AP Psychology : Types of Disorders
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Example Questions
Example Question #151 : Types Of Disorders
Randall is complaining to his doctor of very strange episodes in which he "blacks out" and cannot remember where he is or what he is doing for large chunks of time. During these episodes he often regains his awareness miles away from where he last remembered being. Based on these data, Randall most likely suffers from a(n) _______________ disorder.
anxiety
psychotic
dissociative
mood
dissociative
Randall's episodes are most likely a feature of a rare class of disorders called dissociative disorders. Dissociative disorders are a class of disorders in which people lose contact with portions of their consciousness or memory, resulting in disruptions in their sense of identity.
Example Question #21 : Other Psychological Disorders
Which of the following are identifying clues in speech that suggest a person may be a psychopath?
An absence of remorse
A focus on basic needs such as food and drink
Many cause and effect statements ("because", "so that")
The excessive use of the past as opposed to present tense
All of these
All of these
There are many aspects of speech that could indicate a person is a psychopath. A combination of psychological and linguistic research has pointed to several factors that indicate psychopathology. The excess use of causatives in sentences are indicative of a psychopath's need to create a logical justification for their acts. The use of the past tense instead of present indicates a psychological detachment from the world as if they are looking in instead of a participant. Psychological factors such as a lack of remorse or an obsession with basic needs also point to psychopathy.
Example Question #22 : Other Psychological Disorders
Which of the following personality disorders possesses the highest suicide rate?
Borderline personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Antisocial/ psychopath disorder
Borderline personality disorder
While borderline personality disorder (BPD) does not have the highest suicide rate of any psychological disorder, it has the highest of the personality class. Some reports estimate that up to 10% of diagnosed patients carry through with suicide. The exact number depends on the study, but BPD holds the highest rate under any account.
Example Question #23 : Other Psychological Disorders
What is the most common type of dementia?
All of these
Parkinson's disease
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Vascular dementia
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease accounts for somewhere between 60 to 80% of all dementia cases. "Alzheimer's" and "dementia" are sometimes used interchangeably, but this is an error due to the great overlapping in cases. All Alzheimer's patients have dementia, but not all dementia patients have Alzheimer's disease.
Example Question #24 : Other Psychological Disorders
Which of the following types of dementia have known causes:
I. Parkinson's disease
II. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
III. Huntington's disease
II only
II only
III only
I & III
II & III
II & III
Exact known causes of Parkinson's disease are still unknown, but researchers are working towards a better understanding. On the other hand, a gene on chromosome 4 has been identified to cause Huntington's, and a thiamine deficiency has been identified to cause Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. These reductionist explanations suggest that Huntington's and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome are caused by singular processes, but it is probably much more complex.
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