One explanation for dissociative identity disorder is that it results from:

On three separate occasions when she was out in public over the past three months, Vanessa has had to rush home after being overwhelmed by dizzy spells during which her heart pounded and she felt as if she couldn't breathe. On the last occasion she went to the emergency room but a thorough examination ruled out any medical problem. Nevertheless, Vanessa has become increasingly fearful about having more episodes and she has restricted her activities to only the most essential outings. Vanessa seems to be displaying symptoms of which of the following psychological disorders?

Personality traits are:

Paul's girlfriend is very concerned about him because his thinking seems to have become increasingly confused. Today, Paul said that he was really the reincarnation of John Lennon, the former member of the Beatles who was shot and killed in 1980. Paul also told her that he had special musical powers and that he needed to start his own rock group so that he could deliver his message to the masses. Paul seems to be experiencing:

Although Jenna had never given Rob any reason to suspect her of being unfaithful to him, whenever Jenna went out without him, Rob constantly questioned her about her behavior and whereabouts when she returned. After Rob's behavior started to become even more controlling, Jenna finally told Rob she didn't want to date him anymore. Rob reacted with rage and more accusations. After the breakup, Rob began following her. Jenna finally got a restraining order to make him stop. In this scenario, Rob is displaying behaviors that characterize:

Priscilla's husband insisted that she go to a mental health clinic when she was unable to explain or remember her frequent absences from home, phone calls from people that she claimed she had never heard of, and check stubs from checks that she couldn't remember writing. At the clinic, Priscilla admitted there were long stretches of her life that were completely blank to her. Suddenly, Priscilla's voice, facial expression, and demeanor changed, and she said to the clinic psychologist, “Don't pay any attention to that old Priscilla. She's just a bore. My name is Patty, and I'm a lot more fun to talk to.” The clinic psychologist suspects that Priscilla may be suffering from:

A relatively common symptom in schizophrenia is greatly reduced production of speech--the person's verbal responses are limited to very brief, empty comments. This particular symptom is termed:

Which of the following is cited as evidence supporting the viral infection theory of schizophrenia?

In obsessive-compulsive disorder, _____ are among the most common obsessions.

According to the Critical Thinking box on smoking and psychological disorders:

The _____ type of schizophrenia is characterized by bizarre postures or grimacing, extremely agitated behavior, complete immobility, or echoing the words spoken by another person.

The most common type of hallucination that occurs in schizophrenia is:

Personality disorders are evident in up to _____ percent of the general population.

Which of the following is a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

A relatively common symptom in schizophrenia is that the person responds with greatly reduced emotional expressiveness, including facial expressions. This particular symptom is referred to as:

Antipsychotic medications, such as Thorazine or Haldol, help reduce symptoms of schizophrenia by:

After working in Austin, Texas, for five years, Rebecca's company transferred her to an upper management position in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since moving to Minnesota, Rebecca is bothered by strong feelings of despondency during the long, dark winter months. When spring arrives in late April or May, her mood improves and she is back to normal. Rebecca's symptoms suggest that she is experiencing:

Claire stopped taking her medication a few weeks ago and has recently begun to experience some very odd symptoms. If someone asks her a question, her response makes no sense, as her sentences seem to just be strings of loosely connected ideas. She cannot concentrate on anything, and her thinking seems completely illogical and disorganized. She veers from one unrelated topic or activity to another for no apparent reason. Taken together, Claire appears to be experiencing schizophrenic symptoms which are called:

What do the famous writers Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and Sylvia Plath share in common?

Susan was treated for an episode of schizophrenia before she was married. In recent weeks, her husband has noticed that Susan's speech and facial expressions have become flat and expressionless and that she seems to have little motivation. Assuming that Susan is on the verge of another episode of schizophrenia, these symptoms are referred to as _____ symptoms of schizophrenia.

Which of the following is an example of a dissociative experience that is pathological or abnormal?

Peter and Luke are identical twins who are juniors at the same college. Throughout their college years, Peter has been treated for two episodes of major depression. In contrast, Luke has never been treated for major depression. Based on twin studies, Luke has about a _____ percent statistical chance of also developing a mood disorder.

Keith was surprised when his boss invited a coworker to lunch but did not invite him. At first, Keith was convinced that he had not been invited because they wanted to discuss Keith's job performance at lunch. Later, the coworker told Keith that the boss had taken her to lunch to tell her that she was being laid off. Privately, Keith was relieved because it now made perfect sense to him why he had not been invited to lunch. In this scenario, Keith appears to be:

Jeffrey is so preoccupied by his fear of germs that he always keeps his car and apartment windows sealed tightly, and refuses to allow anyone into his apartment. He carries his own silverware which he uses when he eats away from home, and washes his hands every time he touches anything that has been touched by someone else. Jeffrey would most likely be diagnosed with:

Which of the following would be an example of a phobia that reflects biological preparedness?

In contrast to normal anxiety, pathological anxiety:

The onset of bipolar disorder is most likely to occur:

The dopamine hypothesis is the theory that schizophrenia is due to:

Deceiving and manipulating others for one's own personal gain is a hallmark of which personality disorder?

The highest rate of suicide in the United States occurs in which age group?

When people first meet fourteen-year-old Micah, they find him to be an attractive, charming, young man. But Micah's adoptive parents, his teachers, and his schoolmates know otherwise. Micah is a chronic liar, manipulator, and bully. In the past four years, he has been caught several times vandalizing other peoples' property in his neighborhood and at his school. He has been arrested twice for shoplifting and was also caught trying to cash a forged check. Based on this information, it is probably safe to say that Micah would be diagnosed as having:

After not seeing Rita for almost a week, a neighbor went to check on her. He discovered that Rita had barricaded all the doors and windows to her apartment because she believed that “terrorist forces” were going to attack her and her three cats. Rita appears to be suffering from:

Ruth was hospitalized after a concerned coworker went to her house to find out why Ruth had unexpectedly failed to show up at work. When the coworker peered through a window, she saw Ruth standing motionless in the middle of her living room, much like a mannequin. Ruth appears to be experiencing the _____ type of schizophrenia.

One important reason why some psychologists are skeptical of dissociative identity disorder is that:

The term _____ refers to the scientific study of the origins, symptoms, and development of psychological disorders.

Uncontrollable thoughts and worries are to _____ as uncontrollable behaviors are to _____.

When a person is driven to perform repetitive behaviors in a particular sequence or pattern, he or she is said to be experiencing a(n):

In obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessions and compulsions frequently:

Although she was very secretive when she was first admitted to the psychiatric hospital, Tiffany eventually told the doctor that the devil's voice was constantly telling her to hurt certain people and herself. Tiffany is experiencing:

Over the last three months, Ivana's feelings of despondency have intensified for no apparent reason. Although her friends have tried to be encouraging and supportive, Ivana says that she feels completely detached from people, worthless, and has even thought about killing herself. Ivana's symptoms would suggest that she is probably suffering from:

Jason has periods when he feels extremely despondent for no apparent reason. During these periods, he finds it very difficult to be productive in his college classes or at his job. Jason's symptoms are characteristics of the DSM-IV-TR category of:

Although he has only been caught one time, Devin has repeatedly shoplifted small items that he could easily pay for or doesn't need. Which of the following psychological disorders is Devin most likely to have?

Carla has worked as a human resources specialist for several years, but she doesn't really like the job. Although her work performance is adequate, Carla almost always feels slightly down and sad. Carla's chronic case of “the blues” is characteristic of the psychological disorder called:

Researcher George Gerbner and his colleagues analyzed U.S. television shows. According to Gerbner's data, which of the following groups is portrayed most negatively on U.S. television?

An unpleasant emotional state that involves feelings of worry, dread, apprehension, and tension, along with heightened physical arousal, is called:

According to the results of National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), approximately one out of _____ American adults has experienced the symptoms of a psychological disorder at some point in his or her lifetime.

Which of the following is a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Antidepressant medications are often used in the treatment of major depression. In general, these medications work by:

Research has shown that both major depression and bipolar disorder:

Darlene is constantly nervous, tense, and apprehensive. She worries about her health, her job, her children, and her relatives. Her husband has tried to reassure her that everything is going well, but she can't seem to shake her pervasive anxiety. Darlene is probably experiencing: