All AP Psychology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Samantha must check that her keys are in her purse upon leaving the house exactly seven times. Samantha would most likely be diagnosed with __________.
Agoraphobia
A phobia
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Schizophrenia
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Given that Samantha must check for her keys a certain number of times until she is appeased, this begins to resemble ritualistic repetitive behavior. Repetitive ritualistic behavior is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder. While checking for keys may be a part of everyday life, feeling the need to check for keys a specific and excessive number of times is not.
Example Question #4 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
A patient has obsessive-compulsive disorder, and each morning and night she must spend 45 minutes writing words of praise in her journal so that her mother does not fall ill. The patient has been going to treatment for several years to deal with the issue.
Identify the obsession and the compulsion in this scenario.
Obsession: her mother's health . . . Compulsion: the writing ritual
Obsession: the writing ritual . . . Compulsion: going to treatment
Obsession: constant cleanliness . . . Compulsion: tidiness despite the room being clean
Obsession: the writing ritual . . . Compulsion: her mother's health
Obsession: her mother's health . . . Compulsion: the writing ritual
Obsessions are recurring intrusive thoughts or worries that are characterized by the extreme difficulty patients have suppressing them. The obsession here is the patient's concern with her mother's health. Compulsions are repeated behaviors that a person feels compelled to perform in relation to a given obsession. In this case, the need to write in a ritualistic fashion as as to prevent a realization of the obsessive fear is the compulsive act.
Example Question #1 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Which of the following is not a common compulsion associated with OCD?
Excessive hand washing
Excessively arranging items in a particular order
Excessively checking to make sure a loved one is still breathing
Excessively having flash backs to a past event
Excessively checking to make sure the oven is turned off
Excessively having flash backs to a past event
OCD is a disorder characterized by obsessions (intrusive, distressing thoughts) and compulsions (actions taken to try to "fix" the intrusive thought). Common compulsions include excessive washing, turning items off, checking on loved ones, and arranging items. Flashbacks are a symptom of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and are not associated with OCD.
Example Question #5 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Which of the following is NOT an example of a compulsion someone may have with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Check to see if burner off every time walk into kitchen
Unlock and relock the door multiple times when leaving home
Cleaning glasses every few minutes to make sure stay clean
Excessive hand-washing after touch anything from outside the home
All of these are common compulsions associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
All of these are common compulsions associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
All of the answers are examples of compulsive behaviors that result from anxiety, such as being "dirty" or leaving the door unlocked.
Example Question #171 : Psychological Abnormalities
90% of people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) often also suffer from another disorder. Which of the following disorders is most likely to co-occur with OCD?
Substance abuse disorders
Mood disorders
Panic disorders
Body dysmorphic disorders
Social anxiety disorders
Social anxiety disorders
90% of people people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from comorbid disorders. The most common comorbid disorders are social anxiety disorders. Of the 90% of OCD patients with comorbid disorders, 76% have social anxiety disorders. Approximately 63% suffer from mood disorders.
Example Question #281 : Ap Psychology
Henry has a habit that he wants help breaking. Henry tends to wash his hands in a particular way over a 5-minute period several times per day, sometimes up to 25 times per day. Often, his hands become red and his skin cracks because he washes them so much, but he continues washing because he becomes anxious if he doesn't wash. Based on this information, Henry is most likely to have ___________________.
panic disorder
specific phobia
post-traumatic stress disorder
obsessive compulsive disorder
obsessive compulsive disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder involves persistent, uncontrollable intrusions of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and urges to engage in senseless rituals (compulsions). In this case, we know that Henry has compulsions, but we don't have evidence of obsessions. However, compared to the symptoms of panic disorder (recurrent panic attacks), post-traumatic stress disorder (anxiety and avoidance occurring after a traumatic event), and specific phobia (excessive fear over objects or situations that pose no real threat), we can conclude that the most likely diagnosis would be obsessive compulsive disorder.
Example Question #282 : Ap Psychology
Which personality disorder is characterized by attention-seeking behavior and extreme emotionality?
Antisocial personality disorder
Schizotypal personality disorder
Histrionic personality disorder
Avoidant personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
Histrionic personality disorder
People with histrionic personality disorder feel highly uncomfortable and/or offended when they are not the center of attention. They have rapidly shifting emotions, which are used to garner attention from others.
Example Question #283 : Ap Psychology
Which of the following is not considered a personality disorder?
Schizoid disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Borderline disorder
Antisocial disorder
Histrionic disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder, not a personality disorder.
The other listed conditions are all personality disorders.
Example Question #284 : Ap Psychology
Which DSM-IV axis includes all personality disorders?
Axis IV
Axis III
Axis I
Axis II
Axis V
Axis II
The multi-axial system of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) was created in 1994 to address the "whole person" when making psychiatric diagnoses.
Axis I refers to the principal disorder in question (e.g., schizophrenia), axis II refers to personality disorders, axis III lists medical disorders that impact a client's psychiatric state, axis IV takes psychosocial factors into account (e.g., recent divorce leading to depression), and axis V gives an overall global functioning score on a scale of 0-100.
Example Question #81 : Types Of Disorders
Which of the following psychiatric disorders is more common among women than men?
Autism
Antisocial personality disorder
Schizophrenia
Depression
ADHD
Depression
Women are more likely to suffer from internalizing disorders, including depression and anxiety. Men are more likely to suffer from externalizing disorders, including antisocial personality disorder, substance abuse disorder, and conduct disorder.