MULTIPLE CHOICE

1 : Which of the following does NOT characterize the mood state known as anxiety?
A : Increased heart rate
B : Physical tension
C : Euphoric mood
D : Subjective sense of unease

Correct Answer : C

2 : The alarm reaction to danger that is triggered by anxiety primarily involves the ________
nervous system.
A : autonomic
B : parasympathetic
C : peripheral
D : somatic

Correct Answer : A

3 : According to the textbook, the experience of fear

A : like anxiety, can be good for us.
B : is an irrational response.
C : is a neurotic response.
D : is a culture-specific phenomenon.

Correct Answer : A

4 : Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding anxiety?

A : Anxiety is an evolutionary flaw.
B : Anxiety used to have a function in our ancestors time, but is no longer relevant to modern
humans
C : Anxiety is good for us because it enhances performance
D : Anxiety is sometimes good for us; it enhances performance to an extent, but too much of it
can hinder performance too.

Correct Answer : D

5 : Javier was attending his fifth baseball game at Wiggly Field, where he had previously had a
panic attack. He did not know if he would have a panic attack today, but shortly after entering
the stadium, he did. This type of panic attack is
A : situationally predisposed.
B : situationally bound.
C : cued.
D : uncued.

Correct Answer : A

6 : Activating a massive response from the automatic nervous system which along with our
subjective sense of terror, motivates us to escape or attack is known as ______.
A : fear
B : flight
C : panic

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D : anxiety

Correct Answer : B

7 : DSM criteria of panic attacks include all of the following symptoms EXCEPT
A : sweating.
B : a fear of losing control or going crazy.
C : trembling or shaking.
D : migraine headaches.

Correct Answer : D

8 : Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the heredity of anxiety?

A : An inherited tendency can make us tense or uptight.
B : A single gene makes us vulnerable to anxiety.
C : Panic disorder does not run in families.
D : Environmental stress is the direct cause of panic disorder.

Correct Answer : A

9 : Which of the following neurotransmitter systems is associated not only with anxiety, but also
with depression?
A : GABA-benzodiazepine
B : Noradrenergic
C : Serotonergic
D : Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)

Correct Answer : D

10 : The prevalence rates for panic disorder show some degree of cross cultural variability.
Which countries shows the lowest prevalence rates?
A : Asian and African
B : European
C : United States America
D : Australia

Correct Answer : A

11 : According to Jeffrey Gray, a British neuropsychologist, the behavioral inhibition system

(BIS) is activated by danger signals ________, resulting in the experience of anxiety.
A : ascending from the brain stem
B : descending from the cortex
C : arising from both the brain stem and the cortex
D : within the amygdala only

Correct Answer : C

12 : According to recent research (Johnson et al., 2000), an increased risk of developing anxiety
disorders was found among teenagers who
A : smoked marijuana.
B : smoked cigarettes.
C : drank alcohol.
D : used steroids.
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Correct Answer : B

13 : Recent research by Britton et al, (2013) and others indicates that vulnerability to anxiety
disorders is related to
A : an over responsive limbic system.
B : the number of unexpected occurrences in ones life.
C : the number of siblings in ones family.
D : genetic or biological factors only.

Correct Answer : A

14 : Which of the following terms is most associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
A : Fear
B : Panic
C : Worry
D : Emotion

Correct Answer : C

15 : According to your text, in what way can worry be useful?

A : It helps us forget the past by thinking of the future.
B : It helps us feel ready to take on a difficult task.
C : It helps us plan for the future.
D : All of these are correct

Correct Answer : C

16 : People with GAD

A : have a median age of onset based of 25 (based on interviews).
B : have episodes that come and go in a cyclic pattern.
C : have a 58 percent chance of recovery after having the disorder for 12 years.
D : Are better prepared for daily activities and long term achievement.

Correct Answer : C

17 : All of the following are symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) EXCEPT
A : muscle tension.
B : being easily fatigued.
C : sleep disturbance.
D : increased abilities to concentrate.

Correct Answer : D

18 : Rodin and Langer (1977) demonstrated that older adults may be particularly susceptible to
anxiety about ____________ or other life situations that begin to diminish whatever control they
retain over events in their lives.
A : loss of income.
B : the wellbeing of their children.
C : failing health.
D : limited availability of transportation.

Correct Answer : C
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19 : According to your text, which physiological measure consistently distinguishes individuals
with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) from non-anxious normal subjects?
A : Increased muscle tension
B : Increased heart rate
C : Decreased EEG beta activity
D : Decreased skin conductance levels

Correct Answer : A

20 : For generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the typical pharmacological treatment of choice
has been the category of drugs known as
A : benzodiazepines.
B : SSRIs.
C : tricyclics.
D : MAO inhibitors.

Correct Answer : A

21 : . _______ is when a change in the stages of sleep to slow wave sleep produces a physical
sensation of letting go that frightens an individual.
A : Cultural Influences
B : Flight
C : Nocturnal panic
D : Anxiety

Correct Answer : C

22 : Agoraphobic avoidance behavior appears to be determined by

A : how recently the last panic attack occurred.
B : the extent to which the person expects another panic attack to occur.
C : the number of panic attacks the person has had in the past.
D : how severe the panic attacks have been.

Correct Answer : B

23 : Panic disorder is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT?

A : severe, unexpected rushes of fear or discomfort
B : close relationship to agoraphobia
C : belief that one is going crazy or dying when suffering a panic attack
D : Preoccupation with minor daily events.

Correct Answer : D

24 : Nocturnal panic attacks generally occur when an individual is

A : in REM sleep.
B : having a nightmare.
C : deeply asleep.
D : dreaming.

Correct Answer : C

25 : A vulnerability to stress, which is a tendency to be generally ___________overactive to the

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events of daily life.
A : sociologically
B : physiologically
C : hypersexually
D : neurobiologically

Correct Answer : D

26 : Agoraphobia, which has come to mean fear of going out, derives from the Greek word
agora, meaning
A : marketplace.
B : home.
C : travel.
D : safe.

Correct Answer : A

27 : Jaey Dee Jaey, a rapper and street dancer, had recently been having panic attacks while
giving performances. He was sitting in his room feeling very depressed. A friend texted him and
suggested that they meet outside and spend some time working out to cheer up. As they they
started becoming physically active, Jaey Dee Jaey had another panic attack. What is the best
explanation for this occurrence?
A : He was angry with the friend for insisting that he go out.
B : The sudden change in cognitive arousal and mood triggered the panic attack.
C : The physical sensations experienced during the workout had become an internal cue for
panic to occur.
D : The breakdancing was an unconditioned stimulus that resulted in a panic attack.

Correct Answer : C

28 : Azaylee suffers from panic disorder and becomes anxious about climbing stairs, exercising,
or being in hot rooms because these activities produce sensations similar to those
accompanying a panic attack. In psychological terms, the exercise and hot rooms contribute to
Azaylee becoming anxious because they have become
A : conditioned stimuli.
B : unconditioned stimuli.
C : conditioned responses.
D : unconditioned responses.

Correct Answer : A

29 : In treating panic disorder, all of the following types of medications are used EXCEPT
A : tricyclic antidepressants.
B : SSRIs.
C : Steroids.
D : benzodiazepines.

Correct Answer : C

30 : Name the professor whose cognitive theories explicate in detail, the cognitive processes
that may be ongoing in panic disorder.
A : David Clark
B : Frederick Banting
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C : Paul Ehrlich
D : Karl Landsteine

Correct Answer : A

31 : Which of the following procedures is NOT part of Barlows panic control treatment (PCT)?
A : Cognitive therapy to modify conscious or unconscious perceptions about the dangerousness
of feared situations
B : Creation of mini panic attacks in the therapists office
C : Exercises to elevate the heart rate or spinning to make the patient dizzy
D : Reducing interfering memories from early experiences with frightening stimuli.

Correct Answer : D

32 : A relative of yours who suffers from panic disorder asks you what treatment would have the
most long-lasting benefits. Since you have just read about the double-blind NIMH research
study evaluating psychological treatments with and without medication, you tell your relative to
first try
A : the drug imipramine.
B : psychological treatment along with medication.
C : panic control treatment that includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
D : any available treatment, since patients in all treatment conditions achieved the same long-
lasting gains.

Correct Answer : C

33 : The urge to pull out ones own hair from anywhere on the body including the scalp,
eyebrows, and the arms is referred as _____.
A : excoriation
B : trichotillomania
C : retail therapy
D : habit reversal training

Correct Answer : B

34 : All of the following are characteristics common to specific phobias EXCEPT

A : strong and persistent anxiety related to a specific object or situation.
B : significant attempts by the anxious individual to avoid the phobic situation.
C : recognition by the person with the phobia that the anxiety is excessive or unreasonable.
D : Chronically decreased arousal of the autonomic nervous system.

Correct Answer : D

35 : Although blood-injury-injection phobia is a specific phobia, it differs from others with regard
to
A : blood pressure and heart rate.
B : level of anxiety.
C : The way the fear is conditioned.
D : Level of patients insight.

Correct Answer : A

36 : _____________ is characterized as the label implies by repetitive and compulsive picking

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of the skin, leading to tissue damage.
A : Excoriation
B : Trichotillomania
C : Retail therapy
D : Habit reversal training

Correct Answer : A

37 : Which of the following is NOT an example of a situational phobia?

A : Claustrophobia
B : Fear of flying
C : Fear of public buses
D : Snake phobia

Correct Answer : D

38 : The main difference between situational phobia and panic disorder (PD) is that
A : people with situational phobia never experience panic attacks outside the context of the
phobic situation.
B : people with situational phobia experience panic attacks when confronted with the phobic
situation as well as at other times.
C : people with PD experience panic attacks only in specific situations.
D : people with PD experience panic attacks only at specific times.

Correct Answer : A

39 : According to your textbook, there are at least three ways of developing a phobia. Which is
NOT one of these ways?
A : Experiencing a panic attack in a specific situation
B : Having a nightmare about a feared situation
C : Observing someone else experience severe fear
D : In certain conditions, being told about danger

Correct Answer : B

40 : An affliction where a relatively normal-looking person thinks they are ugly and refuses to
interact with others is known as ____________.
A : body dysmorphic disorder
B : flight
C : panic.
D : behavioral inhibition system.

Correct Answer : A

41 : The typical age of onset for both animal and natural environment phobias peaks at around
___ years.
A:7
B:9
C : 11
D : 13

Correct Answer : A

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42 : Phobias characterized by fear of public transportation or enclosed places are called
situational phobias, and the typical onset age for those who suffer from them is
A : childhood.
B : late adolescence.
C : early adulthood.
D : midlife.

Correct Answer : C

43 : Which of the following statements is not accurate regarding Body dysmorphic disorder?
A : A variety of checking rituals are common in people with BDD in attempts to alleviate their
concerns.
B : Many people with this BDD become fixated on mirrors.
C : Excessive grooming and skin picking are also common in those suffering from BDD .
D : BDD is seen more often in men than women.

Correct Answer : D

44 : In the general population, approximately ________ percent of people have specific fears
severe enough to be diagnosed as phobias.
A:1
B : 11
C : 31
D : 51

Correct Answer : B

45 : What is the role of parents in treating separation anxiety disorder?

A : Parents are instructed to separate themselves from the child for at least two weeks to
expose him/her to the feared scenario
B : Parents are instructed to accommodate their child by reassuring them promptly each time
he/she expressed separation fears
C : Parents can be coached real-time in how to respond appropriately to the childs resistance to
separation
D : Parents are not involved because the child must learn to independently solve their problems.

Correct Answer : C

46 : A culture bound syndrome in Chinese cultures called pa-leng (or sometimes frigo phobia)
often results in the sufferer
A : appearing naked in public.
B : wearing many layers of clothing.
C : exercising compulsively.
D : hoarding food.

Correct Answer : B

47 : Which of the following statements is correct regarding the treatment of specific phobias?
A : Structured exposure-based exercises are no longer considered necessary.
B : Individuals with blood phobias must learn to relax their muscles to keep their blood pressure
high enough to prevent fainting.
C : Exposure-based exercises actually change brain functioning.
D : Avoiding a phobic situation weakens the phobic response.
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Correct Answer : C

48 : Naeem had a fear of riding on buses, so his mother had to drive him to school every day.
Naeems phobia is a(n) _________ phobia.
A : situational
B : natural environment
C : blood-injury-injection
D : animal

Correct Answer : A

49 : Which of the following would NOT be considered an example of social anxiety disorder
(SAD)?
A : A student who is reluctant to speak up in a classroom due to fear of embarrassing herself
B : A male who has difficulty urinating in a public restroom when others are present
C : A person who can only eat comfortably when he is alone
D : An individual who cannot travel on public transportation without a family member present

Correct Answer : D

50 : According to research as many as ________ percent of the general population suffer from
social anxiety disorder (SAD) at some point in their lives.
A:3
B : 12
C : 23
D : 33

Correct Answer : B

51 : The most prevalent psychological disorder in the general population is

A : specific phobia.
B : agoraphobia.
C : social anxiety disorder (SAD).
D : panic disorder.

Correct Answer : A

52 : Unlike most of the anxiety disorders in which female sufferers predominate, the sex ratio is
almost equal in
A : agoraphobia.
B : specific phobias.
C : social anxiety disorder (SAD).
D : panic disorder.

Correct Answer : C

53 : The anxiety disorder called social anxiety disorder (SAD), involving anxiety about being
evaluated or criticized, usually begins during
A : childhood.
B : adolescence.
C : young adulthood.
D : middle age.
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Correct Answer : B

54 : In Japan, the anxiety syndrome termed taijin kyofusho involves a fear of

A : performing onstage.
B : personally offending others.
C : embarrassing oneself.
D : speaking to females.

Correct Answer : B

55 : Most of the people with BDD seek other types of health professionals such as__________.
A : plastic surgeons
B : gynecologists
C : nurse practitioners
D : None of these are correct.

Correct Answer : A

56 : The setting for posttraumatic stress disorder to occur follows an experience accompanied
by all of the following, EXCEPT
A : an individual experiences threatened death or witnesses death .
B : an individual experiences paranoia, or witnesses a person experiencing paranoia.
C : an individual experiences actual or threatened sexual violation.
D : enduring repeated exposure to details of a traumatic event.

Correct Answer : B

57 : Individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) display a characteristic set
of symptoms including all of the following EXCEPT
A : persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumati event(s).
B : sudden flashbacks in which the traumatic event is relived.
C : decreased startle response and chronically decreased autonomic arousal
D : memories and nightmares of the event.

Correct Answer : C

58 : Following the 9/11/2001 attacks, among the sample of respondents who lived closest to the
World Trade Center, the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was _________
percent.
A:5
B : 10
C : 20
D : 25

Correct Answer : C

59 : Which of the following is an accurate statement about posttraumatic stress disorder

(PTSD)?
A : Acute stress disorder is diagnosed instead of PTSD if a persons symptoms begin 6 months
or more after the traumatic event.
B : PTSD occurs in all individuals who experience a traumatic event.
C : Most people diagnosed with acute stress disorder do not eventually develop PTSD.
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D : A diagnosis of acute stress disorder will change to a diagnosis of PTSD one month after the
traumatic event occurs.

Correct Answer : D

60 : The posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence rates of U.S. veterans returning home
from the war in Vietnam was directly related to their
A : high rates of drug addiction.
B : youth and inexperience.
C : amount of combat exposure.
D : separation from family.

Correct Answer : C

61 : Which of the following is an accurate statement about factors affecting treatment for PTSD?
A : Victims of PTSD remember the traumatic events with perfect accuracy.
B : Victims of PTSD often repress memories of the traumatic event.
C : Re-exposure to the trauma should be accomplished quickly to assure the best therapeutic
response.
D : PTSD patients should never be re-exposed to emotions and situations that remind them of
the trauma event.

Correct Answer : B

62 : Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often accompanied by all of the following EXCEPT

A : severe generalized anxiety.
B : major depression.
C : visual hallucinations.
D : panic attacks.

Correct Answer : C

63 : A process whereby the rituals are prevented and the patient is systematically exposed to
the feared thoughts or situations is called _____.
A : exposure and ritual prevention.
B : thought-action fusion.
C : body dysmorphic disorder.
D : facetiously

Correct Answer : A

64 : The compulsions that an individual with OCD uses to suppress disastrous consequences or
ward off intrusive thoughts can be either
A : behavioral or mental.
B : positive or negative.
C : biological or psychological.
D : autonomic or somatic.

Correct Answer : A

65 : Which of the following would NOT be an example of an OCD-related behavioral

compulsion?
A : Checking
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B : Aggression
C : Hand washing
D : Ordering

Correct Answer : B

66 : When the term magical is used to refer to OCD-related compulsive acts, it means
A : the person with OCD believes he/she is possessed.
B : compulsive behaviors sometimes result in unexplainable physical phenomena.
C : the compulsions have no logical relation to the obsessions.
D : many magicians have been diagnosed with OCD.

Correct Answer : C

67 : ___________ are currently the indicated drug for panic disorder based on all available
evidence.
A : SSRIs
B : SNRIs
C : Venlafaxine
D : None of these are correct.

Correct Answer : A

68 : Regarding the obsessions seen in patients with OCD, the term need for symmetry refers to
A : doing something a number of different ways.
B : keeping things in perfect order.
C : putting everything on ones right and nothing on the left, or vice versa.
D : an illusion of imbalance between sides of the body.

Correct Answer : B

69 : What element of OCD applies to Richard (the case described in the textbook), who was
obsessed with the idea that if he did not eat in a certain ritualistic way, he would become
possessed?
A : Need for symmetry
B : Magical thinking
C : Emotional reasoning.
D : Demonic obsessions

Correct Answer : B

70 : In the case of Richard, the patient with OCD described in the textbook, he was compelled
to take very small steps as he walked and to look back repeatedly. As with other types of
checking compulsions, Richard was trying to
A : restore a sense of safety and control.
B : reduce the possibility of contamination.
C : ward off an imagined disaster.
D : make sure he didnt make a mistake.

Correct Answer : C

71 : Normal, ordinary people who have occasional intrusive thoughts with bizarre, sexual, or
aggressive content would not be considered to have OCD. However, they would if they found
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the thoughts unacceptable or even dangerous and also
A : use alcohol or other drugs to reduce anxiety.
B : develop insomnia and nightmares.
C : become anxious about having further intrusive thoughts.
D : suffer from either posttraumatic stress disorder or social phobia.

Correct Answer : C

72 : Which of the following would be an example of thought-action fusion in clients with OCD?
A : Washing ones hands repeatedly to ward off germs
B : Taking only very small steps while walking to prevent others from being in danger
C : Believing that thinking about an abortion is the moral equivalent of having an abortion
D : Saving stacks of old newspapers or magazines because they might be needed some day

Correct Answer : C

73 : What percentage of patients with panic disorder are free of panic as long as they stay on an
effective drug?
A : 70%
B : 80%
C : 20%
D : 60%

Correct Answer : D

74 : Tony has thoughts about hating his rich uncle and wishing he would somehow become a
pauper. He becomes very anxious about these thoughts because he has developed the idea
that if anything really happened to his uncles money, it would be his fault. For no explainable
reason, Tony starts mentally counting by odd numbers each time he walks past his uncles
house and discovers that this activity makes him less anxious. Tonys behavior can be described
as
A : a social phobia based on his fear of rich people.
B : a mental compulsion developed to neutralize his bad thoughts.
C : an attempt to be better in math than his brother to gain parental acceptance.
D : a compulsive ritual designed to make him like his brother more.

Correct Answer : B

75 : What happens when people with OCD attempt to neutralize or suppress disturbing,
intrusive thoughts?
A : The obsessive thoughts disappear
B : The frequency of the obsessive thoughts increases over time
C : The frequency of the obsessive thoughts decreases over time
D : This strategy has no effect on the obsessive thoughts

Correct Answer : B

76 : According to several cross-cultural research studies reported in the textbook, the

prevalence of OCD is
A : very similar across cultures.
B : lower in European countries.
C : higher in African nations.
D : virtually nonexistent in some cultures.
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Correct Answer : A

77 : Phobias characterized by fear of public transportation or enclosed places are called?

A : Blood-Injection-Injury Phobia
B : Situational phobias
C : Animal phobias
D : Natural environment type

Correct Answer : B

78 : The model of the etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the text suggests that in
order for an individual to develop OCD, ________ must be present.
A : biological vulnerability
B : psychological vulnerability
C : both biological and psychological vulnerabilities
D : neither biological nor psychological vulnerabilities

Correct Answer : C

79 : Regarding pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder, the most

effective drugs are those that inhibit the reuptake of the neurotransmitter called
A : serotonin.
B : dopamine.
C : noradrenaline.
D : epinephrine.

Correct Answer : A

80 : Major example of natural environment phobias are EXCEPT?

A : Height
B : Storms
C : Water
D : Snakes

Correct Answer : D

81 : The behavioral process in which OCD patients are not permitted to carry out their
compulsions while in the presence of the anxiety-producing stimulus or situation is called
A : exposure and response prevention.
B : Cognitive restructuring.
C : anxiety reduction therapy.
D : behavioral inhibition conditioning.

Correct Answer : A

82 : Which of the following is an example of the treatment technique for OCD called exposure
and response prevention?
A : Gwen has an obsessive fear of contamination, which has led to compulsive hand-washing
rituals. Her therapist is treating her by making her touch dirty laundry but not allowing her to
wash for increasingly longer periods of time afterward.
B : Alicia has an obsessive fear of contamination, which has led to compulsive hand-washing
rituals. Her therapist is treating her by forcing her to wash her hands repeatedly, even when she
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doesnt feel anxious.
C : Miley has religious obsessions. She feels that if she doesnt read biblical passages every
hour of the day, she will do something evil. Her therapist is treating her by having her attend
religious services more frequently so that good thoughts will replace the bad ones.
D : Christina has a hoarding compulsion. She becomes anxious whenever she has to throw
something away; she even keeps stuff that she doesnt need and will never use. Her therapist
has arranged for all Christinas junk to be removed and discarded when she is away from home.

Correct Answer : A

83 : Research studies have shown that the therapeutic benefits of medication for OCD
A : are permanent.
B : are reduced when the medication is discontinued.
C : continue even when the drug is discontinued.
D : are no more effective than a placebo.

Correct Answer : B

84 : Cognitive therapy is responsible for?

A : Correcting negative assumptions about the trauma
B : Blaming oneself in some way
C : Feeling guilty
D : All of these are correct.

Correct Answer : D

85 : According the textbook, treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder have included all of
the following EXCEPT
A : medication.
B : exposure and response prevention.
C : psychosurgery.
D : Electro-shock therapy.

Correct Answer : D

86 : Mr. J suffers from a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. His symptoms have not
responded to either medication or psychological therapies. As a last resort, his therapist
suggests the possibility of a psychosurgical procedure, specifically an operation called
A : lobotomy.
B : lobectomy.
C : cingulotomy.
D : cingulectomy.

Correct Answer : C

87 : What disorder causes the child to seldom seek out a caregiver for protection and support?
A : Reactive attachment disorder
B : Disinhibited social engagement disorder
C : Adjustment disorder
D : Attachment disorder

Correct Answer : A

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88 : Which type of compulsion has the highest prevalence rate?
A : Symmetry
B : Cleaning and contamination
C : Hoarding
D : Forbidden thoughts or actions

Correct Answer : A

ESSAY
89 : Why is anxiety termed a future-oriented mood state and fear an alarm reaction to actual
present danger? Discuss biological and psychological similarities and differences between
these emotional events. Explore the idea that fear is panic that occurs in an inappropriate
setting.

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: Anxiety is a future-oriented state characterized by negative

affect in which a person focuses on the possibility of uncontrollable danger or misfortune; in
contrast, fear is a present-oriented state characterized by strong escapist tendencies and a
surge in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system in response to current
danger.Anxietyis a negative mood state characterized by bodily symptoms of physical tension
and by apprehension about the future. In humans, it can be a subjective sense of unease, a set
of behaviors (looking worried and anxious or fidgeting), or a physiological response originating
in the brain and reflected in elevated heart rate and muscle tension.Fear, on the other hand, is
an immediate emotional reaction to current danger characterized by strong escapist action
tendencies and, often, a surge in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
Fear sometimes occurs when you experience an alarm response when there is nothing to be
afraid of—that is, you have a false alarm. This is known as panic.There is much evidence that
fear and anxiety reactions differ psychologically and physiologically. As noted earlier, anxiety is
a future-oriented mood state, characterized by apprehension because we cannot predict or
control upcoming events. Fear, on the other hand, is an immediate emotional reaction to current
danger characterized by strong escapist action tendencies and, often, a surge in the
sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.

90 : Describe the symptoms, causes, and treatment of panic disorder and the three categories
of panic attack.

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: Panic disorder is characterized by the abrupt experience of
intense fear or acute discomfort, accompanied by physical symptoms that usually include heart
palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, and possibly dizziness.?The three categories of
panic attacks:--Situationally bound (attack is cued by a particular setting or
situation)--Unexpected (no clear cue or trigger for the attack)--Situationally predisposed (cues
may, but don’t inevitably, cause an attack)

91 : Define generalized anxiety disorder, and discuss how it differs from panic attacks.

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: GAD is a syndrome that characterizes every anxiety
disorder. The criteria specify at least 6 months of excessive anxiety and worry that is ongoing
for more days than not and is difficult to forget. Panic attacks are associated with autonomic
arousal, while GAD is characterized by muscle tension and mental agitation, fatigue, irritability,
and difficulty sleeping. People with GAD also tend to worry excessively about minor things as
well as major events.

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92 : Compare and contrast GAD with phobic disorders, noting how avoidance behavior is
manifested differently in each.

Correct Answer : Muscle tension, mental agitation (Brown, Marten, & Barlow, 1995),
susceptibility to fatigue (probably the result of chronic excessive muscle tension), some
irritability, and difficulty sleeping characterize GAD. Focusing attention is difficult as the mind
quickly switches from crisis to crisis. People with GAD mostly worry about minor, everyday life
events, a characteristic that distinguishes GAD from other anxiety disorders.A phobia is an
irrational fear of an object or situation that markedly interferes with an individual’s ability to
function. It manifests itself in agoraphobia, a specific phobia, or a social phobia.People with
GAD avoid distressing thoughts and feelings. The phobic individual avoids situations or objects
or endures with intense anxiety or distress.

93 : Define agoraphobia and discuss the concept of safety for a person with this condition.
Explain what is meant by interoceptive avoidance.

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: Agoraphobia is fear and avoidance of situations in which a
person would feel unsafe. These situations include those from which it would be hard or
embarrassing to escape to get home or to a hospital. In severe cases, people with agoraphobia
are unable to leave the house, sometimes for years on end. Almost all agoraphobic avoidance
behavior is simply a complication of severe, unexpected panic attacks. Simply put, if you have
had unexpected panic attacks and are afraid you may have another one, you want to be in a
safe place or at least with a safe person who knows what you are experiencing if another attack
occurs so that you can quickly get to a hospital or at least go into your bedroom and lie down
(the home is usually a safe place). We know that anxiety is diminished for individuals with
agoraphobia if they think a location or person is “safe,” even if there is nothing effective the
person could do if something did happen. For these reasons, when agoraphobic individuals do
venture outside their homes, they always plan for rapid escape (for example, by sitting near the
door).Most patients with severe agoraphobic avoidance (and some with little) also display
another cluster of avoidant behaviors that we call interoceptive avoidance, or avoidance of
internal physical sensations. These behaviors involve removing yourself from situations or
activities that might produce the physiological arousal that somehow resembles the beginnings
of a panic attack. Some patients might avoid exercise because it produces increased
cardiovascular activity or faster respiration that reminds them of panic attacks and makes them
think one might be beginning. Other patients might avoid sauna baths or any rooms in which
they might perspire. Psychopathologists are beginning to recognize that this cluster of
avoidance behaviors is every bit as important as more classical agoraphobic avoidance.

94 : Discuss the different types of specific phobias and how they are acquired.

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: Blood-injury-injection phobias demonstrate a fear of blood,

physical injury, and needles. Situational phobias address fears of a particular situation such as
riding on public transportation. Natural environmental phobias are fears of natural events such
as tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, etc. Animal phobias consist of fear of animals. Other
is everything that does not fit into any of the above categories.Phobias may be acquired in
several different ways. One way is through classical conditioning. We may also learn fears
vicariously (seeing someone else have a traumatic experience). Sometimes just being warned
repeatedly about a potential danger is sufficient to develop a phobia.Finally, it appears that
several things have to take place to develop a phobia. First, some form of traumatic conditioning
experience. Second, fear develops more easily if we are prepared to fear, i.e., inherently
dangerous situations. Third, one must be susceptible to developing anxiety that the event will
happen again.
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95 : Define social anxiety disorder (social phobia), noting the typical life stage of onset, and
explain how it differs from normal shyness. Using examples, describe how social anxiety
disorder (SAD) impairs functioning. What types of treatments are effective for SAD?

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: People, who suffer severely around others, have social
anxiety disorder (social phobia) , also called social anxiety disorder (SAD). SAD is more than
exaggerated shyness. The most common type of performance anxiety, to which most people
can relate, is public speaking. Other situations that commonly provoke performance anxiety are
eating in a restaurant or signing a paper in front of a clerk. Anxiety-provoking physical reactions
include blushing, sweating, trembling, or, for males, urinating in a public restroom.What these
examples have in common is that the individual is very anxious only while others are present
and may be watching and, to some extent, evaluating their behavior. This is truly SAD because
the people have no difficulty eating, writing, or urinating in private. Only when others are
watching does the behavior deteriorate.It seems we are prepared to fear angry, critical, or
rejecting people. Research has noted that we learn more quickly to fear angry expressions than
other facial expressions, and this fear diminishes more slowly than other types of
learning.Effective treatments have been developed for social phobia only in the past several
years. A cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) program has been developed in which
groups of patients rehearse or role-play their socially phobic situations in front of one another.
At the same time, the therapist conducts rather intensive cognitive therapy aimed at uncovering
and changing the automatic or unconscious perceptions of danger that the socially phobic client
assumes to exist. Effective drug treatments have been discovered as well. Tricyclic
antidepressants, particularly monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, have been found to be more
effective than placebo in the treatment of severe social anxiety. The evidence is mixed on the
usefulness of combining SSRIs or related drugs with psychological treatments.

96 : Compare and contrast posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder.

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an emotional

disorder that follows a trauma in which one feels fear, helplessness, or horror. Victims later
experience vivid memories and nightmares, display restriction or numbing of emotional
responsiveness, may be unable to remember certain aspects of the event, and may remember
the event.Acute stress disorder is PTSD that occurs within the first month after the trauma.
People with this disorder may display severe dissociative symptoms, amnesia for all or part of
the trauma, emotional numbing, de-realization, and feelings of unreality.People with acute
stress disorder experience very severe early reactions to trauma that did not meet the criteria
for PTSD but over time may eventually develop PTSD.

97 : Benjamin and Geraldine are considering adopting a child from an unstable, war torn, and
undeveloped country. The country recently experienced a catastrophic natural disaster that left
many children orphaned. They are seeking feedback from you on your knowledge of attachment
disorders. Based upon your reading of the text, provide Benjamin and Geraldine a written
summary of attachment disorders.

Correct Answer : Attachment disorders refer to disturbed and developmentally inappropriate

behaviors in children, emerging before five years of age, in which the child is unable or unwilling
to form normal attachment relationships with caregiving adults. These seriously maladaptive
patterns are due to inadequate or abusive child-rearing practices. In many cases, these
inadequate child-rearing practices might be caused by frequent changes in the primary
caregiver because of multiple foster care placements, or possibly just neglect in the home. In
reactive attachment disorder the child will seldom seek out a caregiver for protection, support,
and nurturance and will seldom respond to offers from caregivers to give this type of care.
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 Generally, they would evidence lack of responsiveness, limited positive affect, and additional
heightened emotionality, such as fearfulness and intense sadness. In disinhibited social
engagement disorder, a similar set of child-rearing circumstances would result in a pattern of
behavior in which the child shows no inhibitions whatsoever to approaching adults. Such a child
might engage in inappropriately intimate behavior by showing a willingness to immediately
accompany an unfamiliar adult figure somewhere.

98 : Define obsession and compulsion and give examples. Explain exposure and response
prevention as a treatment for OCD.

Correct Answer : Sample Answer: In OCD, the dangerous event is a thought, image, or impulse
that the client attempts to avoid as completely as someone with a snake phobia avoids snakes.
Obsessions are intrusive and mostly nonsensical thoughts, images, or urges that the individual
tries to resist or eliminate. An example of an obsession would be believing that germs are
everywhere and are dangerous.Compulsions are the thoughts or actions used to suppress the
obsessions and provide relief. There are four major types of obsessions, and each is associated
with a pattern of compulsive behavior. Symmetry obsessions account for most obsessions,
followed by “forbidden thoughts or actions,” cleaning and contamination, and hoarding.
Symmetry refers to keeping things in perfect order or doing something in a specific way. An
example of a compulsion would be constant hand washing and hours of bathing to keep germs
off one’s body.The most effective treatment is called exposure and ritual prevention (ERP), a
process whereby the rituals are actively prevented and the patient is systematically and
gradually exposed to the feared thoughts or situations. For example, a person who was
obsessed with germs and performed compulsive washing rituals would be systematically
exposed to harmless objects or situations that he thought were contaminated, including certain
foods and household chemicals, and his washing and checking rituals would be prevented.
Usually this can be done by simply working closely with patients to see that they do not wash or
check. In severe cases, patients may be hospitalized and the faucets removed from the
bathroom sink for a period to discourage repeated washing. However, the rituals are prevented,
the procedures seem to facilitate “reality testing,” because the client soon learns, at an
emotional level, that no harm will result whether he carries out the rituals or not.

99 : You are a late-night talk show host and you are interviewing Jackson Michaels, a celebrity
pop culture figure from the 1980s and1990s. Jackson is complaining of persistent, intrusive, and
horrible thoughts about his appearance. Just before a commercial break, Jackson dramatically
reveals that he was recently diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) . Before the
commercial break ends you need to think of three questions to ask Jackson. List three
questions you would ask and provide a short summary as to how Jackson would potentially
answer your questions.

Correct Answer : Possible questions and answers include: What is BDD? An OCD related
disorder that involves a preoccupation with some imagined defect in appearance.; What are
some symptoms of BDD? Symptoms include persistent, intrusive, and horrible thoughts about
appearance, and engagement in compulsive behaviors. E.g. looking in mirrors to check physical
features.; What is the typical age-of-onset for BDD? Age of onset ranges from early
adolescence through the 20s. How common is BDD? Prevalence rates are difficult to
determine because it is typically keep secret. Best estimates range from 1 to 2 percent of the
general population. It is more common with women than men, and more common with
Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics than African Americans. What are the causes of BDD?
There is a pattern of comorbidity of BDD with OCD. Eating disorders also correlate with BDD.
Social anxiety also correlates with BDD. What are the possible treatments for BDD? Drugs that
block the re-uptake of serotonin and exposure and response prevention (ERP)

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