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

Correct Answer:

B. MDD is a serious condition that disrupts functioning, increases discrimination, and raises risk for physical illness

Explanation:

Major depressive disorder is a debilitating mental illness that profoundly affects quality of life. It can prevent individuals from maintaining employment, pursuing education, or sustaining relationships. Many sufferers face discrimination that further limits opportunities. Beyond emotional suffering, MDD is linked to physical health risks, including higher chances of developing heart disease and worsening outcomes in those already diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions. Hospitalization may be necessary in severe cases, highlighting its serious impact.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. MDD is a temporary sadness that rarely interferes with work, education, or health

This trivializes the disorder. MDD is persistent and seriously disrupts daily life.

C. MDD only affects emotions and has no connection to career, relationships, or physical health

This is incorrect. Research shows MDD affects multiple domains, including physical health.

D. MDD is defined by alternating episodes of mania and depression that limit work or social opportunities

This describes bipolar disorder, not major depressive disorder.

Correct Answer:

B. Excessive, persistent fear or anxiety about a particular object or situation that disrupts normal functioning

Explanation:

A specific phobia involves intense, irrational fear toward a particular object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, or enclosed spaces. Even when individuals recognize the fear as excessive, they may go to extreme lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus. This avoidance can interfere with daily activities, relationships, and career opportunities, making the disorder disruptive. Unlike general nervousness, phobias persist over time and significantly impair quality of life.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A temporary nervous reaction to stressful events that does not interfere with daily life

This is a normal response to stress and not classified as a disorder.

C. General worry and tension that occurs across multiple areas of life without a clear trigger

This describes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), not a specific phobia.

D. A mild dislike of certain situations or objects that can be easily controlled

A simple dislike does not rise to the level of excessive, disruptive fear that defines a phobia.

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. Excessive collecting and inability to discard possessions, resulting in cluttered and unusable living spaces

Explanation:

Hoarding disorder is now recognized as a distinct disorder separate from OCD. It involves difficulty discarding possessions regardless of their actual value, leading to excessive accumulation of items. This clutter often reaches the point where living areas, such as kitchens or bedrooms, cannot be used for their intended purposes. Individuals may hold onto items because they believe they might be useful in the future or due to sentimental attachment. The disorder severely impacts daily life and functioning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Persistent fear of specific objects, such as animals or flying, leading to avoidance

This describes a specific phobia, not hoarding disorder.

C. Preoccupation with imagined physical flaws, leading to repetitive checking or hiding behaviors

This describes body dysmorphic disorder, not hoarding disorder.

D. Repetitive handwashing or checking behaviors performed to reduce anxiety from intrusive thoughts

This describes obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), not hoarding disorder, which centers on accumulation and clutter.

Correct Answer:

B. OCD shows higher rates among close relatives and involves genes affecting serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate

Explanation:

Research indicates that OCD has a moderate genetic component. Family studies show it is about five times more common among first-degree relatives of people with OCD. Twin studies further support this: identical twins have a concordance rate of about 57%, while fraternal twins have only 22%. Genetic studies suggest involvement of multiple genes that regulate neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. Although more research is needed, these findings support the role of heredity and neurobiology in OCD.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. OCD is caused only by learned behaviors and has no genetic or biological influence

This ignores clear evidence from family and twin studies that heredity and biology play a role.

C. OCD is entirely explained by environmental stressors without any hereditary factors

Environmental stressors may contribute, but genetics and neurotransmitter systems are significant factors.

D. OCD is always inherited directly from one parent and shows identical rates in all twin studies

This is inaccurate. Concordance rates in identical twins are not 100%, meaning environment also plays a role.

Correct Answer:

B. Depression is triggered by negative thoughts, self-evaluations, and expectations

Explanation:

Cognitive theories emphasize the role of maladaptive thinking patterns in depression. According to this view, individuals develop depression because they hold persistent negative beliefs about themselves, the world, and the future (known as Beck’s cognitive triad). These distorted thoughts shape how people interpret events, leading to hopelessness and despair. Unlike biological theories, which focus on brain function, the cognitive approach highlights the role of interpretation and thought processes in maintaining depression.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Depression is caused only by genetic inheritance and brain chemistry

This describes the biological perspective, not the cognitive theory.

C. Depression is a temporary sadness caused by stressful but short-lived events

This oversimplifies depression, which is chronic and deeply tied to thought patterns, not just brief sadness.

D. Depression develops solely from abnormal activity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex

This also reflects a biological model, not the cognitive theory that emphasizes negative thinking and expectations.

Correct Answer:

B. Preoccupation with imagined or minor physical flaws, leading to repetitive behaviors and distress

Explanation:

Body dysmorphic disorder involves obsessive concern with perceived defects in appearance that are not noticeable or are minor to others. Individuals may believe they look ugly or deformed and engage in behaviors like mirror checking, hiding body parts, or seeking cosmetic surgery. These preoccupations cause significant distress and impair functioning. Prevalence is estimated at about 2.4% in U.S. adults, slightly higher in women than men, making it an important but often overlooked mental health condition.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Excessive fear of gaining weight, leading to food restriction and weight loss

This describes anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder, not body dysmorphic disorder.

C. Persistent worry across many areas of life without a specific trigger

This characterizes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), not body dysmorphic disorder.

D. Intense fear of specific objects or situations, such as flying or heights

This is a specific phobia, not body dysmorphic disorder, which is focused on perceived appearance flaws.

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. Dysfunction becomes a disorder only when it causes harm or negative consequences judged by cultural standards

Explanation:

A dysfunction occurs when an internal mechanism, such as cognition or perception, fails to perform its intended role. However, dysfunction alone is not sufficient to define a psychological disorder. It must also be harmful, producing significant distress (like anxiety or depression) or impairing daily functioning in work, relationships, or other life areas. Cultural standards also influence what is considered harmful, making context an important factor in diagnosis.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Any dysfunction automatically qualifies as a psychological disorder regardless of impact

This is incorrect because dysfunction without harm does not necessarily indicate a disorder. Some dysfunctions may have no significant negative effects.

C. Dysfunction is unrelated to psychological disorders and only applies to physical illnesses

This is false because dysfunction in mental processes is central to psychological disorders. It is not limited to physical illness.

D. Dysfunction is defined solely by being statistically rare in the population

Rarity does not equal dysfunction. Some rare traits are harmless and even beneficial, meaning they are not disorders.