PSYC 350 EXAM PREP QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
| American Public University
1. Which concept is best defined as the movement away from long-term psychiatric hospitalization toward
treatment and support in community settings?
A. clinical significance
B. deinstitutionalization
C. cultural context
D. dimensional assessment
Correct Answer: B. deinstitutionalization
Explanation: Deinstitutionalization refers to the movement away from long-term psychiatric hospitalization
toward treatment and support in community settings. The alternatives name different constructs within the same
clinical area.
2. Which underlying principle or clinical feature best accounts for the key finding in this case? A person has
odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences, eccentric speech, and marked social anxiety related to
suspiciousness.
A. obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
B. antisocial personality disorder
C. histrionic personality disorder
D. schizotypal personality disorder
Correct Answer: D. schizotypal personality disorder
Explanation: The key feature points to schizotypal personality disorder, meaning a pervasive pattern of social and
interpersonal deficits accompanied by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentric behavior. This identifies the
primary mechanism or syndrome rather than a less specific accompanying feature.
3. Which underlying principle or clinical feature best accounts for the key finding in this case? A treatment
plan combines classroom supports, parent behavior training, organizational coaching, and medication after
individualized assessment.
A. language disorder
B. multimodal intervention for ADHD
C. intellectual disability
D. stereotypic movement disorder
Correct Answer: B. multimodal intervention for ADHD
Explanation: The key feature points to multimodal intervention for ADHD, meaning use of coordinated
behavioral, educational, family, and when appropriate medication strategies to address impairment. This identifies
the primary mechanism or syndrome rather than a less specific accompanying feature.
,4. When reviewing the following case, which conclusion is the most defensible based on the information
provided? A therapist asks a client who feels unreal to name visible objects, notice feet on the floor, and
describe current sounds and textures.
A. The pattern most strongly supports derealization.
B. The pattern most strongly supports state-dependent memory.
C. The pattern most strongly supports depersonalization.
D. The pattern most strongly supports grounding technique.
Correct Answer: D. The pattern most strongly supports grounding technique.
Explanation: Grounding technique is the best conclusion because the presentation matches a strategy that directs
attention to immediate sensory information and the present environment to reduce dissociative detachment. A full
real-world assessment would still evaluate medical, substance-related, developmental, and cultural alternatives
where relevant.
5. Which concept is best defined as planned or goal-directed aggression used instrumentally to obtain a
desired outcome? Focus on the feature that most clearly distinguishes the alternatives.
A. kleptomania
B. oppositional defiant disorder
C. pyromania
D. proactive aggression
Correct Answer: D. proactive aggression
Explanation: Proactive aggression refers to planned or goal-directed aggression used instrumentally to obtain a
desired outcome. The alternatives name different constructs within the same clinical area.
6. When reviewing the following case, which conclusion is the most defensible based on the information
provided? After an extreme stressor, a person develops hallucinations and disorganized behavior for ten days
and then rapidly returns to baseline.
A. The pattern most strongly supports delusional disorder.
B. The pattern most strongly supports brief psychotic disorder.
C. The pattern most strongly supports schizophrenia.
D. The pattern most strongly supports schizophreniform disorder.
Correct Answer: B. The pattern most strongly supports brief psychotic disorder.
Explanation: Brief psychotic disorder is the best conclusion because the presentation matches an abrupt psychotic
episode lasting at least one day but less than one month followed by return toward previous functioning. A full
real-world assessment would still evaluate medical, substance-related, developmental, and cultural alternatives
where relevant.
,7. A clinician is differentiating several related possibilities. Which interpretation most precisely classifies the
following case? A child speaks freely at home but repeatedly does not speak at school even though language
ability is adequate.
A. exposure therapy - a treatment approach involving systematic contact with feared cues while reducing
avoidance so new learning can occur
B. selective mutism - consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite speaking in other settings
C. social anxiety disorder - persistent fear of social or performance situations involving possible scrutiny or
negative evaluation
D. specific phobia - marked and persistent fear focused on a particular object or situation that is avoided or
endured with intense anxiety
Correct Answer: B. selective mutism - consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite speaking
in other settings
Explanation: The case is best classified as selective mutism because its central feature is consistent failure to
speak in specific social situations despite speaking in other settings. The other options describe distinct clinical
patterns.
8. Which diagnosis or concept best fits this presentation? Over time, a person requires substantially more
alcohol than before to feel the same effects.
A. tolerance
B. substance use disorder
C. naloxone
D. harm reduction
Correct Answer: A. tolerance
Explanation: The defining pattern is most consistent with tolerance: needing more of a substance to achieve a
similar effect or experiencing diminished effect with the same amount. The distractors share some surface features
but do not match the central pattern.
9. Which concept is best defined as a recurrent intrusive thought, urge, or image experienced as unwanted
and distressing?
A. compulsion
B. poor insight in OCD
C. obsession
D. hoarding disorder
Correct Answer: C. obsession
Explanation: Obsession refers to a recurrent intrusive thought, urge, or image experienced as unwanted and
distressing. The alternatives name different constructs within the same clinical area.
, 10. Which diagnosis or concept best fits this presentation? For months, a person lies awake for hours despite
sufficient time for sleep and experiences daytime concentration problems and irritability. Focus on the
feature that most clearly distinguishes the alternatives.
A. REM sleep behavior disorder
B. insomnia disorder
C. cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
D. circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder
Correct Answer: B. insomnia disorder
Explanation: The defining pattern is most consistent with insomnia disorder: persistent difficulty initiating or
maintaining sleep or waking too early despite adequate opportunity, with daytime impairment. The distractors
share some surface features but do not match the central pattern.
11. Which diagnosis or concept best fits this presentation? A service begins with a lower-intensity
evidence-based intervention for a mild presentation and increases treatment intensity if symptoms persist or
risk rises.
A. confidentiality
B. stepped care
C. dialectical behavior therapy
D. cognitive behavioral therapy
Correct Answer: B. stepped care
Explanation: The defining pattern is most consistent with stepped care: organizing treatment so intervention
intensity is matched to need and adjusted according to response. The distractors share some surface features but do
not match the central pattern.
12. When reviewing the following case, which conclusion is the most defensible based on the information
provided? Treatment focuses on regular eating, reducing rigid dietary rules, addressing shape-weight
overvaluation, and preventing relapse.
A. The pattern most strongly supports enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy.
B. The pattern most strongly supports pica.
C. The pattern most strongly supports avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.
D. The pattern most strongly supports refeeding syndrome risk.
Correct Answer: A. The pattern most strongly supports enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy.
Explanation: Enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy is the best conclusion because the presentation matches a
structured CBT approach that targets maintaining mechanisms of eating disorders such as overvaluation of shape
and weight. A full real-world assessment would still evaluate medical, substance-related, developmental, and
cultural alternatives where relevant.
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
| American Public University
1. Which concept is best defined as the movement away from long-term psychiatric hospitalization toward
treatment and support in community settings?
A. clinical significance
B. deinstitutionalization
C. cultural context
D. dimensional assessment
Correct Answer: B. deinstitutionalization
Explanation: Deinstitutionalization refers to the movement away from long-term psychiatric hospitalization
toward treatment and support in community settings. The alternatives name different constructs within the same
clinical area.
2. Which underlying principle or clinical feature best accounts for the key finding in this case? A person has
odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences, eccentric speech, and marked social anxiety related to
suspiciousness.
A. obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
B. antisocial personality disorder
C. histrionic personality disorder
D. schizotypal personality disorder
Correct Answer: D. schizotypal personality disorder
Explanation: The key feature points to schizotypal personality disorder, meaning a pervasive pattern of social and
interpersonal deficits accompanied by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentric behavior. This identifies the
primary mechanism or syndrome rather than a less specific accompanying feature.
3. Which underlying principle or clinical feature best accounts for the key finding in this case? A treatment
plan combines classroom supports, parent behavior training, organizational coaching, and medication after
individualized assessment.
A. language disorder
B. multimodal intervention for ADHD
C. intellectual disability
D. stereotypic movement disorder
Correct Answer: B. multimodal intervention for ADHD
Explanation: The key feature points to multimodal intervention for ADHD, meaning use of coordinated
behavioral, educational, family, and when appropriate medication strategies to address impairment. This identifies
the primary mechanism or syndrome rather than a less specific accompanying feature.
,4. When reviewing the following case, which conclusion is the most defensible based on the information
provided? A therapist asks a client who feels unreal to name visible objects, notice feet on the floor, and
describe current sounds and textures.
A. The pattern most strongly supports derealization.
B. The pattern most strongly supports state-dependent memory.
C. The pattern most strongly supports depersonalization.
D. The pattern most strongly supports grounding technique.
Correct Answer: D. The pattern most strongly supports grounding technique.
Explanation: Grounding technique is the best conclusion because the presentation matches a strategy that directs
attention to immediate sensory information and the present environment to reduce dissociative detachment. A full
real-world assessment would still evaluate medical, substance-related, developmental, and cultural alternatives
where relevant.
5. Which concept is best defined as planned or goal-directed aggression used instrumentally to obtain a
desired outcome? Focus on the feature that most clearly distinguishes the alternatives.
A. kleptomania
B. oppositional defiant disorder
C. pyromania
D. proactive aggression
Correct Answer: D. proactive aggression
Explanation: Proactive aggression refers to planned or goal-directed aggression used instrumentally to obtain a
desired outcome. The alternatives name different constructs within the same clinical area.
6. When reviewing the following case, which conclusion is the most defensible based on the information
provided? After an extreme stressor, a person develops hallucinations and disorganized behavior for ten days
and then rapidly returns to baseline.
A. The pattern most strongly supports delusional disorder.
B. The pattern most strongly supports brief psychotic disorder.
C. The pattern most strongly supports schizophrenia.
D. The pattern most strongly supports schizophreniform disorder.
Correct Answer: B. The pattern most strongly supports brief psychotic disorder.
Explanation: Brief psychotic disorder is the best conclusion because the presentation matches an abrupt psychotic
episode lasting at least one day but less than one month followed by return toward previous functioning. A full
real-world assessment would still evaluate medical, substance-related, developmental, and cultural alternatives
where relevant.
,7. A clinician is differentiating several related possibilities. Which interpretation most precisely classifies the
following case? A child speaks freely at home but repeatedly does not speak at school even though language
ability is adequate.
A. exposure therapy - a treatment approach involving systematic contact with feared cues while reducing
avoidance so new learning can occur
B. selective mutism - consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite speaking in other settings
C. social anxiety disorder - persistent fear of social or performance situations involving possible scrutiny or
negative evaluation
D. specific phobia - marked and persistent fear focused on a particular object or situation that is avoided or
endured with intense anxiety
Correct Answer: B. selective mutism - consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite speaking
in other settings
Explanation: The case is best classified as selective mutism because its central feature is consistent failure to
speak in specific social situations despite speaking in other settings. The other options describe distinct clinical
patterns.
8. Which diagnosis or concept best fits this presentation? Over time, a person requires substantially more
alcohol than before to feel the same effects.
A. tolerance
B. substance use disorder
C. naloxone
D. harm reduction
Correct Answer: A. tolerance
Explanation: The defining pattern is most consistent with tolerance: needing more of a substance to achieve a
similar effect or experiencing diminished effect with the same amount. The distractors share some surface features
but do not match the central pattern.
9. Which concept is best defined as a recurrent intrusive thought, urge, or image experienced as unwanted
and distressing?
A. compulsion
B. poor insight in OCD
C. obsession
D. hoarding disorder
Correct Answer: C. obsession
Explanation: Obsession refers to a recurrent intrusive thought, urge, or image experienced as unwanted and
distressing. The alternatives name different constructs within the same clinical area.
, 10. Which diagnosis or concept best fits this presentation? For months, a person lies awake for hours despite
sufficient time for sleep and experiences daytime concentration problems and irritability. Focus on the
feature that most clearly distinguishes the alternatives.
A. REM sleep behavior disorder
B. insomnia disorder
C. cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
D. circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder
Correct Answer: B. insomnia disorder
Explanation: The defining pattern is most consistent with insomnia disorder: persistent difficulty initiating or
maintaining sleep or waking too early despite adequate opportunity, with daytime impairment. The distractors
share some surface features but do not match the central pattern.
11. Which diagnosis or concept best fits this presentation? A service begins with a lower-intensity
evidence-based intervention for a mild presentation and increases treatment intensity if symptoms persist or
risk rises.
A. confidentiality
B. stepped care
C. dialectical behavior therapy
D. cognitive behavioral therapy
Correct Answer: B. stepped care
Explanation: The defining pattern is most consistent with stepped care: organizing treatment so intervention
intensity is matched to need and adjusted according to response. The distractors share some surface features but do
not match the central pattern.
12. When reviewing the following case, which conclusion is the most defensible based on the information
provided? Treatment focuses on regular eating, reducing rigid dietary rules, addressing shape-weight
overvaluation, and preventing relapse.
A. The pattern most strongly supports enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy.
B. The pattern most strongly supports pica.
C. The pattern most strongly supports avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.
D. The pattern most strongly supports refeeding syndrome risk.
Correct Answer: A. The pattern most strongly supports enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy.
Explanation: Enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy is the best conclusion because the presentation matches a
structured CBT approach that targets maintaining mechanisms of eating disorders such as overvaluation of shape
and weight. A full real-world assessment would still evaluate medical, substance-related, developmental, and
cultural alternatives where relevant.
