IS IT A DISORDER?
A student feels nervous before presentations, but still functions normally and doesn’t feel distressed. Using the disorder criteria, does this qualify as a mental disorder?
No, because it does not impair functioning or cause significant distress.
A clinician wants to know which symptoms belong to a specific mental disorder. What book do they look in?
The DSM.
A person refuses to fly because the fear is overwhelming, uncontrollable, and disrupts daily life. Which disorder fits?
Specific Phobia.
A person has a family history of the same disorder. Which category of cause is this?
Biological (genetics/heredity).
A researcher observes people in a store without changing anything. Which method is this?
Naturalistic observation.
A student cries after failing an exam. This behavior does not indicate a disorder because it reflects what type of DSM consideration?
Culturally-expected behavior.
Two clinicians use the DSM but come to different conclusions about the same symptoms. What diagnostic issue does this represent?
Low reliability / inconsistent interpretation.
A person has intrusive thoughts about contamination and repeatedly washes their hands to relieve anxiety. Name the obsession and compulsion.
Obsession = Fear of contamination
Compulsion = Handwashing
Someone develops anxiety after being raised in a frightening, chaotic home environment. This reflects which cause?
Psychological (trauma).
A psychologist studies one unusual patient in depth to understand their behavior. What research method is this?
A case study.
A person feels overwhelming sadness that makes them stop attending school and withdraw from friends. Which DSM criteria of a disorder is being demonstrated most clearly?
Impairment in functioning.
A patient behaves normally during an evaluation, but the clinician views their actions as symptoms simply because they were referred for psychiatric care. What did Rosenhan’s study show about this type of judgment?
Labels influence perception more than actual behavior.
A client experiences memory gaps and feels “out of control” at times. What additional detail would confirm that this is Dissociative Identity Disorder rather than another condition?
Evidence of two or more distinct identities with separate memories and behaviors.
A person’s symptoms worsen when they face discrimination and financial stress. Which factor is influencing the disorder?
Sociocultural factors.
A researcher submits a study proposal involving sensitive personal questions. Before collecting any data, what must the IRB evaluate according to your notes?
That the study is safe and ethical.
A clinician observes a behavior that is culturally expected but personally distressing to the client. Using the three criteria of disorder, which one prevents an immediate diagnosis, and which one must be evaluated next?
Prevents diagnosis: Culturally expected
Must be evaluated next: Impairment in functioning
A treatment team wants to make sure everyone understands the patient’s condition in the same way. According to your notes, how does the DSM-5-TR help with this?
It provides standardized definitions so clinicians can communicate clearly.
A patient hears voices and believes strangers are controlling their thoughts. Which type of schizophrenia symptoms are these?
Positive symptoms (hallucinations & delusions).
A disorder emerges from neurotransmitter imbalance, negative thinking, and lack of family support. Which model explains this?
Biopsychosocial model.
A researcher wants to study people’s reactions to a sensitive topic. They plan to collect identifiable information and must decide whether to include it in the dataset. According to your notes, which ethical responsibility must they carefully evaluate before moving forward?
Confidentiality: Ensuring personal information is protected unless disclosure is legally required or the participant consents.
A client’s emotional outbursts interfere with daily functioning, but they claim the behavior is normal for their family environment. According to the disorder criteria, what key factor must still be assessed?
Whether the behavior causes impairment in functioning, regardless of whether it feels normal within their family environment. Even if the client sees it as typical, the key DSM factor is whether the emotional outbursts significantly disrupt daily life.
During an evaluation, a clinician identifies unusual symptoms but realizes they do not appear under any disorder category in the DSM-5. What does this prevent them from doing?
Assigning a diagnosis, because the symptoms do not fit any DSM category.
A client has episodes of very high energy, barely sleeps for days, engages in dangerous impulsive behaviors, and becomes so impaired that hospitalization is considered. Based on your notes, what diagnosis best fits this pattern?
Bipolar I (extreme mania)
A clinician focuses only on a patient’s thought patterns and overlooks biological and sociocultural factors. What essential idea from your notes is being ignored?
The interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors cause a diagnosis.
A study involves deception because telling participants the true purpose would change their behavior. According to your notes, what must be justified to the IRB before this study can be approved?
That deception is NECESSARY, no alternative exists, and participants will be fully debriefed.