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

Correct Answer:

B. Depression results from negative thinking styles that create a sense of hopelessness about future outcomes

Explanation:

Hopelessness theory argues that depression is triggered when individuals interpret negative life events as having stable (“It’s never going to change”) and global (“It affects my whole life”) causes. This thinking pattern fosters hopelessness—the belief that desired outcomes will not occur and nothing can prevent unpleasant ones. This sense of hopelessness becomes the pathway to depression. The theory highlights how cognitive style, not just life events, shapes vulnerability to depression.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Depression develops when individuals perceive negative events as temporary and specific

This describes adaptive thinking, not the negative cognitive style linked to hopelessness and depression.

C. Depression arises only from imbalances in serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain

This reflects the biological perspective, not cognitive theories of depression.

D. Depression is caused exclusively by stressful life events without influence from cognition

This is incomplete. Hopelessness theory stresses that cognitive interpretation of events, not the events alone, leads to depression.

Correct Answer:

B. Depression is associated with abnormal activity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, affecting emotion processing and regulation

Explanation:

Depression has been linked to abnormal functioning in several brain regions. The amygdala, responsible for assessing emotional significance and generating emotional responses, shows heightened activity in depression. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), which regulates and controls emotions, often shows reduced activity, impairing emotional regulation. Together, this imbalance contributes to persistent negative mood and difficulties managing emotional responses, highlighting the biological basis of depression.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Depression is caused only by the cerebellum, which regulates balance and coordination

The cerebellum controls motor coordination, not the emotional regulation implicated in depression.

C. Depression results solely from the hippocampus, which controls memory but not emotion

While the hippocampus plays a role in memory and may be affected, it is not the primary region linked to emotional regulation in depression.

D. Depression is unrelated to brain activity and occurs only because of environmental stress

This ignores strong evidence showing abnormal brain activity contributes significantly to depression.

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:

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:

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. Schizophrenia results from an overabundance of dopamine or an excessive number of dopamine receptors

Explanation:

The dopamine hypothesis suggests that schizophrenia is linked to excessive dopamine activity in the brain, particularly in areas associated with reward, motivation, and cognition. Overactive dopamine signaling or too many dopamine receptors may contribute to the onset and persistence of symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. This theory is supported by the effectiveness of antipsychotic medications, which reduce dopamine activity and alleviate symptoms in many patients.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Schizophrenia is caused exclusively by serotonin deficiency in the brain

While serotonin may play a role, the primary focus of the dopamine hypothesis is dopamine dysregulation, not serotonin.

C. Schizophrenia is caused solely by environmental stressors with no biological basis

Environmental stress can contribute, but dopamine dysregulation provides a biological explanation central to the hypothesis.

D. Schizophrenia arises only from structural brain damage without neurotransmitter involvement

This ignores the critical role of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, in producing core symptoms of schizophrenia.

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. Intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that become so intense they disrupt daily life

Explanation:

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are defined by the presence of distressing, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform. Unlike everyday habits or fleeting thoughts, these symptoms reach a severity that interferes with normal functioning, relationships, and well-being. This category includes obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder, and hoarding disorder, all of which share this pattern of excessive and disruptive cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Occasional unwanted thoughts or habits that do not interfere with daily functioning

This is normal experience, not a disorder, because the thoughts and behaviors are not disruptive.

C. Generalized worry about multiple areas of life without a clear trigger

This describes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), not obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

D. Intense fear of specific objects or environments such as heights or animals

This refers to specific phobias, not OCD or related disorders.

Correct Answer:

B. Relatives of people with mood disorders show higher risks, with genetic factors stronger in bipolar disorder than in major depressive disorder

Explanation:

Research shows that mood disorders, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, have a significant genetic component. Relatives of those with major depressive disorder have about double the risk of developing the disorder, while relatives of those with bipolar disorder have over nine times the risk. Twin studies further support this: concordance rates are higher for identical twins than fraternal twins, with bipolar disorder showing a stronger genetic influence (67% vs. 16%) than major depression (50% vs. 38%).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Mood disorders are entirely caused by environmental stress with no genetic influence

This is incorrect because family and twin studies clearly demonstrate a genetic component.

C. Genetic factors play no role in depression but explain all cases of bipolar disorder

This is inaccurate since genetics influence both, though more strongly in bipolar disorder.

D. Mood disorders occur randomly in the population with no evidence of heredity

This is false because the higher risks among relatives and twin concordance rates show heredity is important.