Assessment & Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders 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 Assessment & Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders flashcards as text
A psychologist uses the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Who typically administers this instrument?
Answer: A trained clinician via structured interview
The HRSD (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) is a clinician-administered scale requiring a trained interviewer, distinguishing it from self-report measures like the BDI-II.
The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRNB) uses the Halstead Impairment Index. What does this index represent?
Answer: The proportion of core tests on which the examinee scores in the brain-damaged range
The Halstead Impairment Index is computed from the proportion of 10 core HRNB tests on which performance falls in the impaired range, with scores ≥0.5 traditionally indicating brain dysfunction.
According to DSM-5, which duration criterion distinguishes Acute Stress Disorder from PTSD?
Answer: Acute Stress Disorder lasts 3 days to 1 month; PTSD is diagnosed after 1 month
DSM-5 specifies that Acute Stress Disorder symptoms occur between 3 days and 1 month post-trauma, while PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist beyond 1 month.
In behavioral assessment, an ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) analysis is used primarily to:
Answer: Identify environmental triggers and reinforcers maintaining a target behavior
ABC analysis is a functional behavioral assessment strategy that maps the events preceding and following a behavior to understand its environmental determinants and maintaining contingencies.
A psychologist assessing for Bipolar I Disorder must document a manic episode. Per DSM-5, what is the MINIMUM required duration of a manic episode?
Answer: At least 7 days (or any duration if hospitalization is required)
DSM-5 requires manic episodes to last at least 7 days or any duration if the severity necessitates hospitalization; 4 days is the threshold for hypomanic episodes in Bipolar II.
Which WAIS-IV index score is considered the BEST single measure of general intellectual ability when processing speed scores are disproportionately low?
Answer: General Ability Index (GAI)
The GAI is derived from Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Reasoning indices only, excluding Working Memory and Processing Speed, making it more robust when speed-related deficits depress the FSIQ.
When diagnosing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, DSM-5 requires that obsessions or compulsions be time-consuming or cause significant distress. Approximately how much time per day qualifies as 'time-consuming'?
Answer: More than 1 hour per day
DSM-5 specifies that obsessions or compulsions taking more than 1 hour per day, or that cause clinically significant distress or functional impairment, meet the time-consuming criterion.