Diagnostic Systems - GRE Subject Test: Psychology

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Question

Which of the following is not a characteristic of enuresis?

Answer

Enuresis is characterized by an elimination or urine. While children with elimination disorders often experience disregulated emotional states, Enuresis is not characterized by an emotional tantrum prior to elimination.

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Question

Which of the following is not usually associated with psychological disorders?

Answer

There remains a stigma attached to mental illness and all too often common parlances mixes "going crazy" with having a mental illness. "A marked break with reality" is not often involved in having a mental illness while the other three options are almost always present. In other words, maladaptive behavior can be thought of as including the loss of full functioning in a given area of life (e.g. getting to work on time and performing well on exams at school).

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Question

Autism spectrum disorder is not characterized by which of the following?

Answer

Autism spectrum disorder is a pervasive developmental disorder that includes all of the following: deficits in social communication and interactions and restrictive or repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities. In order for a diagnosis to be made, symptoms must be present early in development and cause impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. "Excessive distress upon separation from attachment figures" is one of the criteria for separation anxiety disorder, and does not fit with the criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Separation anxiety disorder involves excessive anxiety about actual or possible separation from a major attachment figure, like a parent.

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Question

Based on their symptoms, who is least likely to receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia?

Answer

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and/or negative symptoms. Joe is experiencing hallucinations in which he hears voices that are not actually there. Bryan is experiencing a delusion of reference, where he believes that the television is falsely referencing him. Peter is displaying disorganized speech. Jason is experiencing negative symptoms, including anhedonia, lack of motivation, and poverty of speech. Mark would be least likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. His symptoms are more consistent with antisocial personality disorder, which is a disregard and violation of the rights of others.

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Question

Ellen has a pattern of unstable relationships. She tends to idealize new friends until they anger her, and then completely shuts them out of her life. Which of the following is most likely to be her diagnosis?

Answer

Ellen's symptoms are consistent with “borderline personality disorder,” which involves instability in relationships, mood, and self-image. “Antisocial personality disorder” includes disregard for and violations of the rights of others. “Narcissistic personality disorder” also involves difficulty in relationships, but its primary feature is grandiosity. “Schizoid personality disorder” includes a restricted range of emotions and detachment from others. Last, “bipolar disorder” may have a negative impact on relationships, but its primary feature is the presence of at least one manic episode.

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Question

Which of the following is not considered a negative symptom of mental disorders?

Answer

Negative symptoms are defined as the absence of feelings, thoughts or behaviors that are present in healthy individuals. Delusions, on the other hand, are a positive symptom of mental illness- something that healthy individuals do not experience.

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Question

Which of the following is not considered a symptom of hypomania in the DSM-V?

Answer

While many Bipolar I patients do experience paranoia in their manic states, the hypomanic periods experienced by Bipolar II patients is characterized by a reduced severity of manic symptoms and an absence of any psychotic symptoms (including paranoia).

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Question

Which of the following classes of disorder is incorrectly paired with its defining symptom?

Answer

Aphasia is a class of language disorders that affect a person's ability to communicate. In Broca's aphasia, damage to Broca's area in the left frontal lobe impairs a person's ability to speak (though their capabilities of understanding speech are not affected); in Wernicke's aphasia, damage to Wernicke's area in the left temporal lobe impairs a person's ability to correctly choose the words they wish to say (though their physical capabilities of speech are unaffected).

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Question

According to the DSM-5, which criteria is not associated with major depressive disorder?

Answer

In order to be diagnosed with depression, you need to exhibit a certain number of diagnostic criteria. Change in sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia), suicidal thoughts and plans, and loss of interest in things you previously found interesting are among the criteria. Though anxiety is often co-morbid with depression, it is not one of the diagnostic criteria listed in the DSM-5.

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