Question 1

Dr.Hall, a clinical psychologist, decides to conduct a behavioural assessment of five-year-old Sarah, instead of a clinical interview, after her parents report that she has had repeated and often physical conflicts with other children on the playground.Why is a behavioural assessment preferable in this case?

Accepted Answer

A) The parents could be exaggerating the problem. 
B) A structured interview might be too stressful for a young child. 
C) Young children are less able to verbally communicate their problems and experiences. 
D) Young children often deliberately withhold information from authority figures.

Question 2

Identify and describe the ABCs of observational assessment.Using illustrative examples, explain how informal observation differs from formal observation, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and describe the ABCs of observational...

Question 3

Which form of assessment measures changes in the nervous system that reflect emotional or psychological events?

Accepted Answer

A) neuropsychological 
B) psychological testing 
C) psychophysiological 
D) neuroimaging

Question 4

Many types of stress-reduction treatments, through the process of relaxation, attempt to increase the frequency of which wave pattern?

Accepted Answer

A) alpha 
B) beta 
C) delta 
D) theta

Question 5

The DSM-5 is similar to the DSM -IV- R in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

A) It groups disorders by what causes them. 
B) It specifies treatment for disorders. 
C) The categories of disorders are very similar. 
D) It uses a multiaxial approach to diagnosis.

Question 6

Suppose an individual taking the MMPI makes false claims about psychological problems.On which scale will they most likely obtain an elevated score?

Accepted Answer

A) Defensiveness (K) 
B) Infrequency (F) 
C) Inconsistency (I) 
D) Lie (L)

Question 7

With respect to monitoring procedures, which of the following is an example of the reactivity phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

A) On parents' visiting day in a classroom, the previously well-behaved children continue to show good behaviour. 
B) A man quits smoking after his father dies of lung cancer. 
C) After joining a fitness club, a woman stops exercising in her home and instead walks two kilometres a day by herself. 
D) A man begins to eat less after joining a clinic weight-loss program in which each participant's weight is recorded weekly by a staff member.

Question 8

What is a disadvantage of semistructured interviews?

Accepted Answer

A) They don't allow for comparison with similar individuals. 
B) They initiate treatment plans. 
C) They decrease confidentiality. 
D) They may inhibit the patient from volunteering useful information.

Question 9

Researcher David Wolfe used contrived situations to assess the emotional reactions of parents with a history of abuse toward their children.His goal of creating these situations was to use the observations to develop which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) an interview 
B) an observable behaviour 
C) target behaviour 
D) treatment plans

Question 10

Why are neuropsychological tests used?

Accepted Answer

A) to map blood flow and other metabolic activity in the brain 
B) to help differentiate those who have a given cognitive disorder from those people who do not 
C) to predict who will develop a specific cognitive disorder five or ten years later 
D) to take accurate pictures of brain structure and function

Question 11

What is main goal of a prognosis?

Accepted Answer

A) to provide information about the course of the disorder 
B) to gain clinical experience 
C) to examine diagnosis options available to the patient 
D) to determine the client's desire to reform

Question 12

A patient who had recurrent headaches, fatigue, and loss of appetite received different diagnoses from several psychiatrists.In terms of assessment, what type of problem does this example illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A) a problem with classification 
B) a problem with reliability 
C) a problem with validity 
D) a problem with standardization

Question 13

Why was the Comprehensive System for administering and scoring the Rorschach inkblot test developed?

Accepted Answer

A) because it was discovered that inter-rater reliability had increased significantly 
B) because the previous scoring system was found to be difficult and time consuming 
C) because Hermann Rorschach was dissatisfied with the way his test was being administered 
D) because there was a lack of standardized procedures, which can affect the way the test-taker responds to the questions

Question 14

If it were important to determine the exact location of brain impairment, which of the following would most likely be used?

Accepted Answer

A) the Gall Phrenological Brain Scan 
B) the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery 
C) the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale 
D) the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test

Question 15

Labelling a patient with a diagnosis is often referred to as a "double-edged sword," as the diagnostic label can both help and hurt the patient.Explain the advantages and disadvantages (to the patient) of a diagnostic label.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Labelling a patient with a diagnosis is...

Question 16

Dr.Klassen is a therapist who has chosen to employ the Thematic Apperception Test with one of his clients.What is the most likely reason for his decision?

Accepted Answer

A) He wants to encourage his client to talk more openly about their life during counselling sessions. 
B) He wants to develop a comprehensive, empirically sound clinical intervention for his client. 
C) He wants to allow his client to perform and score a private self-assessment. 
D) He wants to use the test to diagnose the client.

Question 17

How does the fMRI procedure differ from the traditional MRI?

Accepted Answer

A) The fMRI procedure uses X-rays to show the brain from different angles. 
B) The fMRI procedure measures brain metabolism. 
C) The fMRI procedure measures brain wave activity. 
D) The fMRI procedure can take pictures of the brain at work, recording changes from one second to the next.

Question 18

Which approach allows some variation in symptoms without changing classification?

Accepted Answer

A) a categorical approach 
B) a dimensional approach 
C) a multidimensional approach 
D) a prototypical approach

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a category covered in a mental status exam?

Accepted Answer

A) physical symptoms 
B) behaviour 
C) appearance 
D) intellectual functioning

Question 20

Your 70-year-old father is recounting a childhood story when he describes affectionately the boy down the street as an imbecile.You respond to your father by saying, in classifying mental disorders, we don't use labels such as "moron," "imbecile," or "idiot" anymore.When he asks you why, how do you respond?

Accepted Answer

A) People will refuse treatment for mental disorders that have a negative connotation. 
B) There were no effective treatments for these disorders in the past. 
C) Mental health professionals are reluctant to assign a diagnosis that upsets people. 
D) Labels can take on a negative meaning.

Exam 3: Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis