Exam 12: Defining Psychological Disorders

Sammy is so anxious about going to school that he throws up every morning and cries all the way there. Once at school, he shakes and is often tearful with anxiety. Which of the following is correct?

The _____ perspective views abnormal behavior as arising from a physical cause, such as genetic inheritance, biochemical abnormalities or imbalances, structural abnormalities within the brain, and/or infection.

Behaviors may be classified as abnormal if they _____

Shonagh has terrible, intrusive thoughts that cause great anxiety. She found that if she begins counting, the anxiety lessens. Unfortunately, now she finds herself in a vicious cycle of feeling terribly anxious and then counting, all day long. Shonagh would likely be diagnosed with _____ with the anxiety-provoking thoughts labeled as the _____ and the counting labeled as the _____.

Tanya is a real perfectionist. She believes there is a right way to do everything and gets very distressed if she does not have time to get everything "in order" and "just so." She gets along okay with others, but because she needs to keep things so orderly, she is not really comfortable letting others into her life. Which of the following disorders best accounts for Tanya's behaviors?

Steve experienced what his psychologist termed a manic episode last year. Though he recovered and continues to take medication, he has been feeling terribly depressed lately. He cannot seem to eat or sleep and has been entertaining thoughts of suicide. He cannot seem to "snap out if it" no matter what he tries. Steve seems to fit the criteria for _____

What might be the benefits of a biopsychosocial perspective on mental disorders?

The personality trait called __________ is associated with both depression and abnormalities in the brain's serotonin levels.

Which of the following neurotransmitters is currently implicated in the development of mood disorders?

Which of the following is the biological explanation for mood disorders?