Classification and diagnosis

Question 1

A clinician using the DSM-5 focuses on:

a) Identifying treatment protocols
b) Providing a standardized classification of mental disorders
c) Diagnosing based on cultural rituals
d) Highlighting client strengths

Answer 1

Answer: b) Providing a standardized classification of mental disorders

Question 2

A dimensional approach to diagnosis involves:

a) Categorizing disorders into distinct groups
b) Assessing symptoms along a continuum of severity
c) Using historical classifications of mental illness
d) Ignoring cultural influences on diagnosis

Answer 2

Answer: b) Assessing symptoms along a continuum of severity

Question 3

If a diagnosis is reliable, it means:

a) It accurately measures what it intends to measure
b) Multiple clinicians arrive at the same diagnosis for the same symptoms
c) It aligns with cultural expectations
d) It changes frequently based on new research

Answer 3

Answer: b) Multiple clinicians arrive at the same diagnosis for the same symptoms

Question 4

Which of the following is considered a limitation of the DSM-5?

a) It is too inclusive of cultural differences
b) It lacks descriptions of treatment strategies
c) It fails to address biological perspectives
d) It neglects comorbidity between disorders

Answer 4

Answer: d) It neglects comorbidity between disorders

Question 5

A person experiencing symptoms of both depression and anxiety is an example of:

a) Comorbidity
b) Differential diagnosis
c) Malingering
d) Specific diagnosis

Answer 5

Answer: a) Comorbidity

Question 6

An important advantage of diagnostic systems like the DSM-5 is:

a) They eliminate stigma associated with mental illness
b) They provide consistency in diagnosis and communication
c) They offer one-size-fits-all treatments
d) They are completely free of biases

Answer 6

Answer: b) They provide consistency in diagnosis and communication

Question 7

A clinician exploring whether a client has Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder is conducting:

a) Differential diagnosis
b) Comorbid analysis
c) Symptom prioritization
d) Cross-cultural assessment

Answer 7

Answer: a) Differential diagnosis

Question 8

The ICD-11 differs from the DSM-5 in that:

a) It focuses exclusively on biological disorders
b) It is used globally and incorporates broader cultural perspectives
c) It omits neurodevelopmental disorders
d) It excludes treatment guidelines

Answer 8

Answer: b) It is used globally and incorporates broader cultural perspectives

Question 9

Which term describes a diagnosis where symptoms mimic a known disorder but are caused by another medical condition?

a) Factitious disorder
b) Differential diagnosis
c) Medical mimicry
d) Secondary diagnosis

Answer 9

Answer: b) Differential diagnosis

Question 10

If a diagnostic system has validity, it means:

a) The diagnosis changes over time
b) It provides consistent results across clinicians
c) The diagnosis accurately captures the disorder’s nature
d) It excludes cultural factors

Answer 10

Answer: c) The diagnosis accurately captures the disorder’s nature

Question 11

What role do cultural considerations play in diagnosis?

a) They ensure disorders are universally treated the same way
b) They highlight differences in disorder prevalence across regions
c) They help avoid misdiagnosis due to cultural differences
d) They focus solely on biologically influenced disorders

Answer 11

Answer: c) They help avoid misdiagnosis due to cultural differences

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of criterion validity in a diagnostic tool?

a) It produces consistent results over time
b) It differentiates between anxiety and depression
c) It accurately predicts future outcomes for patients
d) It allows multiple clinicians to agree on diagnoses

Answer 12

Answer: c) It accurately predicts future outcomes for patients

Question 13

Why is the multiaxial system from earlier DSM editions no longer used?

a) It was too culturally inclusive
b) It lacked clear diagnostic boundaries
c) The DSM-5 integrates all relevant dimensions into single diagnoses
d) It only applied to mood disorders

Answer 13

Answer: c) The DSM-5 integrates all relevant dimensions into single diagnoses

Question 14

A client exaggerates symptoms to receive additional medical benefits. This behavior is classified as:

a) Somatic symptom disorder
b) Factitious disorder
c) Malingering
d) Dissociative identity disorder

Answer 14

Answer: c) Malingering

Question 15

If a diagnostic system leads to frequent misdiagnosis, it lacks:

a) Reliability
b) Validity
c) Cross-cultural applicability
d) All of the above

Answer 15

Answer: b) Validity

Question 16

Which of the following disorders is most likely to be misdiagnosed due to cultural differences?

a) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
b) Schizophrenia
c) Somatic Symptom Disorder
d) Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 16

Answer: c) Somatic Symptom Disorder

Question 17

What is the purpose of specifiers in a diagnosis using the DSM-5?

a) To suggest a specific treatment plan
b) To add details about the severity or subtype of a disorder
c) To account for cultural differences
d) To combine multiple disorders into one diagnosis

Answer 17

Answer: b) To add details about the severity or subtype of a disorder

Question 18

What distinguishes provisional diagnoses from other diagnoses?

a) They are based on incomplete information
b) They apply to symptoms without functional impairment
c) They are limited to personality disorders
d) They do not involve comorbidity

Answer 18

Answer: a) They are based on incomplete information

Question 19

Which of the following represents a criticism of the DSM-5?

a) It provides no guidelines for treatment
b) It is not widely accepted in clinical practice
c) It may pathologize normal variations in behavior
d) It focuses exclusively on biological causes

Answer 19

Answer: c) It may pathologize normal variations in behavior

Question 20

Why is cultural competence essential for clinicians?

a) To ensure diagnoses are based solely on DSM criteria
b) To minimize the impact of clinician bias and misinterpretation
c) To avoid the inclusion of cultural syndromes in diagnoses
d) To reduce the use of standardized assessment tools

Answer 20

Answer: b) To minimize the impact of clinician bias and misinterpretation