AP Psychology : Psychological Abnormalities

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Psychological Abnormalities

The traumatic experience associated with the end of the use of an addictive drug is known as __________.

Possible Answers:

tolerance

dependence

addiction

withdrawal

Correct answer:

withdrawal

Explanation:

Withdrawal is the term used to describe the symptoms that occur when a person ends the use of an addictive substance. Withdrawl can result following either a mental or physical addiction. Withdrawl symptoms can vary, but frequently include shaking, vomiting, nausea, and anxiety.

Tolerance is the phenomena wherein a subject's reaction to a drug decreases, causing a need for a more concentrated dose to achieve the same reaction Addiction is when a subject ingests a substance or engages in an activity that can be pleasureable in the short-run, but detrimental in the long-run. Dependence occurs when a subject is addicted to a substance or activity and is unable to behave independently of that stimulus.

Example Question #1 : Treatments

Who is regarded as the father of cognitive therapy?

Possible Answers:

Sigmund Freud

B.F. Skinner

Aaron Beck

William James

Carl Jung

Correct answer:

Aaron Beck

Explanation:

Aaron Beck is a psychatrist who is credited with creating cognitive therapy for disorders such as depression and anxiety. His theories are still very influential on modern therapy. He also created the Beck Depression Inventory, one of the most widely used assessments for depression.

Example Question #1 : Treatments

Who is the founder of psychoanalysis?

Possible Answers:

Karl Yang

Sigmund Freud

Carl Rogers

Aaron Beck

Edmund Hillary

Correct answer:

Sigmund Freud

Explanation:

Psychoanalysis was founded by Freud in the late 1800s. He believed that people could be cured of their mental illnesses by revealing their unconscious thoughts and motivations. This process leads to client insight and allows them to address their repressed emotions and experiences.

Example Question #1 : Psychological Abnormalities

Which therapeutic orientation utilizes unconditional positive regard?

Possible Answers:

Psychodynamic

Humanistic

Behavioral

Psychoanalytic

Logistical

Correct answer:

Humanistic

Explanation:

Unconditional positive regard is a concept created by humanistic psychologist, Carl Rogers. This term involves the therapist accepting and supporting the client regardless of what he or she says or does. This is a core tenet of client-centered therapy.

Example Question #2 : Psychological Abnormalities

Which of the following therapies is used to treat drug-resistant or especially severe psychiatric disorders such a major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Behavorial therapy

Congitive therapy

Group therapy

Phototherapy

Electroconvulsive therapy

Correct answer:

Electroconvulsive therapy

Explanation:

Electroconvulsive therapy is the use of electric shock to produce convulsions and treat drug-resistant or particularly severe psychiatric disorders. It is frequently seen as a last resort.

Phototherapy is treatment with bright white fluorescent lights, generally used to treat seasonal disorders. Behavorial therapy is used to change maladaptive behaviors such as smoking or alcohol abuse. Cognitive therapy is used to remove negative thoughts that harm a person's emotional health. Psychotherapy is any means of treating psychiatric disorders by mental rather than pharmacological means. 

Example Question #6 : Treatments

Although Sigmund Freud is widely criticized for his theories of psychology, he also came up with the famous talk-therapy, which is a highly-recommended treatment for many different problems and disorders. The ideal way talk-therapy works is to help the patient understand and change the underlying causes of their suffering and psychological distress.

What are the potential consequences of other therapeutic treatments that do not address the cause of a mental illness?

Possible Answers:

Further mental decay

More success, especially in the cause of prescribing drugs

All of these

No hope of relief for the patient

Symptom substitution

Correct answer:

Symptom substitution

Explanation:

Any therapeutic treatment that does not address the underlying cause of a disorder can and will most often lead to symptom substitution. For instance, if one is feeling depressed due to strong feelings of abandonment rooted from their personal history, and they do not address this as being the cause, the depression will more often than not manifest in some other disorder. If the therapeutic diagnosis is something like "improve you lifestyle by eating right and exercising", this may improve a person's overall mood and help tremendously, but will not address the unresolved problems in this person's past. As a result, they may become absolutely fixated on living a healthy lifestyle to the point that it turns into a paranoid obsession. And thus arises another problem, and the symptoms of depression become symptoms of obsession.

This is one of the great merits of talk therapy, as it is designed for the patient to exmaine themselves and investigate the causes of their problems, which can hopefully lead to long-term mental health.

Example Question #1 : Psychological Abnormalities

What are some of the side effects of electroconvulsive therapy?

Possible Answers:

All of these

Brief loss of consciousness

Nausea

Memory loss

Brief seizure

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

Electrconvulsive therapy is used to send electric current through the brain. It is most commonly used for depression when no other forms of treatment have worked. Unfortunately it comes with unpleasant side effects, such as memory loss, a brief seizure, a brief loss of consciousness, and nausea or vomiting. Electroconvulsive therapy is generally considered a last resort treatment.

Example Question #2 : Psychological Abnormalities

In order to help an alcoholic stop drinking, a drug that causes nausea has been mixed with an alcoholic drink. What type of therapy is this?

Possible Answers:

Preventative Medicine

Resistance Therapy

Aversion Therapy

Systematic Desensitization

Inception Point Therapy

Correct answer:

Aversion Therapy

Explanation:

The correct answer is: Aversion Therapy.

Aversion therapy pairs an undesired behavior with another stimulus that causes discomfort.

Preventative Medicine is concerned with preventing diseases before they occur.

The other answer choices are incorrect.

Example Question #1 : Therapy

Which of the following schools of psychotherapy is not correctly matched with its main goals?

Possible Answers:

Behaviorism - reinforce good behaviors, alter unhealthy environments

Psychodynamics - reveal patient's unconscious desires that create conflict and confront them

Humanism - teach the patient to accept the problems in his/her life and think purely logically

CBT- identify patient's irrational and/or maladaptive schemae and act to change them

Psychopharmacology - identify and treat patient's genetic conditions, correct chemical imbalances

Correct answer:

Humanism - teach the patient to accept the problems in his/her life and think purely logically

Explanation:

Humanism, or Client-Centered Therapy, works to help a patient live up to his/her full potential while becoming more aware of their feelings.

Example Question #1 : Treatments

Which of the following best describes the distinction between psychiatry and psychotherapy?

Possible Answers:

Psychiatrists provide psychoanalytic therapy, whereas psychotherapists provide a humanistic approach to therapy.

Psychiatrists have medical degrees, whereas psychotherapists have doctoral or master's degrees and licenses to practice counseling or therapy.

Psychiatrists focus more on treating personality disorders, whereas psychotherapists treat mood or anxiety disorders.

Psychiatrists have graduate degrees, whereas psychotherapists do not.

Correct answer:

Psychiatrists have medical degrees, whereas psychotherapists have doctoral or master's degrees and licenses to practice counseling or therapy.

Explanation:

Psychiatrists are physicians, whose medical degrees allow them to specialize in diagnosing and treating mental disorders with a combination of biomedical treatment (medication) and psychotherapy. Psychotherapists do not have medical degrees, and instead have doctoral or master's degrees and licenses to practice therapy. They focus on therapeutic, rather than biomedical, interventions. Psychiatrists and psychotherapists often work together to provide the best possible treatment for a patient.

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