EPPP Assessment and Diagnosis Principles 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A test has a specificity of 90%. This means that among individuals WITHOUT the disorder, the test correctly identifies what percentage as negative?
- 10%
- 50%
- 90% (Correct answer)
- 100%
Correct answer: 90%
Specificity is the true negative rate — the proportion of non-disordered individuals correctly identified as negative (90% here).
Question 2: In diagnostic decision-making, the base rate of a disorder in the assessment population primarily affects:
- The sensitivity of the test
- The positive and negative predictive values of the test (Correct answer)
- The reliability coefficient of the test
- The content validity of the test
Correct answer: The positive and negative predictive values of the test
Predictive values (PPV and NPV) are heavily influenced by base rates; low base rate disorders produce more false positives even with high sensitivity/specificity.
Question 3: Which assessment approach emphasizes understanding the unique, individual client rather than comparing them to normative groups?
- Nomothetic assessment
- Idiographic assessment (Correct answer)
- Actuarial assessment
- Criterion-referenced assessment
Correct answer: Idiographic assessment
Idiographic assessment focuses on understanding the individual as a unique case rather than making comparisons to a normative reference group.
Question 4: According to DSM-5 criteria, what duration of manic symptoms is required for a diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder (without hospitalization)?
- 2 days
- 4 consecutive days
- 7 consecutive days or any duration if hospitalization required (Correct answer)
- 2 weeks
Correct answer: 7 consecutive days or any duration if hospitalization required
Bipolar I requires a manic episode lasting at least 7 days (or any duration if severe enough to require hospitalization or includes psychosis).
Question 5: When assessing executive functioning after a traumatic brain injury, which test requires the examinee to shift cognitive set between two sequencing rules?
- Digit Span
- Trail Making Test Part B (Correct answer)
- Block Design
- Symbol Search
Correct answer: Trail Making Test Part B
Trail Making Test Part B requires alternating between numbers and letters, assessing cognitive flexibility and set-shifting.
Question 6: A psychologist reports a client's test score as falling at the 84th percentile. This means the client scored higher than approximately what percentage of the normative sample?
- 16%
- 50%
- 84% (Correct answer)
- 92%
Correct answer: 84%
A percentile rank of 84 means the client scored equal to or better than 84% of the normative comparison group.
Question 7: Which DSM-5 diagnosis requires the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both, with symptoms taking more than one hour per day or causing significant distress?
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Illness Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Correct answer)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Correct answer: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD is diagnosed when obsessions and/or compulsions consume more than 1 hour per day or cause clinically significant distress or functional impairment.
EPPP Assessment and Diagnosis Principles 5
A test has a specificity of 90%.
This means that among individuals WITHOUT the disorder, the test correctly identifies what percentage as negative?