Psychology Degree Psychological Disorders and Diagnosis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the DSM-5, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in which two core domains?
- Language and motor skills
- Social communication/interaction and restricted/repetitive behaviors (Correct answer)
- Attention and executive function
- Emotion regulation and sensory processing
Correct answer: Social communication/interaction and restricted/repetitive behaviors
ASD is defined by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, plus restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
Question 2: Which eating disorder involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise?
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Binge-Eating Disorder
- Bulimia Nervosa (Correct answer)
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Correct answer: Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by recurrent binge-purge cycles occurring at least once a week for three months, often with normal or above-average body weight.
Question 3: A veteran re-experiences a combat trauma through intrusive flashbacks and avoids anything associated with the event. Which DSM-5 diagnosis best applies?
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Correct answer)
- Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder
Correct answer: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD requires exposure to trauma, intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative cognitions/mood alterations, and hyperarousal lasting more than one month.
Question 4: Which cluster of personality disorders is described as 'odd or eccentric' in the DSM-5?
- Cluster A (Correct answer)
- Cluster B
- Cluster C
- Cluster D
Correct answer: Cluster A
Cluster A includes Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders, characterized by odd, eccentric thinking and behavior.
Question 5: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is coded in the DSM-5 as:
- A distinct mood disorder category
- A specifier for Major Depressive Disorder ('with seasonal pattern') (Correct answer)
- A subtype of Persistent Depressive Disorder
- A V-code cultural syndrome
Correct answer: A specifier for Major Depressive Disorder ('with seasonal pattern')
SAD is not a separate diagnosis but is indicated by the 'with seasonal pattern' specifier applied to Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder.
Question 6: Which of the following is a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
- Auditory hallucinations
- Grandiose delusions
- Avolition (Correct answer)
- Disorganized speech
Correct answer: Avolition
Avolition — the decrease in motivation to initiate goal-directed activity — is a negative symptom reflecting a diminishment of normal function.
Question 7: In intellectual disability (Intellectual Developmental Disorder), diagnosis requires deficits in intellectual functioning confirmed by:
- Teacher reports alone
- Standardized IQ testing and adaptive behavior assessment (Correct answer)
- Brain imaging only
- Observation during a structured interview
Correct answer: Standardized IQ testing and adaptive behavior assessment
DSM-5 requires both standardized IQ scores (approximately two standard deviations below average) and deficits in adaptive functioning for an ID diagnosis.
Psychology Degree Psychological Disorders and Diagnosis 4
According to the DSM-5, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in which two core domains?