Diagnosis Of Mental Disorders
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Test yourself on diagnosing mental disorders - based loosely on DSM-5.
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- 2.
Vera has been an alcoholic for ten years. She usually has 6 drinks every night. Two weeks ago, Vera decided to quit alcohol use overnight and she hasn't had a drink since. Vera has been vomiting, feeling anxious, and had a seizure one day. She has been missing a lot of work this past fortnight because she feels so ill and she is worried about being fired since she isn't at work. What does Vera have?
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Medication / substance induced anxiety disorder
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Alcohol withdrawal
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Generalised anxiety disorder
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Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic withdrawal
Correct Answer
A. Alcohol withdrawalExplanation
Vera's symptoms of vomiting, anxiety, and seizure are consistent with alcohol withdrawal. After quitting alcohol abruptly, her body is experiencing withdrawal symptoms as it adjusts to the absence of alcohol. This is a common reaction in individuals who have been dependent on alcohol for a prolonged period of time. The fact that she has been missing work due to feeling ill also suggests that her symptoms are related to alcohol withdrawal. Therefore, the correct answer is alcohol withdrawal.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Melanie has had a depressed mood nearly every day for at least 2 weeks, lost pleasure in activities she used to enjoy, has gained 10% of her body weight, feels "slowed down" with her body movements, has low energy, and is having difficulty sleeping. These issues are causing difficulties in her social and home life and at work. What disorder does she have?
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Major depressive disorder
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Dysthymia
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Bipolar I
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Bipolar II
Correct Answer
A. Major depressive disorderExplanation
Melanie's symptoms align with the criteria for major depressive disorder. She has experienced a depressed mood nearly every day for at least 2 weeks, lost interest in activities she used to enjoy, gained weight, feels slowed down with her body movements, has low energy, and is having difficulty sleeping. Additionally, these symptoms are causing difficulties in her social and home life as well as at work. Therefore, the correct answer is major depressive disorder.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Kevin has always been a bit of worrier, but the past year this worry has spiralled out of control. Kevin is now worried about everything: the possibility of being late to work, being fired at work (even though he has a good performance record and the company isn't doing lay-offs), will he underfeed his cat and then it will die, should he call his family more often, and whether his girlfriend will dump him even though they've been together five years and there are no relationship problems. He can't control his worry. He can't concentrate or sleep and always feels on edge. He's always sweating at work and experiencing frequent headaches. He's had to stay late at work most nights because he can't get his work done during the work day any more because of his symptoms. What does Kevin have?
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Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
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Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
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He is experiencing signs of anxiety but doesn't meet any anxiety disorder diagnoses
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Panic disorder
Correct Answer
A. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)Explanation
Kevin is experiencing excessive worry and anxiety about various aspects of his life, even when there is no rational reason for concern. This worry has become uncontrollable and is affecting his daily functioning, such as his ability to concentrate, sleep, and complete his work. He also exhibits physical symptoms like sweating and frequent headaches. These symptoms are consistent with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which is characterized by excessive and persistent worry and anxiety about multiple areas of life.Rate this question:
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- 5.
The past few weeks, Karen has been feeling low and not up to going out at all. She only leaves the house when she has to buy food. She has called in sick to her work the last few weeks because she doesn't feel like she can handle it. Previously, Karen was an energetic and outgoing person who was rarely at home because she was always out socialising. She's confused why she's feeling like this and the only thing she can think of that's changed in the past month for her is that she got a contraceptive implant. What does Karen have?
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Major depressive disorder
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Substance/medication-induced depressive disorder
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Agoraphobia
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Social anxiety disorder
Correct Answer
A. Substance/medication-induced depressive disorderExplanation
Karen's change in mood and behavior, as well as her confusion about the cause, suggests that her symptoms may be related to a substance or medication she recently started taking. The contraceptive implant is the only significant change in her life during the past month, indicating a possible correlation. Substance/medication-induced depressive disorder refers to depressive symptoms that are directly caused by substance use or medication, and it aligns with Karen's situation.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Caitlin is 16 and for the last year, she has gone to house parties every weekend with her school friends. Every time before she goes to a party Caitlin worries about whether she will do something embarrassing and whether she will be able to socialise well and obsesses over what outfit she will wear. She calls her friends to see what sort of outfit they are wearing. Caitlin sculls a few alcoholic drinks before she leaves the house and then gets blind drink when at the party. She feels this is the only way she can be 'fun' and she likes how her worry goes away when she is drunk. One week Caitlin was the designated driver for her friends and she was so worried about attending a social event without drinking that she cancelled sick so she wouldn't have to go to the party. Caitlin doesn't do drugs other than alcohol and doesn't have any other medical conditions. What does Caitlin have?
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Body dysmorphic disorder
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Specific phobia
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Social anxiety disorder
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Normative shyness
Correct Answer
A. Social anxiety disorderExplanation
Caitlin has social anxiety disorder because she experiences excessive worry and fear about social situations, such as parties, and engages in avoidance behaviors, such as canceling plans. She relies on alcohol to cope with her anxiety and feels that she can only be "fun" when she is drunk. This pattern of behavior and thinking is consistent with social anxiety disorder, which is characterized by intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Sudipta has been diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She has mood swings, feels irritable, has insomnia, feels overwhelmed, and fatigued. Which of these best describes her symptom onset?
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She experiences the symptoms during her period but not before or after.
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A week before her period, she experiences the symptoms and halfway through her period the symptoms improve and are gone in the week after her period.
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She starts to experience the symptoms during her period and they improve after her period; about a week after her period they are gone.
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She experiences the symptoms a week after her period and they are gone by the following week.
Correct Answer
A. A week before her period, she experiences the symptoms and halfway through her period the symptoms improve and are gone in the week after her period.Explanation
The correct answer is "A week before her period, she experiences the symptoms and halfway through her period the symptoms improve and are gone in the week after her period." This answer describes the symptom onset pattern of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), where symptoms start about a week before the period, peak during the first few days of the period, and then gradually improve and disappear in the week after the period. This pattern is consistent with the hormonal fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Kyle is 6 years old and he started school a few months ago. Ever since he's started school, he has shown the following behaviours: reluctance to leave his parents' car when he gets dropped off at school, is home sick while at school, coming up with excuses not to attend school, started to have nightmares, and worries about what might happen to his parents while he's at school. What does Kyle have?
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He has symptoms of separation anxiety disorder but the symptom duration is not long enough for Kyle to meet a diagnosis of this
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Separation anxiety disorder
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Agoraphobia
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Generalised anxiety disorder
Correct Answer
A. Separation anxiety disorderExplanation
Kyle exhibits several behaviors that are consistent with separation anxiety disorder, such as reluctance to leave his parents' car, being homesick while at school, coming up with excuses not to attend school, having nightmares, and worrying about his parents' safety while he's at school. However, the duration of these symptoms is not specified, and it is mentioned that Kyle has only started school a few months ago. In order to meet the diagnosis criteria for separation anxiety disorder, these symptoms must persist for at least 4 weeks. Therefore, while Kyle displays symptoms, the duration is not long enough for a diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Sherlock has been taking amphetamines every weekend for the past month. Sherlock has always been pretty relaxed but the past month he has been feeling anxious and paranoid. When he is intoxicated he feels anxious but he still feels anxious during the week when he isn't using. What does Sherlock have?
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Substance / Medication induced anxiety disorder
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Substance intoxication
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Substance withdrawal
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Generalised anxiety disorder
Correct Answer
A. Substance / Medication induced anxiety disorderExplanation
Sherlock's recent use of amphetamines and his symptoms of feeling anxious and paranoid suggest that he may be experiencing substance/medication induced anxiety disorder. This disorder occurs when the use of a substance or medication leads to the development of anxiety symptoms. In Sherlock's case, his anxiety persists even when he is not using the drug, indicating that it is likely induced by the amphetamines. This diagnosis is more fitting than substance intoxication or withdrawal, as his symptoms are not solely limited to when he is under the influence or going through withdrawal. Generalized anxiety disorder is also not the best explanation since Sherlock's anxiety appears to be specifically linked to his substance use.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Kate has been having a low mood almost every day for the past three years. She has never experienced a manic episode and doesn't use any drugs. She feels exhausted all the time, barely eats, and keeps waking up in the middle of the night. She has CSD in SOOF (clinically significant distress in social, occupational or other areas of functioning). What does Kate have?
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Persistent Depressive Disorder
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Dysthymia
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A and B because they are different names for the same disorder
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Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Correct Answer
A. A and B because they are different names for the same disorderExplanation
Kate has Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) or Dysthymia. These terms are used interchangeably to describe a chronic low mood that lasts for at least two years. Kate's symptoms of low mood, exhaustion, poor appetite, and disrupted sleep align with the criteria for PDD. Additionally, her clinically significant distress in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning further supports the diagnosis of PDD. Therefore, both options A and B are correct as they refer to the same disorder.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Bob has always been a big beer drinker, but in the past year he has increased his daily alcohol intake so much that he has often been too drunk to go to work. He enjoys feeling intoxicated because he is a bit of a worrier and he feels relaxed when he is drunk. Bob has been needing to drink more beer each night in order to get drunk because lately 8 drinks in a night (his usual to get drunk) doesn't cut it and he stays sober. Bob doesn't want to lose his job and he's always thinking that it'd be good if he drank a bit less but he think it's too hard to quit. When he is sober enough to go to work he has cravings for beer. What does Bob have?
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Mild alcohol use disorder
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Moderate alcohol use disorder
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Nonpathological use of alcohol
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Severe alcohol use disorder
Correct Answer
A. Severe alcohol use disorderExplanation
Bob has a severe alcohol use disorder because he has increased his daily alcohol intake to the point where he is often too drunk to go to work. He also needs to drink more beer each night in order to get drunk, indicating a tolerance to alcohol. Bob experiences cravings for beer when he is sober, which is another symptom of severe alcohol use disorder. Additionally, Bob acknowledges that he wants to drink less but finds it difficult to quit, further indicating a severe problem with alcohol consumption.Rate this question:
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- 12.
Sally is always worried about what people at school think of her. She won't speak to anyone at school. This makes it really hard for her because she often doesn't understand the maths equations and she wants to ask the teacher a question about them but she can't manage to get the words out. She has been at high school for three months now and has refused to say a word. She used to speak in middle school and currently speaks at home and with friends from her old school outside of school. What does Sally have?
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Social anxiety disorder
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Specific phobia
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Agoraphobia
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Selective mutism
Correct Answer
A. Selective mutismExplanation
Sally has selective mutism. This is evident from the fact that she is unable to speak to anyone at school, despite being able to speak at home and with friends outside of school. Selective mutism is a social anxiety disorder characterized by the consistent failure to speak in specific social situations, such as school, despite being able to speak in other situations.Rate this question:
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- 13.
Kitara is obsessed with cleanliness and the absence of germs in her house so she feels the need to wash her hands and clean the house or work area she is in every 10 mins throughout the day. She is worried that she will get sick from germs. She is also worried about whether her children will do well at school and get good careers, whether the kitten is lonely because she only brought home one instead of two like the RSPCA lady suggested, and whether her husband Dave will leave her for another woman who is prettier and smarter than she is. She finds it impossible to control the worry, feels tired, and has trouble sleeping. What does Kitara have?
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She doesn't meet any diagnoses - kittens are adorable and it is normal to fuss over them
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Obsessive compulsive disorder
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Obsessive compulsive disorder and Generalised anxiety disorder
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Generalised anxiety disorder
Correct Answer
A. Obsessive compulsive disorder and Generalised anxiety disorderExplanation
Kitara's excessive worry about cleanliness and germs, as well as her need to constantly wash her hands and clean, suggests symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Her worries about her children's success, her kitten's loneliness, and her husband leaving her indicate generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Both disorders are characterized by uncontrollable worry, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping, which align with Kitara's experiences. Therefore, Kitara likely has both OCD and GAD.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Over the last three months Tom has had 'high' and 'low' periods. His 'high' periods last for about 10 days and he feels as if he can do anything, is on top of the world, is really energetic and forgets to sleep because he feels he doesn't need to. He goes out on the town nearly every night and engages in reckless activities, like high drug and alcohol use, unprotected sex with multiple partners, and driving under the influence. (Tom usually drinks and does a few 'party' drugs but only on the weekends and not to this degree). He tends to miss work during these highs. When the high ends, he comes crashing down and feels depressed, has no energy, wants to sleep all of the time, barely eats, and feels suicidal. What does Tom have?
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Substance / medication induced depression
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Cyclothymic disorder
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Bipolar disorder I
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Bipolar disorder II
Correct Answer
A. Bipolar disorder IExplanation
Tom exhibits symptoms of bipolar disorder I. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including episodes of mania and depression. Tom's "high" periods, where he feels energetic, engages in reckless behavior, and experiences a decreased need for sleep, are indicative of a manic episode. These episodes are followed by a crash into a depressive state, where he feels depressed, lacks energy, and has thoughts of suicide. This pattern of extreme mood swings aligns with the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder I.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Mona had a panic attack two months ago when she was driving over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the traffic was really congested in peak hour. She was really stressed about work and the traffic that she forgot how to drive for a second and even though traffic was so slow it wasn't moving so it didn't matter (she remembered a second later), Mona's heart raced, she felt sick, started shaking, she got sweaty palms and thought she was going to die. Since then, Mona experienced a panic attack on that same bridge when she drove back home so she has started driving to work the long way so she doesn't get a panic attack. She's been worried the past 2 months that she will have more panic attacks driving and is afraid she will lose control of the car and kill someone. What does Mona have?
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Unspecified anxiety disorder
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Other specified anxiety disorder
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She has experienced panic attacks but does not meet criteria for any mental disorder
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Panic disorder
Correct Answer
A. Panic disorderExplanation
Mona's symptoms and experiences align with panic disorder. She has had multiple panic attacks, which are characterized by intense fear and physical symptoms such as racing heart, sweating, and shaking. These attacks are triggered by driving over Sydney Harbour Bridge during peak hours. Mona's fear of having more panic attacks while driving and her worry about losing control of the car and causing harm to others further support the diagnosis of panic disorder.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Over the last month, Amelia has had a loss of interest in things she used to enjoy. She has a low and irritable mood most of the day almost every day. She also feels "slowed down" in her body, lacks enjoy and has suicidal thoughts. Last week, for 5 days in a row, Amelia didn't feel depressed and instead felt euphoric and had lots of energy and got a lot of work and housework done. She was more talkative than usual, slept 6 hours instead of her usual 8 but didn't feel tired, and achieved more goals at work and home than usual. Amelia's housemates commented on this change last week. What does Amelia have?
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Bipolar I disorder
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Major depressive disorder
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Bipolar II disorder
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Cyclothymic disorder
Correct Answer
A. Bipolar II disorderExplanation
Amelia's symptoms indicate that she experiences episodes of depression, as evidenced by her loss of interest, low mood, irritability, slowed down feeling, lack of enjoyment, and suicidal thoughts. However, she also experiences a distinct period of elevated mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep, and increased goal-directed activity, which are characteristic of hypomanic episodes. Since Amelia does not meet the criteria for a full manic episode, she is diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder. This disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression and hypomania.Rate this question:
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- 17.
Which grouping best sums up the criteria groupings for substance use disorders in DSM-5?
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Impaired control, social impairment, risky use, pharmacological criteria (tolerance and withdrawal)
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Occupational and social impairment, withdrawal and tolerance
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Prolonged and unsafe drug use, inability to stop using
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Inability to stop using, occupational and social impairment
Correct Answer
A. Impaired control, social impairment, risky use, pharmacological criteria (tolerance and withdrawal)Explanation
The correct answer is "Impaired control, social impairment, risky use, pharmacological criteria (tolerance and withdrawal)". This answer accurately summarizes the criteria groupings for substance use disorders in DSM-5. It includes impaired control, which refers to the inability to control substance use; social impairment, which refers to the negative impact on social relationships and functioning; risky use, which refers to engaging in substance use despite potential harm; and pharmacological criteria such as tolerance (needing more of the substance to achieve the same effect) and withdrawal (experiencing physical and psychological symptoms when substance use is discontinued).Rate this question:
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- 18.
Jake has experienced a low mood for the past week. He noticed that he regularly feels depressed for about a week at a time but he feels OK in between these periods. When he has these times where he has low mood, Jake also feels lethargic, forgets to eat, has problems sleeping and can't concentrate. This has been happening for about 18 months (previously he felt OK all of the time). He hasn't had a manic episode and he doesn't take drugs.
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Unspecified depressive disorder
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Other specified depressive disorder - Depressive episode with insufficient symptoms
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Other specified depressive disorder - short-duration depressive episode
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Other specified depressive disorder - recurrent brief depression
Correct Answer
A. Other specified depressive disorder - recurrent brief depressionExplanation
The correct answer is Other specified depressive disorder - recurrent brief depression. This is because the individual experiences regular periods of low mood for about a week at a time, but feels okay in between these periods. The symptoms described, such as feeling lethargic, forgetting to eat, having problems sleeping, and difficulty concentrating, are consistent with depressive episodes. Additionally, the duration of the symptoms (18 months) and the absence of manic episodes or drug use suggest a recurrent pattern of brief depressive episodes, fitting the criteria for Other specified depressive disorder - recurrent brief depression.Rate this question:
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- 19.
Zerina, age 47, has always been shy since she was a young girl. She has difficulty talking to strangers and prefers to let others speak up at her office work meeting while she sits back and takes notes. She fears public speaking but doesn't need to do this for her job so she doesn't worry about this. She is self conscious when speaking to everyone apart from her husband and two children. She works full time and gets everything done on time and has been promoted a few times in her career. What does Zerina have?
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Social anxiety disorder
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Normative shyness
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Specific phobia
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Selective mutism
Correct Answer
A. Normative shynessExplanation
Zerina's shyness can be considered normative shyness because it does not significantly interfere with her daily life or job performance. She is able to function well in her workplace, despite her difficulty in speaking up during meetings. Additionally, her shyness is limited to speaking with strangers and not with her close family members. Therefore, it can be concluded that Zerina's shyness is within the normal range of social behavior and does not meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, or selective mutism.Rate this question:
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- 20.
Cameron enjoys rock climbing and other outdoor physical activities so 7 months ago, when his friend asked him to try spelunking (cave exploration), he thought he'd give it a go. When Cameron had crawled inside a cave he started to panic that he wouldn't be able to escape. His heart started racing, he had chest pain, and he thought he was having a heart attack and thought he'd die. Since then he has experienced the same symptoms when he is in crowds, shops, the cinema and on public transport. He avoids these places because he's afraid he won't be able to escape from these enclosed spaces. When he is in other places he feels fine and he doesn't worry that he will have panic attacks again because he avoids those places. What does Cameron have?
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Agoraphobia
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Panic disorder with agoraphobia
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Panic disorder without agoraphobia
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Other specified anxiety disorder
Correct Answer
A. AgoraphobiaExplanation
Cameron's fear of being unable to escape from enclosed spaces after his experience in the cave is a key symptom of agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of situations or places where escape might be difficult or embarrassing. In Cameron's case, he avoids crowded places, shops, the cinema, and public transport because he is afraid of experiencing panic attacks and being unable to escape. This fear and avoidance of certain situations is consistent with the diagnosis of agoraphobia.Rate this question:
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- 21.
Robert has been feeling low the past 3 years. Most weeks, he feels irritable and depressed almost every day and he has trouble sleeping. Every few months, he stops feeling low and he has increased energy and talks at a million miles an hour (usually he talks slowly). He doesn't use drugs or have any other medical conditions or mental disorders. What does Robert have?
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Bipolar disorder II
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Cyclothymic disorder
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Bipolar disorder I
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Robert doesn't meet criteria for a mental disorder; he is experiencing depressive and hypomanic symptoms but would not meet any diagnosis.
Correct Answer
A. Cyclothymic disorderExplanation
Robert's symptoms of feeling low for most weeks, irritability, depression, trouble sleeping, and periods of increased energy and rapid speech suggest that he may have cyclothymic disorder. This disorder is characterized by alternating periods of hypomania and depressive symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder I or II. Since Robert does not have any other medical conditions or mental disorders and his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis, cyclothymic disorder is the most appropriate explanation.Rate this question:
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- 22.
Over the past few months, Micah has had a low mood, lost a lot of weight, trouble sleeping, lost interest in sports (his biggest passion), and always feels tired. He has begun to worry that people don't like him and is afraid of losing his job and is worried that he won't have enough money to pay his mortgage. He feels sick and tense when he worries and he can't stop his worrying so he is worrying all the time, which makes him feel more depressed. He has started missing days of work. What does Micah have?
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Generalised anxiety disorder
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Major depressive disorder
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Major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder
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Major depressive disorder and symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder but they are insufficiently short in duration to meet a GAD diagnosis
Correct Answer
A. Major depressive disorder and symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder but they are insufficiently short in duration to meet a GAD diagnosisExplanation
Micah is experiencing symptoms of both major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. He shows signs of depression such as low mood, weight loss, trouble sleeping, loss of interest, and fatigue. Additionally, he exhibits symptoms of anxiety such as worrying excessively, feeling sick and tense, and being unable to stop worrying. However, these symptoms are not of sufficient duration to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder. Therefore, the correct answer is that Micah has major depressive disorder and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, but they are insufficiently short in duration to meet a GAD diagnosis.Rate this question:
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- 23.
While he's not a professional gambler, Gary has always enjoyed going to the pokies alone every weekend. Over the last year he's started to gamble larger sums of money because he finds the rush exhilarating. Gary and his partner Mark have a shared bank account and they have been arguing a lot the last few months because Mark is unhappy with Gary's "reckless spending". Gary feels bad after these arguments so he goes to the pokies which makes him feel relaxed. What does Gary have?
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Moderate gambling disorder
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Mild gambling disorder
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Severe gambling disorder
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Nondisordered gambling (professional and/or social gambling)
Correct Answer
A. Mild gambling disorderExplanation
Gary exhibits signs of a mild gambling disorder. He engages in gambling regularly and has increased the amount of money he bets, indicating a loss of control. His partner's concerns about his reckless spending and the arguments they have suggest negative consequences of his gambling behavior. Additionally, Gary uses gambling as a coping mechanism to feel relaxed after arguments, indicating an emotional reliance on gambling. While he may not be a professional gambler, his behavior aligns with the criteria for a mild gambling disorder.Rate this question:
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Apr 12, 2015Quiz Created by
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