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ADULT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 2026 | COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE + PRACTICE QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS (A+ GUARANTEED)
A 62-year-old woman presents to the nursing home where you work as a consulting
psychiatrist. She has had a history of bilateral temporal lobectomy for an intractable
seizure disorder. After a few weeks at the new facility, the staff report the following
observations about the patient in addition to her short-term memory difficulties: She is
extremely docile and displays very little emotion. She has a large appetite and
compulsively puts both food and nonfood items in her mouth. She also displays sexual
disinhibition, often walking out of her room without her pants on. (22 & 23)
This patient's clinical condition is most consistent with which of the following?
(A) Pick disease
(B) Klüver-Bucy syndrome
(C) Arnold-Chiari syndrome
(D) punchdrunk syndrome
(E) Möbius syndrome
(B) Klüver-Bucy syndrome presents with docility, lack of fear response, anterograde
amnesia, hyperphagia, and hypersexuality. Pick disease is a form of dementia, often
indistinguishable from Alzheimer disease, in which the frontal and temporal lobes are
atrophied. Arnold-Chiari syndrome describes a condition with hydrocephalus and
cerebellar anatomic and functional abnormalities. Punchdrunk syndrome describes an
acquired movement disorder associated with traumatic damage to the substantia nigra.
Möbius syndrome is congenital absence of the facial nerves and nuclei with resulting
bilateral facial paralysis
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23. The loss of what temporal lobe structure is most closely associated with this condition?
(A) hippocampus
(B) insula
(C) superior temporal gyri
(D) amygdala
(E) inferior horn of the lateral ventricle
(D) Klüver-Bucy syndrome is most closely associated with severe damage to, or
disconnectivity of, the amygdala bilaterally. The hippocampus, although important to
shortterm memory, is not directly involved with regulating aggression drives, sexual
behaviors, and fear responses. The insula, found deep within the central sulcus, is medial
to the temporal lobe and generally not considered a part of it. Superior temporal gyri are
more generally involved with processing complex auditory information such as the
understanding of language. The lateral ventricle is a CSF-containing space that has no
direct neuropsychiatric functional role
A 22-year-old woman is referred by her gynecologist for the treatment of a possible eating
disorder. The gynecologist informs you that the patient presented with a chief complaint of
amenorrhea that had been present for 4 months. In addition, the patient is at 83% of her
expected body weight. Upon evaluation, the patient describes a repeated pattern of
bingeing on large meals followed by forced vomiting. She also uses laxatives every night
before she goes to bed "to prevent constipation." The patient reports that she had been
running 3 miles every day, but in the last few weeks she has become too tired to run. (24 &
25)
24. The most accurate diagnosis for this patient is which of the following?
(A) exercise-induced amenorrhea
(B) OCD
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(C) psychogenic gastritis
(D) anorexia nervosa
(E) bulimia nervosa
(D) This patient would meet the criteria for bulimia except that she missed three
consecutive periods, which automatically places her in the category of anorexia. Her
anorexia appears similar to bulimia, however, and she would likely be further qualified as
having the binge eating-purging type of anorexia. Exercise can induce amenorrhea but
other clues in this case indicate a more complex etiology of the loss of menses. OCD is
often found comorbid with eating disorders in women, and indeed many of the food-
associated behaviors in anorexia may seem similar to OCD-related rituals. In this case, all
of the patient's symptoms are explained in the context of an eating disorder. Psychogenic
gastritis is not a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis.
25. Laboratory findings associated with severe cases of this disorder include which of the
following?
(A) decreased serum cortisol levels
(B) blunted thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone
(TRH)
(C) polycythemia
(D) low serum growth hormone
(E) high serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
(E) As with many forms of starvation, the predominance of catabolic over anabolic
processes tends to elevate BUN. Cortisol levels tend to be elevated in anorexia reflecting
the stress state of the body. In anorexia, TSH responsiveness to TRH remains normal.
Persons with anorexia also tend to be anemic. Serum growth hormone is often elevated in
anorexia.
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26. A 23-year-old college student has experienced frequent episodes of feeling utter doom
for the past 3 months. During these episodes, he also experiences tremulousness,
sweating, dizziness, and tingling in his extremities. He reports experiencing these episodes
at least once a week and is now becoming fearful of attending classes lest he have an
episode. The medication of choice for this condition is which of the following?
(A) alprazolam (Xanax)
(B) fluoxetine (Prozac)
(C) chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
(D) phenelzine (Nardil)
(E) divalproex sodium
(B) Fluoxetine, an SSRI, is the treatment of choice for panic disorder with or without
agoraphobia. Alprazolam, although commonly used for panic disorder, is a benzodiazepine
that is effective in the short term but has considerable dependence liability. In addition, its
short half-life may actually cause withdrawal states that mimic panic. Chlordiazepoxide is
a long-acting benzodiazepine that is also effective in panic disorder but also carries some
dependence liability. SSRIs have been shown in trials to be as effective as benzodiazepines
but without the abuse potential. Phenelzine, a monoamine oxide inhibitor (MAOI), has been
shown to be effective in some studies in anxiety disorders but its side effect profile is
regarded as problematic. Divalproex sodium has not been demonstrated to be effective for
panic.
A 34-year-old woman complains of a 3-month history of "feeling down" that has steadily
worsened. After losing her job as a sales representative 1 month ago, she has been living
with her parents and has not looked for work. The patient reports that she is unmotivated to
do anything even the things she used to enjoy. She says that "nothing really matters...I don't
matter." She has been sleeping 10-14 hours a night and has no appetite. More than once,
she has pondered suicide as a possible escape route. (27 & 28)
27. Given this patient's diagnosis, what is the likelihood that she would fail to suppress her
cortisol levels in a dexamethasone suppression test?
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ADULT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 2026 | COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE + PRACTICE QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS (A+ GUARANTEED)
A 62-year-old woman presents to the nursing home where you work as a consulting
psychiatrist. She has had a history of bilateral temporal lobectomy for an intractable
seizure disorder. After a few weeks at the new facility, the staff report the following
observations about the patient in addition to her short-term memory difficulties: She is
extremely docile and displays very little emotion. She has a large appetite and
compulsively puts both food and nonfood items in her mouth. She also displays sexual
disinhibition, often walking out of her room without her pants on. (22 & 23)
This patient's clinical condition is most consistent with which of the following?
(A) Pick disease
(B) Klüver-Bucy syndrome
(C) Arnold-Chiari syndrome
(D) punchdrunk syndrome
(E) Möbius syndrome
(B) Klüver-Bucy syndrome presents with docility, lack of fear response, anterograde
amnesia, hyperphagia, and hypersexuality. Pick disease is a form of dementia, often
indistinguishable from Alzheimer disease, in which the frontal and temporal lobes are
atrophied. Arnold-Chiari syndrome describes a condition with hydrocephalus and
cerebellar anatomic and functional abnormalities. Punchdrunk syndrome describes an
acquired movement disorder associated with traumatic damage to the substantia nigra.
Möbius syndrome is congenital absence of the facial nerves and nuclei with resulting
bilateral facial paralysis
© 2026 MindPlug Solutions™
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23. The loss of what temporal lobe structure is most closely associated with this condition?
(A) hippocampus
(B) insula
(C) superior temporal gyri
(D) amygdala
(E) inferior horn of the lateral ventricle
(D) Klüver-Bucy syndrome is most closely associated with severe damage to, or
disconnectivity of, the amygdala bilaterally. The hippocampus, although important to
shortterm memory, is not directly involved with regulating aggression drives, sexual
behaviors, and fear responses. The insula, found deep within the central sulcus, is medial
to the temporal lobe and generally not considered a part of it. Superior temporal gyri are
more generally involved with processing complex auditory information such as the
understanding of language. The lateral ventricle is a CSF-containing space that has no
direct neuropsychiatric functional role
A 22-year-old woman is referred by her gynecologist for the treatment of a possible eating
disorder. The gynecologist informs you that the patient presented with a chief complaint of
amenorrhea that had been present for 4 months. In addition, the patient is at 83% of her
expected body weight. Upon evaluation, the patient describes a repeated pattern of
bingeing on large meals followed by forced vomiting. She also uses laxatives every night
before she goes to bed "to prevent constipation." The patient reports that she had been
running 3 miles every day, but in the last few weeks she has become too tired to run. (24 &
25)
24. The most accurate diagnosis for this patient is which of the following?
(A) exercise-induced amenorrhea
(B) OCD
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(C) psychogenic gastritis
(D) anorexia nervosa
(E) bulimia nervosa
(D) This patient would meet the criteria for bulimia except that she missed three
consecutive periods, which automatically places her in the category of anorexia. Her
anorexia appears similar to bulimia, however, and she would likely be further qualified as
having the binge eating-purging type of anorexia. Exercise can induce amenorrhea but
other clues in this case indicate a more complex etiology of the loss of menses. OCD is
often found comorbid with eating disorders in women, and indeed many of the food-
associated behaviors in anorexia may seem similar to OCD-related rituals. In this case, all
of the patient's symptoms are explained in the context of an eating disorder. Psychogenic
gastritis is not a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis.
25. Laboratory findings associated with severe cases of this disorder include which of the
following?
(A) decreased serum cortisol levels
(B) blunted thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone
(TRH)
(C) polycythemia
(D) low serum growth hormone
(E) high serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
(E) As with many forms of starvation, the predominance of catabolic over anabolic
processes tends to elevate BUN. Cortisol levels tend to be elevated in anorexia reflecting
the stress state of the body. In anorexia, TSH responsiveness to TRH remains normal.
Persons with anorexia also tend to be anemic. Serum growth hormone is often elevated in
anorexia.
© 2026 MindPlug Solutions™
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26. A 23-year-old college student has experienced frequent episodes of feeling utter doom
for the past 3 months. During these episodes, he also experiences tremulousness,
sweating, dizziness, and tingling in his extremities. He reports experiencing these episodes
at least once a week and is now becoming fearful of attending classes lest he have an
episode. The medication of choice for this condition is which of the following?
(A) alprazolam (Xanax)
(B) fluoxetine (Prozac)
(C) chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
(D) phenelzine (Nardil)
(E) divalproex sodium
(B) Fluoxetine, an SSRI, is the treatment of choice for panic disorder with or without
agoraphobia. Alprazolam, although commonly used for panic disorder, is a benzodiazepine
that is effective in the short term but has considerable dependence liability. In addition, its
short half-life may actually cause withdrawal states that mimic panic. Chlordiazepoxide is
a long-acting benzodiazepine that is also effective in panic disorder but also carries some
dependence liability. SSRIs have been shown in trials to be as effective as benzodiazepines
but without the abuse potential. Phenelzine, a monoamine oxide inhibitor (MAOI), has been
shown to be effective in some studies in anxiety disorders but its side effect profile is
regarded as problematic. Divalproex sodium has not been demonstrated to be effective for
panic.
A 34-year-old woman complains of a 3-month history of "feeling down" that has steadily
worsened. After losing her job as a sales representative 1 month ago, she has been living
with her parents and has not looked for work. The patient reports that she is unmotivated to
do anything even the things she used to enjoy. She says that "nothing really matters...I don't
matter." She has been sleeping 10-14 hours a night and has no appetite. More than once,
she has pondered suicide as a possible escape route. (27 & 28)
27. Given this patient's diagnosis, what is the likelihood that she would fail to suppress her
cortisol levels in a dexamethasone suppression test?
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