EPPP Abnormal Psychology Ultimate Exam
**Question 1. Which of the following accurately reflects the DSM-5-TR transition from the multiaxial
system to a non-axial format?**
A) Retains five separate axes for diagnosis, severity, and psychosocial stressors.
B) Combines Axis I and Axis II diagnoses into a single list and eliminates Axis V.
C) Removes the separate axes and integrates psychosocial and functional information into the diagnostic
narrative.
D) Introduces a new Axis VI for cultural formulation.
Answer: C
Explanation: DSM-5-TR eliminated the multiaxial system, requiring clinicians to incorporate psychosocial
and functional data into the diagnostic summary rather than using separate axes.
**Question 2. When is a provisional diagnosis most appropriate according to DSM-5-TR guidelines?**
A) When the clinician is certain of the disorder but wants to test treatment response first.
B) When symptoms meet full criteria but the patient refuses treatment.
C) When symptoms suggest a disorder but the full diagnostic criteria cannot yet be confirmed.
D) When the disorder is rare and not listed in the manual.
Answer: C
Explanation: A provisional diagnosis is used when clinicians suspect a disorder but need additional
information (e.g., longitudinal data) to confirm full criteria.
**Question 3. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) primarily assists clinicians in assessing which of
the following?**
A) The severity of psychotic symptoms.
B) The presence of comorbid medical conditions.
C) Cultural explanations of illness and help-seeking behavior.
D) Genetic risk factors.
Answer: C
Explanation: The CFI is a structured tool that explores cultural identity, conceptualizations of distress,
and cultural factors influencing treatment.
, EPPP Abnormal Psychology Ultimate Exam
**Question 4. Diagnostic “overshadowing” most commonly occurs in which scenario?**
A) When a clinician focuses on cultural idioms of distress and misses a medical condition.
B) When a known disability leads clinicians to attribute new symptoms to that disability rather than a
separate disorder.
C) When a patient’s personality disorder masks a mood disorder.
D) When comorbid substance use is ignored because of a primary psychotic diagnosis.
Answer: B
Explanation: Overshadowing refers to attributing all presenting problems to an existing diagnosis (e.g.,
intellectual disability) and failing to recognize a new, distinct disorder.
**Question 5. In the DSM-5-TR, which statement best differentiates categorical from dimensional
approaches to diagnosis?**
A) Categorical diagnoses allow for rating severity on a 0-10 scale.
B) Dimensional models view symptoms on a continuum, whereas categorical models assign discrete
labels.
C) Categorical models require laboratory tests, while dimensional models rely on clinical interview.
D) Dimensional approaches are only used for personality disorders.
Answer: B
Explanation: Categorical models use distinct diagnostic categories; dimensional models assess severity
or frequency along a spectrum.
**Question 6. According to DSM-5-TR, intellectual disability severity is primarily determined by:**
A) Full-scale IQ score alone.
B) Adaptive functioning across conceptual, social, and practical domains.
C) Age of onset before 18 years.
D) Academic achievement test scores.
Answer: B
Explanation: Severity levels (Mild-Profound) are based on adaptive functioning rather than IQ alone,
reflecting real-world skills.
, EPPP Abnormal Psychology Ultimate Exam
**Question 7. Which of the following is NOT a core diagnostic criterion for Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD)?**
A) Persistent deficits in social communication.
B. Repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech.
C) Onset of symptoms before age 3.
D) Restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity.
Answer: C
Explanation: DSM-5-TR requires symptom onset in the early developmental period, not a specific age of
3; many children are diagnosed later despite early onset.
**Question 8. For a diagnosis of ADHD in adults, which of the following is required?**
A) At least six symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity present after age 12.
B) Symptoms must be present in two or more settings, including the workplace.
C) The disorder must be accompanied by a comorbid learning disorder.
D) Onset must be before age 7.
Answer: B
Explanation: DSM-5-TR requires that symptoms be evident in at least two settings for adults; the
age-of-onset criterion remains before age 12, not 7.
**Question 9. In Specific Learning Disorder, impairment in which academic domain would qualify for the
“Written Expression” specifier?**
A) Difficulty decoding words.
B) Inaccurate spelling despite adequate reading.
C) Problems with math fact retrieval.
D) Impaired oral language comprehension.
Answer: B
Explanation: Written expression difficulties include spelling, grammar, and organization of written text,
distinct from decoding (reading) or math.
**Question 10. Which characteristic distinguishes Tourette’s Disorder from Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic
Disorder?**
, EPPP Abnormal Psychology Ultimate Exam
A) Presence of both motor and vocal tics for at least 12 months.
B) Onset after age 10.
C) Tics that are only present during stress.
D) Absence of any vocal tics.
Answer: A
Explanation: Tourette’s requires multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic persisting for >1 year;
Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder involves only one type.
**Question 11. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include all EXCEPT:**
A) Auditory hallucinations.
B) Delusions of persecution.
C) Alogia.
D) Disorganized speech.
Answer: C
Explanation: Alogia (poverty of speech) is a negative symptom; the others are positive.
**Question 12. The minimum duration of symptoms required for a schizophrenia diagnosis is:**
A) 1 month.
B) 3 months.
C) 6 months, including at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms.
D) 12 months.
Answer: C
Explanation: DSM-5-TR requires ≥6 months of disturbance, with ≥1 month of active (positive) symptoms.
**Question 13. Which feature best differentiates schizoaffective disorder from major depressive
disorder with psychotic features?**
A) Presence of hallucinations.
B) Mood symptoms predominate the clinical picture.
C) At least 2 weeks of delusions or hallucinations without concurrent major mood episode.
**Question 1. Which of the following accurately reflects the DSM-5-TR transition from the multiaxial
system to a non-axial format?**
A) Retains five separate axes for diagnosis, severity, and psychosocial stressors.
B) Combines Axis I and Axis II diagnoses into a single list and eliminates Axis V.
C) Removes the separate axes and integrates psychosocial and functional information into the diagnostic
narrative.
D) Introduces a new Axis VI for cultural formulation.
Answer: C
Explanation: DSM-5-TR eliminated the multiaxial system, requiring clinicians to incorporate psychosocial
and functional data into the diagnostic summary rather than using separate axes.
**Question 2. When is a provisional diagnosis most appropriate according to DSM-5-TR guidelines?**
A) When the clinician is certain of the disorder but wants to test treatment response first.
B) When symptoms meet full criteria but the patient refuses treatment.
C) When symptoms suggest a disorder but the full diagnostic criteria cannot yet be confirmed.
D) When the disorder is rare and not listed in the manual.
Answer: C
Explanation: A provisional diagnosis is used when clinicians suspect a disorder but need additional
information (e.g., longitudinal data) to confirm full criteria.
**Question 3. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) primarily assists clinicians in assessing which of
the following?**
A) The severity of psychotic symptoms.
B) The presence of comorbid medical conditions.
C) Cultural explanations of illness and help-seeking behavior.
D) Genetic risk factors.
Answer: C
Explanation: The CFI is a structured tool that explores cultural identity, conceptualizations of distress,
and cultural factors influencing treatment.
, EPPP Abnormal Psychology Ultimate Exam
**Question 4. Diagnostic “overshadowing” most commonly occurs in which scenario?**
A) When a clinician focuses on cultural idioms of distress and misses a medical condition.
B) When a known disability leads clinicians to attribute new symptoms to that disability rather than a
separate disorder.
C) When a patient’s personality disorder masks a mood disorder.
D) When comorbid substance use is ignored because of a primary psychotic diagnosis.
Answer: B
Explanation: Overshadowing refers to attributing all presenting problems to an existing diagnosis (e.g.,
intellectual disability) and failing to recognize a new, distinct disorder.
**Question 5. In the DSM-5-TR, which statement best differentiates categorical from dimensional
approaches to diagnosis?**
A) Categorical diagnoses allow for rating severity on a 0-10 scale.
B) Dimensional models view symptoms on a continuum, whereas categorical models assign discrete
labels.
C) Categorical models require laboratory tests, while dimensional models rely on clinical interview.
D) Dimensional approaches are only used for personality disorders.
Answer: B
Explanation: Categorical models use distinct diagnostic categories; dimensional models assess severity
or frequency along a spectrum.
**Question 6. According to DSM-5-TR, intellectual disability severity is primarily determined by:**
A) Full-scale IQ score alone.
B) Adaptive functioning across conceptual, social, and practical domains.
C) Age of onset before 18 years.
D) Academic achievement test scores.
Answer: B
Explanation: Severity levels (Mild-Profound) are based on adaptive functioning rather than IQ alone,
reflecting real-world skills.
, EPPP Abnormal Psychology Ultimate Exam
**Question 7. Which of the following is NOT a core diagnostic criterion for Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD)?**
A) Persistent deficits in social communication.
B. Repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech.
C) Onset of symptoms before age 3.
D) Restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity.
Answer: C
Explanation: DSM-5-TR requires symptom onset in the early developmental period, not a specific age of
3; many children are diagnosed later despite early onset.
**Question 8. For a diagnosis of ADHD in adults, which of the following is required?**
A) At least six symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity present after age 12.
B) Symptoms must be present in two or more settings, including the workplace.
C) The disorder must be accompanied by a comorbid learning disorder.
D) Onset must be before age 7.
Answer: B
Explanation: DSM-5-TR requires that symptoms be evident in at least two settings for adults; the
age-of-onset criterion remains before age 12, not 7.
**Question 9. In Specific Learning Disorder, impairment in which academic domain would qualify for the
“Written Expression” specifier?**
A) Difficulty decoding words.
B) Inaccurate spelling despite adequate reading.
C) Problems with math fact retrieval.
D) Impaired oral language comprehension.
Answer: B
Explanation: Written expression difficulties include spelling, grammar, and organization of written text,
distinct from decoding (reading) or math.
**Question 10. Which characteristic distinguishes Tourette’s Disorder from Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic
Disorder?**
, EPPP Abnormal Psychology Ultimate Exam
A) Presence of both motor and vocal tics for at least 12 months.
B) Onset after age 10.
C) Tics that are only present during stress.
D) Absence of any vocal tics.
Answer: A
Explanation: Tourette’s requires multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic persisting for >1 year;
Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder involves only one type.
**Question 11. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include all EXCEPT:**
A) Auditory hallucinations.
B) Delusions of persecution.
C) Alogia.
D) Disorganized speech.
Answer: C
Explanation: Alogia (poverty of speech) is a negative symptom; the others are positive.
**Question 12. The minimum duration of symptoms required for a schizophrenia diagnosis is:**
A) 1 month.
B) 3 months.
C) 6 months, including at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms.
D) 12 months.
Answer: C
Explanation: DSM-5-TR requires ≥6 months of disturbance, with ≥1 month of active (positive) symptoms.
**Question 13. Which feature best differentiates schizoaffective disorder from major depressive
disorder with psychotic features?**
A) Presence of hallucinations.
B) Mood symptoms predominate the clinical picture.
C) At least 2 weeks of delusions or hallucinations without concurrent major mood episode.
