Mental Health Chapter 15 Varcarolis Questions (Anxiety and Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorders) Exam Questions and Answers With Verified Solutions
2025
What defense mechanisms can only be used in healthy ways?
A. Suppression and humor
B. Altruism and sublimation
C. Idealization and splitting
D. Reaction formation and denial - ✔✔B. Altruism and sublimation
Altruism and sublimation are known as mature defenses. They cannot be used in unhealthy ways.
Altruism results in resolving emotional conflicts by meeting the needs of others, and sublimation
substitutes socially acceptable activity for unacceptable impulses. This statement is not true of the other
options.
A man continues to speak of his wife as though she were still alive, 3 years after her death. This behavior
suggests the use of which ego defense mechanism?
A. Altruism
B. Denial
C. Undoing
D. Suppression - ✔✔B. Denial
Denial involves escaping unpleasant reality by ignoring its existence. This is not the outcome of any of
the other options.
What can be said about the comorbidity of anxiety disorders?
A. Anxiety disorders generally exist alone.
B. Depression may occur prior to onset of anxiety.
C. Anxiety disorders virtually never coexist with mood disorders.
D. Substance abuse disorders rarely coexist with anxiety disorders. - ✔✔B. Depression may occur prior
to onset of anxiety.
, In many instances, major depression may occur prior to the onset of panic disorder or may occur at the
same time. Clinicians and researchers have clearly shown that anxiety disorders frequently co-occur
with other psychiatric problems. Major depression often co-occurs and produces a greater impairment
with poorer response to treatment.
Selective inattention is first noted when experiencing which level of anxiety?
A. Mild
B. Moderate
C. Severe
D. Panic - ✔✔B. Moderate
When moderate anxiety is present, the individual's perceptual field is reduced and the client is not able
to see the entire picture of events. This is not an initial characteristic of any of the other levels of
anxiety.
A symptom commonly associated with panic attacks?
A. Obsessions
B. Apathy
C. Fever
D. Fear of impending doom - ✔✔D. Fear of impending doom
The feelings of terror present during a panic attack are so severe that normal function is suspended, the
perceptual field is severely limited, and misinterpretation of reality may occur. None of the other
symptoms are associated with a panic attack.
Generally, which statement regarding ego defense mechanisms is true?
A. They often involve some degree of self-deception.
B. They are rarely used by mentally healthy people.
C. They seldom make the person more comfortable.
D. They are usually effective in resolving conflicts. - ✔✔A. They often involve some degree of self-
deception.
Compulsive Disorders) Exam Questions and Answers With Verified Solutions
2025
What defense mechanisms can only be used in healthy ways?
A. Suppression and humor
B. Altruism and sublimation
C. Idealization and splitting
D. Reaction formation and denial - ✔✔B. Altruism and sublimation
Altruism and sublimation are known as mature defenses. They cannot be used in unhealthy ways.
Altruism results in resolving emotional conflicts by meeting the needs of others, and sublimation
substitutes socially acceptable activity for unacceptable impulses. This statement is not true of the other
options.
A man continues to speak of his wife as though she were still alive, 3 years after her death. This behavior
suggests the use of which ego defense mechanism?
A. Altruism
B. Denial
C. Undoing
D. Suppression - ✔✔B. Denial
Denial involves escaping unpleasant reality by ignoring its existence. This is not the outcome of any of
the other options.
What can be said about the comorbidity of anxiety disorders?
A. Anxiety disorders generally exist alone.
B. Depression may occur prior to onset of anxiety.
C. Anxiety disorders virtually never coexist with mood disorders.
D. Substance abuse disorders rarely coexist with anxiety disorders. - ✔✔B. Depression may occur prior
to onset of anxiety.
, In many instances, major depression may occur prior to the onset of panic disorder or may occur at the
same time. Clinicians and researchers have clearly shown that anxiety disorders frequently co-occur
with other psychiatric problems. Major depression often co-occurs and produces a greater impairment
with poorer response to treatment.
Selective inattention is first noted when experiencing which level of anxiety?
A. Mild
B. Moderate
C. Severe
D. Panic - ✔✔B. Moderate
When moderate anxiety is present, the individual's perceptual field is reduced and the client is not able
to see the entire picture of events. This is not an initial characteristic of any of the other levels of
anxiety.
A symptom commonly associated with panic attacks?
A. Obsessions
B. Apathy
C. Fever
D. Fear of impending doom - ✔✔D. Fear of impending doom
The feelings of terror present during a panic attack are so severe that normal function is suspended, the
perceptual field is severely limited, and misinterpretation of reality may occur. None of the other
symptoms are associated with a panic attack.
Generally, which statement regarding ego defense mechanisms is true?
A. They often involve some degree of self-deception.
B. They are rarely used by mentally healthy people.
C. They seldom make the person more comfortable.
D. They are usually effective in resolving conflicts. - ✔✔A. They often involve some degree of self-
deception.
