BAPSY Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Abnormal Psychology and Diagnosis Questions and Answers

Question 1

A client reports being constantly plagued by fears of contamination.
They spend several hours a day washing their hands and cleaning their apartment, which causes them significant distress and interferes with their ability to work.
Based on the DSM-5, which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Answer

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer

Specific Phobia, Situational Type

Answer

Panic Disorder

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)?

Accepted Answer

To provide a standardized system for classifying and diagnosing mental disorders.

Answer

To describe the specific etiological causes of every mental disorder.

Answer

To mandate specific pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments.

Answer

To rank mental disorders based on their prevalence and societal impact.

Question 3

Which of the following is the key diagnostic feature that distinguishes Bipolar I Disorder from Bipolar II Disorder?

Accepted Answer

The presence of at least one full manic episode.

Answer

The presence of at least one major depressive episode.

Answer

The total duration of mood episodes over a lifetime.

Answer

The patient's initial response to mood-stabilizing medication.

Question 4

The diathesis-stress model is a psychological theory that explains the development of disorders as a result of:

Accepted Answer

An interaction between a pre-existing vulnerability and exposure to stressful life events.

Answer

A specific, identifiable brain injury leading directly to a behavioral change.

Answer

The universal human tendency to develop anxiety when faced with existential choices.

Answer

Maladaptive learned behaviors that are reinforced by the environment.

Question 5

A 25-year-old individual presents with a history of intense, unstable relationships, frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, chronic feelings of emptiness, and recurrent suicidal gestures. Their sense of self is described as highly unstable. These patterns of behavior are most characteristic of which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Borderline Personality Disorder

Answer

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Answer

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Answer

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Question 6

In clinical diagnosis, the term "comorbidity" refers to:

Accepted Answer

The presence of two or more distinct disorders in the same individual.

Answer

The likelihood that a disorder will be fatal if left untreated.

Answer

The specific symptoms that are shared by two different diagnostic categories.

Answer

The typical progression and timeline of a single disorder over the lifespan.