Diagnosis and Psychopathology
Midterm Exam 2023-2024 Questions and
Correct Answers
Criteria to determine presence of psychopathology? - ANSWERS-1. Psychological
dysfunction with cognitive processes and/or behavior and/or emotion
2. Distress and/or functional impairment in social and/or vocational and/or education
and/or daily life
3. Culturally Unexpected
When was the "birth date" of psychology? - ANSWERS-1886
Who was Wilhelm Wundt - ANSWERS-German, First psychological lab, one of the first
to identify the limits of short-term memory
Who was thought of as the first Clinical Psychologist? - ANSWERS-Lightner Witmer
Who developed the first widely used intelligence test - ANSWERS-Binet and Simon
What initiated the development of the first DSM? - ANSWERS-Assessment was
inconsistent. Agreement for diagnosis was at approximately 20%.
When did Beck publish his study on diagnostic agreement? What did he find? -
ANSWERS-1962 - After the first DSM was published, level of agreement increased to
32%-42%.
When was psychology recognized for treatment with psychotherapy? - ANSWERS-
During and after WWII
DSM III - ANSWERS-established in 1980, heavy dose of empiricism in DSM
concrete, discrete populations, use of field trials to check the check lists.
DSM III-R - ANSWERS-1987, new symptom checklists, more etiology
DSM IV - ANSWERS-1994
What are some problems with the DSM-5? - ANSWERS-1. The shift from multiracial
diagnosis (Axis I and Axis II),
2. Psychological disorder may be less categorical and more dimensional, people below
the threshold are suffering maybe just as much as people above the threshold,
3.Generalizability-field trials done mainly in the USA which may or may not apply to
various cultures, 4. Controversy with proposed diagnostic categories for the future 5.
Rampant comorbidity- hard to do research on an individual diagnostic criteria-adds to
,unreliability, 6. symptom clusters seem to overlap 7. having a DSM in the first place
creates a code for stigmatizing people
Defining Features of Psychological Disorders - ANSWERS-1. discontrol-lack of self-
control, inhibition (discontrol is a key element of substance use disorders, ADHD,
personality disorders 2. impairment-- What is clinically significant in regards to
impairment? ex: Autism disorder used to be diagnosed only if severe, non-verbal.
What's viewed as significant has changed over the years.
Note: unclear boundaries are often prevalent in diagnosis (ex: same treatment used to
address depressive and anxiety disorders)
Who initiated the categorical model, recognizing its gray area? - ANSWERS-Kraeplin,
he began insisting clear distinctions between normality and psychopathology.
Theories of dual diagnosis - ANSWERS-Primary/Secondary Theory-Psychological
disorder first, then substance use disorders (SUD). Substance use is attempt at self-
medication, SUD related to neurocoginitive deficits related to disorders (ex:
schizophrenia symptoms may put someone at a higher risk for SUD). OR SUD is
primary and psychological condition is secondary (ex: SUD primary, MDD secondary).
cycle of need would drive to MDD-feeling hopeless
Bidirectional Causality Model- SU influences psych disorder at the same time psych
disorder is influencing SU. cyclic in nature ex: anxiety disorders and dual diagnosis
Common Factors Model- ASP disorder common factor to explain disorder and SUD, not
a lot of good studies with conclusive factors.
DSM-IV-TR - ANSWERS-2000
Strengths of categorical system - ANSWERS-Simplicity
Credibility
What was the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA)? - ANSWERS-Largest and most
comprehensive study of mental disorders ever completed in the United States. The
study collected data on the prevalence and incidence of mental disorders in the United
States.
Characteristics of Dual Diagnosis? - ANSWERS-Treatment compliance is terrible.
Higher rates of homelessness, legal trouble, treatable illnesses.
They consume the most health care dollars (despite the fact that they have trouble with
treatment compliance).
DSM 5 - ANSWERS-2013
, What are some assumptions about the DSM? - ANSWERS-1. It identifies/classifies
things that are readily distinguishable 2. the accurate diagnosis of disorder is actually
important -Dx facilitates choice of a specific treatment that is effective for that disorder
3. substantiates a medical model for psychological disorders which leads to assumption
that medical intervention should be prioritized.
What is it that makes a discrete illness? - ANSWERS-1. There is a reliably observes set
of symptomatic criteria 2. criteria can be observed by clinicians 3. Dx are predictable in
terms of their course
What is important to examine in addition to psychological dysfunction for identifying
cases? - ANSWERS-life impairment, perceived distress, coping styles-adaptive,
maladaptive, readiness for treatment--not ready, ready, ambivalent, social support-no,
little, moderate, good
What are the benefits of discrete, effective treatments? - ANSWERS-1. significantly
better than no treatment or placebo 2. specific treatments rather than general
treatments for all people with psych disorders
What are the five advantages of using the SCID - ANSWERS-1. increases coverage of
diagnoses covered 2. enhances ability to accurately determine whether any Dx is
present 3. reduces variability b/t clinicians, therefore leads to increased reliability and
diagnosis 4. increase validity 5. very good for trainees-takes guess work out of creating
questions
Snowballing - ANSWERS-nature of worry that's practically unstoppable once it starts
For example: Anxiety rolls over people with GAD.
What is the "All evidence is equally good" fallacy? - ANSWERS-don't treat anecdotal
evidence and empirical evidence the same.
What is the "ignorance of statistical logic fallacy?" - ANSWERS-inferring personality trait
from a single of limited sample of behavior. ex: person responding in anger to specific
issue has anger management issues--one instance(or 2 or 3) of behavior is not a
pattern
DSM I - ANSWERS-1952
DSM II - ANSWERS-1968
DSM-IV - ANSWERS-1994
The Barnum Effect - ANSWERS-common behaviors/experiences are deemed important
in diagnostic process. Ex: bereavement and depression. Also of the behaviors shown by
those grieving a loss may now be deemed as depression. May be including more ppl in
the depressed Dx than we need to.
Midterm Exam 2023-2024 Questions and
Correct Answers
Criteria to determine presence of psychopathology? - ANSWERS-1. Psychological
dysfunction with cognitive processes and/or behavior and/or emotion
2. Distress and/or functional impairment in social and/or vocational and/or education
and/or daily life
3. Culturally Unexpected
When was the "birth date" of psychology? - ANSWERS-1886
Who was Wilhelm Wundt - ANSWERS-German, First psychological lab, one of the first
to identify the limits of short-term memory
Who was thought of as the first Clinical Psychologist? - ANSWERS-Lightner Witmer
Who developed the first widely used intelligence test - ANSWERS-Binet and Simon
What initiated the development of the first DSM? - ANSWERS-Assessment was
inconsistent. Agreement for diagnosis was at approximately 20%.
When did Beck publish his study on diagnostic agreement? What did he find? -
ANSWERS-1962 - After the first DSM was published, level of agreement increased to
32%-42%.
When was psychology recognized for treatment with psychotherapy? - ANSWERS-
During and after WWII
DSM III - ANSWERS-established in 1980, heavy dose of empiricism in DSM
concrete, discrete populations, use of field trials to check the check lists.
DSM III-R - ANSWERS-1987, new symptom checklists, more etiology
DSM IV - ANSWERS-1994
What are some problems with the DSM-5? - ANSWERS-1. The shift from multiracial
diagnosis (Axis I and Axis II),
2. Psychological disorder may be less categorical and more dimensional, people below
the threshold are suffering maybe just as much as people above the threshold,
3.Generalizability-field trials done mainly in the USA which may or may not apply to
various cultures, 4. Controversy with proposed diagnostic categories for the future 5.
Rampant comorbidity- hard to do research on an individual diagnostic criteria-adds to
,unreliability, 6. symptom clusters seem to overlap 7. having a DSM in the first place
creates a code for stigmatizing people
Defining Features of Psychological Disorders - ANSWERS-1. discontrol-lack of self-
control, inhibition (discontrol is a key element of substance use disorders, ADHD,
personality disorders 2. impairment-- What is clinically significant in regards to
impairment? ex: Autism disorder used to be diagnosed only if severe, non-verbal.
What's viewed as significant has changed over the years.
Note: unclear boundaries are often prevalent in diagnosis (ex: same treatment used to
address depressive and anxiety disorders)
Who initiated the categorical model, recognizing its gray area? - ANSWERS-Kraeplin,
he began insisting clear distinctions between normality and psychopathology.
Theories of dual diagnosis - ANSWERS-Primary/Secondary Theory-Psychological
disorder first, then substance use disorders (SUD). Substance use is attempt at self-
medication, SUD related to neurocoginitive deficits related to disorders (ex:
schizophrenia symptoms may put someone at a higher risk for SUD). OR SUD is
primary and psychological condition is secondary (ex: SUD primary, MDD secondary).
cycle of need would drive to MDD-feeling hopeless
Bidirectional Causality Model- SU influences psych disorder at the same time psych
disorder is influencing SU. cyclic in nature ex: anxiety disorders and dual diagnosis
Common Factors Model- ASP disorder common factor to explain disorder and SUD, not
a lot of good studies with conclusive factors.
DSM-IV-TR - ANSWERS-2000
Strengths of categorical system - ANSWERS-Simplicity
Credibility
What was the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA)? - ANSWERS-Largest and most
comprehensive study of mental disorders ever completed in the United States. The
study collected data on the prevalence and incidence of mental disorders in the United
States.
Characteristics of Dual Diagnosis? - ANSWERS-Treatment compliance is terrible.
Higher rates of homelessness, legal trouble, treatable illnesses.
They consume the most health care dollars (despite the fact that they have trouble with
treatment compliance).
DSM 5 - ANSWERS-2013
, What are some assumptions about the DSM? - ANSWERS-1. It identifies/classifies
things that are readily distinguishable 2. the accurate diagnosis of disorder is actually
important -Dx facilitates choice of a specific treatment that is effective for that disorder
3. substantiates a medical model for psychological disorders which leads to assumption
that medical intervention should be prioritized.
What is it that makes a discrete illness? - ANSWERS-1. There is a reliably observes set
of symptomatic criteria 2. criteria can be observed by clinicians 3. Dx are predictable in
terms of their course
What is important to examine in addition to psychological dysfunction for identifying
cases? - ANSWERS-life impairment, perceived distress, coping styles-adaptive,
maladaptive, readiness for treatment--not ready, ready, ambivalent, social support-no,
little, moderate, good
What are the benefits of discrete, effective treatments? - ANSWERS-1. significantly
better than no treatment or placebo 2. specific treatments rather than general
treatments for all people with psych disorders
What are the five advantages of using the SCID - ANSWERS-1. increases coverage of
diagnoses covered 2. enhances ability to accurately determine whether any Dx is
present 3. reduces variability b/t clinicians, therefore leads to increased reliability and
diagnosis 4. increase validity 5. very good for trainees-takes guess work out of creating
questions
Snowballing - ANSWERS-nature of worry that's practically unstoppable once it starts
For example: Anxiety rolls over people with GAD.
What is the "All evidence is equally good" fallacy? - ANSWERS-don't treat anecdotal
evidence and empirical evidence the same.
What is the "ignorance of statistical logic fallacy?" - ANSWERS-inferring personality trait
from a single of limited sample of behavior. ex: person responding in anger to specific
issue has anger management issues--one instance(or 2 or 3) of behavior is not a
pattern
DSM I - ANSWERS-1952
DSM II - ANSWERS-1968
DSM-IV - ANSWERS-1994
The Barnum Effect - ANSWERS-common behaviors/experiences are deemed important
in diagnostic process. Ex: bereavement and depression. Also of the behaviors shown by
those grieving a loss may now be deemed as depression. May be including more ppl in
the depressed Dx than we need to.
