PSY 370 EXAM #1 QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
What are the four general things that the field of abnormal psych tries to do with
psychopathology? - Answers - describe, explain, predict, & change
woman with picture of food surrounding her, ask to do all 4
What does the diathesis model state? What is diathesis and what are examples? -
Answers - it's not just nature vs nurture, but also nature and nurture; the idea that
individual vulnerabilities interact with experience
it (diathesis) is a psychological theory that attempts to explain behavior as a pre-
dispositional vulnerability together with stress from life experiences.
How genetic traits (diathesis) interact with environment influences (stressors) to
produce disorders such as depression anxiety, or schizophrenia
What are examples of stress? - Answers - example of individual vulnerability = genes,
temperament, physiological
example of experience = family stressors, traumatic experience, culture
prevalence - Answers - the percentage of individuals in a target population who have a
particular disorder during a specific period of time
point prevalence - Answers - % of people with a disorder in the past month or year
lifetime prevalence - Answers - % of people with a disorder at some point in their life
How prevalent (roughly) is mental illness in the U.S. in adults? kids? - Answers - Mental
health affects roughly 25-30% of adults and 20-40% of youth
Incidence: number of new cases of a disorder within a specified time period --> approx.
10% of adolescents will experience their 1st episode of depression this year
Do most people who need mental health services receive services? - Answers - Many
people who need services dont get them
Overall 58% of adults with disorders get treatment in the US
Older adults are most likely to get treatment
What are some notable patters of service? - Answers - most common form of treatment
service is medication
What are the four general things that the field of abnormal psych tries to do with
psychopathology? - Answers - describe, explain, predict, & change
woman with picture of food surrounding her, ask to do all 4
What does the diathesis model state? What is diathesis and what are examples? -
Answers - it's not just nature vs nurture, but also nature and nurture; the idea that
individual vulnerabilities interact with experience
it (diathesis) is a psychological theory that attempts to explain behavior as a pre-
dispositional vulnerability together with stress from life experiences.
How genetic traits (diathesis) interact with environment influences (stressors) to
produce disorders such as depression anxiety, or schizophrenia
What are examples of stress? - Answers - example of individual vulnerability = genes,
temperament, physiological
example of experience = family stressors, traumatic experience, culture
prevalence - Answers - the percentage of individuals in a target population who have a
particular disorder during a specific period of time
point prevalence - Answers - % of people with a disorder in the past month or year
lifetime prevalence - Answers - % of people with a disorder at some point in their life
How prevalent (roughly) is mental illness in the U.S. in adults? kids? - Answers - Mental
health affects roughly 25-30% of adults and 20-40% of youth
Incidence: number of new cases of a disorder within a specified time period --> approx.
10% of adolescents will experience their 1st episode of depression this year
Do most people who need mental health services receive services? - Answers - Many
people who need services dont get them
Overall 58% of adults with disorders get treatment in the US
Older adults are most likely to get treatment
What are some notable patters of service? - Answers - most common form of treatment
service is medication
