Diagnosis and Psychopathology Practice Questions

_______________ panic attacks are most characteristic of specific phobia and social phobia A. unexpected B. multiple C. situationally bound D. situationally predisposed

C

Which of the following statements is most true about reading disabilities? A. Individuals with reading disabilities may continue to have difficulties in adulthood B. Reading disabilities are the result of subtle deficits in hearing C. Individuals with reading disabilities have poor vocabularies D. The disorder is distressing for individuals but it does not usually impair their functioning

A

Beck viewed depression as the result of A. biochemical reaction to neurotransmitters B. automatic thoughts C. sad affect D. genetic predisposition

B

25yo woman comes to your office and tells you that she is very worried about a small mole on her leg. She seems quite convinced that she has cancer, since this illness runs in her family. Her symptoms are evidence of A. hypochondriasis B. body dysmorphic disorder C. delusional disorder, somatic type D. conversion disorder

A

A 23yo man is brought to therapy by his mother. His mother says that he has been acting strange for 4 months, and that for the past 6 weeks, he has claimed that the tv is broadcasting thoughts to him. On the basis of this information, your provisional diagnosis would be

A

A better prognosis for schizophrenia is generally associated with A. acute onset B. male gender C. early onset D. no precipitating event

A

A child who seemed normal until age 2, but then began to regress in multiple areas of functioning would probably receive which diagnosis? A. childhood disintegrative disorder B. autistic disorder C. severe mental retardation D. asperger's disorder

A

A client is referred to you by his work supervisor because his work has been deteriorating. In the initial interview, he reports feelings of extreme worthlessness and hopelessness. He also reports trouble eating and sleeping. What is the most likely diagnosis? A. major depressive disorder B. dysthymic disorder C. cyclothymic disorder D. major depressive disorder with psychotic features

A

A person with a long history of chronic alcohol use stops drinking, and experiences a disturbance of consciousness, hallucinations, agitation, and autonomic arousal. This is most likely: A. delirium tremens B. alcohol withdrawal C. alcohol-induced persisting dementia D. korsakoff's syndrome

A

A teenage girl is in a serious train accident with her family and, 2 months afterwards, is anxious, has bad dreams, and is fearful every time she gets in a car. Her diagnosis will most likely be A. PTSD B. GAD C. panic disorder with agoraphobia D. acute stress disorder

A

A treatment designed specifically for premature ejaculation is A. squeeze technique B. sensate focusing C. directed masturbation D. imagery

A

According to DSM-IV-TR, in childhood, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is A. up to 9 times more common in boys than girls B. twice as common in boys than girls C. about equally common in girls and boys D. up to 3 times more common in girls than boys

A

According to Marlatt and Gordon, an initial relapse in a recovering alcoholic is most likely to lead to further relapses if the person: A. attributes the relapse to internal and stable causes B. attributes the relapse to external and unstable causes C. continues to associate with a lot of people who are addicts D. is socially isolated

A

All of the following are true about mental disorders due to a general medical condition, except: A. they are diagnosed whenever a person's mental symptoms are connected in some way to a physical factor B. They sometimes can emerge years after the onset of the medical condition C. They may involve a variety of different types of symptoms, including sexual dysfunctions, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders D. When they are diagnosed, the name of the medical condition is recorded on both Axis I and Axis III

A

An elderly retired professor displays a significantly below average IQ score, impaired memory, and no awareness of his impairment. He presents as conscious and alert. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? A. Alzheimer's Disease B. Delirium C. Pseudodementia D. Brain damage

A

An elderly woman complains of a sudden development of memory and cognitive problems. She appears to be confused, apathetic, and restless. A CT scan shows no remarkable physical impairments and it has been determined that the woman uses no substances or medications and that there has been no exposure to a toxin. What is a likely diagnosis? A. pseudodementia B. Vascular dementia C. Delirium D. Alzheimer's Disease

A

Bill G. experiments with barbiturates. He starts with small doses. Over time, he has to take larger and larger doses in order to experience the desired effect. Bill is experiencing A. tolerance B. addiction C. withdrawal D. Dependence

A

DSM-IV-TR describes 3 types of phobic disorders. Phobic disorder characterized by a fear of developing panic-like symptoms, such as dizziness or diarrhea, is known as A. agoraphobia without history of panic disorder B. acrophobia C. social phobia D. claustrophobia

A

If schizophrenic signs are evidenced for less than 6 months and a medical condition and substance use are ruled out, the most appropriate diagnosis would be A. schizophreniform disorder B. schizoaffective disorder C. schizotypal personality disorder D. schizoid personality disorder

A

In which of the following conditions is there a clear secondary gain? A. malingering B. factitious disorder C. body dysmorphic disorder D. somatization disorder

A

In which of the following personality disorders would emotional expressiveness not be present? A. schizoid B. histrionic C. borderline D. narcissistic

A

Individuals suffering from depression, A. environment has a greater impact on symptoms during the early stages of the disorder B. environment has a greater impact on symptoms during the later stages of the disorder C. environment has an equal impact throughout the entire course of the disorder D. environment has little or no effect on symptoms at all

A

Presence of which of the following allows you to differentiate bipolar II disorder from cyclothymic disorder? A. major depressive disorder B. hypomanic symptoms C. manic symptoms D. a mixed episode

A

Selye's general adaptation syndrome involves the stages of A. alarm, resistance, exhaustion B. anger, reactance, euphoria C. alarm, reactance, exhaustion D. anger, resistance, exhaustion

A

The following is the distinguishing feature in narcissistic personality disorder A. grandiosity B. attention-seeking behavior C. compulsiveness D. withdrawal

A

Which of the following is true of moderately retarded individuals? A. They can be trained to do semiskilled work under supervision B. They can reach an 8th grade level of school achievement. C. They represent 3-4% of the mentally retarded population. D. They require constant supervision throughout their lives

A

Reaction formation is most related to which of the following personality disorders? A. borderline B. obsessive-compulsive C. antisocial D. histrionic

B

1 of the negative associated features of somatization disorders is A. paranoia B. anxiety C. panic disorder D. addiction to analgesics

B

30yo gay client, who "came out of the closet" six months ago, is distressed because his lover broke up with him 2 months ago. He tells you that he has been nervous and depressed, and that he is having trouble getting along with co-workers and falling asleep at night. What is the most likely diagnosis? A. sexual disorder, nos B. adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression C. phase of life problem D. major depressive disorder

B

38yo man is admitted to an ER after complaining of a sudden onset of chest pains. After it is determined that he is not having a heart attack, he is ordered to stay in bed. Instead, he paces around the hospital, feeling intensely anxious and unable to stay still. Based on this information, the most likely diagnosis would be A. OCD B. panic disorder without agoraphobia C. agoraphobia D. PTSD

B

A 10-year-old who often disrupts others, fidgets, or runs about even when his parents and teachers ask him to sit quietly, talks and moves constantly, and has great difficulty waiting patiently for his turn when playing games with his friends would be most likely to receive which of the following diagnoses? A. Oppositional Defiant Disorder B. ADHD, predominately hyperactive-impulsive type C. ADHD, predominately inattentive type D. Conduct disorder

B

A patient with Huntington's Chorea presents with significant personality change. Of the following, which would provide the most conclusive evidence that the patient has a Mental Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition (i.e., Personality change due to huntington's chorea) A. personality change occurred just after the patient was diagnosed with huntington's chorea B. personality disturbance and the disease are related through a physiological mechanism C. Nature and duration of the patient's personality disturbance do not meet the threshold for a personality disorder diagnosis D. There is no evidence from the history, physical examination, or lab findings that the patient uses substances.

B

A sociopath would be most likely to learn from punishment if the punishment were A. electric shock B. loss of money C. social disapproval D. loss of a valued friendship

B

An individual who has suffered from a psychologically stressful event comes to your office. Which of the following pieces of information would allow you to rule out PTSD? A. stressor took place 6 months ago, but the man is just beginning to experience symptoms B. stressor was a break-up with his girlfriend C. man is having recurrent nightmares about the stressor D. man says that he has felt "numb" since the stressful event took place

B

Caffeine intoxication is associated with all of the following, except A. diuresis B. normal functioning in spite of physiological and behavioral symptoms C. sense of having boundless energy D. significant distress for the person who is intoxicated

B

DSM-IV-TR's multiaxial assessment system provides an opportunity for the clinician to record information about all of the following, except: A. a general medical condition that may influence the course of treatment for the mental disorder. B. etiology of the mental disorders diagnosed C. the individual's highest level functioning at discharge D. the psychosocial problems impinging on the individual

B

Individuals with avoidance personality disorder A. prefer to be alone B. desire relationships but are extremely socially inhibited C. assume that others want to harm them D. often avoid others because they feel superior

B

Psychotherapist treating someone who has recently undergone a moderately stressful experience would most likely see which of the following as a primary treatment goal? A. increasing the client's actual control over the situation B. increasing the client's perceived control over the situation C. helping the client access a support system D. letting time pass until the patient gets over it

B

What is the difference between loose associations and circumstantiality? A. in loose associations, the individual is able to stay focused on 1 theme B. in circumstantiality, the invdividual eventually gets back to the point C. Loose associations, unlike circumstantiality, are not a sign of a psychotic break from reality D. In circumstantiality, the person is very vague and does not say much

B

Which of the following symptoms would be most useful in distinguishing between schizoid and schizotypal personality disorder? A. restricted range of emotional expression B. oddities of behavior and appearance C. having no friends D. delusions and hallucinations

B

Which of the following would most likely be used in the treatment of obesity? A. biofeedback and cognitive restructuring B. self-monitoring and stimulus control C. Psychoanalytic exploration and thought stopping D. aversive therapy and deliberate exposure with response prevention

B

which of the following is not associated with a good prognosis in cases of schizophrenia? A. abrupt onset B. onset at a young age C. associated mood disturbance D. precipitating events

B

Client reports that he is unsure of himself, unsuccessful at his job, and unstable in his personal relationships. The most likely diagnosis would be A. histrionic personality disorder B. narcissistic personality disorder C. borderline personality disorder D. dependent personality disorder

C

A 42yo patient tells you that he is worried that his wife is having an affair. It is apparent that he should not have any doubts with regards to his wife's commitment, since she does not work and remains home with their children. What is the most likely diagnosis? A. delusional disorder, persecutory type B. schizophrenia, paranoid type C. Delusional disorder, jealous type D. schizophrenia, undifferentiated type

C

A child who speaks normally, but exhibits grossly impaired social interaction and restricted patterns of behavior, interests, and activities would probably receive which diagnosis? A. atypical autism B. autistic disorder C. Asperger's disorder D. Rett's disorder

C

A diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, most recent episode manic, requires A. presence of manic episodes for at least 2 years B. current or most recent manic episode and no past major depressive episode C. current or most recent manic episode, with a history of at least one major depressive, manic, or mixed episodes D. mood disturbance not severe enough to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning

C

DSM-IV-TR suggests that Axis II is useful because A. it allows the clinician to record personality traits, and most individuals with an Axis I disorder also have maladaptive personality traits that require a co-diagnosis of a personality disorder B. unlike Axis I disorders, Axis II disorders do not normally cause impairment in functioning C. It helps ensure that the clinician will not overlook the possibility that a patient may have mental retardation or a personality disorder D. it allows the clinician to estimate treatment outcome with more certainty

C

Schizophrenia is associated with all of the following except, A. enlarged ventricles B. abnormal blood flow to the frontal lobes C. decreased levels of dopamine D. increased levels of dopamine

C

When Dementia or an Amnestic Disorder is due to the effects of a substance A. person is currently intoxicated with the substance B. person is currently experiencing the effects of intoxication or withdrawal C. symptoms are due to persisting effects of substance use D. person usually has no history of substance abuse

C

Which of the following disorders is most likely to result in lead poisoning? A. bulimia nervosa B. rumination disorder C. pica D. alcohol dependence

C

Which of the following is required for a diagnosis of substance dependence? A. multiple unsuccessful efforts to quit using the substance B. time lost form work due to substance use C. maladaptive pattern of use that is distressing or impairs functioning D. marked tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

C

Which of the following is the most important aspect of treatment for a child suffering from social phobia? A. Using techniques of play therapy to explore the underlying cause of the problem. B. Using a combination of behavior therapy and family therapy C. Getting the child back to school as soon as possible D. Assessing the parents to determine if they are suffering form psychopathology

C

Which of the following is true of the relationship between Type A behavior and heart attacks? A. all Type A behaviors and personality traits are associated with an increased risk of a heart attack B. Certain aspects of Type A behavior, such as job involvement, increase the risk of heart attacks C. Certain Type A personality traits, such as anger and hostility, are associated with an increased risk for a heart attack D. There is no relationship between type A behavior or personality traits and the risk for heart attacks

C

Which of the following would be most likely to lead you to rule out a Learning Disorder in a child who seems to meet the criteria for this diagnosis? A. He has a vision deficit B. He has mild Mental Retardation C. He has had substandard educational experiences for several years D. His academic achievement is low

C

Which of the following would it be most important to attend to in differentiating Alzheimer's Disease from Vascular Dementia? A. age of onset B. patient's response to external stimuli C. clinical course of the illness D. neurologic symptoms

C

10yo boy displays the following symptoms: persistent truancy, smoking at school, disobedience, general irritability, and vandalism of school property. Based on these symptoms, the best diagnosis is A. ADHD B. antisocial personality disorder C. child or adolescent antisocial behavior D. conduct disorder

D

4yo has just been diagnosed as suffering form Autistic disorder. This child is most likely not exhibiting which of the following symptoms? A. head-banging B. moderate mental retardation C. echolalia D. auditory hallucinations

D

A lack of which of the following neurotransmitters has been implicated in depression? A. dopamine and serotonin B. epinephrine and serotonin C. norepinephrine and epinephrine D. norepinephrine and serotonin

D

A patient presents with signs of mania following the use of cocaine. Which of the following facts about the case would most incline you toward a diagnosis of cocaine-induced mood disorder? A. patient's symptoms are typical of those that occur in the course of cocaine intoxication. B. patient has a history of multiple hospitalizations due to Bipolar I disorder C. patient has used only a small amount of cocaine D. patient's manic symptoms are severe enough to require him to be hospitalized for his own protection

D

A schizophrenic client present with the following symptoms: incoherence, inappropriate giggling, and repeated reference to the idea that "the aliens will be taking over the country." The diagnosis in this case would like be A. schizophrenia, disorganized type B. schizophrenia, paranoid type C. schizophrenia, catatonic type D. schizophrenia, undifferentiated type

D

As defined by DSM-IV-TR, in which of the following disorders are symptoms under the conscious control of the individual? A. somatization disorder B. hypochondriasis C. conversion disorder D. factitious disorder

D

As described by DSM-IV-TR, a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder, Most recent episode mixed requires that A. client is currently or most recently experiencing a mixed episode, and has never had a major depressive, manic, or hypomanic episode B. client is currently experiencing or most recently experiencing a manic episode and has a history of at least one major depressive disorder C. client is rapidly alternating between manic and major depressive episodes D. client is currently or most recently experiencing a mixed episode and has a history of at least one major depressive, manic, or mixed episode

D

Jane smokes marijuana every weekend. She also smokes occasionally during the week, in response to a particular stressful event. Based on this information, we know that Jane, in terms of DSM-IV-TR diagnostic classification, is suffering from A. substance abuse B. substance dependence C. Cannabis-induced psychotic disorder D. none of the above

D

Presence of which of the following allows you to differentiate bipolar I disorder from bipolar II disorder? a. duration of under 2 years allows you to rule out bipolar II disorder B. presence of one or more periods when the criteria are met for a major depressive episode C. presence of one or more hypomanic episode D. presence of one or more manic or mixed episodes

D

Repeated, senseless, and intrusive thought, which a person knows is illogical but experiences no control over is call A. phobia B. delusion C. compulsion D. obsession

D

Since her parents began talking about getting a divorce, a 15yo girl has experienced anesthesia (loss of skin sensation) on her left side. Whenever the topic of divorce is raised in family discussions, the girl's symptoms worsen. The symptoms do not appear to be under the girl's voluntary control, but a physical examination revealed no physiological cause for them. Based on the information, it appears that the girl is suffering form which of the following disorders? A. hypochondriasis B. malingering C. somatization disorder D. conversion disorder

D

Specific etiology of ADHD is not known, but recent research suggests that, in most cases, _____________________ is/are responsible A. genetics B. family factors C. environmental factors D. an underlying biological cause

D

Which of the following circumstances is always present in Delirium, Dementia, or an Amnestic Disorder? A. Cause is an underlying medical condition B. There is significant impairment in memory C. Specific underlying cause is known D. Symptoms represent a significant decline from a previous level of functioning

D

Which of the following is a true statement about the substance-induced disorders? A. they develop only during the course of intoxication B. they can only develop during the course of intoxication or withdrawal C. by definition, they develop after the person is no longer experiencing intoxication or withdrawal D. some persist long after the substance has been eliminated from the body

D

Which of the following is likely to be true about an individuals with hypochondriasis? A. they are incapable of considering the possibility that they may be wrong about the meaning of their symptoms B. They will refuse to see a physician C. They deliberately produce symptoms in order to become be a medical patient D. they continue to believe that they have a serious illness even after a physician reassures them that they are okay

D

Which of the following is not required for a diagnosis of mental retardation? A. onset prior to age 18 B. deficits in adaptive functioning C. IQ 70 or below D. organic etiology

D

Which of the following is not true about Autism? A. Most people with Autism do not speak and, when they do, their speech is usually abnormal B. Some signs of the disorder must be present before age 3 C. The majority of persons with Autism are mentally retarded D. Compared to children with Autism, older Autistics are more socially withdrawn

D

Which of the following types of schizophrenia is characterized primarily by the presence of persecutory or grandiose delusions (often associated with hallucinations), a hostile and aggressive attitude, and behavior consistent with the delusions? A. schizophrenia, catatonic type B. acute schizophrenic episode C. schizophrenia, disorganized type D. schizophrenia, paranoid type

D

Which of the following types of seizures is characterized by focal onset? A. tonic-clonic seizures B. grand mal seizures C. petit mal seziures D. complex-partial seizures

D

You evaluate a patient in a psychiatric hospital who has a history of mood disturbances and psychotic symptoms. Which of the following pieces of information would most help you make the differential diagnosis between schizoaffective disorder and mood disorder with psychotic features? A. patient has both delusions and hallucinations B. patient appears to be a grave suicide risk C. diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia are not met D. his mood disturbances have not been noticeable for the past 3 weeks

D