pg. 1
,PSYC 210 Final Exam – Abnormal Psychology (Portage Learning)
Q1. According to the DSM definition of a psychological disorder, which feature is most essential for
distinguishing a disorder from ordinary distress or deviance?
A. The behavior is statistically rare within the person's cultural group.
B. The disturbance reflects a dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes.
C. The person reports subjective unhappiness about the behavior.
D. The behavior violates a widely held social norm.
Correct Answer: B. The disturbance reflects a dysfunction in psychological, biological, or
developmental processes.
Rationale: The DSM definition centers on a clinically significant disturbance that reflects a
dysfunction in underlying mental functioning. Statistical rarity, subjective unhappiness, and social
norm violation may accompany a disorder but are not sufficient on their own; socially deviant
behavior does not indicate a disorder unless it results from an internal dysfunction .
Q2. A clinician is evaluating a patient and wants to use the current diagnostic manual published by
the American Psychiatric Association. Which edition should the clinician use?
A. DSM-IV-TR
B. DSM-5
C. DSM-5-TR
D. ICD-11
Correct Answer: C. DSM-5-TR.
Rationale: The DSM-5 was published in 2013, and the Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) is the current edition
of the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual. DSM-IV-TR is outdated, and ICD-11 is
published by the World Health Organization rather than the APA .
Q3. Which historical figure is credited with developing the theory of the four humors to explain
psychological conditions?
A. Galen
B. Plato
C. Hippocrates
D. Aristotle
Correct Answer: C. Hippocrates.
Rationale: Hippocrates, the Greek physician of the fifth century B.C., proposed that mental and
physical disorders were interconnected and developed the theory of the four humors. Galen later
expanded on Hippocrates' work, but the original theory is attributed to Hippocrates .
Q4. The term "bedlam" historically derives from which source?
pg. 2
,A. A medieval legal statute governing treatment of the insane
B. A nickname for St. Mary's of Bethlehem, an early mental hospital
C. A Greek term for "wandering mind"
D. The name of the first patient admitted to an asylum
Correct Answer: B. A nickname for St. Mary's of Bethlehem, an early mental hospital.
Rationale: "Bedlam" is a corruption of "Bethlehem," referring to St. Mary's of Bethlehem in London,
a notorious early institution for the mentally ill. The term came to signify chaos and uproar,
reflecting the historical conditions of such institutions .
Q5. In the DSM, the term "insanity" is best understood as which of the following?
A. A formal psychiatric diagnosis listed under psychotic disorders
B. A legal term rather than a psychiatric diagnosis
C. A subtype of schizophrenia characterized by violent behavior
D. A historical term replaced by "psychosis" in DSM-5
Correct Answer: B. A legal term rather than a psychiatric diagnosis.
Rationale: Insanity is a legal concept used to determine criminal responsibility and competency, not
a DSM diagnostic category. The DSM does not include "insanity" as a diagnosis; it is determined by
legal standards, not clinical criteria .
Q6. A patient reports that he has not slept more than three hours per night for the past five days,
feels "better than ever," and has started three new business ventures with borrowed money. He
denies any problem and says others are "just jealous." Which diagnostic category should a clinician
consider first?
A. Major depressive episode with mixed features
B. Manic episode
C. Hypomanic episode
D. Schizoaffective disorder
Correct Answer: B. Manic episode.
Rationale: The patient shows elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, increased goal-directed
activity, and excessive involvement in risky activities (borrowing money for ventures). The duration
exceeds one week, and impairment appears significant, consistent with a manic episode. A
hypomanic episode would not cause marked impairment or require hospitalization, and this
presentation does not include depressive symptoms .
Q7. A key distinction between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder is that Bipolar II requires which of the
following?
A. At least one full manic episode
B. At least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode
pg. 3
, C. Psychotic features during the mood episode
D. A history of rapid cycling in the past year
Correct Answer: B. At least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode.
Rationale: Bipolar I requires at least one manic episode, which may or may not be accompanied by
depression. Bipolar II is defined by the presence of at least one hypomanic episode and at least one
major depressive episode, with no history of full mania. Psychosis and rapid cycling are specifiers,
not definitional criteria .
Q8. A 28-year-old woman reports two weeks of depressed mood, loss of interest in activities she
previously enjoyed, insomnia, fatigue, and recurrent thoughts that she is worthless. She denies any
history of elevated mood or increased energy. Which diagnosis is most consistent with her
presentation?
A. Bipolar II disorder, current episode depressed
B. Major depressive disorder
C. Persistent depressive disorder
D. Cyclothymic disorder
Correct Answer: B. Major depressive disorder.
Rationale: The patient meets criteria for a major depressive episode: depressed mood and
anhedonia for at least two weeks, plus additional symptoms including sleep disturbance, fatigue,
and worthlessness. The absence of any manic or hypomanic history rules out bipolar disorders.
Persistent depressive disorder requires a two-year duration, and cyclothymic disorder involves
chronic fluctuating mood without full episodes .
Q9. Which symptom is considered a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Delusions of persecution
C. Flat affect
D. Disorganized speech
Correct Answer: C. Flat affect.
Rationale: Negative symptoms reflect a diminution or absence of normal functions, including flat
affect, anhedonia, and poverty of speech. Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech are
positive or disorganized symptoms, representing excesses or distortions of normal function .
Q10. A patient with schizophrenia believes that the government has implanted a device in his tooth
that transmits his thoughts to satellites. This symptom is best classified as which of the following?
A. Hallucination
B. Delusion
C. Negative symptom
D. Catatonic behavior
pg. 4
,PSYC 210 Final Exam – Abnormal Psychology (Portage Learning)
Q1. According to the DSM definition of a psychological disorder, which feature is most essential for
distinguishing a disorder from ordinary distress or deviance?
A. The behavior is statistically rare within the person's cultural group.
B. The disturbance reflects a dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes.
C. The person reports subjective unhappiness about the behavior.
D. The behavior violates a widely held social norm.
Correct Answer: B. The disturbance reflects a dysfunction in psychological, biological, or
developmental processes.
Rationale: The DSM definition centers on a clinically significant disturbance that reflects a
dysfunction in underlying mental functioning. Statistical rarity, subjective unhappiness, and social
norm violation may accompany a disorder but are not sufficient on their own; socially deviant
behavior does not indicate a disorder unless it results from an internal dysfunction .
Q2. A clinician is evaluating a patient and wants to use the current diagnostic manual published by
the American Psychiatric Association. Which edition should the clinician use?
A. DSM-IV-TR
B. DSM-5
C. DSM-5-TR
D. ICD-11
Correct Answer: C. DSM-5-TR.
Rationale: The DSM-5 was published in 2013, and the Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) is the current edition
of the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual. DSM-IV-TR is outdated, and ICD-11 is
published by the World Health Organization rather than the APA .
Q3. Which historical figure is credited with developing the theory of the four humors to explain
psychological conditions?
A. Galen
B. Plato
C. Hippocrates
D. Aristotle
Correct Answer: C. Hippocrates.
Rationale: Hippocrates, the Greek physician of the fifth century B.C., proposed that mental and
physical disorders were interconnected and developed the theory of the four humors. Galen later
expanded on Hippocrates' work, but the original theory is attributed to Hippocrates .
Q4. The term "bedlam" historically derives from which source?
pg. 2
,A. A medieval legal statute governing treatment of the insane
B. A nickname for St. Mary's of Bethlehem, an early mental hospital
C. A Greek term for "wandering mind"
D. The name of the first patient admitted to an asylum
Correct Answer: B. A nickname for St. Mary's of Bethlehem, an early mental hospital.
Rationale: "Bedlam" is a corruption of "Bethlehem," referring to St. Mary's of Bethlehem in London,
a notorious early institution for the mentally ill. The term came to signify chaos and uproar,
reflecting the historical conditions of such institutions .
Q5. In the DSM, the term "insanity" is best understood as which of the following?
A. A formal psychiatric diagnosis listed under psychotic disorders
B. A legal term rather than a psychiatric diagnosis
C. A subtype of schizophrenia characterized by violent behavior
D. A historical term replaced by "psychosis" in DSM-5
Correct Answer: B. A legal term rather than a psychiatric diagnosis.
Rationale: Insanity is a legal concept used to determine criminal responsibility and competency, not
a DSM diagnostic category. The DSM does not include "insanity" as a diagnosis; it is determined by
legal standards, not clinical criteria .
Q6. A patient reports that he has not slept more than three hours per night for the past five days,
feels "better than ever," and has started three new business ventures with borrowed money. He
denies any problem and says others are "just jealous." Which diagnostic category should a clinician
consider first?
A. Major depressive episode with mixed features
B. Manic episode
C. Hypomanic episode
D. Schizoaffective disorder
Correct Answer: B. Manic episode.
Rationale: The patient shows elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, increased goal-directed
activity, and excessive involvement in risky activities (borrowing money for ventures). The duration
exceeds one week, and impairment appears significant, consistent with a manic episode. A
hypomanic episode would not cause marked impairment or require hospitalization, and this
presentation does not include depressive symptoms .
Q7. A key distinction between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder is that Bipolar II requires which of the
following?
A. At least one full manic episode
B. At least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode
pg. 3
, C. Psychotic features during the mood episode
D. A history of rapid cycling in the past year
Correct Answer: B. At least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode.
Rationale: Bipolar I requires at least one manic episode, which may or may not be accompanied by
depression. Bipolar II is defined by the presence of at least one hypomanic episode and at least one
major depressive episode, with no history of full mania. Psychosis and rapid cycling are specifiers,
not definitional criteria .
Q8. A 28-year-old woman reports two weeks of depressed mood, loss of interest in activities she
previously enjoyed, insomnia, fatigue, and recurrent thoughts that she is worthless. She denies any
history of elevated mood or increased energy. Which diagnosis is most consistent with her
presentation?
A. Bipolar II disorder, current episode depressed
B. Major depressive disorder
C. Persistent depressive disorder
D. Cyclothymic disorder
Correct Answer: B. Major depressive disorder.
Rationale: The patient meets criteria for a major depressive episode: depressed mood and
anhedonia for at least two weeks, plus additional symptoms including sleep disturbance, fatigue,
and worthlessness. The absence of any manic or hypomanic history rules out bipolar disorders.
Persistent depressive disorder requires a two-year duration, and cyclothymic disorder involves
chronic fluctuating mood without full episodes .
Q9. Which symptom is considered a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Delusions of persecution
C. Flat affect
D. Disorganized speech
Correct Answer: C. Flat affect.
Rationale: Negative symptoms reflect a diminution or absence of normal functions, including flat
affect, anhedonia, and poverty of speech. Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech are
positive or disorganized symptoms, representing excesses or distortions of normal function .
Q10. A patient with schizophrenia believes that the government has implanted a device in his tooth
that transmits his thoughts to satellites. This symptom is best classified as which of the following?
A. Hallucination
B. Delusion
C. Negative symptom
D. Catatonic behavior
pg. 4
