COUN 5107 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS MAJOR
DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALE
1. Neuroimaging has found that in people with more severe symptoms of PTSD:
A. The amygdala ceases functioning during potentially traumatic stress situations.
B. The medial prefrontal cortex is less active.
C. The prefrontal cortex takes over when the amygdala shuts down due to stress.
D. The hippocampus is unaffected by potentially traumatic stress situations.
Correct Answer: B. The medial prefrontal cortex is less active.
Explanation: Research using neuroimaging has demonstrated that individuals with
more severe PTSD symptoms show reduced activity in the medial prefrontal cortex.
This brain region is involved in fear extinction and emotional regulation. The
amygdala typically shows increased, not ceased, activity during trauma responses,
and the hippocampus is often affected by traumatic stress. This finding supports
the biological understanding of PTSD as involving dysfunction in brain circuits
responsible for fear processing and emotional control .
2. People with panic disorder show dysregulation of norepinephrine systems in
an area of the brainstem called the:
A. Nucleus prepositus hypoglossi.
B. Locus ceruleus.
C. Reticular formation.
D. Basal tencephalon.
Correct Answer: B. Locus ceruleus.
,Explanation: The locus ceruleus is a brainstem region that serves as the primary
site for norepinephrine production in the central nervous system. Dysregulation of
this area has been strongly implicated in panic disorder, as it plays a critical role in
the body's stress response and arousal systems. When the locus ceruleus functions
abnormally, it can contribute to the sudden, intense fear responses characteristic
of panic attacks .
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the four Ds of abnormality?
A. The behaviors are ones that the individual wishes to be rid of.
B. The behaviors are of potential harm to the individual.
C. The behaviors are highly deviant relative to the individual's surroundings.
D. The behaviors cause significant distress.
Correct Answer: A. The behaviors are ones that the individual wishes to be rid
of.
Explanation: The four Ds of abnormality are Dysfunction, Distress, Deviance, and
Dangerousness. The concept that individuals wish to be rid of their behaviors does
not constitute one of these core criteria. While client motivation for change is
clinically relevant, it is not part of the diagnostic framework used to determine
whether behavior is abnormal. The four Ds provide a comprehensive framework
for evaluating abnormal behavior, focusing on functional impairment, subjective
suffering, cultural deviance, and risk of harm .
4. The translation of the Greek term "agoraphobia" means:
A. Fear of all places.
B. Fear of the marketplace.
C. Fear of dark places.
D. Fear of closed places.
Correct Answer: B. Fear of the marketplace.
,Explanation: The term "agoraphobia" derives from the Greek words "agora"
(marketplace or public gathering place) and "phobos" (fear). Historically, it
described fear of open public spaces where one might feel trapped or unable to
escape. This etymological understanding helps clinicians recognize that
agoraphobia involves anxiety about situations where escape might be difficult or
help unavailable during panic-like symptoms .
5. According to current thinking, which of the following best characterizes the
causes of abnormal behavior?
A. Disturbances in physical functioning.
B. Traumatic psychological experiences.
C. Troubled relationships.
D. Cognitive, emotional, and social factors.
Correct Answer: D. Cognitive, emotional, and social factors.
Explanation: Contemporary understanding of psychopathology embraces a
biopsychosocial model that recognizes the complex interplay of multiple factors.
The most comprehensive characterization encompasses cognitive (thought
patterns and beliefs), emotional (affective responses), and social (environmental
and interpersonal) factors. This integrated perspective has largely replaced earlier,
more narrow views that focused exclusively on biological disturbances,
psychological trauma, or relationship problems alone .
6. Which cause of abnormality is often a focus of biological approaches?
A. Brain dysfunction.
B. Biochemical imbalances.
C. Genetic abnormalities.
D. All of these.
Correct Answer: D. All of these.
, Explanation: Biological approaches to psychopathology examine multiple
physiological factors that may contribute to abnormal behavior. Brain dysfunction
can include structural abnormalities or neurological damage affecting behavior
and cognition. Biochemical imbalances, such as neurotransmitter dysregulation,
have been implicated in numerous psychiatric disorders. Genetic abnormalities
may confer vulnerability to various mental health conditions. Comprehensive
biological models consider how these factors interact to produce
psychopathology .
7. Which of the following disorders consists of emotional and behavioral
symptoms such as depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or conduct
disturbance behaviors that occur within three months of the experience of a
stressor?
A. Agoraphobia.
B. Generalized anxiety disorder.
C. Social anxiety disorder.
D. Adjustment disorder.
Correct Answer: D. Adjustment disorder.
Explanation: Adjustment disorder is characterized by the development of
emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor occurring
within three months of the stressor's onset. These symptoms may include
depressed mood, anxiety, or conduct disturbances, and they cause significant
impairment in social or occupational functioning. Unlike other anxiety disorders,
adjustment disorder is directly linked to a specific stressor and typically resolves
once the stressor is removed or the individual adapts .
8. A person filled with grandiose self-esteem, displaying rapid speech and
impulsive behaviors, and showing an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood for
at least one week is exhibiting symptoms of:
DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALE
1. Neuroimaging has found that in people with more severe symptoms of PTSD:
A. The amygdala ceases functioning during potentially traumatic stress situations.
B. The medial prefrontal cortex is less active.
C. The prefrontal cortex takes over when the amygdala shuts down due to stress.
D. The hippocampus is unaffected by potentially traumatic stress situations.
Correct Answer: B. The medial prefrontal cortex is less active.
Explanation: Research using neuroimaging has demonstrated that individuals with
more severe PTSD symptoms show reduced activity in the medial prefrontal cortex.
This brain region is involved in fear extinction and emotional regulation. The
amygdala typically shows increased, not ceased, activity during trauma responses,
and the hippocampus is often affected by traumatic stress. This finding supports
the biological understanding of PTSD as involving dysfunction in brain circuits
responsible for fear processing and emotional control .
2. People with panic disorder show dysregulation of norepinephrine systems in
an area of the brainstem called the:
A. Nucleus prepositus hypoglossi.
B. Locus ceruleus.
C. Reticular formation.
D. Basal tencephalon.
Correct Answer: B. Locus ceruleus.
,Explanation: The locus ceruleus is a brainstem region that serves as the primary
site for norepinephrine production in the central nervous system. Dysregulation of
this area has been strongly implicated in panic disorder, as it plays a critical role in
the body's stress response and arousal systems. When the locus ceruleus functions
abnormally, it can contribute to the sudden, intense fear responses characteristic
of panic attacks .
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the four Ds of abnormality?
A. The behaviors are ones that the individual wishes to be rid of.
B. The behaviors are of potential harm to the individual.
C. The behaviors are highly deviant relative to the individual's surroundings.
D. The behaviors cause significant distress.
Correct Answer: A. The behaviors are ones that the individual wishes to be rid
of.
Explanation: The four Ds of abnormality are Dysfunction, Distress, Deviance, and
Dangerousness. The concept that individuals wish to be rid of their behaviors does
not constitute one of these core criteria. While client motivation for change is
clinically relevant, it is not part of the diagnostic framework used to determine
whether behavior is abnormal. The four Ds provide a comprehensive framework
for evaluating abnormal behavior, focusing on functional impairment, subjective
suffering, cultural deviance, and risk of harm .
4. The translation of the Greek term "agoraphobia" means:
A. Fear of all places.
B. Fear of the marketplace.
C. Fear of dark places.
D. Fear of closed places.
Correct Answer: B. Fear of the marketplace.
,Explanation: The term "agoraphobia" derives from the Greek words "agora"
(marketplace or public gathering place) and "phobos" (fear). Historically, it
described fear of open public spaces where one might feel trapped or unable to
escape. This etymological understanding helps clinicians recognize that
agoraphobia involves anxiety about situations where escape might be difficult or
help unavailable during panic-like symptoms .
5. According to current thinking, which of the following best characterizes the
causes of abnormal behavior?
A. Disturbances in physical functioning.
B. Traumatic psychological experiences.
C. Troubled relationships.
D. Cognitive, emotional, and social factors.
Correct Answer: D. Cognitive, emotional, and social factors.
Explanation: Contemporary understanding of psychopathology embraces a
biopsychosocial model that recognizes the complex interplay of multiple factors.
The most comprehensive characterization encompasses cognitive (thought
patterns and beliefs), emotional (affective responses), and social (environmental
and interpersonal) factors. This integrated perspective has largely replaced earlier,
more narrow views that focused exclusively on biological disturbances,
psychological trauma, or relationship problems alone .
6. Which cause of abnormality is often a focus of biological approaches?
A. Brain dysfunction.
B. Biochemical imbalances.
C. Genetic abnormalities.
D. All of these.
Correct Answer: D. All of these.
, Explanation: Biological approaches to psychopathology examine multiple
physiological factors that may contribute to abnormal behavior. Brain dysfunction
can include structural abnormalities or neurological damage affecting behavior
and cognition. Biochemical imbalances, such as neurotransmitter dysregulation,
have been implicated in numerous psychiatric disorders. Genetic abnormalities
may confer vulnerability to various mental health conditions. Comprehensive
biological models consider how these factors interact to produce
psychopathology .
7. Which of the following disorders consists of emotional and behavioral
symptoms such as depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or conduct
disturbance behaviors that occur within three months of the experience of a
stressor?
A. Agoraphobia.
B. Generalized anxiety disorder.
C. Social anxiety disorder.
D. Adjustment disorder.
Correct Answer: D. Adjustment disorder.
Explanation: Adjustment disorder is characterized by the development of
emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor occurring
within three months of the stressor's onset. These symptoms may include
depressed mood, anxiety, or conduct disturbances, and they cause significant
impairment in social or occupational functioning. Unlike other anxiety disorders,
adjustment disorder is directly linked to a specific stressor and typically resolves
once the stressor is removed or the individual adapts .
8. A person filled with grandiose self-esteem, displaying rapid speech and
impulsive behaviors, and showing an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood for
at least one week is exhibiting symptoms of:
