DSM-5 Disorders Exam With
Complete Solutions
Panic Disorder - ANSWER Recurrent/unexpected panic attacks
Duration: >1 month
- fear of future panic attacks OR
- significant change in behavior related to the attacks
Panic Attack - ANSWER Intense fear w/ somatic/cognitive symptoms: abrupt onset w/
peak in min
- cardiac
- sweating
- trembling
- SOB
- choking
- chest pain
- GI
- feeling faint
- feeling detached
- fear of losing control
- fear of dying
- tingling/numbness
- chills/hot flushes
Agoraphobia - ANSWER >2 situations feared/avoided:
- using public transportation
- being in open spaces
- being in enclosed spaces
,- standing in line/being in a crowd
- being outside of home alone
Situations are feared/avoided because of thoughts that escape might be
difficult/unavailable if incapacitating/embarrassing symptoms develop
Can develop w/ or w/o PD
Specific Phobia - ANSWER Excessive, persistent and disproportional fear of an
object/situation
- fear invariably occurs when exposed to the stimulus OR person avoids situation
- fear causes marked distress/impairment and NOT accounted by different disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER Excessive, persistent and unrealistic fear of social
situations involving possible scrutiny by others due to fear of negative evaluation
- "Performance only": fear restricted to speaking/performing in public
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER Persistent uncontrolled anxiety about multiple
events for >6 mos w/ symptoms:
- restless, on edge
- dec conc
- muscle tension
- fatigued
- irritability
- insomnia
Separation Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER Developmentally inappropriate and excessive
anxiety concerning separation from major attachment figure
Experience marked distress (mental/physical):
- anticipated/actual separation
- harm befalling major attachment figure/self that leads to separation
- going out because of separation fears
Selective Mutism - ANSWER Refusal to speak in specific situations despite fluent speech
in other contexts
- Not due to lack of language knowledge/communication disorder
, Duration: >1 mo
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - ANSWER 1. Recurrent:
- obsessions = intrusive recurrent thoughts/urges/images that inc distress
- compulsions = repetitive behaviors/mental acts that dec distress
2. Obsessions/compulsions are time consuming or distressful/disruptive
3. Symptoms are not explained by another disorder
W/ absent insight (delusional beliefs): convinced that OCD beliefs are true
Hoarding Disorder - ANSWER - Difficulty parting w/ possessions due to perceived need
to save items or distress about discarding them
- Accumulation clutters living areas and substantially compromises their intended use
- Causes distress/impairment
- NOT better explained by another disorder
W/ absent insight (delusional beliefs): beliefs/behaviors are not problematic despite
contrary evidence
Body Dysmorphic Disorder - ANSWER Preoccupation w/ perceived flaw in physical
appearance
- not better accounted by an eating disorder
- must cause functional impairment
Repetitive behaviors/mental acts are performed in response to appearance concerns
Specify...
- w/ muscle dysphoria: preoccupation w/ belief that one's body is too small/insufficiently
muscular
- w/ absent insight (delusional beliefs): convinced beliefs are true
Excoriation Disorder - ANSWER - Recurrent skin picking resulting in skin lesions
- Attempts to stop picking
- Results in distress/impairment
- ISN'T better explained by another disorder
Trichotillomania - ANSWER - Recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in hair loss
~ any body region affected
Complete Solutions
Panic Disorder - ANSWER Recurrent/unexpected panic attacks
Duration: >1 month
- fear of future panic attacks OR
- significant change in behavior related to the attacks
Panic Attack - ANSWER Intense fear w/ somatic/cognitive symptoms: abrupt onset w/
peak in min
- cardiac
- sweating
- trembling
- SOB
- choking
- chest pain
- GI
- feeling faint
- feeling detached
- fear of losing control
- fear of dying
- tingling/numbness
- chills/hot flushes
Agoraphobia - ANSWER >2 situations feared/avoided:
- using public transportation
- being in open spaces
- being in enclosed spaces
,- standing in line/being in a crowd
- being outside of home alone
Situations are feared/avoided because of thoughts that escape might be
difficult/unavailable if incapacitating/embarrassing symptoms develop
Can develop w/ or w/o PD
Specific Phobia - ANSWER Excessive, persistent and disproportional fear of an
object/situation
- fear invariably occurs when exposed to the stimulus OR person avoids situation
- fear causes marked distress/impairment and NOT accounted by different disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER Excessive, persistent and unrealistic fear of social
situations involving possible scrutiny by others due to fear of negative evaluation
- "Performance only": fear restricted to speaking/performing in public
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER Persistent uncontrolled anxiety about multiple
events for >6 mos w/ symptoms:
- restless, on edge
- dec conc
- muscle tension
- fatigued
- irritability
- insomnia
Separation Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER Developmentally inappropriate and excessive
anxiety concerning separation from major attachment figure
Experience marked distress (mental/physical):
- anticipated/actual separation
- harm befalling major attachment figure/self that leads to separation
- going out because of separation fears
Selective Mutism - ANSWER Refusal to speak in specific situations despite fluent speech
in other contexts
- Not due to lack of language knowledge/communication disorder
, Duration: >1 mo
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - ANSWER 1. Recurrent:
- obsessions = intrusive recurrent thoughts/urges/images that inc distress
- compulsions = repetitive behaviors/mental acts that dec distress
2. Obsessions/compulsions are time consuming or distressful/disruptive
3. Symptoms are not explained by another disorder
W/ absent insight (delusional beliefs): convinced that OCD beliefs are true
Hoarding Disorder - ANSWER - Difficulty parting w/ possessions due to perceived need
to save items or distress about discarding them
- Accumulation clutters living areas and substantially compromises their intended use
- Causes distress/impairment
- NOT better explained by another disorder
W/ absent insight (delusional beliefs): beliefs/behaviors are not problematic despite
contrary evidence
Body Dysmorphic Disorder - ANSWER Preoccupation w/ perceived flaw in physical
appearance
- not better accounted by an eating disorder
- must cause functional impairment
Repetitive behaviors/mental acts are performed in response to appearance concerns
Specify...
- w/ muscle dysphoria: preoccupation w/ belief that one's body is too small/insufficiently
muscular
- w/ absent insight (delusional beliefs): convinced beliefs are true
Excoriation Disorder - ANSWER - Recurrent skin picking resulting in skin lesions
- Attempts to stop picking
- Results in distress/impairment
- ISN'T better explained by another disorder
Trichotillomania - ANSWER - Recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in hair loss
~ any body region affected
