Question 1

Continuing research on stress suggests that ____.

Accepted Answer

Continuing research on stress has shown that it affects various systems in the body including the immune system, heart function, hormone levels, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) systems. While biological stressors may have a more immediate impact on the immune system, psychological and social stressors can also have long-term effects on overall health. Therefore, option A and B are incorrect. Additionally, there is a strong relationship between stress and health, making option C incorrect.

Question 2

Jake is confused about what a stressor is. How would you explain the term, based on the text?

Accepted Answer

A stressor is typically defined as an external event or situation that places a demand on a person, potentially leading to stress.

Question 3

Sandi is diagnosed as having two conditions: migraine headaches and hypertension. A mental health professional should consider her as suffering from ____.

Accepted Answer

Both migraine headaches and hypertension can be influenced by psychological factors, such as stress, making them psychophysiological disorders. Psychophysiological disorders are physical diseases that are thought to be caused or exacerbated by mental factors.

Question 4

On one particularly stressful day, Darren learns that his girlfriend is leaving him, his mother has been robbed, and the IRS is auditing him. His body reacts with an increased heart rate and increased respiration. Viewing Darren's reaction from a biological perspective, Darren is experiencing ____.

Accepted Answer

Darren's increased heart rate and respiration are indicative of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress.

Question 5

Kwan, a refugee from Cambodia, feels fine all day, but dies in his sleep. His autopsy shows no identifiable cause for his death. The cause of his death would likely be attributable to ____.

Accepted Answer

Sudden death syndrome refers to unexpected and unexplained death, typically due to cardiac arrhythmias or other heart-related causes. Given that Kwan's autopsy showed no identifiable cause of death and he died in his sleep with no prior symptoms, sudden death syndrome is the most likely cause of his death. Ventricular fibrillation and acute bradycardia are specific heart conditions that can cause sudden death syndrome, but there is no indication in the scenario that Kwan had these conditions. Psychosomatic heart disease is a condition where emotional or psychological stress can cause real physical symptoms, but it is not typically fatal.

Question 6

The body's reaction to long-lasting stress is associated with ____.

Accepted Answer

Long-lasting stress can lead to the development of psychophysiological disorders, as chronic stress affects the body's systems and can contribute to health issues such as heart disease, hypertension, and other stress-related illnesses.

Question 7

Ramon sees a therapist because he is reliving a traumatic experience and has been trying to avoid reminders of it. The onset of his problem occurred three weeks ago, after he was brutally assaulted and robbed. The therapist would most likely diagnose Ramon with which disorder?

Accepted Answer

Ramon is experiencing symptoms of acute stress disorder, which occurs within 4 weeks of a traumatic event and includes symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, avoidance, negative mood, and hyperarousal. PTSD requires symptoms to persist for longer than 1 month. Generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder do not fit with the specific symptoms described in the scenario.

Question 8

Dale seemed to be okay when he returned from military duty Afghanistan in June, 2010, despite witnessing his two best friends being killed when invading a compound. Six months after his return, he begins having nightmares and flashbacks about his experiences and lives on constant alert. He jumps at even the slightest noise. Finally, his wife insists that Dale see a therapist. The most likely diagnosis is ____.

Accepted Answer

Dale's symptoms of nightmares, flashbacks, hyperarousal, and jumpiness are characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The fact that the symptoms did not present until six months after his return also fits with PTSD, as symptoms can manifest months or even years after the traumatic event. Noise phobia or panic disorder do not account for Dale's specific symptoms, and acute stress disorder is a possibility but the timeline of symptoms suggests PTSD.

Question 9

Professor McLeod says, "Psychological factors can influence physical processes by producing physiological changes in the immune system. For hundreds of years, health care professionals have understood this connection between psychological and physical factors. However, psychological conditions cannot influence neural and biological systems. Additionally, a person's beliefs about the causes, symptoms, duration, and curability of a disease do not affect that person's willingness to seek treatment and follow through with it." Which part of Professor McLeod's statement is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Professor McLeod says, "Psychological factors can influence...

Question 10

Imagine that you are a physician and your patient is a Hmong immigrant who has just arrived in the United States. The patient, through a translator, tells you that spirits come into his room while he sleeps and make it hard for him to breathe. He wakes up screaming. Considering reports from other Hmong immigrants, you should ____.

Accepted Answer

Hmong immigrants have been reported to experience a condition known as "sudden unexpected nocturnal death syndrome" (SUNDS), which is believed to be linked to psychological stress and cultural beliefs.

Question 11

Which statement concerning stressors and stress is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Stressors are events or situations that can potentially cause stress in an individual, while stress is the internal reaction or response to these stressors. Therefore, stressors are external and stress is internal. Option B is incorrect because stress can be acute or chronic, and stressors can also be chronic, such as ongoing job dissatisfaction. Option C is incorrect because stressors are external and do not include internal body reactions. Option D is incorrect because they are two different concepts - stressors are the cause, and stress is the effect.

Question 12

Both Kurt and Magda survived airplane crashes. Both experience intrusive memories of the event as well as extreme anxiety and dissociative episodes. One might be diagnosed with acute stress disorder and the other with posttraumatic stress disorder if ____.

Accepted Answer

The main difference between acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the duration of the symptoms. To be diagnosed with ASD, symptoms must persist for between 3 days and 1 month after the traumatic event, while symptoms that last for over a month may be diagnosed as PTSD. Therefore, if one has had symptoms for more than thirty days and the other has not, one might be diagnosed with PTSD and the other with ASD. The other options (A, B, and D) do not accurately reflect the diagnostic criteria for ASD or PTSD.

Question 13

Stress researchers have found that ____.

Accepted Answer

Brief exposure to stress can temporarily enhance immune functioning, but prolonged stress typically leads to a deterioration of immune functioning.

Question 14

A dominant theme in understanding the manifestation of stress is that _____.

Accepted Answer

The question asks for a dominant theme in understanding the manifestation of stress, and option B reflects the most widely accepted understanding that stress results from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and sociocultural factors. Option A is not entirely accurate as positive stressors, such as getting married or receiving a promotion, can also lead to stress. Option C is partially true, as interpretation of stressors can influence their impact, but it is not the most important factor. Option D is an oversimplification as stress and illness have a complex and multifaceted relationship.

Question 15

Lifetime prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highest among ____.

Accepted Answer

African Americans have a higher lifetime prevalence of PTSD compared to other racial/ethnic groups, influenced by factors such as higher exposure to trauma.

Question 16

Which individual has a psychophysiological disorder?

Accepted Answer

Psychophysiological disorders are physical diseases that are thought to be caused or exacerbated by mental factors such as stress. Brenda's migraines, which began after a stressful event, suggest a psychophysiological disorder.

Question 17

Which of the following is not a recognized characteristic of psychophysiological disorders?

Accepted Answer

Psychophysiological disorders involve actual tissue damage, disease processes, or physical dysfunction rather than primarily psychological symptoms such as feelings of depression or anxiety. These feelings, while they can contribute to or result from physical health issues, are not in themselves recognized as characteristics of psychophysiological disorders.

Question 18

DSM-5 places psychophysiological disorders into ____.

Accepted Answer

DSM-5 places psychophysiological disorders, which refer to medical conditions that are influenced by psychological factors such as stress and anxiety, into the category of "Psychological Factors Affecting Other Medical Conditions" on Axis III. This is done to highlight the role of psychological factors in the development and management of medical conditions.

Question 19

Drazen was in Bosnia during the civil war there. He has daytime flashbacks of the bombing and is emotionally numb, withdrawing from friends and family. Although he is much calmer than he was before the war, symptoms have lasted for several months. What about Drazen's case is unusual for a person with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Accepted Answer

People with PTSD often experience heightened states of arousal and anxiety rather than becoming calmer, which is contrary to Drazen's described calmness. Flashbacks, withdrawal from others, and symptoms lasting more than thirty days are common in PTSD.

Question 20

Leo took care of his wife for several years after she suffered a stroke. The stress on him was overwhelming. Shortly after she died, he develops a serious illness. His illness suggests ____.

Accepted Answer

Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to illnesses.

Quiz 5: Trauma- and Stress-Related Disorders