Abnormal Psychology (Barlow) – Chapters
1–16 Comprehensive Study Guide (2025–
2026 Edition) Focus: Psychological
disorders, diagnostics, etiology, evidence-
based treatments, and case
conceptualization.
Abnormal Psychology (Barlow) – Comprehensive Study Guide (100 Q&A)
Part 1: Foundations of Abnormal Psychology (Ch 1-3)
1. What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR?
a) To prescribe specific medications for disorders
b) To provide a universal diagnostic criteria set for mental disorders ✓
c) To outline the exact etiology of every psychological disorder
d) To replace all previous models of psychopathology
2. A psychologist considers a client's genetic predispositions, brain chemistry, social pressures,
and learned behaviors equally. This is an example of which model?
a) Psychodynamic
b) Biopsychosocial ✓
c) Humanistic
d) Cognitive-Behavioral
3. What is a key criticism of the "deviance" part of the definition of abnormality?
a) Deviance is always correlated with distress.
b) Deviance is statistically easy to measure.
c) Deviance from social norms is culturally relative. ✓
d) Deviance is the most important factor in diagnosis.
4. The concept that a diagnosis can cause others to treat an individual differently, potentially
leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy, is known as:
a) Diagnostic reliability
b) Labeling ✓
,c) Etiology
d) Comorbidity
5. Which research design involves observing the same group of participants over an extended
period?
a) Cross-sectional design
b) Longitudinal design ✓
c) Double-blind design
d) Correlational design
6. A correlation coefficient of -0.85 indicates:
a) A strong positive relationship
b) A weak positive relationship
c) A strong negative relationship ✓
d) No relationship
7. A therapist who focuses on helping a client identify and change irrational thought patterns
is likely operating from a ______ perspective.
a) Behavioral
b) Biological
c) Cognitive ✓
d) Psychodynamic
8. The diathesis-stress model suggests that psychological disorders develop from:
a) Unconscious conflicts alone
b) A predisposition (diathesis) and a triggering life event (stress) ✓
c) Solely from biological factors
d) The inability to self-actualize
9. The degree to which a measurement technique produces consistent results is its:
a) Validity
b) Reliability ✓
c) Standardization
d) Falsifiability
10. Which of the following is NOT a common ethical principle in psychological research?
a) Informed consent
b) Confidentiality
c) The right to receive payment for participation ✓
d) Minimization of harm
, Part 2: Anxiety, Trauma, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (Ch 4-6)
11. The main feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is:
a) Panic attacks
b) Excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday things ✓
c) A specific phobia
d) Flashbacks of a traumatic event
12. What is the essential element of a Specific Phobia?
a) General anxiety
b) Irrational, disproportionate fear of a specific object or situation ✓
c) Fear of social evaluation
d) Fear of having a panic attack
13. In Panic Disorder, what is "anxiety sensitivity"?
a) A fear of anxiety itself and its physical sensations ✓
b) An inability to feel anxiety
c) A sensitivity to social cues
d) A low threshold for stress
14. A client who fears being judged or embarrassed in social situations most likely has:
a) Agoraphobia
b) Social Anxiety Disorder ✓
c) Panic Disorder
d) OCD
15. The re-experiencing of a traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks is a symptom
of:
a) OCD
b) PTSD ✓
c) GAD
d) Illness Anxiety Disorder
16. Obsessions are to ______ as compulsions are to ______.
a) Behaviors; thoughts
b) Thoughts; behaviors ✓
c) Emotions; behaviors
d) Behaviors; emotions
1–16 Comprehensive Study Guide (2025–
2026 Edition) Focus: Psychological
disorders, diagnostics, etiology, evidence-
based treatments, and case
conceptualization.
Abnormal Psychology (Barlow) – Comprehensive Study Guide (100 Q&A)
Part 1: Foundations of Abnormal Psychology (Ch 1-3)
1. What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR?
a) To prescribe specific medications for disorders
b) To provide a universal diagnostic criteria set for mental disorders ✓
c) To outline the exact etiology of every psychological disorder
d) To replace all previous models of psychopathology
2. A psychologist considers a client's genetic predispositions, brain chemistry, social pressures,
and learned behaviors equally. This is an example of which model?
a) Psychodynamic
b) Biopsychosocial ✓
c) Humanistic
d) Cognitive-Behavioral
3. What is a key criticism of the "deviance" part of the definition of abnormality?
a) Deviance is always correlated with distress.
b) Deviance is statistically easy to measure.
c) Deviance from social norms is culturally relative. ✓
d) Deviance is the most important factor in diagnosis.
4. The concept that a diagnosis can cause others to treat an individual differently, potentially
leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy, is known as:
a) Diagnostic reliability
b) Labeling ✓
,c) Etiology
d) Comorbidity
5. Which research design involves observing the same group of participants over an extended
period?
a) Cross-sectional design
b) Longitudinal design ✓
c) Double-blind design
d) Correlational design
6. A correlation coefficient of -0.85 indicates:
a) A strong positive relationship
b) A weak positive relationship
c) A strong negative relationship ✓
d) No relationship
7. A therapist who focuses on helping a client identify and change irrational thought patterns
is likely operating from a ______ perspective.
a) Behavioral
b) Biological
c) Cognitive ✓
d) Psychodynamic
8. The diathesis-stress model suggests that psychological disorders develop from:
a) Unconscious conflicts alone
b) A predisposition (diathesis) and a triggering life event (stress) ✓
c) Solely from biological factors
d) The inability to self-actualize
9. The degree to which a measurement technique produces consistent results is its:
a) Validity
b) Reliability ✓
c) Standardization
d) Falsifiability
10. Which of the following is NOT a common ethical principle in psychological research?
a) Informed consent
b) Confidentiality
c) The right to receive payment for participation ✓
d) Minimization of harm
, Part 2: Anxiety, Trauma, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (Ch 4-6)
11. The main feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is:
a) Panic attacks
b) Excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday things ✓
c) A specific phobia
d) Flashbacks of a traumatic event
12. What is the essential element of a Specific Phobia?
a) General anxiety
b) Irrational, disproportionate fear of a specific object or situation ✓
c) Fear of social evaluation
d) Fear of having a panic attack
13. In Panic Disorder, what is "anxiety sensitivity"?
a) A fear of anxiety itself and its physical sensations ✓
b) An inability to feel anxiety
c) A sensitivity to social cues
d) A low threshold for stress
14. A client who fears being judged or embarrassed in social situations most likely has:
a) Agoraphobia
b) Social Anxiety Disorder ✓
c) Panic Disorder
d) OCD
15. The re-experiencing of a traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks is a symptom
of:
a) OCD
b) PTSD ✓
c) GAD
d) Illness Anxiety Disorder
16. Obsessions are to ______ as compulsions are to ______.
a) Behaviors; thoughts
b) Thoughts; behaviors ✓
c) Emotions; behaviors
d) Behaviors; emotions
