PSY 600 Midterm Exam Questions With
Complete Answers
What are the 2 main criteria used to determine a person's behavior, emotions, or
experiences constitute a mental disorder? - ANSWER Atypical and maladaptive!
What are some benefits of diagnostic labels? - ANSWER -Individuals can understand
their symptoms in the context of the diagnosis
-Treatment can be tailored to what has been proven effective for that diagnosis
-Can help with medication regimen and compliance
-Can help with familial understanding of behaviors
What are some concerns of diagnostic labels? - ANSWER -Social stigmas that come with
being diagnosed
-Pigeonhole treatment when comorbidity may be occurring
-No "one size fits all" diagnosis- every client presents with different symptomology in the
same diagnosis
-2 clinicians may give different diagnoses for the same person
What is the presenting problem? - ANSWER The specific reason/symptoms that made
the client seek treatment
Why is it helpful to ask something like "what does anxiety meant to you" or "what do you
experience when you are anxious"? - ANSWER Clarify the person's subjective
experience of symptoms to get a better understanding of what is going on with the client
What features of symptoms are important to ask about? - ANSWER -When symptoms
began
-Number of symptoms
,-Duration and frequency
-Precipitating events
-Situations that exacerbate/lessen symptoms
-Course (episodic or chronic?)
-Impact on functioning
-Level of distress
-Other symptoms
-Medical conditions
-Substance use
Why is it important to know about a person's medical/health state? - ANSWER We must
ask about symptoms being discussed with a physician since every disorder category
has a condition termed "x disorder due to another medical condition"
How can cultural identity affect a person's understanding of the presenting problem? -
ANSWER -Mental illness may not be recognized in some cultures and individuals may be
discouraged/even shunned by family for seeking treatment for their symptoms.
-Cultural context also is important in understanding the reason for symptoms
What is the Cultural Formulation interview designed to do? - ANSWER Focus on the
individual's experience and social context of the clinical problem
Why are cultural concepts important to consider with psychiatric diagnosis and
treatment? - ANSWER -to avoid misdiagnosis
-to obtain useful clinical information
-to improve clinical rapport and engagement
-to improve therapeutic efficacy
-to guide clinical research
-to clarify the cultural epidemiology
, Adjustment Disorder:
a)is rarely diagnosed
b)is the diagnosis given in cases of bereavement/grief that is at he level expected
c)can be triggered by "positive"events (e.g. getting married, having a baby, getting a
promotion)
d)requires more than 6 months of continuous symptoms - ANSWER c) can be triggered
by "positive"events (e.g. getting married, having a baby, getting a promotion)
Because most people who are later diagnosed with bipolar disorder first present with
depression, it is important to assess someone with MDD for 1)_________ and
2)____________? - ANSWER 1)Family history of bipolar disorder
2)A personal history of elevated mood or increased energy
Which of the following is NOT part of the intake interview paper submitted in this class?
a)medical history
b)presenting problem
c)treatment recommendations
d)the therapist's countertransference issues
e)cultural and religious/spiritual identity - ANSWER d)the therapist's
countertransference issues
Motivational interviewing:
a) has not been found useful for substance use or eating disorders
b)is designed to help support a client's readiness for change
c)is generally incorporated at the end of treatment
d)is not utilized for clients who are ambivalent about treatment - ANSWER b)is designed
to help support a client's readiness for change
Complete Answers
What are the 2 main criteria used to determine a person's behavior, emotions, or
experiences constitute a mental disorder? - ANSWER Atypical and maladaptive!
What are some benefits of diagnostic labels? - ANSWER -Individuals can understand
their symptoms in the context of the diagnosis
-Treatment can be tailored to what has been proven effective for that diagnosis
-Can help with medication regimen and compliance
-Can help with familial understanding of behaviors
What are some concerns of diagnostic labels? - ANSWER -Social stigmas that come with
being diagnosed
-Pigeonhole treatment when comorbidity may be occurring
-No "one size fits all" diagnosis- every client presents with different symptomology in the
same diagnosis
-2 clinicians may give different diagnoses for the same person
What is the presenting problem? - ANSWER The specific reason/symptoms that made
the client seek treatment
Why is it helpful to ask something like "what does anxiety meant to you" or "what do you
experience when you are anxious"? - ANSWER Clarify the person's subjective
experience of symptoms to get a better understanding of what is going on with the client
What features of symptoms are important to ask about? - ANSWER -When symptoms
began
-Number of symptoms
,-Duration and frequency
-Precipitating events
-Situations that exacerbate/lessen symptoms
-Course (episodic or chronic?)
-Impact on functioning
-Level of distress
-Other symptoms
-Medical conditions
-Substance use
Why is it important to know about a person's medical/health state? - ANSWER We must
ask about symptoms being discussed with a physician since every disorder category
has a condition termed "x disorder due to another medical condition"
How can cultural identity affect a person's understanding of the presenting problem? -
ANSWER -Mental illness may not be recognized in some cultures and individuals may be
discouraged/even shunned by family for seeking treatment for their symptoms.
-Cultural context also is important in understanding the reason for symptoms
What is the Cultural Formulation interview designed to do? - ANSWER Focus on the
individual's experience and social context of the clinical problem
Why are cultural concepts important to consider with psychiatric diagnosis and
treatment? - ANSWER -to avoid misdiagnosis
-to obtain useful clinical information
-to improve clinical rapport and engagement
-to improve therapeutic efficacy
-to guide clinical research
-to clarify the cultural epidemiology
, Adjustment Disorder:
a)is rarely diagnosed
b)is the diagnosis given in cases of bereavement/grief that is at he level expected
c)can be triggered by "positive"events (e.g. getting married, having a baby, getting a
promotion)
d)requires more than 6 months of continuous symptoms - ANSWER c) can be triggered
by "positive"events (e.g. getting married, having a baby, getting a promotion)
Because most people who are later diagnosed with bipolar disorder first present with
depression, it is important to assess someone with MDD for 1)_________ and
2)____________? - ANSWER 1)Family history of bipolar disorder
2)A personal history of elevated mood or increased energy
Which of the following is NOT part of the intake interview paper submitted in this class?
a)medical history
b)presenting problem
c)treatment recommendations
d)the therapist's countertransference issues
e)cultural and religious/spiritual identity - ANSWER d)the therapist's
countertransference issues
Motivational interviewing:
a) has not been found useful for substance use or eating disorders
b)is designed to help support a client's readiness for change
c)is generally incorporated at the end of treatment
d)is not utilized for clients who are ambivalent about treatment - ANSWER b)is designed
to help support a client's readiness for change
