UCSB PSY 103 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Reactions to extreme trauma - ANS fear and arousal set in motion by the hypothalamus. It
activates the ANS and the endocrine system. The ANS is an extensive network or nerve fibers
that connect to the central nervous system. When provoked, the ANS increases involuntary
activities like heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. The endocrine system is a network of
glands. These glands release hormones. The systems react to different stimuli in different ways;
when we face a dangerous situation, our sympathetic nervous system activates (heart rate
increases, breathing increases, adrenal glands get stimulated, and epinephrine and
norepinephrine are released). when the danger passes, our parasympathetic nervous system
activates (returns bodily processes to normal). The HPA pathway also produces arousal and fear
reactions. The hypothalamus signals to the pituitary gland to release ACTH (major stress
hormone). this stimulates the outer layer of the adrenal glands and this triggers the release of
corticosteroids, including cortisol. When people have acute stress disorder or PTSD, these
reactions do not easily go away; intrusive recollections and acute distress upon cues suggestive
of the trauma may occur. They may experience aggression, chronic hyperarousal, or dissociative
symtpoms
Experiences of depersonalization and derealization. - ANS dissociative symptoms are
common in stress disorders. *They are also called psychic numbing*. Experiences include
emotional detachment, being in a daze, dropping out of unusual activities, avoidance of topics
related to trauma, forgetting or fogginess, feeling that current setting isn't real (derealization),
feeling detached from one's body (depersonalization).
acute stress disorder and PTSD: definition, symptoms, risk factors, treatment. - ANS *acute
stress disorder*: If symptoms of stress disorder last for less than a month.
*PTSD*: If symptoms of stress disorder last for over a month.
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,*Symptoms*: nearly identical in both. Symptoms include re-experiencing the traumatic event
(recurring dreams/nightmares/thoughts/memories, flashbacks), avoidance (avoid activities that
remind them of event), reduced responsiveness (feel detached from others or lose interest in
activities; some experience dissociation, which entails daziness, forgetting, or derealization),
and increase arousal, negative emotions, and guilt (may feel hyperalertness, be easily startled,
have trouble concentrating or may have sleep problems. May display anxiety, anger, or
depression or may show guilt for surviving)
*Risk Factors*: Can occur at any age. Women are at least 2x more likely to develop a stress
disorder. Most common among combat, disaster, and abuse survivors (domestic violence, rape,
terrorism, torture survivors), but any traumatic event can turn into a stress disorder. Although
experiencing a traumatic event is the main risk of developing a stress disorder, there are
biological and genetic factors at work as well. abnormal levels of cortisol and norepinephrine
have been found in survivors of extreme stress. continuing arousal can damage key brain areas.
the hippocampus and amygdala seemed to be tied to stress disorders (dysfunctional
hippocampus may help produce the intrusive memories and constant fear arousal, while a
dysfunctional amygdala may produce the repeated emotional symptoms and strong emotional
memories). Certain personalities can also affect the development of a stress disorder. people
who view life events as more negative and out of their control develop more stress disorders.
People who also have had a more poverty-ridden childhood, who have weak family support syst
differential diagnosis of PTSD - ANS PTSD symptoms may seem similar to those of anxiety
disorders, such as acute stress disorder, a phobia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. But in
general, in anxiety disorders, there usually isn't a specific triggering traumatic event for the
anxious feelings or worry. Or, in the case of something like phobias, it's a trigger that most
people don't experience as anxiety-provoking.
PTSD and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have recurrent, intrusive thoughts as a
symptom, the types of thoughts are one way to distinguish these disorders. Thoughts present in
obsessive-compulsive disorder do not usually relate to a past traumatic event. With PTSD, the
thoughts are invariably connected to experiencing or witnessing a past traumatic event.
While a person suffering from PTSD may also suffer from depression, typically the symptoms of
PTSD precede the depressive episode (and may help explain such depressive feelings in a person
with posttraumatic stress disorder).
controversy about re-exposure therapy
vs. thought neutralization. - ANS Guided re-exposure and abreaction (controversial
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,due to risk of re-traumatization)
Cognitive skills training (thought neutralization)
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: Basic steps - ANS a form of crisis intervention that has
victims of trauma talk extensively about their feelings and reactions after a traumatic event
occurs. provided to victims who have not displayed symtpoms of an SD yet in hopes to reduce
stress reactions. counselors guide victims to talk about the details, vent, relive the emotions
from the time of the event, and express their current feelings. Mobilizations get together to
provide debriefing for large areas who have experienced trauma, like disaster areas. the
effectiveness of this si being called into question though. a study showed that after debriefing,
half of victims still showed symptoms of PTSD. some studies have showed that victims show a
higher amount of SDs when debriefed; debriefing may encourage victims to dwell on traumatic
events. high-risk individuals may profit from it, but other trauma victims should not receive it.
*Stages*:
1. Fact phase: ask victims to tell story
2. Reaction phase: ask victims to report their thoughts and feelings about the incident
3. Symptom phase: solicit symptomatology and suggest coping strategies
4. Teaching phase: educate victim regarding traumas and typical reactions to trauma
5. Reentry phase: wrap-up, answer Qs, provide referrals, develop plan of actions
confidentiality and duty to warn or protect - ANS *confidentiality*:
mental health information cannot be released without patient consent except in specific
circumstances:
-Only can release if patient is a danger to themselves or identifiable others, if there is child or
elder/dependent adult abuse involved, patient has agreed to release records within a managed
care environment, court order demands therapist to release records, or a FISA court order is
issued (foreign intelligence surveillance act).
*duty to warn/protect*:
-There must be an identifiable victim, a serious threat of physical violence imminent), or
information given from immediate family member. If clients dangerousness is due to a mental
disorder, can offer hospitalization.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -Duty to protect or warn others does *NOT* apply when someone other than patient is
dangerous party, Someone other than an immediate family member reports danger, there are
no identifiable victims, and patient threatens suicide
involuntary commitment (LPS Act 1967) - ANS When a patient's behavior warrants
hospitalization, voluntary
hospitalization is always preferred. Involuntary commitment should be considered only when:
-the danger that a patient poses to self or others is imminent or the patient is gravely disabled.
-the danger or grave disability is the result of a mental disorder or chronic alcoholism.
-the patient has refused or is unable to comply with a recommendation to enter a psychiatric
hospital voluntarily.
types of involuntary commitment: 5150 Hold, 5250 Hold, and conservatorship - ANS *5150
Hold*: 72-hour Treatment and evaluation, instituted by county-designated "5150- certifed"
personnel: police officer, registered nurse, medical doctor, in a facility or on a
mobile mental health crisis team. Patient is discharged from 5150 hold early if treating
psychiatrist finds no grounds for continuance. Patient is discharged automatically if not
approved for additional hold.
*5250 Hold*: 14-day additional hold for intensive treatment related to a mental disorder or
alcoholism when the patient is: (1) a danger to self or others, or is gravely disabled, and
(2) treatment is required but the patient has refused. This hold is certified by two professionals,
patient's representative is notified, and hold is subject to prompt judicial
review. If the patient's status remains unchanged, additional 14-day "post-certification holds"
can be amended for a total period not to exceed 180 days; each is subject to
review for necessity. Any failure of certification results in prompt discharge of patient.
*conservatorship*: the patient who is "gravely disabled as a result of a mental disorder or
impairment by chronic alcoholism" may be placed in the hands of a conservator
temporarily (30 day "T-Con") or long-term ("LPS Conversatorship," renewable indefinitely at 1-
year periods). The conservator is responsible to the appointing court for a
comprehensive living and treatment plan for patient.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Reactions to extreme trauma - ANS fear and arousal set in motion by the hypothalamus. It
activates the ANS and the endocrine system. The ANS is an extensive network or nerve fibers
that connect to the central nervous system. When provoked, the ANS increases involuntary
activities like heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. The endocrine system is a network of
glands. These glands release hormones. The systems react to different stimuli in different ways;
when we face a dangerous situation, our sympathetic nervous system activates (heart rate
increases, breathing increases, adrenal glands get stimulated, and epinephrine and
norepinephrine are released). when the danger passes, our parasympathetic nervous system
activates (returns bodily processes to normal). The HPA pathway also produces arousal and fear
reactions. The hypothalamus signals to the pituitary gland to release ACTH (major stress
hormone). this stimulates the outer layer of the adrenal glands and this triggers the release of
corticosteroids, including cortisol. When people have acute stress disorder or PTSD, these
reactions do not easily go away; intrusive recollections and acute distress upon cues suggestive
of the trauma may occur. They may experience aggression, chronic hyperarousal, or dissociative
symtpoms
Experiences of depersonalization and derealization. - ANS dissociative symptoms are
common in stress disorders. *They are also called psychic numbing*. Experiences include
emotional detachment, being in a daze, dropping out of unusual activities, avoidance of topics
related to trauma, forgetting or fogginess, feeling that current setting isn't real (derealization),
feeling detached from one's body (depersonalization).
acute stress disorder and PTSD: definition, symptoms, risk factors, treatment. - ANS *acute
stress disorder*: If symptoms of stress disorder last for less than a month.
*PTSD*: If symptoms of stress disorder last for over a month.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,*Symptoms*: nearly identical in both. Symptoms include re-experiencing the traumatic event
(recurring dreams/nightmares/thoughts/memories, flashbacks), avoidance (avoid activities that
remind them of event), reduced responsiveness (feel detached from others or lose interest in
activities; some experience dissociation, which entails daziness, forgetting, or derealization),
and increase arousal, negative emotions, and guilt (may feel hyperalertness, be easily startled,
have trouble concentrating or may have sleep problems. May display anxiety, anger, or
depression or may show guilt for surviving)
*Risk Factors*: Can occur at any age. Women are at least 2x more likely to develop a stress
disorder. Most common among combat, disaster, and abuse survivors (domestic violence, rape,
terrorism, torture survivors), but any traumatic event can turn into a stress disorder. Although
experiencing a traumatic event is the main risk of developing a stress disorder, there are
biological and genetic factors at work as well. abnormal levels of cortisol and norepinephrine
have been found in survivors of extreme stress. continuing arousal can damage key brain areas.
the hippocampus and amygdala seemed to be tied to stress disorders (dysfunctional
hippocampus may help produce the intrusive memories and constant fear arousal, while a
dysfunctional amygdala may produce the repeated emotional symptoms and strong emotional
memories). Certain personalities can also affect the development of a stress disorder. people
who view life events as more negative and out of their control develop more stress disorders.
People who also have had a more poverty-ridden childhood, who have weak family support syst
differential diagnosis of PTSD - ANS PTSD symptoms may seem similar to those of anxiety
disorders, such as acute stress disorder, a phobia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. But in
general, in anxiety disorders, there usually isn't a specific triggering traumatic event for the
anxious feelings or worry. Or, in the case of something like phobias, it's a trigger that most
people don't experience as anxiety-provoking.
PTSD and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have recurrent, intrusive thoughts as a
symptom, the types of thoughts are one way to distinguish these disorders. Thoughts present in
obsessive-compulsive disorder do not usually relate to a past traumatic event. With PTSD, the
thoughts are invariably connected to experiencing or witnessing a past traumatic event.
While a person suffering from PTSD may also suffer from depression, typically the symptoms of
PTSD precede the depressive episode (and may help explain such depressive feelings in a person
with posttraumatic stress disorder).
controversy about re-exposure therapy
vs. thought neutralization. - ANS Guided re-exposure and abreaction (controversial
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,due to risk of re-traumatization)
Cognitive skills training (thought neutralization)
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: Basic steps - ANS a form of crisis intervention that has
victims of trauma talk extensively about their feelings and reactions after a traumatic event
occurs. provided to victims who have not displayed symtpoms of an SD yet in hopes to reduce
stress reactions. counselors guide victims to talk about the details, vent, relive the emotions
from the time of the event, and express their current feelings. Mobilizations get together to
provide debriefing for large areas who have experienced trauma, like disaster areas. the
effectiveness of this si being called into question though. a study showed that after debriefing,
half of victims still showed symptoms of PTSD. some studies have showed that victims show a
higher amount of SDs when debriefed; debriefing may encourage victims to dwell on traumatic
events. high-risk individuals may profit from it, but other trauma victims should not receive it.
*Stages*:
1. Fact phase: ask victims to tell story
2. Reaction phase: ask victims to report their thoughts and feelings about the incident
3. Symptom phase: solicit symptomatology and suggest coping strategies
4. Teaching phase: educate victim regarding traumas and typical reactions to trauma
5. Reentry phase: wrap-up, answer Qs, provide referrals, develop plan of actions
confidentiality and duty to warn or protect - ANS *confidentiality*:
mental health information cannot be released without patient consent except in specific
circumstances:
-Only can release if patient is a danger to themselves or identifiable others, if there is child or
elder/dependent adult abuse involved, patient has agreed to release records within a managed
care environment, court order demands therapist to release records, or a FISA court order is
issued (foreign intelligence surveillance act).
*duty to warn/protect*:
-There must be an identifiable victim, a serious threat of physical violence imminent), or
information given from immediate family member. If clients dangerousness is due to a mental
disorder, can offer hospitalization.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -Duty to protect or warn others does *NOT* apply when someone other than patient is
dangerous party, Someone other than an immediate family member reports danger, there are
no identifiable victims, and patient threatens suicide
involuntary commitment (LPS Act 1967) - ANS When a patient's behavior warrants
hospitalization, voluntary
hospitalization is always preferred. Involuntary commitment should be considered only when:
-the danger that a patient poses to self or others is imminent or the patient is gravely disabled.
-the danger or grave disability is the result of a mental disorder or chronic alcoholism.
-the patient has refused or is unable to comply with a recommendation to enter a psychiatric
hospital voluntarily.
types of involuntary commitment: 5150 Hold, 5250 Hold, and conservatorship - ANS *5150
Hold*: 72-hour Treatment and evaluation, instituted by county-designated "5150- certifed"
personnel: police officer, registered nurse, medical doctor, in a facility or on a
mobile mental health crisis team. Patient is discharged from 5150 hold early if treating
psychiatrist finds no grounds for continuance. Patient is discharged automatically if not
approved for additional hold.
*5250 Hold*: 14-day additional hold for intensive treatment related to a mental disorder or
alcoholism when the patient is: (1) a danger to self or others, or is gravely disabled, and
(2) treatment is required but the patient has refused. This hold is certified by two professionals,
patient's representative is notified, and hold is subject to prompt judicial
review. If the patient's status remains unchanged, additional 14-day "post-certification holds"
can be amended for a total period not to exceed 180 days; each is subject to
review for necessity. Any failure of certification results in prompt discharge of patient.
*conservatorship*: the patient who is "gravely disabled as a result of a mental disorder or
impairment by chronic alcoholism" may be placed in the hands of a conservator
temporarily (30 day "T-Con") or long-term ("LPS Conversatorship," renewable indefinitely at 1-
year periods). The conservator is responsible to the appointing court for a
comprehensive living and treatment plan for patient.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
