Question 1

Behavioral treatments for somatoform disorders seek to
A)reduce anxiety levels using somatic methods.
B)eliminate the problem behaviors using punishment.
C)teach more appropriate techniques for interacting with others.
D)use hypnosis to alleviate the symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral treatments for somatoform disorders focus on teaching more appropriate techniques for interacting with others, aiming to modify maladaptive behaviors and improve social functioning.

Question 2

Treatments for body dysmorphic disorder are very similar to treatments for
A)conversion disorder.
B)pain disorder.
C)obsessive compulsive disorder.
D)dissociative identity disorder.

Accepted Answer

Body dysmorphic disorder shares many similarities with obsessive compulsive disorder including obsessions and compulsions. Therefore, treatments for body dysmorphic disorder often involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is also used for OCD, and antidepressants such as SSRIs.

Question 3

The treatment of somatoform disorders is relatively primitive because
A)sufferers rarely seek mental health treatment.
B)only psychodynamic therapies have been implemented.
C)efforts to treat them have been unsuccessful.
D)of legal and professional prohibitions.

Accepted Answer

The treatment of somatoform disorders is relatively primitive because sufferers rarely seek mental health treatment. This is because individuals with somatoform disorders often believe that their physical symptoms are caused by a medical illness rather than a mental health issue. Therefore, they may not seek treatment from mental health professionals, and instead, seek medical treatment only.

Question 4

People with somatoform disorders
A)are usually hysterical.
B)tend to make more negative attributions about physical symptoms.
C)are more often men than women.
D)tend to blame others for their physical imperfections.

Accepted Answer

People with somatoform disorders tend to make more negative attributions about physical symptoms, meaning they interpret physical sensations as signs of serious illness or disease. They may also have difficulty accepting that their symptoms have a psychological origin rather than a medical cause.

Answer: None of the above 
 Options A, C, and D are all incorrect. Somatoform disorders are not the result of being hysterical or deliberately seeking attention. They are not more common in men than women, and individuals with these disorders do not necessarily blame others for their physical symptoms.

Question 5

Some of the neurobiological risk factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder may be involved in the genesis of
A)hysteria.
B)body dysmorphic disorder.
C)dissociative identity disorder.
D)conversion disorder.

Accepted Answer

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has been associated with abnormalities in the structure and function of the fronto-striatal circuits, which are also implicated in the neurobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This suggests that there may be some overlap in the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the two disorders. However, there is limited evidence for a similar association between OCD and the other disorders listed (hysteria, dissociative identity disorder, and conversion disorder).

Question 6

Current psychological treatment for pain disorder emphasizes helping the client to
A)recognize the psychological basis for pain.
B)comply with medical treatment.
C)accept inevitable limitations.
D)keep their focus on life,and less focus on pain.

Accepted Answer

Current psychological treatment for pain disorder focuses on helping clients shift their attention away from the pain and towards engaging in life activities, which can improve their quality of life and reduce the impact of pain on their daily functioning.

Question 7

Controlled trials of psychological treatment for conversion disorder
A)indicate that supportive psychotherapy reduces patients concerns about their bodily problems.
B)suggest that biofeedback is effective.
C)indicate that relaxation training is highly effective in reducing symptoms.
D)have not yet been conducted.

Accepted Answer

Controlled trials specifically designed to evaluate psychological treatments for conversion disorder have been limited, making it difficult to conclusively determine the effectiveness of specific interventions like supportive psychotherapy, biofeedback, or relaxation training.

Question 8

In an effort to reduce Alan's somatoform symptoms,his behaviorally-oriented therapist would most likely
A)suggest that his family reward his efforts to return to work.
B)train him in relaxation skills.
C)spend time uncovering stressors that led to the problem.
D)dispute the validity of his pain.

Accepted Answer

A behaviorally-oriented therapist would focus on modifying behaviors through reinforcement, so they would likely suggest rewarding positive behaviors, such as efforts to return to work, to reduce somatoform symptoms.

Question 9

Discuss the criteria for determining somatization disorder.As part of this discussion,consider the importance of the multiple criteria for making this diagnosis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the criteria for determining somatization disorder.As...

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text as part of an effective treatment for pain disorder?
A)Teaching a patient to use muscle relaxation.
B)Praising the patient for less focus on the pain.
C)Using over-the-counter medications.
D)Validating the patient's experience of pain as real.

Accepted Answer

The text mentions teaching muscle relaxation, praising patients for focusing less on pain, and validating their experience of pain as real, but does not mention over-the-counter medications as part of an effective treatment for pain disorder.

Question 11

Isaac was being treated for somatoform pain disorder,and his psychiatrist prescribed imipramine,an antidepressant,in a very low dose for his symptoms.Assuming Isaac is also depressed,what is his likely treatment outcome?
A)His depression will improve,but his pain will persist.
B)All his symptoms will improve.
C)His pain will subside,but his depression may still persist.
D)He will not improve.

Accepted Answer

Imipramine is known to have analgesic properties, which may help alleviate the physical pain associated with somatoform pain disorder. However, there is no guarantee that the medication will also address the underlying depression. Therefore, while Isaac's pain may improve, his depression may still require further treatment. Option A is incorrect as low doses of imipramine have been found to reduce somatic symptoms in patients with depression. Option B is an overgeneralization as the level of improvement can vary from individual to individual. Option D is not a likely outcome as many patients with depression respond to treatment.

Question 12

Rachel has body dysmorphic disorder.She believes that her ears are way too big for her head.She is about to enter treatment.Which of the following treatments is likely to be the most effective for her?
A)cognitive-behavioral
B)psychoanalytic
C)psychodynamic body therapy
D)There is little research on treatments for body dysmorphic disorder

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for body dysmorphic disorder. It focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors related to body image. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies are less effective for this specific disorder. While research on treatments for body dysmorphic disorder is limited, there is evidence supporting the effectiveness of CBT.

Question 13

Cognitive-behavioral treatments for hypochondriasis
A)are aimed at focusing the person on their bodily sensations.
B)encouraging the person to seek reassurance from a medical doctor.
C)are effective only for women.
D)have proven effective in reducing health concerns and health care utilization.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral treatments for hypochondriasis have been found to be effective in reducing health concerns and health care utilization. These treatments typically involve restructuring negative thoughts about bodily symptoms, exposure therapy to feared health situations, and relaxation techniques to manage anxiety. The other options presented are not accurate or supported treatments for hypochondriasis.

Question 14

Efforts to help patients cope with pain focus upon
A)distraction and refocusing attention.
B)cognitive retraining to reduce the importance of pain.
C)exposure exercises,so the pain experience is extinguished.
D)psychoanalytic pain management

Accepted Answer

Distraction and refocusing attention have been found to be effective in reducing the perceived intensity of pain, as well as increasing coping skills and overall well-being. Other methods listed such as cognitive retraining and exposure exercises may also be helpful, but distraction is often a first-line approach for managing pain. Psychoanalytic pain management is not an evidence-based practice and is not commonly used in modern medicine.

Question 15

Cognitive treatments for somatoform disorders seek to
A)reduce attention to the body and challenge negative thoughts.
B)teach more appropriate techniques for interactions with others.
C)teach relaxation techniques to alleviate the symptoms.
D)use operant conditioning approaches with family and friends to increase attention paid to patient.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive treatments for somatoform disorders typically involve reducing attention to bodily sensations and challenging negative thoughts related to those sensations. Techniques such as cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, and exposure therapy may be used to achieve this goal. Teaching more appropriate techniques for interactions with others and using operant conditioning approaches with family and friends are not typically used in cognitive treatments for somatoform disorders, and relaxation techniques may not address the underlying cognitive factors contributing to the disorder.

Question 16

A behavioral reinforcer for someone with a somatoform disorder would be
A)receiving a dollar each time they ride an elevator.
B)feeling refreshed after taking a hot shower.
C)receiving attention and sympathy.
D)successfully avoiding social situations.

Accepted Answer

For individuals with somatoform disorders, receiving attention and sympathy can reinforce the illness-related behaviors. This can further reinforce the belief that the individual is indeed suffering from serious medical issues yielding secondary gains like care, attention, and help from others.

Question 17

Grace is in treatment for body dysmorphic disorder.It is likely that her therapist will
A)engage Grace in psychodynamic body therapy.
B)ask Grace to avoid checking her appearance in the mirror.
C)teach Grace practice relaxation techniques.
D)discourage Grace from seeking reassurance from medical doctors.

Accepted Answer

People with body dysmorphic disorder often spend excessive amounts of time checking their appearance in the mirror, which only reinforces their negative thoughts and feelings. Asking Grace to avoid checking her appearance in the mirror is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy and may reduce her symptoms over time.

Question 18

Psychological treatment of somatization disorder often includes
A)medical tests to show symptoms have no medical basis.
B)focusing on reducing the underlying anxiety and depression.
C)keeping a diary of symptoms and complaints.
D)exploring childhood experiences of being sick.

Accepted Answer

Somatization disorder is a condition where individuals experience physical symptoms that have no identifiable medical cause. Psychological treatment for this disorder may involve focusing on reducing anxiety and depression, which may be underlying causes of the physical symptoms. Treatment may also involve cognitive-behavioral therapy to help individuals recognize and change negative patterns of thinking that contribute to the physical symptoms. In contrast, medical tests or exploring childhood experiences of being sick may not be effective or necessary approaches to treating this disorder. Keeping a diary of symptoms and complaints may be helpful as part of the cognitive-behavioral therapy approach.

Question 19

Describe malingering and how it differs from conversion disorder.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe malingering and how it differs from...

Question 20

Nina has hypochondriasis.She notices a red splotch on her face that seems to be getting larger each day.Nina will most likely believe that this symptom
A)is due to a psychological problem.
B)is due to a serious underlying disease.
C)will go away once she visits a doctor.
D)is a bug bite.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with hypochondriasis tend to have a heightened fear of having serious underlying illnesses, often leading them to believe normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms are indications of a larger problem. Therefore, Nina is likely to believe that the red splotch is due to a serious underlying disease.

Quiz 6: Dissociative Disorders and Somatoform Disorders

Behavioral treatments for somatoform disorders seek to

Treatments for body dysmorphic disorder are very similar to treatments for

The treatment of somatoform disorders is relatively primitive because

People with somatoform disorders

Some of the neurobiological risk factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder may be involved in the genesis of

Current psychological treatment for pain disorder emphasizes helping the client to

Controlled trials of psychological treatment for conversion disorder

In an effort to reduce Alan's somatoform symptoms,his behaviorally-oriented therapist would most likely

Discuss the criteria for determining somatization disorder.As part of this discussion,consider the importance of the multiple criteria for making this diagnosis.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text as part of an effective treatment for pain disorder?

Isaac was being treated for somatoform pain disorder,and his psychiatrist prescribed imipramine,an antidepressant,in a very low dose for his symptoms.Assuming Isaac is also depressed,what is his likely treatment outcome?

Rachel has body dysmorphic disorder.She believes that her ears are way too big for her head.She is about to enter treatment.Which of the following treatments is likely to be the most effective for her?

Cognitive-behavioral treatments for hypochondriasis

Efforts to help patients cope with pain focus upon

Cognitive treatments for somatoform disorders seek to

A behavioral reinforcer for someone with a somatoform disorder would be

Grace is in treatment for body dysmorphic disorder.It is likely that her therapist will

Psychological treatment of somatization disorder often includes

Describe malingering and how it differs from conversion disorder.

Nina has hypochondriasis.She notices a red splotch on her face that seems to be getting larger each day.Nina will most likely believe that this symptom