likely as men to be diagnosed.
B) less likely than men to be diagnosed.
C) more likely than men to be diagnosed.
D) more likely than men to be diagnosed during middle to late adulthood but no more likely than men to be diagnosed during teen years and early adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder, with some studies reporting a 2:1 female-male ratio. This gender difference is believed to be due to a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. For example, women may be more likely to seek medical attention for physical symptoms, which can lead to greater medicalization of their complaints and a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder. Additionally, women may experience more stress and negative life events, which can increase the likelihood of developing somatic symptoms.

Question 16

Although Jill feels fine now and believes that she is healthy, she still worries endlessly about developing a serious illness. Most likely Jill would be diagnosed with
A) illness anxiety disorder.
B) conversion disorder.
C) somatization disorder.
D) body dysmorphic disorder.

Accepted Answer

Jill's constant worrying about developing a serious illness despite feeling physically fine suggests illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondriasis). This disorder is characterized by excessive worry and fear about having a serious illness, even when there is no or only mild evidence of the illness. Conversion disorder involves experiencing physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition or illness. Somatization disorder is a rare disorder in which patients experience multiple and recurrent physical symptoms with no clear medical explanation. Body dysmorphic disorder involves excessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in one's appearance.

Question 17

Although both panic disorder patients and persons with somatic symptom disorder tend to misinterpret bodily sensations, patients with panic disorder
A) are having real physical sensations, while the sensations of those with somatic symptom disorder are "all in their heads."
B) tend to fear immediate catastrophe, while those with somatic symptom disorder tend to fear long-term illness.
C) are having imagined physical sensations, while those with somatic symptom disorder are experiencing real physical sensations.
D) tend to ignore the symptoms of their first attacks, while those with somatic symptom disorder tend to seek immediate medical treatment following the first indication of pain.

Accepted Answer

Panic disorder patients tend to fear immediate catastrophe, such as a heart attack or losing control, while those with somatic symptom disorder tend to fear long-term illness or disease. Both may misinterpret bodily sensations, but their specific fears and concerns differ.

Question 18

Illness anxiety disorder exists when
A) a person is excessively concerned about being sick, even when only experiencing minor symptoms.
B) real physical illness is exaggerated to the point where the patient can only focus on the pain.
C) the patient has an unrealistic fear of contacting germs.
D) the patient is truly ill but does not trust the medical establishment enough to seek treatment.

Accepted Answer

Illness anxiety disorder (previously called hypochondriasis) is characterized by excessive worry and fear of having a serious illness, even when one's symptoms are mild or non-existent. This preoccupation with illness can lead to significant distress and impaired functioning. In contrast, options B, C, and D describe other health-related conditions or concerns.

Question 19

Although it's name has changed from DSM-IV to DSM-5, hypochondriasis is essentially an emotional disturbance triggered by
A) physical pathology.
B) misinterpretation of normal physical sensations.
C) social concerns.
D) severe or unusual physical sensations.

Accepted Answer

Hypochondriasis, now known as illness anxiety disorder in DSM-5, is characterized by misinterpretation of normal physical sensations as signs of serious illness, rather than being triggered by physical pathology, social concerns, or severe or unusual physical sensations.

Question 20

Panic disorder shares several common characteristics with both somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder. Which of the following is not one of those shared features?
A) Age of onset
B) Running in families
C) Personality characteristics
D) Manner in which anxiety is expressed

Accepted Answer

The answer of Panic disorder shares several common characteristics with...

Quiz 6: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders and Dissociative Disorders

Disorders such as koro and dhat that are similar to somatic symptom disorders demonstrate the

According to psychological theory, neuroses stem from

Studies suggest that patients with somatic symptom disorder or illness anxiety disorder are characterized by a tendency to

With regard to the treatment of somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder, research exploring the use of reassurance in a process called "explanatory therapy" showed that

All of the following are classified as somatic symptom and related disorders EXCEPT

Clients with illness anxiety disorder are likely to

Paradoxically, an effective treatment for somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder involves helping the patient to focus on

The common aspect of all somatic symptom disorders is a maladaptive or excessive

Since Jane has been diagnosed with illness anxiety disorder, we can expect her to see her physician

Minor, physical complaints are common among .

Hippocrates and the Egyptians before him thought that hysterical disorders were the result of a .

With regard to the treatment of illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder, some research supports the use of _.

Joe just ate six chili dogs and drank a liter of soda. If Joe suffers from illness anxiety disorder, he would probably interpret any resulting stomach discomfort as

An essential element of illness anxiety disorder is .

With regard to a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder, women are

Although Jill feels fine now and believes that she is healthy, she still worries endlessly about developing a serious illness. Most likely Jill would be diagnosed with

Although both panic disorder patients and persons with somatic symptom disorder tend to misinterpret bodily sensations, patients with panic disorder

Illness anxiety disorder exists when

Although it's name has changed from DSM-IV to DSM-5, hypochondriasis is essentially an emotional disturbance triggered by

Panic disorder shares several common characteristics with both somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder. Which of the following is not one of those shared features?