BAPSY Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Abnormal Psychology and Diagnosis Questions and Answers — 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?
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Correct answer)
- Specific Phobia, Situational Type
- Panic Disorder
Correct answer: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The client's symptoms—intrusive, unwanted thoughts about contamination (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors like excessive washing (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety—are the hallmark features of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) according to the DSM-5.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)?
- To provide a standardized system for classifying and diagnosing mental disorders. (Correct answer)
- To describe the specific etiological causes of every mental disorder.
- To mandate specific pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments.
- To rank mental disorders based on their prevalence and societal impact.
Correct answer: To provide a standardized system for classifying and diagnosing mental disorders.
The primary purpose of the DSM-5 is to provide clear, standardized diagnostic criteria for mental disorders, creating a common language for clinicians, researchers, and other professionals to use for reliable diagnosis and communication.
Question 3: Which of the following is the key diagnostic feature that distinguishes Bipolar I Disorder from Bipolar II Disorder?
- The presence of at least one major depressive episode.
- The total duration of mood episodes over a lifetime.
- The presence of at least one full manic episode. (Correct answer)
- The patient's initial response to mood-stabilizing medication.
Correct answer: The presence of at least one full manic episode.
The defining characteristic of Bipolar I Disorder is the occurrence of at least one manic episode, which involves a distinct period of abnormally elevated mood and energy lasting at least one week and causing significant impairment. Bipolar II Disorder is characterized by hypomanic (less severe) episodes and at least one major depressive episode, but never a full manic episode.
Question 4: The diathesis-stress model is a psychological theory that explains the development of disorders as a result of:
- A specific, identifiable brain injury leading directly to a behavioral change.
- The universal human tendency to develop anxiety when faced with existential choices.
- Maladaptive learned behaviors that are reinforced by the environment.
- An interaction between a pre-existing vulnerability and exposure to stressful life events. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: An interaction between a pre-existing vulnerability and exposure to stressful life events.
The diathesis-stress model posits that individuals may have a 'diathesis,' or a predisposing vulnerability (often genetic or biological), which remains dormant until triggered by a 'stressor,' such as a significant life event, leading to the manifestation of a disorder.
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?
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder (Correct answer)
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
Correct answer: Borderline Personality Disorder
The described symptoms—instability in relationships, self-image, and affect, along with marked impulsivity and fear of abandonment—are the core diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) as outlined in the DSM-5.
Question 6: In clinical diagnosis, the term "comorbidity" refers to:
- The likelihood that a disorder will be fatal if left untreated.
- The presence of two or more distinct disorders in the same individual. (Correct answer)
- The specific symptoms that are shared by two different diagnostic categories.
- The typical progression and timeline of a single disorder over the lifespan.
Correct answer: The presence of two or more distinct disorders in the same individual.
Comorbidity is a term used to describe the co-occurrence of more than one distinct disorder or condition in an individual at the same time.
