EPPP Practice Questions: Psychopathology Big 6

Question 1

For individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a better prognosis has been linked to
which of the following?
a. no or minimal delays in motor development
b. an ability to communicate verbally by age five or six
c. a brief period of active-phase symptoms
d. strong family support

Answer 1

b. an ability to communicate verbally by age five or six
A better prognosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder has been linked to an ability to
communicate verbally by age five or six, an IQ over 70, and a later onset of symptoms.

Question 2

Research investigating the effectiveness of neurofeedback as a treatment for ADHD has
generally found which of the following?
a. It is not an effective treatment for most individuals with this disorder.
b. It is an effective treatment and exerts its strongest effects on inattention and
impulsivity.
c. It is an effective treatment and exerts its strongest effects on hyperactivity.
d. It is an effective treatment only when used in conjunction with a central nervous
system stimulant.

Answer 2

b. It is an effective treatment and exerts its strongest effects on inattention and impulsivity.
A meta-analysis of the research by Arns et al. (2009) found that neurofeedback (EEG
biofeedback) produced a large effect size for inattention and impulsivity and a medium effect
size for hyperactivity and that its effects are similar to those of stimulant medication. The
results also indicated that the benefits of neurofeedback remained stable or increased over a
two-year period.

Question 3

Compared to children in the general population, children with a Specific Learning
Disorder are:
a. at lower risk for ADHD and other mental disorders.
b. at about the same risk for ADHD and other mental disorders.
c. at about the same risk for ADHD and other mental disorders but at higher risk for
more severe symptoms.
d. at higher risk for ADHD and other mental disorders.

Answer 3

at higher risk for ADHD and other mental disorders.
Children with Specific Learning Disorder tend to be at higher risk for other mental health
problems. For example, the rate of ADHD is about 5% for children in the general population
but 20 to 30% for children with Specific Learning Disorder.

Question 4

The mean age of onset of motor tics in Tourette’s Disorder is:

a. 1 to 3 years.
b. 5 to 7 years.
c. 9 to 11 years.
d. 12 to 14 years.

Answer 4

b. 5 to 7 years.
The reported mean age of onset of motor tics varies, but a commonly reported range is
between 5 and 7 years. The onset of vocal tics is usually later, with a mean age of 11 years.
See, e.g., A. Carroll and A. Robertson, Tourette Syndrome: A practical guide for teachers,
parents, and careers, New York, David Fulton Publishers, 2003.

Question 5

Of the brain abnormalities associated with Schizophrenia, which of the following has
been found in the largest proportion of patients?
a. enlarged hippocampus
b. enlarged frontal lobes
c. enlarged temporal lobes
d. enlarged ventricles

Answer 5

d. enlarged ventricles
Of the structural brain abnormalities linked to Schizophrenia, enlarged lateral and third
ventricles have been found in the largest proportion of patients with reported percentages
ranging from 15 to 30%.

Question 6

The biological brother of a person who has received a diagnosis of Schizophrenia is
________ times more likely to develop the disorder than a member of the general
population.
a. two
b. five
c. ten
d. twenty

Answer 6

c. ten
Approximately 1% of the general population develops Schizophrenia. For biological siblings of
a person with Schizophrenia, this increases to about 10%.

Question 7

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) has been most consistently linked to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
abnormalities.
a. cortisol
b. glutamate
c. melatonin
d. GABA

Answer 7

c. melatonin
Seasonal affective disorder has been linked to a disruption in circadian rhythms that is
caused by abnormalities in the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland.

Question 8

In adults, the rate of Major Depressive Disorder for women is about 1.5 to 3 times the
rate for men. This gender difference:
a. is the opposite of what is found in prepubertal children.
b. is the same as what is found in prepubertal children.
c. does not become evident until early adulthood.
d. does not become evident until mid-adolescence.

Answer 8

d. does not become evident until mid-adolescence.
The gender difference in the rates of Major Depressive Disorder does not become evident
until puberty. Prior to that time, the rates for males and females are about equal.

Question 9

In the United States, the highest rates of suicide for individuals ages 15 to 34 are for:

a. American Indian/Alaskan Natives.
b. Blacks.
c. Hispanics.
d. Whites.

Answer 9

a. American Indians/Alaskan Natives.
Recent data confirm that Whites generally have higher rates of suicide than members of other
ethnic/racial groups. An exception is that, for American Indian/Alaskan Native adolescents
and young adults, ages 15 to 34, the suicide rate is 2.5 times higher than the national average
for that age group.

Question 10

The DSM-5 diagnosis of Panic Disorder requires at least two __________ panic attacks,
with at least one attack being followed by __________ or more of persistent concern or
worry about having another attack or the consequences of an attack and/or a significant
maladaptive change in behavior that is related to the attacks.
a. expected or unexpected; one month
b. expected or unexpected; three months
c. unexpected; one month
d. unexpected; two months

Answer 10

c. unexpected; one month
For a DSM-5 diagnosis of Panic Disorder, a person must have recurrent unexpected panic
attacks, with at least one of the attacks being followed by “persistent concern or worry about
additional attacks or their consequences” and/or “a significant maladaptive change in
behavior related to the attacks” (APA, 2013, p. 208).

Question 11

Mary Ann, age 29, seems very nervous during her first therapy session with you. When
she speaks, her hands shake and she blushes. She tells you that, while she isn’t afraid to
be around people, she gets anxious and flustered whenever she has to speak to people she
doesn’t know. Mary Ann also says she has trouble talking to her supervisor at work
because he’s condescending and critical. Based on these symptoms, the most likely
diagnosis for Mary Ann is which of the following?
a. Specific Phobia
b. Social Anxiety Disorder
c. Panic Disorder
d. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer 11

b. Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder involves marked fear of or anxiety about one or more social
situations in which the individual may be exposed to the scrutiny of others.

Question 12

Studies suggest that which of the following is the most effective intervention for
Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
a. flooding
b. systematic desensitization
c. stress inoculation
d. cognitive-behavioral therapy

Answer 12

d. cognitive-behavioral therapy
Reviews of the literature have confirmed that multicomponent cognitive-behavioral therapy is
the most effective treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about the rates of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for
males and females?
a. In both children and adults, the rates are higher for males than for females.
b. In both children and adults, the rates are higher for females than for males.
c. In children, the rates are higher for males; in adults, the rates are about equal for
males and females.
d. In children, the rates are higher for females; in adults, the rates are about equal for
males and females.

Answer 13

c. In children, the rates are higher for males; in adults, the rates are about equal for
males and females

Because the average age of onset of OCD is earlier for males than females, among children,
the rate of the disorder is higher for males. However, in adulthood, the rates are about equal
for males and females.

Question 14

Your new client, Roberto R., was involved in a car accident three weeks ago in which
the driver of the other car was killed. He is having “bad dreams” about car crashes, has
been unable to drive or ride in a car, and is having trouble concentrating at work. He says
that he doesn’t remember much about what happened the first few days after the accident
and that, since the accident, he’s been unusually irritable and has frequently lost his
temper for no good reason. The most likely diagnosis for Roberto is which of the following?
a. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
b. Specific Phobia
c. Acute Stress Disorder
d. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer 14

c. Acute Stress Disorder
The nature and duration of Roberto’s symptoms are consistent with Acute Stress Disorder.
He was involved in a traumatic event, has memory loss for a period of time after the event, is
re-experiencing the event in dreams, is avoiding activities associated with the event, is having
trouble concentrating, and is unusually irritable, and his symptoms have lasted for three
weeks.

Question 15

The presence of which of the following is more suggestive of Malingering than
Factitious Disorder?
a. The motive for feigning symptoms is to obtain an external reward.
b. The motive for feigning symptoms is to keep a conflict or impulse out of conscious
awareness.
c. Symptoms are related to an identified deception that is not associated with attainment
of an external reward.
d. Symptoms are inconsistent with known neurological or medical conditions.

Answer 15

a. The motive for feigning symptoms is to obtain an external reward.
Malingering is included in the DSM-5 with Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical
Attention and involves the intentional production of false or grossly exaggerated physical or
psychological symptoms for personal gain. (Answer c is consistent with Factitious Disorder.)

Question 16

As a treatment for Erectile Dysfunction, sildenafil citrate (Viagra) exerts its therapeutic
effects by increasing:
a. androgen levels.
b. blood flow to the penis.
c. sensitivity in the penis.
d. sexual desire.

Answer 16

b. blood flow to the penis.
Viagra and similar medications (Levitra, and Cialis) are PDE-5 inhibitors, which promote
erection by relaxing the smooth muscle in the penis and thereby increasing blood flow.

Question 17

A 45-year-old man who began drinking heavily when he was in his early 30s and who
now has Korsakoff syndrome is most likely to have difficulty remembering:
a. how to shave and brush his teeth.
b. the name of his high-school sweetheart.
c. his first job when he graduated from college at age 24.
d. the name of his first grandchild who was born when he was 42.

Answer 17

d. the name of his first grandchild who was born when he was 42.
A distinguishing feature of Korsakoff syndrome is that it impairs memory for relatively recent
events (memory for events that occurred after the individual began drinking) more severely
than memory for remote events.

Question 18

The research has found that, after consuming the same amount of alcohol, older
(versus younger) adults typically report:
a. stronger subjective feelings of intoxication as well as longer-lasting effects.
b. stronger subjective feelings of intoxication but shorter-lasting effects.
c. weaker subjective feelings of intoxication but longer-lasting effects.
d. weaker subjective feelings of intoxication and shorter-lasting effects.

Answer 18

a. stronger subjective feelings of intoxication as well as longer-lasting effects.
The studies have found that older adults not only report greater and longer periods of
intoxication after ingesting the same amount of alcohol as younger adults but also exhibit
more impairment in perceptual motor capacity as the result of alcohol consumption. See,
e.g., T. P. Beresford and M. R. Lucey, Ethanol metabolism and intoxication in the elderly, in.
T. P. Beresford and E. Gomberg (Eds.), Alcohol and aging (pp. 117-127), New York, Oxford
University Press, 1995.

Question 19

A patient with Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Alzheimer’s Disease is likely to exhibit
which of the following during the initial stage of the disorder?
a. greater impairment in procedural memory than in episodic and semantic memory
b. greater impairment in episodic and semantic memory than in procedural memory
c. greater impairment in procedural and episodic memory than in semantic memory
d. a similar degree of impairment in procedural, episodic, and semantic memory

Answer 19

b. greater impairment in episodic and semantic memory than in procedural memory
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, anterograde amnesia affects both episodic and
semantic memory, which are the two aspects of declarative memory. However, procedural
memory remains relatively unaffected.

Question 20

Individuals who receive a diagnosis of which of the following Personality Disorders will
most likely no longer meet all of the diagnostic criteria for the disorder when they reach
middle age?
a. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
b. Antisocial Personality Disorder
c. Paranoid Personality Disorder
d. Avoidant Personality Disorder

Answer 20

b. Antisocial Personality Disorder
While Antisocial Personality Disorder is chronic, its symptoms (especially involvement in
criminal behavior) often become less severe and pervasive by the fourth decade of life.

Question 21

A 32-year-old woman has refused two promotions at work because she doesn’t want to
risk being criticized for failing to meet new responsibilities. She spends a lot of time alone
fantasizing about an ideal mate; and, when her best friend invites her to parties or other
social events, she declines, often claiming that she has a headache or is too tired. When in
a social situation, the woman vigilantly watches the reactions of others. These symptoms
are most suggestive of which Personality Disorder?
a. Paranoid
b. Schizoid
c. Borderline
d. Avoidant

Answer 21

d. Avoidant
Avoiding relationships due to fear of criticism and fantasizing about an ideal relationship are
characteristic symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder.

Question 22

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
A 16-year-old suddenly exhibits a change in behavior that includes irritability, concentration problems at school, a decreased need for sleep, and sexual promiscuity. Her mother says that the girl has had behavioral problems at school for the past few years but that her current symptoms are new and developed about ten days ago. Based on this information, the most likely diagnosis is:

a) ADHD
b) Conduct Disorder
c) Bipolar I Disorder
d) Bipolar II Disorder

Answer 22

The girl’s symptoms and their sudden onset are most suggestive of Bipolar Disorder.

a. Incorrect For a diagnosis of ADHD, there would have to be some evidence of hyperactivity-impulsivity and/or inattention prior to age seven and a duration of symptoms for at least six months.
b. Incorrect A diagnosis of Conduct Disorder requires a persistent pattern of antisocial behavior. Although the question mentions that the girl has had “behavioral problems,” there is not sufficient evidence to conclude that they meet the criteria for this diagnosis.
c. CORRECT The girl’s symptoms are suggestive of mania, and, according to DSM-IV-TR, among adolescents, mania is sometimes preceded by a history of behavioral problems.
d. Incorrect A diagnosis of Bipolar II disorder requires a history of both major depressive and hypomanic episodes.