Abnormal Psychology Flashcards
7 cards from real ASPPB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Abnormal Psychology flashcards as text
The term 'psychosis' specifically refers to:
Answer: A loss of contact with reality, including hallucinations and delusions
Psychosis is defined by positive symptoms representing a break from reality, primarily hallucinations (perceptions without stimuli) and delusions (fixed false beliefs).
Epidemiological research consistently shows that which demographic factor is most strongly associated with elevated rates of most mental disorders?
Answer: Low socioeconomic status
Low socioeconomic status is robustly associated with higher rates of most mental disorders due to increased stressors, reduced resources, and limited healthcare access.
A client describes feeling detached from their mental processes, as if they are observing themselves from outside their body. This experience is called:
Answer: Depersonalization
Depersonalization involves feelings of unreality or detachment from one's own mind or body, often described as being an outside observer of one's thoughts or sensations.
Which of the following is TRUE about the relationship between creativity and mood disorders?
Answer: Higher rates of mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, are found among creative professionals
Research including studies by Kay Redfield Jamison suggests elevated rates of bipolar spectrum disorders among artists, writers, and other creative professionals.
Under the DSM-5, which duration criterion distinguishes Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) from Major Depressive Disorder?
Answer: Symptoms must be present for at least two years for PDD, vs. two weeks for MDD
Persistent Depressive Disorder requires a depressed mood for at least two years (one year for children/adolescents), compared to two weeks for a major depressive episode.
In the assessment of dangerousness, actuarial risk assessment tools are preferred over unstructured clinical judgment primarily because:
Answer: They show superior predictive validity at a group level and reduce inconsistency
Actuarial instruments demonstrate better predictive validity for violence risk at the group level compared to unstructured clinical judgment, reducing subjective bias.
Which model of abnormality emphasizes the role of irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions as the primary cause of psychological disturbance?
Answer: Cognitive-behavioral model
The cognitive-behavioral model, championed by theorists like Beck and Ellis, holds that maladaptive thoughts and beliefs drive emotional disturbance and behavioral problems.