PSYC 210 | PSYC210 Exam 4: Abnormal Psychology
Updated and Latest Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale - Portage Learning
1. A 24-year-old male presents with beliefs that the local news anchor is sending him secret
messages through the television. He also experiences auditory hallucinations and has shown
a significant decline in self-care over the past seven months. Which neurobiological theory
best explains these positive symptoms?
A. The Serotonin Depletion Hypothesis
B. The GABA Deficiency Model
C. The Dopamine Hypothesis
D. The Acetylcholine Excess Theory
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The dopamine hypothesis remains the primary neurobiological
explanation for positive symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. It suggests that
overactive dopamine signaling in the mesolimbic pathway contributes to these psychotic
experiences. Research shows that antipsychotic medications effectively treat these
symptoms by blocking D2 receptors. Conversely, negative symptoms may be related to
dopamine deficits in the mesocortical pathway. This framework is essential for clinical
diagnosis and pharmacological management in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
2. A patient displays a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-
image, and affects. They frequently engage in ‘splitting,’ viewing people as either all good or
all bad. Which personality disorder is most likely characterized by these hallmark behaviors?
A. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
B. Antisocial Personality Disorder
C. Histrionic Personality Disorder
D. Borderline Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Borderline Personality Disorder is defined by significant emotional
dysregulation and intense, unstable relationships. Splitting is a common cognitive
distortion where the individual cannot integrate positive and negative qualities of others.
This defense mechanism often leads to rapid cycles of idealization and devaluation.
Patients also typically experience chronic feelings of emptiness and fears of abandonment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is specifically designed to address these complex behavioral
and emotional patterns.
,3. A woman is found in a different state with no memory of her previous life or identity after
a traumatic house fire. She has adopted a new name and appears confused about her past.
This clinical scenario most likely describes which condition?
A. Dissociative Fugue
B. Depersonalization Disorder
C. Dissociative Identity Disorder
D. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Dissociative fugue involves unexpected travel away from home
accompanied by an inability to recall one’s identity. It is often triggered by severe
psychological stress or traumatic events that the individual cannot process. Unlike other
dissociative states, the person may take on an entirely new persona during the episode.
Recovery is usually spontaneous, though memory of the fugue period itself may remain
lost. This condition is currently classified as a subtype of dissociative amnesia in the DSM-5.
4. Research into the neurobiology of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) has frequently
identified abnormalities in which brain structure related to fear and emotional processing?
A. The Amygdala
B. The Thalamus
C. The Basal Ganglia
D. The Occipital Lobe
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder often exhibit
reduced volume and reactivity in the amygdala. This impairment is linked to a lack of fear
conditioning and difficulty recognizing emotional cues in others. Because the amygdala
processes threats, its dysfunction explains why these individuals may engage in risky or
harmful behaviors without anxiety. Studies also show a correlation between amygdala
deficits and a lack of empathy or remorse. Understanding these neurological markers helps
differentiate ASPD from other Cluster B disorders.
5. A 30-year-old individual reports feeling as though they are watching themselves from
outside their own body. They describe the world around them as ‘foggy’ and ‘unreal,’ yet
they remain oriented to reality. This experience is characteristic of:
A. Derealization and Depersonalization
B. A Schizophrenic Delusion
C. A Manic Episode
D. Dissociative Identity Disorder
, Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Depersonalization involves a sense of detachment from one’s own
thoughts, body, or actions. Derealization refers to the feeling that the external world is
dreamlike or artificial. Importantly, reality testing remains intact during these episodes,
distinguishing them from psychotic disorders. These symptoms are often associated with
high levels of anxiety or previous trauma. Chronic occurrences can significantly impair a
person’s ability to function in daily life and maintain social roles.
6. Which of the following is considered a ‘negative symptom’ of Schizophrenia?
A. Disorganized Speech
B. Hallucinations
C. Grandiosity
D. Avolition
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Negative symptoms represent a loss or deficit in normal functioning,
such as avolition or alogia. Avolition is characterized by a lack of motivation to engage in
goal-directed activities. Unlike positive symptoms, negative symptoms are often more
resistant to traditional antipsychotic treatments. They contribute heavily to the long-term
disability seen in individuals with schizophrenia. Clinicians must identify these early to
implement appropriate psychosocial rehabilitation strategies.
7. A patient presents with an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a deep need for
excessive attention and admiration. They lack empathy for others and often exploit
relationships for personal gain. This most likely indicates:
A. Avoidant Personality Disorder
B. Schizoid Personality Disorder
C. Dependent Personality Disorder
D. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Narcissistic Personality Disorder is centered on grandiosity and a
profound lack of empathy. These individuals often believe they are unique or superior and
should only associate with high-status people. Behind this mask of extreme confidence,
however, usually lies a fragile self-esteem vulnerable to the slightest criticism. They
frequently react to perceived slights with anger or disdain. Management involves long-term
psychotherapy focused on developing empathy and realistic self-appraisal.
8. Which disorder is characterized by a duration of psychotic symptoms lasting more than one
month but less than six months?
A. Brief Psychotic Disorder
Updated and Latest Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale - Portage Learning
1. A 24-year-old male presents with beliefs that the local news anchor is sending him secret
messages through the television. He also experiences auditory hallucinations and has shown
a significant decline in self-care over the past seven months. Which neurobiological theory
best explains these positive symptoms?
A. The Serotonin Depletion Hypothesis
B. The GABA Deficiency Model
C. The Dopamine Hypothesis
D. The Acetylcholine Excess Theory
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The dopamine hypothesis remains the primary neurobiological
explanation for positive symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. It suggests that
overactive dopamine signaling in the mesolimbic pathway contributes to these psychotic
experiences. Research shows that antipsychotic medications effectively treat these
symptoms by blocking D2 receptors. Conversely, negative symptoms may be related to
dopamine deficits in the mesocortical pathway. This framework is essential for clinical
diagnosis and pharmacological management in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
2. A patient displays a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-
image, and affects. They frequently engage in ‘splitting,’ viewing people as either all good or
all bad. Which personality disorder is most likely characterized by these hallmark behaviors?
A. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
B. Antisocial Personality Disorder
C. Histrionic Personality Disorder
D. Borderline Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Borderline Personality Disorder is defined by significant emotional
dysregulation and intense, unstable relationships. Splitting is a common cognitive
distortion where the individual cannot integrate positive and negative qualities of others.
This defense mechanism often leads to rapid cycles of idealization and devaluation.
Patients also typically experience chronic feelings of emptiness and fears of abandonment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is specifically designed to address these complex behavioral
and emotional patterns.
,3. A woman is found in a different state with no memory of her previous life or identity after
a traumatic house fire. She has adopted a new name and appears confused about her past.
This clinical scenario most likely describes which condition?
A. Dissociative Fugue
B. Depersonalization Disorder
C. Dissociative Identity Disorder
D. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Dissociative fugue involves unexpected travel away from home
accompanied by an inability to recall one’s identity. It is often triggered by severe
psychological stress or traumatic events that the individual cannot process. Unlike other
dissociative states, the person may take on an entirely new persona during the episode.
Recovery is usually spontaneous, though memory of the fugue period itself may remain
lost. This condition is currently classified as a subtype of dissociative amnesia in the DSM-5.
4. Research into the neurobiology of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) has frequently
identified abnormalities in which brain structure related to fear and emotional processing?
A. The Amygdala
B. The Thalamus
C. The Basal Ganglia
D. The Occipital Lobe
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder often exhibit
reduced volume and reactivity in the amygdala. This impairment is linked to a lack of fear
conditioning and difficulty recognizing emotional cues in others. Because the amygdala
processes threats, its dysfunction explains why these individuals may engage in risky or
harmful behaviors without anxiety. Studies also show a correlation between amygdala
deficits and a lack of empathy or remorse. Understanding these neurological markers helps
differentiate ASPD from other Cluster B disorders.
5. A 30-year-old individual reports feeling as though they are watching themselves from
outside their own body. They describe the world around them as ‘foggy’ and ‘unreal,’ yet
they remain oriented to reality. This experience is characteristic of:
A. Derealization and Depersonalization
B. A Schizophrenic Delusion
C. A Manic Episode
D. Dissociative Identity Disorder
, Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Depersonalization involves a sense of detachment from one’s own
thoughts, body, or actions. Derealization refers to the feeling that the external world is
dreamlike or artificial. Importantly, reality testing remains intact during these episodes,
distinguishing them from psychotic disorders. These symptoms are often associated with
high levels of anxiety or previous trauma. Chronic occurrences can significantly impair a
person’s ability to function in daily life and maintain social roles.
6. Which of the following is considered a ‘negative symptom’ of Schizophrenia?
A. Disorganized Speech
B. Hallucinations
C. Grandiosity
D. Avolition
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Negative symptoms represent a loss or deficit in normal functioning,
such as avolition or alogia. Avolition is characterized by a lack of motivation to engage in
goal-directed activities. Unlike positive symptoms, negative symptoms are often more
resistant to traditional antipsychotic treatments. They contribute heavily to the long-term
disability seen in individuals with schizophrenia. Clinicians must identify these early to
implement appropriate psychosocial rehabilitation strategies.
7. A patient presents with an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a deep need for
excessive attention and admiration. They lack empathy for others and often exploit
relationships for personal gain. This most likely indicates:
A. Avoidant Personality Disorder
B. Schizoid Personality Disorder
C. Dependent Personality Disorder
D. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Narcissistic Personality Disorder is centered on grandiosity and a
profound lack of empathy. These individuals often believe they are unique or superior and
should only associate with high-status people. Behind this mask of extreme confidence,
however, usually lies a fragile self-esteem vulnerable to the slightest criticism. They
frequently react to perceived slights with anger or disdain. Management involves long-term
psychotherapy focused on developing empathy and realistic self-appraisal.
8. Which disorder is characterized by a duration of psychotic symptoms lasting more than one
month but less than six months?
A. Brief Psychotic Disorder
