Practice test for Psychological Disorders
Note: These questions are part of a larger data base of questions & are selected
to represent the type of question you should expect on exams. Exam questions,
however, may deal with topics not covered in the practice tests or in lectures but are discussed in
your textbook. You are responsible for the content of your text book plus the content of
lectures, interactive activities, & material on the web site.
Use these sample questions to test yourself & to practice for the test.
1. What was the most likely reason that someone would perform an exorcism?
to relive fluid pressure on the brain
to look into the brain to see what was wrong
to release evil spirits
to restore balance to the body's humors
2. In 1972, a jet carrying a rugby team from Peru crashed high in the snow-covered Andes
mountains. Many of the players survived for over 2 months by eating the remains of those
who died. Psychologists justified their cannibalism because that was the only way they
could have survived so long without food. By what definition might their behavior best
be classified?
statistical
subjective discomfort
maladaptive
situational context
3. Which of the following is an example of cultural relativity?
Dr. Han believes that the voices his patient is hearing stem from a biological instead
of a psychological cause.
While Dr. Howard believes that hypnosis is the best way to understand all disorders,
his approach is not shared by all his colleagues.
While Dr. Akido knows that his patient, Aki, believes her anxiety has a biological
explanation, in learning more about her family of origin, he suspects it has a
psychological cause.
Dr. Roland uses a behavioral approach to treat all his clients who are younger than
age 10.
4. How many axes does the DSM-5 use to aid mental health professionals in
making a diagnosis?
one
two
four
five
5. Typanophobia, also know as a fear of receiving an injection, is an example of
obsession.
social phobia.
anxiety attack.
specific phobia.
6. Aaron hates to go to restaurants for fear that he will be seated in the far back of the restaurant
and he will be unable to get out in case of emergency. This may be a
symptom of
social phobia.
specific phobia.
agoraphobia.
claustrophobia.
7. Ria experienced a sudden attack of intense fear when she was boarding a plane with her
friends to fly to Mexico for spring break. Ria's heart raced, she became dizzy, and she was
certain she would die in a plane crash if she boarded the plane. Subsequently she did not go
on her trip, and the plane arrived safely in Mexico 3 hours later, Ria experienced
a depressive episode.
a panic attack.
panic disorder.
agoraphobia.
8. Dr. Kirby has been meeting with 9-year old Loren, whose family lost everything in a tornado.
In her initial visit, Loren was diagnosed with acute stress disorder. During a 2-month follow-up
with Dr. Kirby, Loren is still exhibiting many of the same symptoms.
What should Dr. Kirby do?
Dr Kirby will revise Loren's diagnosis from ASD to posttraumatic stress disorder.
Dr Kirby will revise Loren's diagnosis from ASD to generalized anxiety disorder.
Dr. Kirby will continue treatment for acute stress disorder for at least 6 months.
Dr. Kirby should tell Loren she is cured so as to speed her recovery.
9. Survivors of natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 may experience
higher incidences of
depression.
posttraumatic stress disorder.
anxiety disorders.
schizophrenia.
10. Calvin is terribly worried that his college education was wasted when he didn't get
his dream job. Furthermore, Calvin believes he ruined his future when he did poorly in
his job interview. Calvin explains, "I had to ace the interview. It had to be prefect, and
it wasn't!" How might a cognitive-behavioral psychologist classify this distorted
thought process?
magnification
overgeneralization
all-or-nothing thinking
minimization
11. Which type of depression is the most common type of mood disorder?
bipolar disorder
mania
seasonal affective disorder
major depressive disorder
12. Behavioral theorists link depression to __________ whereas social cognitive
theorists point to __________.
distortions in thinking; learned helplessness
biological abnormalities; distortions in thinking
unconscious forces; learned helplessness
learned helplessness; distortions in thinking
13. Individuals with bulimia often rationalize that since they have had a single treat,
their diet is ruined and therefore they might as well go ahead and eat excessively. Such
irrational thinking is an example of the cognitive distortion known as
overgeneralization.
all or none thinking.
magnification.
minimization.
14. Binge-eating disorder is different from bulimia in that individuals with
binge-eating disorder
typically eat much smaller portions before purging the food.
do not typically purge the food they eat.
only purge their food after several binge sessions.
often resort to anorexic methods to rid themselves of the food they have eaten.
15. Dissociative amnesia is different from retrograde amnesia because
dissociative amnesia is typically psychological in origin.
retrograde amnesia has been shown to not actually exist.
dissociative amnesia is caused by a physical blow to the head.
retrograde amnesia is caused by psychological trauma.
16. Depersonalization/derealization disorder is a type of dissociative disorder that has been
found to have possible __________ foundations for the experience of detachment.
biological
psychodynamic
behavioral
cognitive
17. On your first call as a paramedic, you enter the house of a man who has covered his
walls and ceiling in aluminum foil to protect his brain from the thought-controlling rays of
the government. This is an example of a __________ delusion.
persecution
reference
influence
grandeur
18. Rodney has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He rarely smiles and often shows
little emotion to any situation. Psychologists refer to this characteristic as
catatonia.
flat affect.
positive symptoms.
negative symptoms.
19. What neurotransmitter was first believed to be the cause of schizophrenia?
GABA
serotonin
epinephrine
dopamine
20. Colleen found herself attracted to her psychology instructor. She would frequently
go by his office just to be near him. When he didn't respond to her advances, Colleen
eventually told him that she had thoughts of killing herself so that he would spend time
trying to counsel her. What personality disorder best describes Colleen's thinking
and behavior?
borderline personality disorder
schizoid personality disorder
schizotypal personality disorder
antisocial personality disorder
21. Which of the following is a sufficient criterion for judging behavioral abnormality?
The behavior is not common statistically.
The behavior goes against social norms.
The behavior causes subjective discomfort.
The behavior causes an inability to function from day to day.
The behavior causes emotional distress.
22. In the United States, insanity is a term typically used by
psychologists.
psychiatrists.
the social work system.
the legal system.
23. What are common characteristics of personality disorders?
psychotic behaviors
being introverted or extroverted
having a personality versus being boring
mood swings, outbursts of anger and a need to be instantly gratified
24. Someone quick to brag or show off may show signs of which personality disorder?
antisocial
schizotypal
narcissistic
borderline
25. Your friend, who seemed to be in good spirits a moment earlier, turned visibly angry
and anxious after seeing something on TV she didn't like. Her sour mood and angry
demeanor continued for several hours. This drastic change of mood might be attributed
to which of the following?
schizoid personality disorder
borderline personality disorder
schizotypal personality disorder
histrionic personality disorder
26. Avoidant personality disorder relies on which of the following?
being shy
being confident
being in denial
being extroverted
27. Which two personality disorders are often confused with one another?
histrionic and schizoid
avoidant and borderline
schizoid and schizotypal
narcissistic and paranoid
28. Which group of mental health disorders does NOT usually occur alongside
personality disorders?
mood disorders
anxiety disorders
panic disorders
psychotic disorders
29. Which of the following mental disorders can be treated with medication and therapy?
panic disorder
schizophrenia
bipolar disorder
all of the above
30. Agoraphobia is the fear of ______ .
open spaces
spiders
heights
snakes
31. Which is NOT a sign of an eating disorder?
eating only orange foods (carrots, cheese curls, oranges)
excessive exercise
obsession with food
use of laxatives
32. Among what group of people are mood disorders found more often?
the poor
the wealthy
immigrants
Single people without a 'significant other'
33. A persons tendency to become addicted to a drug depends not only on the properties
of the drug but also on the reason the person uses the drug. What does this observation suggest?
There is a genetic predisposition to drug addiction
Psychological factors influence drug addiction
Drug addiction depends on the biochemistry of a drug
None of these
34. Which is likely true about people with somatoform disorders?
They intentionally produce their symptoms
They have symptoms that are caused by a medical condition
They may pay too much attention to bodily symptoms
They do not experience real symptoms
35. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder often do which of the following?
Experience anxiety-producing thoughts, impulses, or images
Have panic attacks
Have false beliefs that they hold despite contradictory evidence
Have sensory or perceptual experiences that occur without an
external stimulus
36. Which of the following disorders is characterized by an inability to remember a
traumatic incident?
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Conversion disorder
Schizophrenia
Dissociative amnesia
37. Which of the following might contribute to the onset of antisocial personality disorder?
Abnormal physiological arousal
An inability to control impulses
Brain damage
All of these
38. Which subtype of schizophrenia often involves relatively normal cognitive functioning?
The paranoid type
The disorganized type
The catatonic type
The undifferentiated type
39. What is a culture-bound disorder?
A disorder that is bound to occur in most cultures
A disorder specific to a particular cultural context
A disorder not included in one of the DSMs diagnostic categories
Any disorder whose onset is highly influenced by cultural factors
40. Insanity refers to which of the following?
The inability to take responsibility for ones actions
The existence of a psychological disorder
A specific diagnostic category in the DSM
A defense available to someone who committed a crime and
who has a psychological disorder
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WAKE! For the Sun, who scatter'd into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
Drives Night along with them from Heav'n, and strikes
The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.
- Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam