Abnormal Psychology Study Guide – Flashcards
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A person who is suicidal and can see no reason for living BEST fits which definition of abnormality?
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Danger
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In the early asylums, treatment for mental illness began with the intention to provide:
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Good care
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The specialty that presently has the largest number of practitioners is:
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Social work
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George hears voices that others do not but is not distressed by them. This illustrates that:
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distress does not have to be present for a person's behavior to be considered abnormal.
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Psychoanalysis, as Freud developed it, was a form of what we now would call:
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Outpatient therapy
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Which item is NOT associated with hypnotism?
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The somatogenic perspective
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Which statement is NOT a reason that demonology dominated views of abnormality in Europe in the Middle Ages?
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The culture rejected religious beliefs
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Which component is NOT noted by clinical theorist Jerome Frank as essential to all forms of therapy?
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Third-party payer
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Johann Weyer, considered to be the founder of the modern study of psychopathology, was a physician in the:
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1500s
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St. Vitus' dance, characterized by people suddenly going into convulsions, jumping around, and dancing, was also known as:
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tarantism
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Which "new diagnosis" would someone experiencing overwhelming concern about where the safest neighborhoods and schools are located be MOST likely to receive?
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crime phobia
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"What the #%*$!! is going on? The insurance company says I have to stop my anger management program now!" The client who says this is MOST likely voicing concern about a:
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Managed care program
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One factor that contributed to the decline of moral therapy was:
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it did not work for everyone
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An otherwise "normal" person under the influence of hypnotic suggestion is made to bark, sit, and fetch like a dog. The occurrence of these "abnormal" behaviors lends support to which explanation for abnormality?
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Psychogenic
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An individual has a 9-to-5 job. However, this person seldom gets up early enough to be at work on time and expresses great distress over this behavior. This individual's behavior would be considered abnormal because it is:
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dysfunctional
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In the 1600s, Pilgrims in Europe who sought "psychic healing" would have been MOST likely to go to:
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Gheel, Belgium
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A significant change in the type of care offered now compared to the time Freud was practicing is that:
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people are more likely to receive treatment for "problems in living."
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Bob experiences unshakable sadness. His friends have stopped trying to cheer him up because nothing works. An ancient Greek physician would have labeled his condition:
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melancholia
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Immigration trends and differences in birthrates among minority groups in the United States have caused psychological treatment to become more:
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multicultural
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Which aspect of the definition of abnormality includes the inability to care for oneself and work productively?
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dysfunction
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When more than one research method produces similar results, researchers:
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can have more confidence in the results.
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Once a study in abnormal psychology finds significant results, researchers:
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must ask a number of questions about the details of the study.
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One hundred psychiatric patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received a new drug in pill form. The other group was given identical-looking placebo pills. A panel of psychiatrists, who did not know which pill each participant received, evaluated all participants for level of agitation. In this study, how was experimenter bias reduced?
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by having researchers who don't know who got which pill
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A therapist believes so strongly in her approach that she finds improvement even when none exists. Which design would prevent this problem?
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double-blind
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In preparation for a study of the effectiveness of an antipsychotic drug, an assistant puts all drugs into capsules of the same color and codes them. The assistant will have no part in administering the drug. Neither the subjects nor the experimenter will know who receives which drug. This is an example of a:
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double-blind design.
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Which statement is NOT a reason that correlational studies and experiments are preferred over case studies?
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They offer rich details that make the results extremely interesting.
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"Why do we do natural experiments?" asks a student. "After all, each disaster that causes a natural experiment is unique." A good answer would be, "Using natural experiments, researchers have learned quite a lot about:
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stress disorders."
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Which item is an analogue study?
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studying the effects of stress in nonhumans
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The form of correlational research that seeks to find how many new cases of a disorder occur in a group in a given time period is termed:
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epidemiological (incidence).
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In single-subject experimental designs, the participant is observed and measured before the manipulation of an independent variable. This initial observation period is called the:
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baseline period.
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The major advantage of a correlational study over a case study is that it:
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has better external validity.
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If a study's findings generalize beyond the immediate study to other persons and situations, then the study has:
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external validity.
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Assume variables X and Y are correlated. A researcher would be able to make the MOST accurate predictions of scores on variable Y if the correlation between X and Y is
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-.88.
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Which statement does NOT describe a challenge faced by clinical researchers?
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There are very few graduate students trained in clinical research.
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"The heavier you are, the more food you are likely to eat." If true, this statement expresses:
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a positive correlation.
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Which correlation coefficient represents the weakest relationship?
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-.06
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Which statement is FALSE regarding the obstacles that clinical scientists face in studying psychological disorders?
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Humans have unusually stable (unchanging) moods and behavior.
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To accomplish random assignment, one could assign participants to groups by:
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flipping a coin to determine group assignment.
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The clinical practitioner would be more likely than the clinical researcher to rely on which method of investigation?
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case study with a single participant
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If you were using the scientific method to conduct research in abnormal psychology, you would be seeking:
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a nomothetic understanding.
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A patient participates in weekly therapy for several years, gradually becoming aware of the impact of early life events on present functioning. The form of psychotherapy the patient is receiving is called:
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psychodynamic therapy.
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Huntington's disease, which has psychological as well as physical aspects, results from loss of cells in the:
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basal ganglia.
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Depression has been linked to which neurotransmitter abnormality?
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low activity of serotonin
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When José did not get a job for which he applied, he was sure that everything was going wrong, that his life was completely off track. This thought is an example of:
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overgeneralization.
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Gestalt therapy is similar to mindfulness techniques in its emphasis on:
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focusing on the here and now.
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Infants tend to do things that feel good. This is in accord with what Freud called:
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the pleasure principle.
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The _____ operates in accord with the pleasure principle.
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id
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The term for the form of psychotherapy pioneered by Carl Rogers is:
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client-centered
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A patient's initial reaction to being told she has an STI is to insist that the nurse made a mistake with the test. The defense mechanism that BEST explains this behavior is:
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denial.
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The only time that Timmy gets attention is when he misbehaves in a bizarre way. This is an example of:
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operant conditioning
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Providing treatment as soon as it is needed so problems that are moderate or worse do not become long-term is called:
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tertiary prevention.
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Evidence in support of the psychodynamic model has come primarily from:
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case studies.
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One who believes that the multicultural perspective is the correct way to think about abnormality comes from which of the following paradigms?
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sociocultural
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The form of therapy that helps clients recognize errors in logic and to try out new interpretations of events is:
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cognitive.
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The view that religious views are defense mechanisms created by people to make life tolerable is MOST characteristic of:
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classic Freudian psychotherapy.
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Evidence of the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy:
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is limited to case studies.
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The so-called new wave of cognitive therapy differs from traditional cognitive therapy in that it emphasizes:
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accepting problematic thoughts.
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Henry goes into a fit of depression and self-abuse when anyone criticizes or expresses disapproval. Much of what he does is for the purpose of getting people to like him. Cognitive theorists would say that Henry's depression results in large part from:
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illogical thinking.
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In the 1960s and 1970s, the social upheaval and soul searching in Western society gave rise to which of the following approaches to therapy?
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humanistic and existential
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If someone is isolated and lacks social support or intimacy in his or her life, that person is more likely to _____ than someone who has social support and intimacy.
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become depressed when under stress
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To measure tendencies toward depression, an assessment tool asks individuals to record all the times they feel sad. However, individuals report wide variation in the number of "sad" episodes from day to day. This assessment tool has:
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low test-retest reliability and high face validity.
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The test that reports one's results on clinical scales such as "hypochondriasis" (HS) and "Psychopathic deviate" (PD) is the:
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Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.
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If a clinician is using the ICD to make a diagnosis, MOST likely that clinician is:
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practicing outside the United States.
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George is consumed with concern that his house will burn down. Before he leaves, he makes sure that all his appliances are unplugged. He often has to go back home and check to make sure he did not leave any plugged in. Which MMPI-2 scale would he MOST likely score high on?
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psychasthenia
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The assessment instrument MOST likely to be used to detect subtle brain abnormalities is the:
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neuropsychological test
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Which statement is MOST accurate?
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The classification system Emil Kraepelin developed served as the model for the DSM.
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Because people who exhibit mania have very elevated moods, a new test for mania includes questions about how happy a person feels and how often he or she laughs. This test has
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face validity.
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Clinical interviews are the preferred assessment technique of many practitioners. One particular strength of the interview process is:
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the chance to get a general sense of the client.
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A test is constructed to identify people who will develop schizophrenia. Of the 100 people the test identifies, 93 show signs of developing schizophrenia within five years. The test may be said to have high:
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predictive validity.
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A patient looks at a series of black-and-white pictures, making up a dramatic story about each. The patient is taking:
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the Thematic Apperception Test.
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The technique that uses X rays of the brain taken at different angles to create a static picture of the structure of the brain is called
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computerized axial tomography.
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A(n) _____ inventory asks about one's level of anxiety, depression, or anger.
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affective
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Compared to projective tests, personality inventories:
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have higher validity.
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Surveys show that more than one-third (33 percent) of Americans:
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would not seek counseling for fear of being labeled "mentally ill."
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Among other questions, a clinical interviewer asks, "How do you feel about yourself today? How do you feel about what's going on in your life?" MOST likely, the clinical interviewer's orientation is:
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humanistic.
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A patient complains of a phobia. Two lines of questioning by the clinician concern the specific object of the phobia and what the person does when he or she confronts that object. This clinician's orientation is probably:
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behavior
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Which test is NOT a projective test?
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Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
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On average, patients receiving therapy for a psychological problem improves more than do _____ of people with similar problems who do not receive treatment.
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75 percent
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Clients check off either "Applies" or "Does Not Apply" to a series of 200 items dealing with what they do and what they think in a variety of situations. The kind of test they are taking MOST likely is a:
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personality inventory.
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Which factors in the client-therapist relationship are NOT related to positive treatment outcomes?
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therapist uses humor
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If you were having marital problems that were affecting your work and your employer made mental health services available to you to deal with those problems, your employer would be providing you with:
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an employee assistance program.
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The current code of ethics declares that a therapist should break confidentiality even without the client's consent:
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when the client or another person is threatened.
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Some states have adopted a verdict of guilty but mentally ill. The sentence that must be given to those so convicted is:
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jail with treatment if necessary
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Which is NOT true about profiling
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Profiling is realistically portrayed on most television shows.
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Suffering from a psychophysiological disorder such as headaches, alcoholism, and substance abuse might make one eligible for an insanity defense under the:
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Durham test.
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The preference insurance companies show for short-term mental health services, by default, favors:
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drug treatment over talk therapies.
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In the United States, members of racial minority groups, compared to white Americans, are:
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more likely to be found incompetent to stand trial and more likely to be evaluated as an inpatient.
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A man is having trouble coping with his financial problems and is getting depressed about them. He seeks out someone at his company who helps by counseling employees on such issues and tries to address problems before they get worse. He is seeking help from:
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an employee assistance program.
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Which is an example of the way patients' rights might interfere with patients' recovery (that is, an example of a time when patients' rights are not good for the patients)?
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The right to refuse medication may limit a patient's recovery.
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According to studies regarding psychological disorders and prisoners, which is an accurate statement?
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Psychological disorders are more common in prison populations than in the general population.
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If a man walked in on his wife in bed with his best friend and killed both of them in a "fit of passion," that man may be eligible for an insanity defense under the:
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irresistible impulse test.
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A recent national mental health survey of psychotherapists found that more than three- quarters of them reported being in therapy themselves at least once and that they;
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seek therapy for the same problems that affect other people.
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A person who has been criminally committed has been:
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accused of a crime and sent to a psychiatric institution for mental health treatment.
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The legal system and the scientific community generally see _____ as fundamentally different.
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the degree of free will people have regarding their behavior
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Generally speaking, social network users:
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have close relationships and support from others.
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Members of "Mad Pride" try to:
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reduce the stigma of mental illness.
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If someone is interested in pursuing a career in a field that combined mental health and the legal and judicial systems, you should direct that person toward:
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forensic psychology.
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The version of the insanity defense that declares that a person cannot be held responsible for his or her actions if those actions were the result of mental disease or mental defect is called the:
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Durham test.
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Which is the BEST way to describe the growth of social media use in the past five years?
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spectacular
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One difficulty with the mentally disordered sex offender classification is that:
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racial bias appears to affect who is given this classification.
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What percentage of people become irritated if they must depart from their routines?
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40 percent
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Which theoretical position explains the origin of phobias as due to classical conditioning?
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behavioral
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What is one important way obsessions and compulsions are related?
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Compulsions help people control their obsessions
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According to cognitive theorists, compulsive acts serve to:
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neutralize.
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Agoraphobia is the fear of:
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public places.
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If one wanted a drug to improve the effectiveness of GABA, one would choose:
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a benzodiazepine.
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For an antidepressant to be effective against obsessive-compulsive disorder, it must:
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increase serotonin activity.
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According to cognitive theorists, people experiencing anxiety sensitivity:
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are unable to assess bodily sensations accurately.
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Which treatment is a nondrug biological treatment for anxiety that is in general use today?
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relaxation therapy
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Which convinces researchers that panic disorder is biologically different from generalized anxiety disorder?
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differences in the brain circuitry in the two disorders
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According to DSM-5, one must demonstrate which set of symptoms to be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder?
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excessive worry for six months, edginess, sleep changes, distress
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According to Freud, obsessive-compulsive disorders have their origin in the _____ development.
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anal
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If a therapist gave a client homework that required the client to challenge his faulty assumptions and replace them with healthier ones, the therapist would be using:
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rational-emotive therapy.
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Leila always feels threatened and anxious—imagining something awful is about to happen. She is able to work and care for her family, although not as well as she would like. Leila is probably experiencing:
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a generalized anxiety disorder.
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According to Freud, children who are punished or threatened for expressing their id impulses may develop:
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moral anxiety.
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Which descriptor would be LEAST likely to describe someone experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to the cognitive perspective?
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Let the good times roll. Don't worry about tomorrow.
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Which behavioral assumption has not been supported by research?
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Phobias are always acquired through classical conditioning in humans.
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A neurologist who was working with a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder would be suspicious of abnormality in what region of the brain?
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caudate nuclei
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Sally is never sure of the right thing to do. She married Tod and has been wondering for years if that was the right decision. She is exhibiting:
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obsessive doubts.
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According to behaviorists, why do patients engage in compulsive behaviors?
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Those behaviors reduce anxiety and are thus negatively reinforced.
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About 30 percent of those receiving outpatient therapy are diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. Some experts say adjustment disorders are:
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overdiagnosed, because they are easy to apply to many problems and are less stigmatizing than other diagnoses
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What effect has the use of sodium amobarbital had in treating dissociative amnesia and fugue?
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Results are mixed, successful with some patients and not with others.
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The effects of taking hallucinogens accompanied by feelings that objects are changing size, that other people are distorted, and that one might be mechanical is MOST similar to:
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depersonalization.
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What proportion of women are the victims of rape at some point during their lives?
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1 in 6
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Someone you know has just been diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. You can be reasonably sure that this person's disorder is:
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not normal, but less severe than acute distress disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder.
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A client receiving treatment for identity disorder is progressing well through therapy; then, fusion occurs. MOST likely, the client has:
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merged the final two or more subpersonalities.
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A feeling of detachment from oneself could be diagnosed as PTSD or depersonalization disorder. How would one decide which diagnosis is BEST?
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by considering which symptoms predominated
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Shawn experiences a mugging and robbery in which his dog is kidnapped. Eventually the dog is found and returned. However, he is unable to recall events immediately following the attack, up until the safe return of the dog. This is a classic example of:
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localized amnesia.
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Those who are MOST likely to experience a psychological stress disorder are:
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female, or low-income individuals.
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Norepinephrine is to _____ as corticosteroid is to _____.
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sympathetic pathway; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway
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A person's levels of cortisol and norepinephrine are in the normal range. MOST likely, that person is experiencing:
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no stress disorder.
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One very interesting study investigated the physiological responses of subpersonalities of those with dissociative identity disorder, and the physiological responses of the "subpersonalities" of those instructed to fake dissociative identity disorder. The study showed that the physiological responses of subpersonalities of those with dissociative identity disorder:
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differed from one another, but the subpersonalities of those faking dissociative identity disorder did not.
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Which statement accurately describes the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway of the stress response?
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The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to produce a stress hormone that causes the adrenal gland to release corticosteroids.
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Poor health is BEST described as a:
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stressor.
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Which is an accurate statement about the effectiveness of psychological debriefing in the aftermath of a disaster (based on research studies)?
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Debriefing doesn't work too well; it might even make victims worse.
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After a major earthquake, television coverage showed survivors shuffling confusedly through the ruined buildings. If such victims later could not remember the days immediately after the earthquake, the victims would be suffering from what type of amnesia?
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localized
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The chief sources of data used to support the theories of psychodynamic and behavioral clinicians are:
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case studies.
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Women are _____ as likely as men to develop stress disorders.
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twice
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A visual image that is retained so vividly that one can continue to scan it for more information is called:
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an eidetic image.
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An individual who formerly knew how to speak a foreign language and play a musical instrument can no longer remember how to as a result of a dissociative disorder. The dissociative disorder MOST likely is:
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dissociative identity.