Quiz 7: Mood Disorders and Suicide

Prior to the DSM-III, conditions that are currently characterised as mood disorders were referred to by several different names, including all of the following EXCEPT A)depressive disorders. B)affective disorders. C)psychotic episodes. D)depressive neuroses.

The physical symptoms of a major depressive disorder include A)changes in appetite or weight. B)decreased ability to concentrate. C)increased energy. D)decreased self-esteem.

One of the symptoms of a mood disorder is called anhedonia, which means A)a feeling of worthlessness. B)an altered pattern of sleep. C)indecisiveness. D)an inability to engage in pleasurable activities.

Mood disorders can range from mild to severe; the most severe type of depression is called A)major depressive disorder. B)dysthymia. C)cyclothymia. D)profound depression.

Which of the following is a symptom of a manic mood state? A)clear, coherent speech B)hypoactive behaviour C)fatigue D)grandiose planning

When used in connection with mood disorders, 'flight of ideas' means A)anxiety about airplane travel. B)rapid speech expressing many exciting ideas at once. C)limited imagination reflected in a slow way of speaking. D)repression of all creative ideas.

In comparing the length of untreated depressive episodes to untreated manic episodes, which of the following is an accurate statement? A)Depressive episodes generally last longer. B)Manic episodes generally last longer. C)Both types of episodes typically last about the same amount of time. D)This comparison cannot be made because depressive episodes are always treated.

Which of the following is NOT TRUE about a hypomanic episode? A)It is not necessarily problematic. B)It does contribute to the definition of several mood disorders. C)It causes marked impairment in social or occupational functioning. D)It need only last four days.

A 35-year-old individual named Manny has recently formulated an elaborate plan to cure AIDS with vitamin therapy.To provide funding for this cause, he has withdrawn all the money from his bank account and purchased thousands of jars of vitamins and small boxes in which to put them.When he appeared at a hospital emergency room loudly demanding the names of patients with AIDS, he himself was hospitalised for psychiatric observation.What is your diagnosis of Manny? A)major depressive episode B)hypomanic episode C)manic episode D)postpartum psychosis

Unipolar mania A)does not exist. B)is rare. C)is fairly common. D)is a part of bipolar disorder.

During a dysphoric manic episode, the patient experiences mania and A)schizophrenia. B)confusion. C)anxiety and depression. D)anger.

Dysphoric mania refers to a type of mood disorder in which manic episodes are A)extremely severe. B)very mild. C)accompanied by depression or anxiety. D)related to a medical condition.

Most individuals who experience a single episode of major depressive disorder will A)never have another episode. B)most likely have just one more episode. C)later have a manic episode. D)probably have several episodes throughout their lives.

Thandi has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, recurrent.She wants to know what to expect in the future regarding her condition.You tell her that according to recent research the median lifetime number of major depressive episodes is A)2 or 3. B)4 to 7. C)8 to 11. D)12 to 15.

Persistent depressive disorder (formerly called dysthymia) differs from major depressive disorder because people diagnosed with dysthymia have symptoms of depression that are A)more severe. B)longer lasting. C)episodic. D)temporary.

Xolani has experienced recurrent episodes of major depressive episodes.In the intervals between the episodes, he does not seem to return to 'normal'.In fact, during those periods, he has been diagnosed as suffering from persistent depressive disorder.Xolani's condition is referred to as A)double depression. B)bipolar disorder. C)atypical depression. D)dysfunctional dysthymia.

A person who experiences a persistent depressed mood for at least two years but is not experiencing major depression may have A)persistent depressive disorder. B)cyclothymic disorder. C)bipolar disorder. D)double depression.

Milton has been mildly depressed for many years.Just recently, however, his depression deepened, and he was severely depressed for about three months.His deep depression then lifted and he was once again mildly depressed.Milton A)will be easier to treat now that the severe depression is resolved. B)will quickly respond to treatment and will recover completely from his depression. C)will require a longer and more intense course of treatment to maintain a normal mood state. D)will require treatment for the rest of his life.

Katie has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.Most recently, she has been lying immobile for long periods.If someone moves one of her arms to a different position, it just stays there.Katie has stopped speaking and does not appear to hear what is being said to her.What specifier would you apply to her diagnosis of major depressive disorder? A)chronic B)with catatonic features C)with atypical presentation D)melancholic

Tamara gave birth to a healthy child four days ago.Now she is tearful and having mood swings.Fortunately, these symptoms disappeared relatively quickly.Tamara was probably suffering from A)major depressive disorder with peri-partum onset. B)'baby blues'. C)persistent depressive disorder. D)major depressive episode with seasonal onset.

A person who eats and sleeps too much is experiencing a depressive episode with __________ features. A)atypical B)melancholic C)chronic D)catatonic

The melancholic specifiers for depressive disorders include all of the following EXCEPT A)weight loss. B)loss of libido (sex drive). C)sleeping late and hypersomnia. D)anhedonia.

The peri-partum onset specifier is used to characterise a severe manic or depressive episode with psychotic features that occurs in a woman immediately before or after A)childbirth. B)a hysterectomy. C)a physical assault. D)menopause.

In rare tragic cases, a mother suffering from major depression with peri-partum onset might A)kill her child. B)commit suicide. C)murder other people's children. D)injure the child's father.

The most usual pattern of a temporal specifier in major depressive disorder occurs in the late autumn and ends with the beginning of spring.This type of depression is known as A)melancholic B)recurrent C)postpartum D)seasonal affective disorder

Which of the following statements applies to the condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? A)Women with SAD reported more autonomous negative thoughts throughout the year than women without SAD. B)People with SAD have symptoms of decreased sleep and decreased appetite. C)Depression in vulnerable people might be triggered by decreased production of the hormone called melatonin. D)SAD can be treated with phototherapy, i.e.two hours of exposure to bright light just before going to sleep.

Phototherapy is a treatment for SAD that involves A)exposure to bright light shortly after waking. B)exposure to bright light in the evening. C)exposure to a negative ion generator shortly after awakening. D)exposure to a negative ion generator in the evening.

According to recent research (Kessler et al., 2003), the percentage of people aged 18 to 29 who have already experienced major depression is A)10%. B)18%. C)25%. D)40%.

How many patients with severe cases of depression, where the episode lasts five years or longer, can be expected to recover? A)4% B)22% C)38% D)56%

The probability that a person will recover from a major depressive episode within one year approaches 90% in A)almost all cases. B)mild cases only. C)severe cases only. D)double depression only.

Symptoms of severe depression are generally NOT considered a psychological disorder when they are associated with A)a grief reaction. B)a manic episode. C)anxiety. D)thoughts of suicide.

A woman who is extremely depressed a year or so after the loss of her spouse might be diagnosed with A)normal bereavement B)dysthymia C)major depression D)complicated grief

Although grieving is considered a normal process, it does sometimes become a psychological disorder.Which of the following cases would NOT be diagnosed as a pathological grief reaction? A)Mr A experienced a death in his family.In addition to symptoms of depression, he has been having auditory hallucinations in which he hears other deceased people talking to him. B)Miss B has experienced the death of a close friend.She is so depressed that she has no appetite and no energy and is suicidal. C)Mrs C's dog recently died.Three weeks later, her friends suggest that she get another dog 'to help her get over the loss'.Mrs.C.refuses and says she just isn't ready to get another dog and, besides, it would be impossible to replace her beloved 'Toto'. D)Dr D's husband died a few months ago.Recently, in addition to her depressive symptoms, she has been having paranoid delusions in which she believes that certain unnamed individuals are planning to remove her husband's body from the grave.

If a friend of yours stops sleeping and suddenly claims that he is going to go to law school and medical school simultaneously so he can change the world, you might suspect he is A)anxious. B)depressed. C)manic. D)anhedonic.

Tebogo is currently completing a chemical formula that he knows will cure cancer.He recently submitted a book to a publisher and was sure that it would become a bestseller.For several weeks prior to this, he was bedridden, morose, had no energy and lacked any spontaneity.He never left his bed and had to be cared for by his family.Tebogo's diagnosis is A)major depressive disorder. B)persistent depressive disorder. C)bipolar I disorder. D)bipolar II disorder.

Bipolar II disorder consists of A)depression with hypomanic episodes. B)depression with anxiety. C)depression with mania. D)depression with dysthymia.

Pretty is diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.You can expect that she will experience A)full manic episodes. B)hypomanic episodes. C)both manic and hypomanic episodes. D)neither manic nor hypomanic episodes.

When manic episodes alternate with depressive episodes, the disorder most correctly diagnosed would be A)bipolar I disorder. B)major depressive disorder. C)bipolar II disorder D)cyclothymic disorder

Suicide associated with bipolar disorder almost always occurs during A)a manic phase. B)a depressive episode. C)a prodromal period. D)a hypomanic phase.

The rapid-cycling specifier refers to an individual with bipolar disorder who experiences at least ___ manic or depressive episodes in a year. A)two B)four C)six D)eight

In studies of bipolar patients who experience rapid cycling, it has been found that between 60% and 90% are A)female. B)male. C)elderly. D)adolescents.

At various times, Buhle, a 20-year-old college student, has been considered by her family and/or friends to be moody, highly strung, explosive or hyperactive.She never fails to take care of her responsibilities, but the fact that she seems to experience mood swings that are outside the norm has been noticed by those around her.Knowing the criteria for mood disorders, you would diagnose Buhle with A)major depressive disorder. B)panic disorder. C)persistent depressive disorder. D)cyclothymic disorder.

When referring to the mood disorders called cyclothymia and persistent depressive disorder, it would be accurate to say that an individual with cyclothymia probably A)would be considered 'moody'. B)cannot function normally at all. C)has more depressive episodes. D)has full manic episodes.

The less severe but chronic version of bipolar disorder is called __________ disorder. A)dysphoric B)seasonal affective C)bipolar III D)cyclothymic

In about _____________patients, cyclothymic mood swings develop into full-blown bipolar disorder. A)25-33% B)33-50% C)50-66% D)10-20%

Approximately ______ of the population experience major depressive disorder over a lifetime and approximately _____will have experienced it in the last year. A)11%; 4% B)16%; 6% C)21%; 8% D)25%; 10%

With regard to the prevalence of mood disorders, which of the following has been found consistently? A)Females experience major depressive disorders less frequently than males. B)Men have twice as many mood disorders as women. C)Bipolar disorders occur equally across the sexes. D)Dysthymia occurs equally across the sexes.

Depression rates in adolescents appear to be A)increasing. B)levelling off. C)about the same as adults. D)decreasing.

All of the following are accurate statements about the prevalence of mood disorders in children and adolescents EXCEPT A)Bipolar disorder in children is often misdiagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). B)Major depressive disorder in adolescents is largely a female disorder. C)Rates of attempted suicide decrease during adolescence. D)Adolescents with bipolar disorder may become aggressive, impulsive, sexually provocative and accident prone.

A child raised by depressed parents is likely to A)struggle with depression as well. B)learn how to avoid depression. C)be inoculated against depression. D)deny stress symptoms.

Which of the following is TRUE of depression in the elderly? A)Being depressed triples the risk of death in the elderly. B)Suicide rates are the second highest of any age group due to depression. C)The prevalence of depression is almost equal among elderly men and women. D)all of the above

Being depressed __________ the risk of death in elderly patients who have had a stroke or heart attack. A)has no effect B)doubles C)triples D)reduces

Cross-cultural research in the USA indicates that, due at least in part to very poor social and economic conditions, the prevalence of major depression is extremely high among ________. A)African Americans B)Hispanic Americans C)Asian Americans D)Native Americans

In research looking at the biological causes of mood disorders, studies have shown that if one of a set of identical twins has a mood disorder, the probability that the other twin will have a mood disorder is A)29%. B)42%. C)66%. D)81%.

Which of the following statements is TRUE? A)Overwhelming evidence suggests mood disorders are familial and reflect an underlying genetic vulnerability. B)Studies are now beginning to identify a small group of genes that may contribute to genetic vulnerability to some types of depression. C)The genetic contribution to depression falls in the range of approximately 40% for females and 20% for males. D)all of the above

Recent research suggests that A)social and psychological explanations seem to account for factors that contribute to both anxiety and depression. B)for mania, the biological vulnerability may not be specific to that disorder. C)the same genetic factors contribute to both anxiety and depression. D)all of the above

Current research into neurotransmitter systems has produced the 'permissive' hypothesis, which states that A)low levels of serotonin are sufficient to explain the aetiology of mood disorders. B)the noradrenaline system regulates serotonin levels; if noradrenaline is low, depression will occur. C)when serotonin levels are low, other neurotransmitter systems become dysregulated and contribute to mood irregularities. D)the absolute levels of neurotransmitters are more significant in mood regulation than the overall balance of the various neurotransmitters.

A friend of yours tells you that he thinks he is mildly depressed, but he's not sure.Knowing that you are studying abnormal psychology, he asks if there is any kind of laboratory test that could determine whether or not someone is depressed.You respond correctly with one of the following statements: A)Currently there is no way of diagnosing depression with a laboratory test. B)The dexamethasone suppression test is a biological test for depression. C)The dexamethasone suppression test can only be used to diagnose severe cases of depression. D)Cortisol levels are decreased in depression; he could have his cortisol levels checked by a blood test.

With regard to most disorders, serotonin is thought to A)function independently of other neurotransmitters. B)regulate other neurotransmitters, such as noradrenaline and dopamine. C)be unrelated to symptoms. D)none of the above

The best conclusion about the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) for the diagnosis of depression is that A)it is accurate. B)it is effective but cannot differentiate bipolar disorder from major depression. C)it promises to be an effective diagnostic tool in the future. D)it is not useful as a diagnostic tool.

Recent research suggests that A)the suppression of neurogenesis in the hippocampus is due to the connection between high stress hormones and depression. B)low hippocampal volume may precede and contribute to the onset of depression C)electroconvulsive therapy seems to produce neurogenesis in the hippocampus D)all of the above

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of the sleep of depressed patients? A)They enter REM sleep quickly. B)They experience intense REM episodes. C)They show delayed slow wave sleep. D)They show advanced slow wave sleep.

Depressive individuals tend to exhibit A)greater right anterior brain activity. B)greater left anterior brain activity. C)more alpha wave activity. D)less overall brain activity.

With regard to the relationship between stress and depression, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT A)the context of the life event, as well as its meaning to the individual, is more important than the nature of the event itself. B)an individual's current mood state might distort earlier memories of stressful life events that precipitated the depression. C)stressful life events are strongly related to the onset of mood disorders. D)recurrent episodes of depression, but not initial episodes, are strongly predicted by major life stress.

When individuals who are biologically vulnerable to depression place themselves in high-risk stressful environments, it is called A)humoral theory. B)the cognitive-behavioural model. C)the gene-environment correlation model. D)a stress-depression linkage effect.

Stressful events are strongly related to the onset of A)depression. B)bipolar disorder. C)both. D)neither.

Martin Seligman's theory that people become anxious and depressed because they believe that they have no control over the stress in their lives is called A)the learnt helplessness theory. B)cognitive-behavioural theory. C)humanistic/existential theory. D)the control theory of depression.

In 1989, Abramson and his colleagues revised Seligman's theory of learnt helplessness, changing the focus from specific attributions to _________ as the crucial factor in depression. A)lack of control B)a sense of hopelessness C)repressed anger D)a feeling of failure

A student who has been doing very well in her psychology class receives a minor critical comment on an essay she wrote as part of an exam.The student thinks, 'This is terrible.I'm probably going to fail the course.' This type of cognitive error in thinking is called A)arbitrary inference. B)overgeneralisation. C)splitting. D)dissociating.

Regarding Beck's views on depression, which of the following definitions of cognitive errors and negative schema is NOT correct? A)In a self-blame schema, depressed individuals feel personally responsible for every bad thing that happens. B)Arbitrary inference means that a depressed individual emphasises the positive rather than the negative aspects of a situation. C)In a negative self-evaluation schema, depressed individuals believe that they can never do anything correctly. D)Overgeneralisation occurs when a small error is magnified to mean something much more significant.

Negative cognitive styles are associated with a vulnerability to subsequent depression A)in people in general. B)in people who have already been depressed. C)only in people who are currently depressed. D)only in women.

According to recent research on the development of depression, dysfunctional attitudes (a negative outlook) and hopelessness attributes (explaining things negatively) constitute a _____________ vulnerability to depression. A)biological B)cognitive C)behavioural D)sociological

In Aaron Beck's depressive cognitive triad, individuals think negatively about all of the following EXCEPT A)themselves. B)their immediate world. C)their past. D)their future.

For individuals who had not been previously depressed, research studies indicate that a marital separation or divorce resulted in A)a higher rate of depression in men. B)a higher rate of depression in women. C)approximately equal rates of depression for males and females. D)no symptoms of depression in either males or females.

Possible reasons for the higher rates of depression found in women include all of the following EXCEPT A)culturally induced dependence and passivity. B)sense of uncontrollability and helplessness. C)low value placed on intimate relationships. D)self-blame for being depressed.

Possible reasons for the higher rates of depression found in women relate to the disadvantages experienced by women in the United States such as A)discrimination and poverty. B)abuse and sexual harassment. C)both of these D)none of these

With regard to social support, A)having one close friend did not affect depression rates. B)having social support helped speed recovery from depressive episodes. C)having social support had no effect in China. D)having social support helped speed recovery from manic episodes.

Which of the following factors contribute to the integrative theory of depression? A)stressful life events B)stress hormones C)neurotransmitter systems D)all of these

Which of the following is perhaps the best-known and widely used SSRI medication? A)Prozac B)Valium C)Hypericum D)Thorazine

The antidepressant medications known as imipramine (Tofranil) and amitriptyline (Tryptanol) are included in the class of drugs called A)SSRIs. B)tricyclics. C)MAO inhibitors. D)tranquillisers.

Which of the following statements is TRUE about tricyclics? A)Tricyclics work within 24 hours after they are ingested. B)They can be accompanied by very unpleasant side effects. C)Tricyclics block the reuptake of acetylcholine. D)Weight loss is a side effect of taking a tricyclic.

Clinical studies have shown that the response rate for patients receiving at least some relief from depressive symptoms by using antidepressants is approximately ________. A)25% B)50% C)75% D)100%

Studies has shown that tricyclics have caused A)manic episodes in the elderly. B)severe weight loss in adolescents. C)sudden death in some children under 14 years old. D)all of the above

With regard to the treatment of mood disorders, which of the following statements is accurate? A)Patients do not recover from episodes of major depression without treatment. B)Delaying or preventing future episodes of major depression is an important treatment goal. C)After a patient has experienced a major depressive episode and recovered, treatment can be discontinued. D)Close to 100% of patients with major depressive disorder respond to drug treatment.

A goal of treatment for patients who have experienced major depressive disorders is delaying or preventing the next episode.In which of the following situations would this goal be LEAST important? A)patients who have recovered from a major depressive episode but still have some residual symptoms B)patients with a past history of chronic depression (dysthymia) C)patients with a past history of multiple episodes of major depressive disorder D)patients who have had a single, brief episode of major depressive disorder and recovered without treatment

All of the following are side effects of lithium therapy EXCEPT ____________. A)lowered thyroid functioning B)weight loss C)toxicity D)lack of energy

All of the following statements about lithium therapy are true EXCEPT A)lithium can act as an antidepressant. B)lithium can act as a mood stabiliser. C)dosage must be carefully regulated to prevent toxicity. D)the side effects of lithium are less serious than those of other antidepressants.

A relative of yours has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.Your family is impressed when you mention that the preferred drug for this condition is A)Prozac. B)St John's wort. C)an anticonvulsant. D)lithium.

All of the following statements about lithium therapy are true EXCEPT A)for those patients who respond to lithium, approximately 70% will relapse. B)for anyone with recurrent manic episodes, maintenance on lithium is recommended to prevent relapse. C)once a person is symptom-free for six months, he/she may stop taking lithium. D)people stop taking lithium to regain the euphoric feeling that mania produces.

One of the problems encountered by psychiatrists who prescribe medication for patients with bipolar disorder is that patients often A)stop taking the medication in order to bring on a depressive state. B)stop taking the medication in order to bring on a manic state. C)overdose on the medication during a severe manic state. D)become addicted to the medications during a severe manic state.

The antidepressant medication lithium is also referred to as a mood stabiliser because it A)increases the availability of both dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain. B)is less toxic than the SSRI medications. C)helps to prevent manic episodes. D)increases thyroid functioning, which results in improved mood stabilisation.

All of the following statements are accurate about ECT EXCEPT A)relief of symptoms can occur within a week or two with ECT. B)short-term memory loss can be a side effect of treatment with ECT. C)psychotically depressed patients should be treated with ongoing medication, not ECT, even when response to those drugs is poor.

Recent research suggests that an equally effective alternative to some antidepressant medications that appears to alter electrical activity in the brain may be A)transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). B)electrocranial stimulation (ECS). C)magnetic resonance stimulation (MRS). D)positron cranial stimulation (PCS).

Interpersonal psychotherapy deals with all of the following interpersonal problems EXCEPT A)environmental interactions. B)acquiring new relationships. C)identification and correction of deficits in social skills. D)interpersonal role disputes.

Prevention of mood disorders in children and adolescents include all of the following EXCEPT A)universal programmes. B)selected interventions. C)indicated interventions. D)milieu interventions.

Research has found that low serotonin levels may be implicated in suicidal behaviour because they affect all of the following EXCEPT A)impulsivity B)instability C)agnosia D)overreactivity

With regard to the relationship between mood disorders and suicide, which of the following statements reflects the current thinking on this issue? A)Suicide is often associated with psychological disorders, especially depression. B)All people who attempt suicide have mood disorders. C)A small percentage of adolescent suicides are an expression of severe depression. D)Suicide is generally a response to some disappointment in people who are otherwise psychologically healthy.

Statistics on suicide indicate that approximately 25-50% of all suicides are associated with A)alcohol use. B)guns. C)aggression. D)work stress.

Although glorifying and romanticising suicide in the media contributes to copycat suicides, it is more likely that the person copying the suicide is A)just doing it for attention. B)vulnerable due to an existing psychological disorder. C)not really serious about the suicide attempt. D)trying to impress others.

Impulsive suicidal behaviour is often a symptom of _____________ personality disorder. A)schizoid B)borderline C)obsessive-compulsive D)paranoid

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding the relationship between anxiety and depression? A)Many depressed patients are or have been anxious and many anxious patients are or have been depressed. B)Cognitive content (thinking) is more negative in anxious patients than in those with depression. C)A core symptom of anxiety is the inability to experience pleasure. D)Anxiety is often preceded by an episode of major depression.

Compare and contrast the symptoms of major depressive episode, a manic episode, persistent depressive disorder and hypomania.

Discuss the symptoms, causes and treatments for seasonal affective disorder.

Discuss the role of neurotransmitters, brain-wave activity and negative cognitions in the aetiology and treatment of depression.

Identify and explain the risk factors associated with suicide.