Question 1

A present-day clinician uses terms like "dementia" and "mental retardation" for diagnostic categories. That clinician is using terms:

Accepted Answer

"Dementia" and "mental retardation" were diagnostic categories in previous versions of the DSM, but have been replaced with more specific terms such as "major neurocognitive disorder" and "intellectual disability" in the DSM-5. Therefore, a present-day clinician using these terms is using terminology from previous versions of the DSM.

Question 2

Support for the use of evidence-based forms of psychotherapy:

Accepted Answer

There has been a recent increase in support for the use of evidence-based forms of psychotherapy. This is evidenced by the growth of organizations such as the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy and the increasing use of evidence-based practices in clinical settings.

Question 3

Which is NOT a procedure that DSM-5 developers relied on to improve reliability?

Accepted Answer

Reducing the number of diagnostic categories is not a procedure used to improve reliability; instead, DSM-5 developers focused on refining and expanding criteria and categories based on research and field trials.

Question 4

Which was NOT used by the framers of the DSM-5 to ensure the validity of the new edition?

Accepted Answer

The framers of the DSM-5 did not decrease the number of diagnostic categories to ensure the validity of the new edition. In fact, they increased the number of categories to reflect changes in knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders. The other options (using clinical work groups, consulting with clinical advisors, and conducting extensive research reviews) were all used to ensure validity.

Question 5

In the DSM-5, Asperger's syndrome would now be classified under which new category?

Accepted Answer

Asperger's syndrome is now classified under autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5.

Question 6

The DSM-5 task force and various work groups:

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 task force and work groups began their work in 2006 to revise and update the DSM-IV.

Question 7

A clinical psychologist says, "How do I decide on the best treatment? Simple: I make sure to read the most recent research studies in therapy and follow their advice." This clinical psychologist believes in using:

Accepted Answer

The clinical psychologist believes in using evidence-based treatment, which involves reading the most recent research studies in therapy and following their advice. This approach relies on empirical evidence to determine the most effective treatments for specific conditions, rather than intuition or cultural norms.

Question 8

In DSM-5, which diagnostic category is no longer considered an anxiety disorder?

Accepted Answer

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was reclassified in DSM-5 and is no longer considered an anxiety disorder; it now has its own category called "Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders."

Question 9

Compared to the original DSM, which appeared in the 1950s, the DSM-5 has:

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 has more than five times as many diagnostic categories as the original DSM.

Question 10

After a client is told his or her DSM diagnosis, others may treat the client differently, and the client may act accordingly. Many theorists would attribute this to the development of:

Accepted Answer

Self-fulfilling prophecies occur when a person's beliefs about themselves or others influence their behavior in such a way that the beliefs eventually come true. In the case of a client being told their DSM diagnosis, if others begin to treat them differently, the client may start to exhibit behaviors that correspond with the diagnosis, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 11

Studies show that errors in diagnosis MOST commonly involve information gathered:

Accepted Answer

Errors in diagnosis most commonly involve information gathered early in the assessment process and in a hospital setting, where the initial information is crucial for guiding the diagnostic path.

Question 12

Studies of diagnostic conclusions made by clinicians show that:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that clinicians often pay too much attention to certain pieces of information (such as patient history) and too little attention to other information (such as test results). Option A is incorrect because clinicians have been found to give more weight to early information. Option C is incorrect because clinicians can be influenced by their expectations and biases. Option D is incorrect because clinicians' biases can affect their diagnostic conclusions.

Question 13

Studies show that most therapists are MOST likely to learn about the latest information on treatment of psychological disorders from:

Accepted Answer

Talking with professional colleagues allows therapists to gain insights on the latest developments in the field of psychology and treatment options from other experienced professionals. Research articles can also provide useful information, but they may not always be accessible or practical for therapists to keep up with. Conducting research and writing grants are not necessarily common activities for all therapists and may not always be directly related to learning about the latest treatment options.

Question 14

Concerns about the reliability and validity of the DSM-5 diagnoses are MOST likely to center on which factors?

Accepted Answer

Concerns about the reliability and validity of the DSM-5 diagnoses are likely to center on categories based on weak research and reflecting bias, such as gender or racial bias. These biases can lead to inaccurate or incomplete diagnoses, which can have negative implications for treatment and care.

Question 15

The reliability concerns of the DSM-5 are MOST likely because of its:

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 has been criticized for not conducting adequate field trials of new criteria and categories before its publication. This lack of testing raises concerns about the reliability of the updated system.

Question 16

"Let's just do away with diagnoses," says a clinician. "All we do is make things worse." That clinician's viewpoint is:

Accepted Answer

While not a majority viewpoint, there are some clinicians who believe that diagnoses can be harmful and stigmatizing for patients. This perspective is not represented in the DSM-5, which still relies heavily on diagnostic categories.

Question 17

A clinical psychologist says, "How do I decide on the best treatment? Simple: I make sure to read the most recent research studies in therapy and follow their advice." This clinical psychologist is:

Accepted Answer

Most therapists base therapy decisions on a combination of factors, including clinical experience, client preferences, and evidence-based practices, rather than solely on the latest research studies.

Question 18

An institutionalized individual behaving abnormally says, "The doctor claims I'm schizophrenic! How else would you expect me to act?" The individual's comments reflect:

Accepted Answer

The individual's comment reflects a self-fulfilling prophecy in which their belief in the doctor's diagnosis of schizophrenia may cause them to behave abnormally, thus confirming the diagnosis.

Question 19

Therapies that have received clear research support are called:

Accepted Answer

Therapies that have received clear research support are called evidence-based. They are based on scientific evidence from controlled clinical studies, and have been shown to be effective for specific mental health conditions.

Question 20

Recently, a client diagnosed with schizophrenia has begun to exhibit more symptoms, often saying, "They tell me I'm crazy, so I must be crazy." MOST likely, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The statement "They tell me I'm crazy, so I must be crazy" is an example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is because the client is internalizing the negative beliefs about themselves and their diagnosis, leading to an increase in symptoms and reinforcing the belief that they are "crazy".

Quiz 4: Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment