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Worksheets15.4 -15.7 Psychological Disorders
Total questions: 86
Worksheet time: 43mins
Which statement best distinguishes fear from anxiety in everyday experience?
Anxiety always indicates mental disorder
Fear involves cautious future avoidance
Anxiety is instantaneous to imminent threat
Fear is instantaneous to imminent threat
Which feature most strongly signals pathological anxiety rather than normal anxiety?
Temporary worry about finances
Occasional nervousness before exams
Brief, mild, situational
Excessive, persistent, disproportionate
Which description defines a specific phobia most accurately?
Excessive, distressing, persistent fear
Occasional mild dislike of objects
Rational avoidance of danger cues
General worry without triggers
People with specific phobias often recognize their fear as irrational. What behavior may still occur?
Going to great lengths to avoid stimulus
Seeking constant exposure to stimulus
Showing no avoidance and indifference
Developing rational fear proportional
Which example illustrates a phobia's disruptive impact on daily life and career?
Refusing jobs requiring frequent air travel
Feeling nervous before a single flight
Preferring window seats on airplanes
Reading safety instructions carefully
Which learning pathway is proposed for acquisition of phobias involving pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus?
Operant modeling
Cognitive restructuring
Classical conditioning
Observational reinforcement
Which scenario best illustrates classical conditioning in developing a phobia?
Teen hears rumors then fears elevators
Friend reads warnings then fears thunderstorms
Child bitten by dog later fears all dogs
Student watches sibling panic then fears bees
In vicarious learning, what directly leads to acquiring a fear?
Observing another’s fearful reactions
Reading safety guidelines repeatedly
Experiencing mild discomfort personally
Imagining danger without evidence
What defines social anxiety disorder most precisely?
Generalized anxiety about environmental disasters
Short-lived stress before academic examinations
Periodic worry about physical injury during sports
Persistent fear of negative evaluation in social situations
Which situation is most characteristic of social anxiety disorder?
Avoiding thunderstorms due to loud noises
Avoiding flying due to fear of turbulence
Avoiding hiking due to fear of wild animals
Avoiding public speaking due to fear of embarrassment
Which symptom commonly accompanies social anxiety disorder?
Blushing when interacting with others
Sweating during high temperatures
Sneezing in dusty environments
Yawning during long lectures
Which coping choice increases comorbidity risk in social anxiety disorder?
Engaging in cognitive restructuring practice
Self-medicating with alcohol during social events
Scheduling gradual exposure sessions
Joining supportive peer discussion groups
Which rationale explains human readiness to fear snakes and heights?
Urban planning reducing wildlife exposure
Recent media emphasis on modern dangers
Evolutionary predispositions toward ancient threats
Cultural rules about polite behavior
Which criterion best distinguishes panic disorder from isolated panic attacks?
Attacks triggered by specific phobias
Symptoms limited to sweating alone
Unexpected recurrent panic episodes
Single brief episode in a lifetime
Attacks only during stressful events
Which symptom is commonly present during a panic attack within the first 10 minutes?
Increased appetite
Slow breathing pattern
Accelerated heart rate
Gradual mood improvement
Persistent joint pain
What cognitive pattern often maintains panic disorder after an attack?
Accurate symptom appraisal
Trust in medical reassurance
Complete symptom ignorance
Misinterpretation of bodily sensations
Focus on external distractions
Which physical manifestation is frequently reported during a panic attack?
Reduced body temperature
Steady blood pressure levels
Muscle hypertrophy growth
Chest pain or palpitations
Improved coordination skills
Which comorbidity is commonly associated with panic disorder?
Asthma alone
Major depressive disorder
Osteoarthritis changes
Color blindness traits
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Which neurotransmitter activity is hypothesized to be abnormal in panic disorder?
Dopamine in nucleus accumbens
Serotonin transporter flux
Gamma-aminobutyric acid levels
Norepinephrine in locus coeruleus
Acetylcholine in motor cortex
Which statement reflects heritability evidence for panic disorder?
No familial aggregation exists
Risk only in nonrelatives
Heritability estimated around 43%
Genes fully identified and mapped
Twin studies show zero concordance
Which cognitive response might send someone with panic disorder to the emergency room?
Interpreting palpitations as harmless
Viewing dizziness as normal exertion
Thinking chest pounding signals heart attack
Assuming trembling is due to caffeine
Attributing shortness of breath to cold air
Which scenario best illustrates the everyday, diffuse worrying typical of generalized anxiety disorder?
Persistent worries about routine family safety
Occasional stress before major exams
Single traumatic flashback episode
Brief panic tied to specific phobias
A valid diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder requires worry that persists for at least how long?
Two months exactly
Three weeks total
Six months or more
One year minimum
Which combination lists common associated symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder?
Compulsions and rituals
Restlessness and sleep difficulties
Hallucinations and delusions
Euphoria and grandiosity
Which criterion helps distinguish generalized anxiety disorder from other anxiety conditions?
Worry not confined to specific triggers
Obsessions about contamination
Fear only of social evaluation
Panic exclusively during exercise
Generalized anxiety disorder is highly comorbid with which categories of disorders?
Mood disorders and other anxiety disorders
Somatic and dissociative disorders
Psychotic and neurodevelopmental disorders
Substance use and eating disorders
Which statement best captures the role of genetic factors in generalized anxiety disorder?
Genetics play a modest role
Genetics are the primary cause
Genes determine the disorder
No heritable influence exists
Which cognitive account explains worry in generalized anxiety disorder as a strategy to avoid powerful negative emotions?
Worry as emotional avoidance
Worry as memory enhancement
Worry as physiological training
Worry as social reinforcement
Which set of symptoms would most strongly support a diagnosis when present alongside pervasive worry for most days over six months?
Auditory hallucinations, disorganized speech, apathy
Difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, irritability
Seasonal mood swings, increased appetite, hypersomnia
Compulsive handwashing, checking, hoarding
If a person experiences catastrophic misinterpretations of minor bodily sensations, which anxiety problem is most directly described in cognitive theories, and how might it relate to generalized anxiety disorder?
Obsessive thoughts and rituals; GAD involves compulsive behaviors
Specific phobia from conditioning; GAD involves targeted fear
Social anxiety from scrutiny; GAD involves performance fear
Panic attacks due to misinterpretations; GAD involves diffuse worry
Which statement best distinguishes obsessions from compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Obsessions are temporary habits; compulsions are rare behaviors
Obsessions are pleasant urges; compulsions are enjoyable rituals
Obsessions are external triggers; compulsions are passive reactions
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts; compulsions are repetitive acts
Which example most clearly illustrates a compulsion typical in obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Repeatedly checking that a door is locked
Occasionally recalling a rude remark
Preferring spoons arranged in a tray
Feeling anxious about layoffs at work
Which feature is most characteristic of obsessions in OCD?
Rational concerns about daily responsibilities
Persistent, intrusive, and distressing thoughts
Brief, pleasurable, and calming images
External events that force behavior changes
Which behavior would NOT typically qualify as a compulsion in OCD?
Repetitive hand washing after contact with germs
Counting or praying to reduce distress
Ritualistic checking of appliances
Repetitive hand washing after passing a person with flu
In body dysmorphic disorder, the core preoccupation typically involves which focus?
Irresistible urges to check locks repeatedly
Avoidance of discarding old personal possessions
Fear of contamination from germs or dirt
Perceived physical defects that seem hideous or deformed
Which repeated action is most commonly associated with body dysmorphic disorder?
Constantly checking one’s appearance in mirrors
Counting objects to prevent feared events
Rechecking appliances to reduce anxiety
Arranging items in perfect symmetry
Which description most accurately captures hoarding disorder?
Intrusive thoughts about moral responsibility
Preoccupation with imagined physical defects
Repetitive washing to remove contamination fears
Persistent difficulty discarding possessions regardless of value
Which outcome is commonly observed in severe hoarding disorder cases?
Living spaces become unusable due to clutter
Compulsions are carried out for pleasure
Only valuable items are saved and organized
Symptoms resolve quickly without treatment
A person spends hours each day washing hands and knows the fear is irrational but cannot stop. Which concept best applies?
Compulsions directly fix the feared source
Obsessions are enjoyable and self-rewarding
Compulsions reduce distress from obsessions
Obsessions are always brief and intentional
Which misconception about OCD language is highlighted by the material?
Casual use of the word obsession can be insensitive
Checking behaviors are performed for pleasure
OCD is a temporary habit that everyone has
Intense activity is always a compulsion
Which scenario best differentiates OCD from everyday repetitive behavior?
Rituals that are unrealistic solutions to feared events
Occasional pacing when feeling nervous at school
Setting utensils neatly during a formal dinner
Cleaning hands before a meal with family
Which set correctly pairs disorder with a hallmark feature?
OCD—mirror comparisons; BDD—door checking; Hoarding—organized minimalism
OCD—pleasurable rituals; BDD—lock checking; Hoarding—valuables collecting
OCD—appearance concerns; BDD—germ fears; Hoarding—ritual hand washing
OCD—compulsions like checking; BDD—appearance preoccupation; Hoarding—difficulty discarding
Which neurotransmitters are most implicated in OCD according to genetic studies?
Serotonin, dopamine, glutamate
GABA, norepinephrine, acetylcholine
Oxytocin, vasopressin, endorphins
Histamine, melatonin, epinephrine
Why do researchers caution against inferring causation from brain imaging findings in OCD?
Correlational relationships cannot prove causation
Only animal brains can be imaged reliably
Imaging lacks any spatial resolution
Imaging always misidentifies active regions
Which brain region becomes hyperactive during symptom provocation in many people with OCD?
Amygdala within the limbic system
Orbitofrontal cortex in the frontal lobe
Occipital lobe visual cortex
Hippocampus memory circuits
In classical conditioning models of OCD, what initially becomes associated with anxiety?
Neutral stimulus paired with aversive event
Unconditioned response paired with reward
Extinction paired with spontaneous recovery
Reinforcer paired with operant behavior
Which best illustrates negative reinforcement in OCD rituals?
Ritual produces external punishment
Ritual increases anxiety over time
Ritual adds pleasant sensory rewards
Ritual removes discomfort from anxiety
From a learning perspective, why might compulsions persist despite being maladaptive?
They are extinguished by nonuse
They lack any consequences at all
They are negatively reinforced repeatedly
They are punished by authority figures
Which treatment principle aligns with breaking negative reinforcement cycles in OCD?
Nutritional supplementation alone
Exposure with response prevention
Deep brain stimulation surgery
Psychoanalytic dream analysis
Which description best defines posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
A disorder following exposure to extreme trauma
A mood disorder without external triggering events
A psychotic disorder marked by hallucinations only
A personality disorder caused by long-term habits
Which event type meets the traumatic event criterion for PTSD diagnosis?
Actual or threatened death or serious injury
Routine workplace stress without danger
Minor life changes without physical threat
Financial loss without physical harm
Which set lists core symptom clusters of PTSD?
Somatic pain, fatigue, appetite change
Mania, grandiosity, pressured speech, flight
Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thought
Intrusion, avoidance, negative mood, arousal
Which is an example of an intrusion symptom in PTSD?
General sadness after daily hassles
Occasional daydreaming about vacations
Persistent fear of future exams
Distressing flashbacks of the traumatic event
Which example fits the arousal/reactivity symptom cluster?
Exaggerated startle response and irritability
Calm mood and improved concentration
Elation and increased goal-directed activity
Detached amusement in social situations
Which experiences are commonly recognized as traumatic exposures associated with PTSD?
Routine illnesses, dietary changes, exams
Online criticism, minor conflicts, boredom
Public speaking, long commutes, deadlines
Combat, sexual assault, terrorist attacks
Which factor increases PTSD risk through cumulative life stress after trauma?
Participation in leisure clubs weekly
Lack of immediate social support
High-quality mentoring programs
Balanced diet and regular stretching
Which finding best captures social support’s impact on PTSD outcomes after trauma?
Social support has no measurable relation to mental health
Social support increases symptoms by encouraging rumination
Social support always prevents trauma from occurring
Greater social support reduces risk and aids remission
Which statement best illustrates classical conditioning in PTSD after a plane crash?
Fear when hearing any loud music
Extreme fear when seeing or hearing airplanes
Relief when watching aviation documentaries
Calmness when visiting crowded airports
In PTSD, what term describes stimuli like the sight of an airplane that trigger distress?
Operant reinforcer
Unconditioned stimulus
Neutral baseline cue
Conditioned stimulus
According to cognitive models, why might some trauma memories be fragmented?
They were enhanced by social support
They were recorded with photographic detail
They were poorly encoded during the event
They are over-rehearsed and elaborate
Which example shows intrusive fragments due to memory disturbances?
Forgetting all details permanently
Remembering only the attacker’s repeated insult
Recalling a complete timeline calmly
Writing a coherent narrative quickly
Negative appraisals such as self-blame most likely lead to which consequence?
Enhanced contextual understanding
Reduced vigilance and avoidance
Dysfunctional behavioral strategies
Immediate symptom remission
Avoiding social places after trauma primarily maintains PTSD by preventing what?
Access to professional diagnosis
Exposure to positive distractions
Formation of new supportive relationships
Change in problematic appraisals and memory
Which integrated explanation best connects conditioning and cognition in PTSD?
Conditioned cues trigger fear, fragmented memories give them meaning
Operant rewards create calm, detailed memories reduce triggers
Neutral cues erase fear, complete memories cause avoidance
Classical extinction strengthens fear, coherent recall removes anxiety
Which statement best distinguishes normal mood fluctuations from mood disorders?
Normal moods never include sadness, mood disorders do
Normal moods shift with events, mood disorders are extreme
Normal moods cause impairment, mood disorders rarely do
Normal moods are stable daily, mood disorders never change
Which category includes conditions where depression is the defining feature?
Somatic symptom group
Depressive disorders group
Anxiety disorders group
Personality disorders group
Which category features mania as the defining feature?
Trauma and stressor disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Depressive disorders only
Bipolar and related disorders
What best characterizes mania?
Extreme elation and agitation
Persistent worry without cause
Chronic mild sadness
Low energy and slow speech
Which symptom pattern is required for major depressive disorder by DSM-5?
Occasional irritability with good sleep
Elation alternating weekly with calm
Short sadness after stressful events
Depressed mood most days, nearly every day
Which example illustrates loss of interest associated with major depressive disorder?
A tennis player stops playing entirely
A student studies longer for exams
A runner adds extra weekly miles
A chef experiments with new recipes
Which set lists common experiences in depression?
Feeling empty, hopeless, tearful
Constant euphoria, risk-taking, giddy
Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized
Persistent anger, physical aggression
How do mood disorders affect functioning compared to everyday moods?
They improve focus and decision-making
They eliminate sadness during stress
They mildly shift feelings without impact
They impair function with distorted outlook
Which scenario most suggests mania rather than depression?
Feeling worthless, crying daily, hopeless outlook
Sleeping more, low energy, reduced appetite
Avoiding hobbies, withdrawing from social events
Staying up all night, rapid speech, reckless shopping
Which distinction aligns with DSM-5 mood disorder categories?
Personality disorders vs. psychotic disorders
Anxiety disorders vs. somatic symptom disorders
Depressive disorders vs. bipolar and related disorders
Substance disorders vs. neurocognitive disorders
Which observation by friends may indicate major depressive disorder?
Temporary dislike of one social event
Complete abandonment of previously enjoyed activities
Occasional boredom with routine tasks
Brief pause in hobbies during travel
Which factor is listed as a risk factor associated with major depressive disorder?
High-income professional employment
Living in rural areas exclusively
Unemployment or homemaking status
Being single without prior relationships
Which comorbid conditions are commonly associated with major depressive disorder?
Anxiety disorders and substance abuse
Neurological and gastrointestinal disorders
Autoimmune and metabolic syndromes
Dermatologic and endocrine disorders
Which description accurately defines the DSM-5 seasonal pattern specifier for depression?
Symptoms occur only after major life events
Symptoms occur following daily circadian changes
Symptoms occur only during a particular season
Symptoms occur randomly across different months
Peripartum onset depression most commonly applies to which time frame?
During adolescence or the first year of college
During menopause or within one year afterward
During pregnancy or within four weeks postpartum
Six to twelve months after any surgery
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is best described as which pattern of mood?
Episodic severe depression lasting one month
Intermittent mania alternating weekly with depression
Chronic depressed mood for most days over two years
Stable mood with rare short depressive dips
Which economic factor is identified as increasing risk for major depressive disorder?
Owning a home outright
Receiving a mid-career promotion
Earning less than $20,000 per year
Earning more than $100,000 per year
Strategic scenario: A new mother reports intense anxiety, guilt, and tearfulness two weeks after delivery, with no prior episodes. Which condition best fits and what is a key concern for care planning?
Persistent depressive disorder; expect chronic course
Peripartum depression; assess caregiving difficulties
Bipolar disorder; monitor for hypomania onset
Adjustment disorder; avoid discussing safety risks
Which criterion is required to diagnose bipolar disorder under DSM-5?
At least one manic episode in lifetime
Cyclothymic mood fluctuations for years
Recurrent depressive episodes only
Multiple hypomanic episodes without mania
During mania, which pattern illustrates "flight of ideas"?
Abruptly switching topics while talking rapidly
Speaking slowly with careful pauses
Remaining silent to avoid errors
Repeating a single phrase monotonously
Which behavior during mania most increases the need for hospitalization?
Talking to strangers with excessive cheerfulness
Buying many unnecessary items impulsively
Working extra hours without sleep for a week
Reckless actions posing physical danger to self or others
What defines the rapid-cycling subtype of bipolar disorder?
Two depressive episodes without mania
A single manic episode followed by remission
Continuous mild mood changes for two years
At least four mood episodes within one year
