Question 1

If one wanted a drug to improve the effectiveness of GABA, one would choose:

Accepted Answer

Benzodiazepines are drugs that increase the effectiveness of GABA by binding to a specific site on GABA receptors, thereby increasing the inhibitory action of GABA in the brain. This leads to a reduction in anxiety, muscle relaxation, sedation and anticonvulsant activity. Other options, such as increasing neuronal firing speed or working on the endocrine level, are not directly related to GABA function and may not necessarily improve its effectiveness. Antidepressants may indirectly affect GABA function by modulating levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, but they do not directly target GABA receptors.

Question 2

Agoraphobia is the fear of:

Accepted Answer

Agoraphobia is commonly known as the fear of public places or situations, where escape may be difficult or embarrassing. It is often related to anxiety disorders and can cause significant impairment in daily life.

Question 3

Those LEAST likely to experience specific phobias are:

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that women are more likely to experience specific phobias than men, and findings do not suggest significant differences between ethnic groups.

Question 4

GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter believed to be involved in reducing the excitability of neurons in the brain, has been implicated in the etiology of:

Accepted Answer

GABA is thought to play a role in reducing anxiety, and therefore, the dysregulation of GABAergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the etiology of generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 5

Davon watched his father recoil from a snake in fear. Now he is afraid of snakes. This apparent acquisition of fear of snakes is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes the process of modeling, in which Davon has acquired the fear of snakes by observing his father's fearful response. The other options do not fit the scenario as well. Response discrimination would involve responding differently to similar stimuli based on learned associations, but this is not described in the scenario. Escape response refers to a behavior that terminates an aversive stimulus, which is not present in the scenario. Stimulus generalization involves responding similarly to stimuli that are similar to a learned stimulus, but this is not specifically described in the scenario.

Question 6

Which is NOT a disadvantage of taking benzodiazepines?

Accepted Answer

Lack of sleep, increased anxiety, and passivity are actually potential side effects of taking benzodiazepines, rather than disadvantages of not taking them. The other options listed (B, C, and D) are all well-documented disadvantages of taking benzodiazepines.

Question 7

When Marianela was a young child and watching TV with her mother, a mouse ran by. Her mother screamed, scaring her. Subsequently, she has been afraid of mice. In this example, her mother's scream is the:

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is a stimulus that naturally elicits a response without any prior learning. In this example, the mouse running by is the UCS because it naturally elicits fear in Marianela. Her mother's scream is the unconditioned response (UCR) because it is a natural reaction to seeing a mouse.

Question 8

According to current research, using relaxation training to treat generalized anxiety disorder is:

Accepted Answer

Current research suggests that relaxation training can be effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, and is better than receiving no treatment. However, it is not necessarily better or worse than similar treatments such as meditation. Therefore, option D is the best choice as it reflects that relaxation training is better than nothing and has similar effectiveness to meditation in treating GAD.

Question 9

Which medications work primarily by enhancing the effectiveness of GABA?

Accepted Answer

Benzodiazepines primarily work by enhancing the effectiveness of GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that suppresses the activity of neurons. These medications are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Antidepressants and antipsychotics work through other mechanisms, such as altering levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, while immunosuppressants are used to suppress the immune system in autoimmune disorders and organ transplantation.

Question 10

Which is NOT a biological treatment for generalized anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Rational emotive therapy is a form of psychotherapy and not a biological treatment. The other options (antianxiety drugs, relaxation training, and biofeedback) all involve direct interventions on the body or brain.

Question 11

An intense, persistent, and irrational fear that is accompanied by a compelling desire to avoid the object of the fear to the point of interfering with the life of the person is called:

Accepted Answer

The definition provided fits the criteria for a phobic disorder, which is characterized by an intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance behavior that can interfere with daily life. Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and unpredictable panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder involves persistent intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, and generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and persistent worry and anxiety about a range of different things.

Question 12

GABA is related to:

Accepted Answer

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, which means it decreases or inhibits the firing of neurons in the brain.

Question 13

To determine if a person's fear of snakes is severe enough to be categorized as a phobia, one could:

Accepted Answer

The best way to determine if a fear of snakes is severe enough to be categorized as a phobia is to ask about the duration of the fear, avoidance behavior, and interference with daily living. These are the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for identifying phobias. Simply observing discomfort in the presence of a snake is not enough to diagnose a phobia, as some people may have a normal level of fear towards snakes. Asking about the impact of the fear on daily life is essential for making a diagnosis.

Question 14

Which statement is true about specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Specific phobias are quite common, affecting about 12 percent of people in the United States annually.

Question 15

Which treatment is a nondrug biological treatment for anxiety that is in general use today?

Accepted Answer

Relaxation therapy is a nondrug biological treatment for anxiety that is in general use today. It involves teaching individuals techniques to reduce muscle tension, slow breathing, and clear the mind to help them relax and reduce their anxiety symptoms.

Question 16

A person wonders whether to try relaxation training or biofeedback to reduce anxiety. Based on present research, the BEST answer is:

Accepted Answer

According to present research, both relaxation training and biofeedback have a modest effect in reducing anxiety. Therefore, either one could be a viable option to try.

Question 17

How do phobias and common fear differ?

Accepted Answer

A phobia is an intense, irrational fear that leads to a strong desire to avoid the object or situation, often interfering significantly with one's life.

Question 18

Which theoretical position explains the origin of phobias as due to classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

The behavioral theoretical position explains the origin of phobias as due to classical conditioning, which is a type of learning through association between two stimuli. This means that a phobia can develop when a person has experienced a traumatic or fearful event associated with a specific situation, object or animal, and this event becomes linked in their mind with the fearful response. Over time, this link becomes stronger until any exposure to the feared stimulus leads to an automatic fear response.

Question 19

Devon is being treated for anxiety. He is connected to an instrument that records muscle tension. His job is to try to reduce muscle tension. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes biofeedback training, as Devon is connected to an instrument that measures his muscle tension and he is instructed to try and reduce it. EMG training and relaxation training may also be part of biofeedback training, but they are not necessarily exclusive to this approach. Self-instruction training is not mentioned in the scenario.

Question 20

A woman constantly avoids crowded streets and buildings, and she is very reluctant to leave home, even with a friend. Recently, she has started experiencing extreme, sudden fear every time she enters a crowded street. MOST likely, this woman would be diagnosed with:

Accepted Answer

The woman's avoidance of crowded places and reluctance to leave home suggest agoraphobia, while the sudden extreme fear in crowded streets indicates panic attacks, which together suggest a diagnosis of both agoraphobia and panic disorder.

Quiz 5: Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Related Disorders