LSP Child & Adolescent Psychology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 7-year-old consistently struggles to wait for his turn, interrupts others, and leaves his seat during class. Which DSM-5 ADHD presentation best fits this profile?
- Predominantly Inattentive
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive (Correct answer)
- Combined Presentation
- Unspecified ADHD
Correct answer: Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive presentation is characterized by hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms without significant inattention.
Question 2: During which Piagetian stage does a child first demonstrate conservation of liquid volume?
- Sensorimotor
- Preoperational
- Concrete Operational (Correct answer)
- Formal Operational
Correct answer: Concrete Operational
Conservation of volume is mastered during the Concrete Operational stage, typically ages 7–11.
Question 3: A 14-year-old reports chronic sadness, hypersomnia, increased appetite, and low energy lasting 8 months. Which diagnosis is most appropriate?
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) (Correct answer)
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
- Bipolar II Disorder
Correct answer: Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
Persistent Depressive Disorder requires depressed mood for at least 1 year in children/adolescents with additional symptoms like hypersomnia and low energy.
Question 4: Which attachment pattern is most associated with a caregiver who is unpredictable — sometimes warm, sometimes frightening?
- Secure
- Anxious-Ambivalent
- Avoidant
- Disorganized (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Disorganized
Disorganized attachment develops when the caregiver is simultaneously a source of comfort and fear, leaving the child without a coherent coping strategy.
Question 5: A school psychologist observes that a 10-year-old with ASD has strong rote memory but struggles with understanding jokes and sarcasm. This deficit is best explained by impairment in:
- Working memory
- Theory of Mind (Correct answer)
- Procedural learning
- Phonological processing
Correct answer: Theory of Mind
Theory of Mind deficits in ASD impair the ability to interpret others' mental states, emotions, and non-literal language like sarcasm.
Question 6: Erik Erikson's psychosocial stage for adolescence (ages 12–18) involves the conflict of:
- Industry vs. Inferiority
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
- Identity vs. Role Confusion (Correct answer)
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Correct answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Erikson's fifth stage, Identity vs. Role Confusion, is the hallmark challenge of adolescence, centering on forming a coherent sense of self.
Question 7: A 9-year-old is referred for frequent explosive outbursts (3+ per week) and persistently irritable mood between episodes for over 12 months. The most appropriate diagnosis is:
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (Correct answer)
- Conduct Disorder
Correct answer: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
DMDD requires severe recurrent temper outbursts plus persistent irritable mood between outbursts, present for at least 12 months in children aged 6–18.
LSP Child & Adolescent Psychology 2
A 7-year-old consistently struggles to wait for his turn, interrupts others, and leaves his seat during class.
Which DSM-5 ADHD presentation best fits this profile?