Question 1

Mary was raped outside a local movie theater four months ago. Since then, she constantly imagines the circumstances of the rape, is afraid to go to the movies or the mall and avoids doing so, and has frequent nightmares about being raped. Mary's reaction would be classified as a(n)__________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Mary's symptoms, including constant imagining of the traumatic event, avoidance of places that remind her of the trauma, and frequent nightmares, align with the criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD involves a prolonged and intense reaction to a traumatic event, which fits Mary's experience.

Question 2

Which disorder involves a loss of memory, either partial or complete, for important information related to one's personal identity as a defense against intolerable anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative amnesia involves a loss of memory for personal information, often as a defense mechanism against trauma or stress, distinguishing it from other forms of amnesia that are typically due to brain injury or neurological issues.

Question 3

Regarding adjustment disorders and anxiety disorders, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Adjustment disorders are reactions to stressors, not inherently generated by the individual without external influence. They are characterized by an inability to cope with or adjust to a particular stressor, such as a major life change, rather than generating misery regardless of external circumstances.

Question 4

Emotional disturbance caused by ongoing stressors within the range of common experience is referred to as a(n)__________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Adjustment disorder is characterized by emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to identifiable stressors within the range of common experience, occurring within three months of the onset of the stressors.

Question 5

Ron served in Afghanistan as part of a special operations team that was pinned down for nearly 20 hours by enemy fire. After 18 months, he continued to relive the episode. This is a symptom of

Accepted Answer

Ron's experience of reliving a traumatic episode is a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety following exposure to traumatic events.

Question 6

Regarding acute stress and posttraumatic stress disorder, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can last much longer than six months, and its duration varies widely among individuals. Some people may experience symptoms for years or even a lifetime without appropriate treatment.

Question 7

Tony has frequent, intrusive recollections of his combat experiences in Vietnam that occurred almost 40 years ago. He has episodes of insomnia due to frequent nightmares about his experiences. Tony also avoids particular situations, like war movies and firework displays because he becomes so tense. It is most likely that Tony is suffering from a(n)___________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Tony's symptoms, including frequent, intrusive recollections of traumatic events, nightmares, and avoidance of situations that remind him of the trauma, are characteristic of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Question 8

Aaron's home was destroyed in a tornado a week ago. Right after the tornado, Aaron had difficulty sleeping and had frequent nightmares about tornadoes when he did go to sleep. He also experienced difficulty concentrating at work and became visibly nervous whenever he saw the wind blowing harder than a breeze. Three weeks after the tornado, Aaron appears to be settling down and is sleeping better and able to function at work like before the tornado. Aaron suffered from a(n)__________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Aaron's symptoms align with acute stress disorder, characterized by immediate stress reactions following a traumatic event, which typically resolve within a short period, as seen in Aaron's case.

Question 9

Although the common term of "nervous breakdown" has no formal clinical meaning, it would come closest to which DSM-5 diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Adjustment disorder is the closest DSM-5 diagnosis to what is colloquially referred to as a "nervous breakdown," as it involves the development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor(s), which can resemble the non-specific symptoms often associated with a "nervous breakdown."

Question 10

Which of the following occurs when ordinary stresses, such as losing a job, intense marital strife, and chronic physical illness, push people beyond their ability to cope with life?

Accepted Answer

Adjustment disorder occurs when an individual is unable to cope with or adjust to a particular source of stress, such as a major life change, loss, or event. This condition is characterized by emotional and behavioral symptoms that significantly impact daily functioning.

Question 11

Joseph has just lost his job because of the company downsizing. He soon begins having trouble sleeping, loses his appetite, and begins having frequent headaches and an upset stomach. His symptoms decrease as he attends some job placement counseling. Joseph is most likely experiencing a(n)__________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Joseph's symptoms are indicative of an adjustment disorder, which occurs in response to a significant life change or stressor, such as losing a job. His symptoms improving with job placement counseling further supports this diagnosis, as adjustment disorders often improve with support and coping strategies.

Question 12

Which of the following disorders are defined as significant emotional disturbances caused by the occurrence of horrible events outside the range of normal human experiences, such as earthquakes, child molestation, and terrorism?

Accepted Answer

Acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are specifically related to experiencing, witnessing, or being confronted with one or more traumatic events and the emotional responses to such events. These disorders involve significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning resulting from exposure to a traumatic event.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a dissociative disorder?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is not a dissociative disorder; it is a psychotic disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and impaired cognitive functioning. Dissociative disorders, such as fugue, multiple personality (now known as dissociative identity disorder), and amnesia, involve a disruption and/or discontinuity in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior.

Question 14

The term "nervous breakdown"

Accepted Answer

The term "nervous breakdown" is not a formal psychological or medical term; rather, it is a colloquial term that people use to describe a period of intense mental distress.

Question 15

After Linda's husband of 25 years suddenly filed for divorce and moved in with his secretary, Linda not only had to deal with financial difficulties due to her husband not wanting to share the marital assets but also with losing many of the friends they had shared. Upon selling the house, Linda had to move to a small apartment and take on a second part-time job, while looking for a full-time job. During the next several months, Linda grew increasingly more irritable, anxious, apathetic, and depressed. She had trouble sleeping, lost her appetite, and suffered from frequent head and neck aches. At the insistence of a new friend, Linda sought counseling. It has now been over a year since the divorce, and Linda is almost back emotionally and physically to her "old" self. Linda's counselor most likely diagnosed Linda as having a(n)__________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Linda's symptoms and situation suggest an adjustment disorder, characterized by emotional and behavioral symptoms in response to a specific stressor, in this case, her divorce and its consequences. Her improvement over time with counseling also supports this diagnosis.

Question 16

Regarding dissociative disorders, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is not classified as a dissociative disorder; it is a separate and distinct psychiatric diagnosis primarily characterized by symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and impaired cognitive functioning. Dissociative disorders, on the other hand, involve a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity.

Question 17

According to your textbook, the closest match for "nervous breakdown" in diagnostic terms would be

Accepted Answer

An adjustment disorder is the closest match for "nervous breakdown" in diagnostic terms, as it refers to a psychological response to a known stressor, including symptoms such as depression or anxiety, which can resemble what people often mean when they refer to a "nervous breakdown."

Question 18

In the DSM-5 , an adjustment disorder is classified as a(n)__________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Adjustment disorders are classified under "Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders" in the DSM-5. This category includes disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is listed explicitly as a diagnostic criterion.

Question 19

Acute stress disorder and PTSD can be distinguished from each other by

Accepted Answer

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is characterized by symptoms that last from three days to one month following exposure to a traumatic event. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), on the other hand, involves symptoms that last for more than one month after the trauma. The key difference between ASD and PTSD is the duration of the symptoms.

Question 20

Regarding dissociative disorders, forgetting personal identity and fleeing unpleasant situations appear to be defenses against

Accepted Answer

Dissociative disorders often involve a disruption of and/or discontinuity in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior. Forgetting personal identity and fleeing unpleasant situations are mechanisms that can serve as defenses against intolerable anxiety, allowing individuals to temporarily escape from situations or memories that are too painful or traumatic to integrate with their conscious self.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders