DSM 5 ASWB EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Mastering Psychological Disorders: A Concise Study
Guide
Welcome to your go-to guide for understanding psychological disorders! This
guide provides clear and concise definitions to help you grasp key concepts
quickly and efficiently. Let's dive in
I. Neurodevelopmental Disorders
These conditions typically manifest in early childhood and are characterized by
developmental deficits in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning.
1. What broad category of disorders typically appears in early childhood and
involves developmental deficits? Answer: Neurodevelopmental Disorders
2. List the main categories/types of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Answer:
Intellectual Disabilities, Communication Disorders, Autism Spectrum
Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Specific
Learning Disorder, and Motor Disorders.
3. Define Intellectual Disabilities. Include the levels of severity. Answer:
Mild, moderate, severe, or profound deficits in reasoning, problem-solving,
planning, abstract thinking, judgment, academic learning, and learning from
experience, with onset during the developmental period.
,4. What condition is applied to individuals under age 5 who show delays in
several areas of intellectual functioning and cannot be formally assessed?
Answer: Global Developmental Delay
5. Name the categories/types of Communication Disorders. Answer: Language
Disorder, Speech Sound Disorder, Social (Pragmatic) Communication
Disorder, Childhood Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering).
6. What is the overarching characteristic of Communication Disorders?
Answer: Deficits in the development and use of language, speech, and
social communication.
7. Describe Childhood Onset Fluency Disorder. Answer: Difficulties in the
normal fluency and motor production of speech.
8. What are the primary difficulties in Social (Pragmatic) Communication
Disorder? Answer: Difficulties with communication in social areas such as
greetings and sharing information.
9. How has Autism Spectrum Disorder evolved from previous classifications?
What are its core characteristics? Answer: Consolidation of autistic
disorder, Asperger's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder.
Involves persistent impairments in social communication and social
interaction, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or
activities.
10.What are the key indicators of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)? Answer: A persistent pattern of inattention, disorganization,
and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is inconsistent with the individual's
developmental level and affects functioning.
11.How is Specific Learning Disorder typically detected and what areas can it
impact? Answer: Usually detected by psychological testing. Can include
, impairments in reading, writing, and/or mathematics, leading to performance
below average or requiring extraordinary effort.
12.List the categories of Motor Disorders. Answer: Developmental
Coordination Disorder, Stereotypic Movement Disorder, and Tic Disorders.
13.Define Developmental Coordination Disorder. Answer: Deficits in motor
coordination not due to another primary diagnosis like Cerebral Palsy.
14.What characterizes Stereotypic Movement Disorder? Answer: Repetitive,
seemingly driven, and apparently purposeless motor behavior.
15.What are Tic Disorders and how are they generally affected by stress?
Answer: Sudden, rapid, recurrent nonrhythmic motor movements and/or
vocalizations. Tics tend to increase under stress but can often be suppressed.
16.What is the defining feature of Tourette's Disorder in terms of tics and
duration? Answer: Both motor and vocal tics that have persisted for at least
one year.
17.How does Persistent (Chronic) Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder differ from
Tourette's Disorder? Answer: Involves either motor or vocal tics, but not
both, that have persisted for at least one year.
18.What is the time frame for Provisional Tic Disorder? Answer: Motor and/or
vocal tics that have been present for less than one year.
II. Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
These disorders involve abnormalities in one or more of five domains: delusions,
hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, grossly disorganized or abnormal
motor behavior (including catatonia), and negative symptoms.
Mastering Psychological Disorders: A Concise Study
Guide
Welcome to your go-to guide for understanding psychological disorders! This
guide provides clear and concise definitions to help you grasp key concepts
quickly and efficiently. Let's dive in
I. Neurodevelopmental Disorders
These conditions typically manifest in early childhood and are characterized by
developmental deficits in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning.
1. What broad category of disorders typically appears in early childhood and
involves developmental deficits? Answer: Neurodevelopmental Disorders
2. List the main categories/types of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Answer:
Intellectual Disabilities, Communication Disorders, Autism Spectrum
Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Specific
Learning Disorder, and Motor Disorders.
3. Define Intellectual Disabilities. Include the levels of severity. Answer:
Mild, moderate, severe, or profound deficits in reasoning, problem-solving,
planning, abstract thinking, judgment, academic learning, and learning from
experience, with onset during the developmental period.
,4. What condition is applied to individuals under age 5 who show delays in
several areas of intellectual functioning and cannot be formally assessed?
Answer: Global Developmental Delay
5. Name the categories/types of Communication Disorders. Answer: Language
Disorder, Speech Sound Disorder, Social (Pragmatic) Communication
Disorder, Childhood Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering).
6. What is the overarching characteristic of Communication Disorders?
Answer: Deficits in the development and use of language, speech, and
social communication.
7. Describe Childhood Onset Fluency Disorder. Answer: Difficulties in the
normal fluency and motor production of speech.
8. What are the primary difficulties in Social (Pragmatic) Communication
Disorder? Answer: Difficulties with communication in social areas such as
greetings and sharing information.
9. How has Autism Spectrum Disorder evolved from previous classifications?
What are its core characteristics? Answer: Consolidation of autistic
disorder, Asperger's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder.
Involves persistent impairments in social communication and social
interaction, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or
activities.
10.What are the key indicators of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)? Answer: A persistent pattern of inattention, disorganization,
and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is inconsistent with the individual's
developmental level and affects functioning.
11.How is Specific Learning Disorder typically detected and what areas can it
impact? Answer: Usually detected by psychological testing. Can include
, impairments in reading, writing, and/or mathematics, leading to performance
below average or requiring extraordinary effort.
12.List the categories of Motor Disorders. Answer: Developmental
Coordination Disorder, Stereotypic Movement Disorder, and Tic Disorders.
13.Define Developmental Coordination Disorder. Answer: Deficits in motor
coordination not due to another primary diagnosis like Cerebral Palsy.
14.What characterizes Stereotypic Movement Disorder? Answer: Repetitive,
seemingly driven, and apparently purposeless motor behavior.
15.What are Tic Disorders and how are they generally affected by stress?
Answer: Sudden, rapid, recurrent nonrhythmic motor movements and/or
vocalizations. Tics tend to increase under stress but can often be suppressed.
16.What is the defining feature of Tourette's Disorder in terms of tics and
duration? Answer: Both motor and vocal tics that have persisted for at least
one year.
17.How does Persistent (Chronic) Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder differ from
Tourette's Disorder? Answer: Involves either motor or vocal tics, but not
both, that have persisted for at least one year.
18.What is the time frame for Provisional Tic Disorder? Answer: Motor and/or
vocal tics that have been present for less than one year.
II. Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
These disorders involve abnormalities in one or more of five domains: delusions,
hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, grossly disorganized or abnormal
motor behavior (including catatonia), and negative symptoms.
