PSYCH 111: Introduction to Psychology: Week 3: Chapter 15 Quizzes: Psychological Disorders

Correct Answer:

B. Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death for all ages in 2010

Explanation:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide ranked as the 10th leading cause of death across all age groups in 2010. This highlights the significant public health impact of suicide and underscores the importance of prevention, early identification, and intervention. Suicide affects individuals of all ages and is a critical issue in both mental health and overall health policy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Suicide is the leading cause of death for all ages

This is incorrect; suicide is serious but was ranked 10th in 2010.

C. Suicide is extremely rare and does not rank among the top causes of death

This underestimates the prevalence and public health significance of suicide.

D. Suicide only affects people over the age of 65 and is negligible in younger populations

This is false; suicide affects all age groups, including adolescents and young adults.

Correct Answer:

C. Extreme fear and avoidance of social situations where one may be negatively judged by others

Explanation:

Social anxiety disorder, formerly called social phobia, is characterized by ongoing fear or anxiety in social settings where evaluation by others is possible. Individuals may avoid public speaking, eating in public, or attending gatherings because they fear embarrassment, humiliation, or negative judgment. It is one of the most common anxiety disorders, affecting about 12% of Americans at some point in their lifetime. This condition can significantly interfere with education, work, and relationships.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A disorder marked by excessive worry across many areas of life without a specific trigger

This describes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), not social anxiety disorder.

B. A persistent fear of situations where escape may be difficult during a panic attack

This is agoraphobia, not social anxiety disorder.

D. Intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights or animals

This describes a specific phobia, not social anxiety disorder, which focuses on social evaluation.

Correct Answer:

B. A condition that develops after exposure to traumatic events, leading to persistent distressing symptoms

Explanation:

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) arises following exposure to traumatic events such as combat, natural disasters, or sexual assault. It was historically called “shell shock” or “combat neurosis” because it was first recognized in soldiers. Later, it became clear that anyone exposed to severe trauma could develop the disorder. PTSD symptoms include intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance of trauma-related reminders. These symptoms cause significant distress and impairment in daily life.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A disorder characterized by excessive worry about everyday matters without a specific trigger

This describes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), not PTSD.

C. A phobia involving intense fear of specific objects or situations, such as animals or flying

This refers to specific phobias, not PTSD, which is tied to trauma.

D. A disorder involving recurrent panic attacks unrelated to trauma

This describes panic disorder, not PTSD, which specifically develops after traumatic experiences.

Correct Answer:

B. MDD affects about 6.6% of the U.S. population annually and 16.9% over a lifetime, with higher rates in women than men

Explanation:

Major depressive disorder is widespread and often referred to as the “common cold” of psychiatric disorders due to its high prevalence. Each year, about 6.6% of U.S. adults experience MDD, and around 16.9% will develop it at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to experience depression than men, with approximately 20% of women and 13% of men affected. These differences are not fully explained by reporting tendencies but may reflect biological and environmental influences.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. MDD affects less than 1% of the population and occurs equally among men and women

This underestimates prevalence and ignores gender differences.

C. MDD is extremely rare, occurring mostly in older adults with physical illnesses

This is false because MDD is common across age groups, not just among older adults.

D. MDD is equally common in men and women, with no evidence of gender differences

This is incorrect since women show significantly higher rates than men.

Correct Answer:

A. Emotional deficits

Explanation:

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is marked by a lack of regard for others’ rights and feelings. Individuals with ASPD show emotional deficits, including shallow emotions, lack of remorse, and an inability to empathize with others. These deficits contribute to manipulative, deceitful, and impulsive behaviors that harm others and violate social norms. Emotional impairments are central to the disorder, affecting interpersonal functioning and moral reasoning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

B. Memory deficits

Memory impairments are not a defining feature of ASPD.

C. Parental overprotection

While upbringing may influence personality development, overprotection is not a core feature of ASPD.

D. Increased empathy

ASPD is characterized by reduced empathy, not increased empathy, which contributes to harmful behaviors toward others.

Correct Answer:

B. The co-occurrence of two or more psychological disorders in the same individual

Explanation:

Comorbidity refers to when a person experiences two or more psychological disorders at the same time. The DSM-5 highlights this common occurrence, such as the fact that 41% of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) also meet criteria for major depressive disorder. Similarly, substance use disorders are often comorbid, with about 60% of people who suffer from them also experiencing another mental illness. Understanding comorbidity helps clinicians provide more accurate diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. The process of classifying disorders by their biological causes only

This describes a biological model of mental illness, not comorbidity, which involves the overlap of disorders.

C. The misdiagnosis of one disorder as another due to overlapping symptoms

This refers to diagnostic error, not comorbidity. Comorbidity is when both disorders genuinely exist together.

D. The likelihood that a disorder will reappear after successful treatment

This describes relapse, not comorbidity. Relapse refers to recurrence, while comorbidity refers to coexistence of conditions.

Correct Answer:

B. It removed homosexuality as a disorder but introduced ego-dystonic homosexuality to address distress over same-sex attraction

Explanation:

The DSM-III, published in 1980, did not classify homosexuality itself as a psychological disorder. However, it introduced the diagnosis of ego-dystonic homosexuality, which described individuals who experienced same-sex arousal but found it distressing because it conflicted with their desired heterosexual identity or relationships. This was seen as a compromise that attempted to acknowledge distress without labeling homosexuality itself as disordered, though the diagnosis remained controversial.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. It classified homosexuality as a primary psychological disorder

This was true in earlier editions of the DSM, but not in DSM-III, which had removed it as a diagnosis.

C. It stated that homosexuality was a biological illness requiring treatment

The DSM-III did not describe homosexuality as a biological illness or recommend treatment on that basis.

D. It avoided any mention of homosexuality in order to remain neutral

This is incorrect because DSM-III specifically included ego-dystonic homosexuality, rather than omitting the subject altogether.

Correct Answer:

B. A pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning

Explanation:

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by persistent patterns of inattention (e.g., difficulty sustaining attention, forgetfulness, disorganization), hyperactivity (e.g., fidgeting, inability to stay seated, excessive movement), and impulsivity (e.g., interrupting, blurting out answers, poor impulse control). These behaviors are present across multiple settings—home, school, and social environments—and significantly impair daily functioning, learning, and social relationships. ADHD was first observed in the 1920s and formally recognized in the DSM-III (1980) as attention deficit disorder, now called ADHD.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A disorder characterized solely by persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities

This describes major depressive disorder, not ADHD.

C. Occasional difficulty concentrating during stressful events without functional impairment

This is typical behavior under stress and does not meet criteria for ADHD, which requires chronic impairment.

D. Recurrent panic attacks followed by worry about future attacks

This characterizes panic disorder, not ADHD.

Correct Answer:

B. Orbitofrontal cortex

Explanation:

The orbitofrontal cortex is a brain region implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This area, located in the frontal lobes, is involved in decision-making, emotional regulation, and response to reward or punishment. In individuals with OCD, the orbitofrontal cortex shows heightened activity, which is thought to contribute to intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and the compulsive behaviors aimed at reducing distress. Dysregulation in this region, along with neurotransmitter imbalances, helps explain the persistence and intensity of OCD symptoms.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Amygdala

The amygdala is involved in processing fear and emotions, but it is not the primary brain region associated with OCD.

C. Hippocampus

The hippocampus plays a key role in memory formation, not in the repetitive thought-behavior cycles characteristic of OCD.

D. Cerebellum

The cerebellum is responsible for motor coordination and balance, not the intrusive thoughts and compulsions seen in OCD.