PSY 240 STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What is the significance of the amygdala in anxiety disorders? - ✔✔The amygdala is
often overactive in individuals with anxiety disorders.
✔✔What is the concept of anxiety sensitivity? - ✔✔Anxiety sensitivity refers to the fear
of anxiety-related sensations, which can contribute to panic attacks.
✔✔What is the importance of exposure therapy in treating anxiety disorders? -
✔✔Exposure therapy reduces avoidance behaviors and allows fear to naturally
decrease through habituation.
✔✔What are common safety behaviors in anxiety disorders? - ✔✔Bringing medication,
having a companion, and seeking reassurance.
✔✔What is the typical onset age for Social Anxiety Disorder? - ✔✔Adolescence, usually
before age 18.
✔✔What is the course of Generalized Anxiety Disorder? - ✔✔Chronic but fluctuates
over time.
✔✔What are the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
- ✔✔Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both; behaviors are time-consuming (>1
hour per day) or cause distress; not caused by substances or another disorder; insight
may be good, fair, poor, or absent.
✔✔What are common types of obsessions in OCD? - ✔✔Contamination (fear of germs
or disease), responsibility for harm (fear of accidentally harming someone), taboo
thoughts (violent or sexual intrusive thoughts), symmetry (need for objects to be
arranged perfectly).
✔✔What are some examples of compulsions in OCD? - ✔✔Cleaning/washing, checking
behaviors, mental rituals (counting, praying), ordering or arranging objects.
✔✔What is the lifetime prevalence of OCD? - ✔✔1-2%
✔✔Is there a gender difference in the prevalence of OCD? - ✔✔No gender differences.
✔✔What is the typical onset age for OCD? - ✔✔Childhood to early adulthood.
✔✔What is the course of OCD? - ✔✔Chronic with symptom fluctuations.
, ✔✔What is the impact of OCD on individuals? - ✔✔Occupational and relationship
impairment; elevated suicide risk.
✔✔What are the psychodynamic factors in the etiology of OCD? - ✔✔Conflict between
id impulses and ego defenses; obsessions represent unacceptable impulses, and
compulsions act as defense mechanisms.
✔✔What biological factors contribute to OCD? - ✔✔Moderate genetic contribution; twin
studies show 53% concordance in identical twins and 23% in fraternal twins;
involvement of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit and low serotonin levels.
✔✔How do cognitive-behavioral factors contribute to OCD? - ✔✔Everyone has intrusive
thoughts, but in OCD, these thoughts are interpreted as dangerous or meaningful,
leading to anxiety; compulsions reduce anxiety and reinforce the cycle.
✔✔What is the most effective psychological treatment for OCD? - ✔✔Exposure and
Response Prevention (ERP).
✔✔What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)? - ✔✔Preoccupation with perceived flaws
in appearance that others do not notice.
✔✔What are common perceived flaws in BDD? - ✔✔Wrinkles, skin blemishes, nose
shape, facial hair, muscle appearance.
✔✔What are the DSM criteria for BDD? - ✔✔Preoccupation with perceived physical
flaw; repetitive behaviors (mirror checking, grooming); significant distress or impairment;
not better explained by an eating disorder.
✔✔What is the prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder? - ✔✔1.7-2.9%
✔✔What is the typical onset age for BDD? - ✔✔Adolescence.
✔✔What is the impact of BDD on individuals? - ✔✔40% are unable to work; high
suicide risk (80% have suicidal thoughts, 25% attempt suicide).
✔✔What is Hoarding Disorder? - ✔✔Persistent difficulty discarding possessions
regardless of value, leading to clutter.
✔✔What are the DSM criteria for Hoarding Disorder? - ✔✔Difficulty discarding
possessions; strong urge to save items; living spaces become cluttered; causes distress
or impairment.
✔✔What is the prevalence of Hoarding Disorder? - ✔✔2.6%
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What is the significance of the amygdala in anxiety disorders? - ✔✔The amygdala is
often overactive in individuals with anxiety disorders.
✔✔What is the concept of anxiety sensitivity? - ✔✔Anxiety sensitivity refers to the fear
of anxiety-related sensations, which can contribute to panic attacks.
✔✔What is the importance of exposure therapy in treating anxiety disorders? -
✔✔Exposure therapy reduces avoidance behaviors and allows fear to naturally
decrease through habituation.
✔✔What are common safety behaviors in anxiety disorders? - ✔✔Bringing medication,
having a companion, and seeking reassurance.
✔✔What is the typical onset age for Social Anxiety Disorder? - ✔✔Adolescence, usually
before age 18.
✔✔What is the course of Generalized Anxiety Disorder? - ✔✔Chronic but fluctuates
over time.
✔✔What are the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
- ✔✔Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both; behaviors are time-consuming (>1
hour per day) or cause distress; not caused by substances or another disorder; insight
may be good, fair, poor, or absent.
✔✔What are common types of obsessions in OCD? - ✔✔Contamination (fear of germs
or disease), responsibility for harm (fear of accidentally harming someone), taboo
thoughts (violent or sexual intrusive thoughts), symmetry (need for objects to be
arranged perfectly).
✔✔What are some examples of compulsions in OCD? - ✔✔Cleaning/washing, checking
behaviors, mental rituals (counting, praying), ordering or arranging objects.
✔✔What is the lifetime prevalence of OCD? - ✔✔1-2%
✔✔Is there a gender difference in the prevalence of OCD? - ✔✔No gender differences.
✔✔What is the typical onset age for OCD? - ✔✔Childhood to early adulthood.
✔✔What is the course of OCD? - ✔✔Chronic with symptom fluctuations.
, ✔✔What is the impact of OCD on individuals? - ✔✔Occupational and relationship
impairment; elevated suicide risk.
✔✔What are the psychodynamic factors in the etiology of OCD? - ✔✔Conflict between
id impulses and ego defenses; obsessions represent unacceptable impulses, and
compulsions act as defense mechanisms.
✔✔What biological factors contribute to OCD? - ✔✔Moderate genetic contribution; twin
studies show 53% concordance in identical twins and 23% in fraternal twins;
involvement of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit and low serotonin levels.
✔✔How do cognitive-behavioral factors contribute to OCD? - ✔✔Everyone has intrusive
thoughts, but in OCD, these thoughts are interpreted as dangerous or meaningful,
leading to anxiety; compulsions reduce anxiety and reinforce the cycle.
✔✔What is the most effective psychological treatment for OCD? - ✔✔Exposure and
Response Prevention (ERP).
✔✔What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)? - ✔✔Preoccupation with perceived flaws
in appearance that others do not notice.
✔✔What are common perceived flaws in BDD? - ✔✔Wrinkles, skin blemishes, nose
shape, facial hair, muscle appearance.
✔✔What are the DSM criteria for BDD? - ✔✔Preoccupation with perceived physical
flaw; repetitive behaviors (mirror checking, grooming); significant distress or impairment;
not better explained by an eating disorder.
✔✔What is the prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder? - ✔✔1.7-2.9%
✔✔What is the typical onset age for BDD? - ✔✔Adolescence.
✔✔What is the impact of BDD on individuals? - ✔✔40% are unable to work; high
suicide risk (80% have suicidal thoughts, 25% attempt suicide).
✔✔What is Hoarding Disorder? - ✔✔Persistent difficulty discarding possessions
regardless of value, leading to clutter.
✔✔What are the DSM criteria for Hoarding Disorder? - ✔✔Difficulty discarding
possessions; strong urge to save items; living spaces become cluttered; causes distress
or impairment.
✔✔What is the prevalence of Hoarding Disorder? - ✔✔2.6%
