All AP Psychology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #161 : Psychological Abnormalities
Sherry's cognitive behavioral therapist tends to talk with her about her general way of thinking that guides her perceptions and interpretations of events. For Sherry, this general way of thinking tends to be underlying negative beliefs and attitudes. Her therapist wants her to be able to focus on these negative thoughts and alter them to be more positive.
What does Sherry's therapist want her to work on?
Depressed schemas
Delusions
Sadness
Disorganized thoughts
Negativity
Depressed schemas
Depressed schemas are how an individual views the world and sees events around them. They guide perceptions are tend to be negative beliefs and attitudes. In this case Sherry's therapist is focused on here "general underlying negative beliefs," which is synonymous with "depressed schemas."
Example Question #162 : Psychological Abnormalities
In the past two months, Ann has had very little motivation to get out of bed. She sleeps upwards of twenty hours a day and is no longer interested in activities that she used to enjoy. She has very little energy to care for herself, and also has lost a significant amount of weight. Which of the following is a likely diagnosis for Ann?
Major depressive episode
Dysthymic disorder
Major depressive disorder
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
Major depressive episode
Major Depressive Episode is correct, because going off of the description we do not know if Ann has had a manic episode in the past or not. In order to have Major Depressive Disorder, an individual cannot have had a manic episode in the past. The answer would not be Dysthymic Disorder, because those symptoms must persist for two years or more, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is characterized by outbursts of severe temper in addition to depressive symptoms.
Example Question #59 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders
Depression is associated with low levels of which of the following neurotransmitters?
Serotonin
GABA
Epinephrine
Dopamine
Serotonin
Low levels of serotonin or abnormalities with serotonin receptors are generally associated with depression and other mood disorders.
Example Question #163 : Psychological Abnormalities
Major depressive disorder falls under which of the following categories of psychological disorders?
Dissociative disorders
Somatoform disorders
Anxiety disorders
Personality disorders
Mood disorders
Mood disorders
"Mood disorders" is the correct choice. Mood disorders are characterized by disturbances in the emotional state. Mood disorders tend to be episodic.
Example Question #164 : Psychological Abnormalities
Which of the following is not a common symptom of depression?
Recurrent thoughts of death
Impaired concentration
Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
Increased energy levels
Sleep problems (hypersomnia or insomnia)
Increased energy levels
When a person suffers from major depression, it can be very difficult for the individual to maintain normal levels of functioning in school, work, and at home. Major depression is associated with decreased energy levels and fatigue, not "increased energy levels." All of the other answer choices are common symptoms that are indicative of depression.
Example Question #18 : Depressive Disorders
Which of the following is a mood disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Schizophrenia
Major depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder
Mood disorders are a class of disorders that involve gross changes in mood such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder, OCD and PTSD are also not mood disorders.
Example Question #165 : Psychological Abnormalities
Which of the following psychological disorders are affective disorders?
Schizophrenia, sociopathy, and obsessive compulsive disorder
Depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder
None of these
Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders
Narcisssistic, histrionic, and dependent disorders
Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders
Affective disorders are defined by heightened and prolonged emotional states. In the instance of anxiety, which can manifest in many forms, one experiences a consistent state of fear that may or may not have a specific set of triggers. Depression is a prolonged state of sadness and apathy, which often involves a general lack of motivation or pleasant emotions, irritability, difficulty focusing, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts. Bipolar disorder includes this kind of depressive state, yet also a manic one. During the manic state, there is a general feeling of euphoria, an "on top of the world" kind of feeling that may invite impulsive decision-making and an inflated sense of self-importance.
Psychological disorders that are not affective have to do with delusional thinking patterns, personality, attention deficits, addictions, psychosexuality, or developmental problems. While they may share commonalities and even intersect, affective disorders have distinctly to do with prolonged and extreme emotional states, which can be caused by biological or environmental factors.
Example Question #166 : Psychological Abnormalities
Which of the following is not true about dysthymic disorder?
Dysthymic disorder is a longer version of major depressive disorder; it is diagnosed when a person has been experiencing depressive-like symptoms for more than two years
Dysthymic disorder is a less-disabling form of major depressive disorder
None of the other answers
Dysthymic disorder is a shorter form of major depressive disorder; it typically lasts less than one month
Dysthymic disorder is one of the possible patterns of unipolar depression
Dysthymic disorder is a longer version of major depressive disorder; it is diagnosed when a person has been experiencing depressive-like symptoms for more than two years
Dysthymic disorder is a mood disorder that is similar to, but longer-lasting and less disabling, than major depressive disorder. It is diagnosed after at least two years of on-going, mild symptoms of unipolar depression.
Example Question #167 : Psychological Abnormalities
Which of the following is not a common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Compulsions to reduce anxiety
A fear of contamination
Avoidance of situations that may trigger obsessions
Anxiety stemming from a traumatic injury
Intense stress when objects are not in order
Anxiety stemming from a traumatic injury
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness characterized by excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive, maladaptive behaviors (compulsions). Common obsessions include a fear of contamination and/or a need to keep things orderly. Common compulsions include obsessive handwashing and counting in certain patterns.
OCD does not arise from a traumatic injury; it results from a combination of psychological and biological factors.
Example Question #168 : Psychological Abnormalities
When John leaves his house in morning, he always has to check multiple times to make sure that he has locked his front door. If John tries to leave his house without checking his door, or after only checking it once, he is filled with such anxiety and dread that he must abandon whatever else he is doing to return home and check his front door again. John is most likely struggling with a(n) __________.
mania
stigma
obsession
ethical dilemma
compulsion
compulsion
A compulsion is a behavior that one feels driven to perform repeatedly, aiming to reduce stress or prevent the occurrence of something horrible. These compulsive behaviors are quite often linked to obsessive thoughts in cases of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).