PSY 381 Chapter 6

What is the average age of onset of unipolar depression?

19

What is the average length of time for the treatment of major depressive disorder using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

2 to 4 weeks

How long must depression last to be classified as a major depressive episode?

2 weeks

What percentage of all adults experience an episode of severe depression at some point in their lives?

20 percent

During a manic episode, Angie tells her partner that she is getting a tattoo. Her partner tells her that they don't have any extra money for a tattoo, explaining that they need the money for food. Which response would be typical in a manic episode in this situation?

Angie ignores her partner's response to her idea and gets a tattoo anyway.

Which statement is the MOST important reason for the decline in the use of electroconvulsive therapy since the 1950s?

Antidepressant drugs were developed.

If one assumes that the frequency of text messaging is positively correlated with psychological problems, then what would be the predicted relationship between the number of text messages people send and their self-reported levels of stress, unhappiness, and anxiety?

As one increases, the others also increase.

Which of the following is an ACCURATE conclusion from extensive studies of the effectiveness of various forms of treatment?

Cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and biological treatments are all effective treatments.

_____ is a treatment in which tiny holes are drilled into the skull through which electrodes are implanted into the brain.

Deep brain stimulation

Which evidence is the MOST problematic for the psychodynamic explanations of depression?

Depression affects people whose childhood needs were met and who did not suffer a loss early in life.

Which statement is the BEST example of a claim that would be made by a developmental psychopathology theorist?

Depression is triggered by many factors that operate together in a developmental sequence.

Which statement is FALSE regarding the use of ECT and drug therapies for treating depression?

ECT is likely to be prescribed first, and if it doesn't work, then drugs are prescribed.

Destiny was taking a tricyclic to treat her unipolar depression. Upon resolution of her depressive symptoms, Destiny immediately stopped taking her tricyclic. How likely is it that she will experience a relapse?

High; the relapse rate in this situation is approximately 50 percent.

Which statement is TRUE regarding the prevalence of bipolar disorder?

It affects millions of people in the United States, between 1 and 2.6 percent of all adults.

What is one of the main problems in determining whether one's depression is endogenous or reactive?

It is unclear whether exposure to a stressor was a contributing factor or if it was a coincidence.

Which statement is TRUE for women experiencing peripartum depression in relation to psychotherapy for depression?

Many women with peripartum depression find self-help support groups particularly helpful.

Which of the following accurately describes a problem with animal studies of depression?

One cannot be sure that depression-like symptoms in laboratory animals reflect human depression.

What do ECT, vagus nerve stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation have in common?

Research on their use suggests that brain stimulation is effective in treating severe forms of depression.

One of the nutraceuticals shown to be frequently helpful in treating unipolar depression is:

St. John's wort.

Which statement MOST accurately reflects the connections among stress, immune function, and unipolar depression?

Stress disrupts immune functioning, which may then produce unipolar depression.

According to DSM-5, all of the following are considered symptoms of a manic episode EXCEPT:

Suicidal idealization

DSM-5 added premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) as a diagnosis for certain women who repeatedly experience clinically significant depressive and related symptoms during the week before menstruation. Why has this been an ongoing controversy?

The diagnosis pathologizes severe cases of premenstrual syndrome.

Which statement BEST describes what is known about the relationship between neurotransmitters and unipolar depression?

The interaction between serotonin and norepinephrine is more influential than the activity of each of these neurotransmitters by itself.

A person with bipolar disorder is taking a commonly used drug to stabilize mood in the manic episodes. What else might also happen as a result of taking this drug?

The person might experience at least partial relief from depressive episodes.

If bipolar disorder is genetically linked, then which of the following research findings, if obtained, would be the least likely?

The rate of bipolar disorder has increased steadily over the past decade.

Which description BEST indicates how tricyclics work upon ingestion?

The reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin are blocked, norepinephrine or serotonin remains in the synapse longer; and there is increased stimulation of receiving neurons.

How are the features of the "baby blues" different from the symptoms of peripartum depression?

The symptoms of the "baby blues" are like those of peripartum depression but are less severe and persistent.

Which statement about unipolar depression is TRUE?

The vast majority of individuals with unipolar depression recover within 6 months, sometimes without treatment.

Which conclusion could be drawn about the current theories of gender differences in relation to depression?

They all have some supporting evidence, but they all also have some research findings they cannot explain.

MAO inhibitors are biochemical agents that alleviate depressive symptoms in approximately half of the clinically depressed patients who take them. What is the mechanism of action of these drugs?

They interfere with the destruction of serotonin and norepinephrine.

Which statement is TRUE regarding people experiencing mania?

They want excitement and companionship.

Which statement BEST reflects the gender differences seen in unipolar depression?

Women are at least twice as likely as men to have unipolar depression, but prevalence among boys and girls is similar.

Martin Seligman developed a theory based on the idea that depression results from:

a belief that one has no control over the events in one's life.

Family pedigree, twin, and gene studies have been used to look for a predisposition for unipolar depression. These studies have found:

a higher than chance rate of depression among the families of depressed patients.

Rosita swings between periods of bottomless depression and high-flying enthusiasm. She never hits the middle. Her physician is MOST likely to recommend treatment with:

a mood-stabilizing drug.

If neurotransmitters are linked to depression, which of these would be LEAST likely to be observed in a study?

a near-zero correlation between certain neurotransmitter levels and the number or severity of depressive symptoms a person reports

Which person is MOST likely to develop severe unipolar depression based on their demographic characteristics?

a teenage boy who lives in poverty

The developmental psychopathology perspective of depression can be characterized as:

a view that ties together many of the factors that are included in other theories.

Which person is MOST likely to be diagnosed with depression?

a woman from the United States who has lived in poverty all her life

What is the BEST example of a motivational symptom of unipolar depression?

a woman who no longer goes out with friends and stays home alone for weeks

Compared with African Americans, non-Hispanic white Americans are:

about as likely to be diagnosed with depression but less likely to have recurrent episodes.

What would a person have if a biochemical imbalance were the cause of that person's depression?

an abnormality in the activity of certain neurotransmitters, especially serotonin and norepinephrine

If we ultimately find that people with unipolar depression have certain biochemical characteristics that predispose them to certain cognitive characteristics that are exacerbated by certain life stressors, then we will have evidence that:

an interaction between factors causes depression.

Brody no longer enjoys his usual hobbies, talking to his friends, or even playing with his dog. In fact, Brody didn't even care when he learned that he was up for a promotion at work. This BEST describes someone with:

anhedonia.

The statement that men and women are equally prone to depression, but clinicians often fail to detect depressive symptoms in men, reflects the _____ theory.

artifact

Pierre, a 32-year-old male, feels terrible. He is sad, tired, and depressed, but he refuses to show it. This is consistent with the:

artifact theory.

Talking rapidly, dressing flamboyantly, and getting involved in dangerous activities are _____ symptoms of mania.

behavioral

Focusing on the addition of positive activities to the life of a patient with depression is a behavioral technique known as:

behavioral activation.

A person displaying sadness, lack of energy, headaches, and feelings of low self-worth is showing all of the following types of symptoms EXCEPT:

behavioral symptoms.

Someone who experiences four or more alternations between mild mania and major depression within a one-year time span would be classified as having:

bipolar II rapid cycling.

Studies reporting abnormalities in the basal ganglia of individuals with bipolar disorder provide the strongest support for which cause of bipolar disorder?

brain structure

Mood-stabilizing drugs have been found to increase the production of:

brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

How can exercise can help alleviate depression?

by producing social interactions

Juan is currently experiencing a period of sadness that has resulted in almost total immobility. He sits in a chair all day and almost never moves. His wife has to assist him in getting into bed at night. Which type of major depression would he MOST likely be diagnosed with?

catatonic

The second phase of Beck's cognitive therapy is to get the client to:

challenge automatic thoughts.

Which is NOT a common focus of psychotherapy, as part of adjunctive therapy, for bipolar disorder?

challenging clients' automatic thoughts

A therapist describes a patient who believes her personal worth is tied to each task she performs. She draws negative conclusions from very little evidence, amplifies minor mistakes into major character flaws, and suffers from repetitive thoughts that remind her of her flaws. You conclude that the therapist holds which theoretical orientation?

cognitive-behavioral

Françoise is depressed. Her therapist asks her about her daily experiences, focusing on how often people say nice things to her. Her therapist MOST likely has a:

cognitive-behavioral orientation.

Which brain structure or region is NOT part of the brain circuits involved in unipolar depression?

corpus callosum

The belief that the prefrontal cortex has a very important part to play in the development of depression is probably:

correct; unusually high activity in some parts and unusually low activity in other parts of the prefrontal cortex are associated with depression.

Of the following disorders, psychotherapy plays a more central role in:

cyclothymic disorder.

The disorder marked by numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and mild depressive symptoms is called:

cyclothymic disorder.

What kind of depression is unipolar?

depression that occurs without periods of mania

The risk of negative side effects for people who take MAO inhibitors can be mitigated by making changes in which aspect of life?

diet

According to Seligman's research, dogs that were initially exposed to inescapable electric shocks learned to _____ when given the opportunity to avoid subsequent escapable shocks.

do nothing

Adjunctive therapy to treat bipolar disorder commonly focuses on:

emphasizing the importance of taking the medication, even though the patients miss the creative and productive bursts they used to have.

Which finding would MOST STRONGLY support the assumption that learned helplessness is a potential cause of depression?

evidence from an experiment showing that when people are exposed to uncontrollable negative events, depressive symptoms follow

Which of the following is NOT a physical symptom of depression?

feeling sad and dejected

A 12-year-old middle-school European American girl from a middle-class socioeconomic background has been diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. Which characteristic is MOST unusual for those with bipolar I disorder diagnosis?

her age

Biochemical explanations for bipolar disorder focus on all of the following EXCEPT:

hormonal functioning.

A benefit of adjunctive psychotherapy for bipolar disorder is that:

hospitalizations are reduced.

Clients who tend to see everything that occurs as either all right or all wrong, with nothing in between, need to focus on which phase of Beck's treatment for depression?

identifying negative thinking and biases

Unipolar depression and bipolar disorder share all the following characteristics EXCEPT:

inappropriate rises in mood.

The statement "My girlfriend broke up with me because I am worthless" BEST reflects a(n):

internal attribution.

A young woman believes that everything negative that happens to her is her own fault, that she ruins everything, and that she always will. The therapist diagnoses her as suffering from a learned helplessness-induced depression because she attributes negative events in her life to:

internal, global, stable factors.

Which sociocultural theory does NOT attempt to explain the link between gender and depression?

interpersonal conflict theory

A woman in a middle-level manager's job is repeatedly not promoted, no matter how hard she tries, even though she seems as qualified as the men who are promoted. If she develops depression because of her work experiences, the theory that BEST explains the onset of her depression is:

lack of control theory.

Using past experiences to believe that one has no control over the reinforcements in one's life is called:

learned helplessness.

Depression is more common in women because they experience more taxing life situations, such as poverty and menial jobs, than men. This is the:

life stress theory.

An older person retires and begins experiencing health problems. The person consequently loses contact with old friends and becomes unpleasant to be around. A cognitive-behaviorist would explain the resulting depression in terms of:

loss of positive social rewards.

Neurochemically, both unipolar depression and bipolar disorder are associated with:

low serotonin activity.

A person who is recovering from unipolar depression continues to take a tricyclic for several months after most symptoms are gone. What kind of therapy is this?

maintenance

Your aunt says, "I know I'm depressed, and I think and worry about my depression constantly; however, I never actually do anything about it." She is:

making ruminative responses.

A state of breathless euphoria, or frenzied energy, in which individuals have an exaggerated belief in their own power, is characteristic of:

mania.

Which of these is a side effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

memory loss

A person experiencing mania goes out with friends, looking for adventure. In addition, the individual talks loudly, runs rather than walks, and gives away a lot of money to random people on the street. These symptoms are primarily:

motivational and behavioral.

ECT has changed has changed over the years so that patients now receive:

muscle relaxants before the procedure.

Cognitive-behavioral theorists explain depression in terms of a person's:

negative interpretation of events.

Lithium appears to affect:

neurons' second messengers.

Unlike unipolar depression, bipolar depression is associated with high _____ activity.

norepinephrine

A woman experiences recurrent thoughts of suicide, great sadness, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms began a week after she gave birth and have lasted more than 6 months. This woman is experiencing:

peripartum depression.

Historically, peripartum depression has been labeled:

postpartum depression.

Which is NOT a type of major depressive disorder?

posttraumatic

In general, object relations theorists follow the _____ perspective.

psychodynamic

Which theoretical model is supported by the finding that losses that happen early in life, such as the death of a father, are associated with depression later in life?

psychodynamic

What kind of clinician would be MOST likely to say, "Tell me about any early losses you experienced," to a client?

psychodynamic clinician

Cora has just been prescribed lithium. In the initial period of its use, Cora should expect:

regular blood and laboratory test monitoring.

Ruminative responses are defined as:

repeatedly mentally dwelling on one's mood without acting to change it.

According to the developmental psychopathology perspective, moderate and manageable adversities that occur during childhood may make a person more _____ when faced with stressful events during adulthood.

resilient

The substances that relay the original message from the receptor site to the firing mechanism of the neuron are:

second messengers.

Most second-generation antidepressants are:

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Which of these are neurotransmitters associated with unipolar depression?

serotonin and norepinephrine

The difference between bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder is the:

severity of the manic episodes.

The type of clinician who would be MOST likely to say, "Tell me about the quality of mutual support you receive from your marriage," is a:

sociocultural clinician.

A clinician who looks at the influence of race, living conditions, marital status, and roles on the development of depression would MOST likely subscribe to which theoretical orientation?

sociocultural theoretical orientation

After a person completes a successful ECT treatment of depression, current research suggests:

some type of continuation or maintenance therapy is needed.

According to Martin Seligman's theory, which person would be MOST likely to develop learned helplessness?

someone who experienced uncontrollable negative events and then a controllable negative event

Which structure is a distinct part of the depression-related brain circuit?

subgenual cingulate

Researchers have found that when an identical twin has unipolar depression, there is a 38 percent chance that the other twin has already had or will eventually have the same disorder. A fraternal twin is only 20 percent likely to have the same disorder. This finding:

supports the idea that people may inherit a predisposition for developing unipolar depression.

Unconsciously interpreting the loss of a valued object as the loss of a loved one is referred to as _____ loss.

symbolic

All the following are part of Beck's theory of depression EXCEPT:

symbolic loss.

A woman who has just given birth is anxious, has trouble sleeping, and feels sad. These symptoms diminish over the next couple of weeks. What she has experienced is MOST likely:

the "baby blues," something experienced by more than half of new mothers.

Family pedigree, twin, and gene studies have been used to look for a predisposition for unipolar depression. These studies are indicative of which theoretical framework?

the biological framework

If people with unipolar depression were found to have lower levels of norepinephrine, such a finding would support which perspective?

the biological perspective

The strongest evidence for the cause of bipolar disorders BEST supports which theoretical perspective?

the biological perspective

Which perspective assumes that the likelihood of depression is increased by the presence of several factors and the sequence in which they unfold?

the developmental psychopathology perspective

You would expect to see the biggest impact of lithium on which part of the neuron?

the firing of the receiving neuron

If a person taking lithium began experiencing nausea, vomiting, sluggishness, tremors, and seizures, one would suspect that:

the person is experiencing lithium intoxication.

Which theoretical orientation would support the finding that Westerners experience more psychological symptoms of depression than do others around the world?

the sociocultural theoretical orientation

What are the two most influential cognitive explanations for unipolar depression?

the theory of negative thinking and the theory of learned helplessness

A stimulating current is sent through a patient's prefrontal cortex in:

transcranial magnetic stimulation

Researchers were searching for drugs to treat schizophrenia when they came across imipramine, which alleviated the symptoms of depression, although it was not effective against schizophrenia. It became the first of a class of drugs, all sharing a similar molecular structure, called:

tricyclics.

To receive a diagnosis of persistent depressive disorder with dysthymic syndrome, an individual must have experienced symptoms for at least:

two years.

A man diagnosed with unipolar depression exhibited his first diagnosable symptoms when he was about 40 years old. Among those experiencing unipolar depression, his case is:

uncommon; the average age of diagnosis is early adulthood and depression is more common in women.

The accidental discovery of drugs that increased serotonin and norepinephrine activity also led to effective treatments for what disorder?

unipolar depression

Among the biological treatments for depression, which one uses an implanted pulse generator?

vagus nerve stimulation