PSYC 2351
Abnormal Psychology
Southern Methodist University
Psychological disorders are considered developmental disorders when there is a
neurological basis for condition
Although not classified as “developmental disorders”, most psychological disorders can be considered developmental in nature because they
appear early in life and change over the lifespan
The major reason that developmental disorders are considered to be so serious in terms of their capacity to disrupt later functioning is
that failure to develop at one level is thought to inhibit later stages of development.
Which of the following often overlaps with ADHD?
- a. Oppositional defiant disorder
- b. Bipolar disorder
- c. Conduct disorder
The most accurate statement with regard to the genetic influences of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is
there appear to be multiple genetic influences.
Which best describes the way attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) develops as children grow into adulthood?
Manifestations of ADHD tend to change over time but many problems often persist.
Clorinda is very concerned about giving her son Mario medication to treat his hyperactivity. She read that the use of prescription medications to treat ADHD places children at increased risk for later substance abuse. If she were to treat her son with medication, which would be the best one to give him that would address these concerns?
Stimulant medications seem to treat ADHD because they
reinforce the brain's ability to focus attention
A specific learning disorder is defined as
academic performance that is substantially below the level predicted by the individual's age, IQ, and
education.
Why would it be incorrect to say that individuals diagnosed with specific learning disorders are not intelligent?
Specific learning disorders can be diagnosed in people of any intelligence, since they are partially determined by academic performance that falls substantially below IQ-based expectations.
An alternative to using the discrepancy between IQ and achievement in identifying children with specific learning disorders is
response to intervention.
Ken is a 12-year-old boy of average intelligence as indicated by his IQ scores. He loves school and works hard on his homework. Ken has earned straight As in every subject except math, where he has been achieving grades in the C range. Which of the following statements is correct?
Ken does not appear to have a specific learning disorder because his achievement is consistent with
expectations based on his intelligence.
Alvin is a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with a mathematics disorder. His treatment plan will most likely involve
teaching him different strategies to
improve cognitive skills.
All of the following were previously classified as pervasive developmental disorders EXCEPT
a. childhood disintegrative disorder.
b. Rett's disorder.
c. autistic disorder.
d. specific learning disorder.
Robin is a 3-year-old girl who appears uninterested in people. She generally interacts with her mom only when she needs
something. In some ways, Robin seems to be interested in her mother only as a tool to help her get what she wants. Robin would probably be diagnosed with
The restricted pattern of behavior generally observed in autistic disorder involves
an intense preference for keeping things the same.
Jean is a 14-year-old girl with autistic disorder who seems compelled to run around touching each door every time she comes home. If she is prevented from touching each door, Jean has a tantrum. This is an example of
Which of the following is currently being researched as a possible cause of autistic disorder?
The levels of the
neuropeptide oxytocin
Researchers, studying the brain of individuals with autistic disorder, suggest that one area of the brain that may be involved with the disorder is the ___________.
Jim is a teen who has no friends. Although he is quite verbal, he speaks in a strange and formal style of speech. Jim is obsessed with airplanes and behaves in a very strange way. He is very self-focused and does not understand the concept of social reciprocity. The most likely form of autistic spectrum disorder affecting Jim is ____________.
An appropriate treatment goal for a child with autistic disorder
reduction in tantrums and enhancement of communication skills.
Which treatment approach has been most clearly documented as benefitting children with autistic disorder by helping to decrease agitation?
Pharmacological treatment
Medication treatment for autistic disorder has been found to be ____________ in addressing the core symptoms of the disorder.
Generally speaking, the treatment for a child with autistic disorder should involve
behavioral therapy, school education, and a focus on developing as much independence as possible.
Intellectual disability is defined as
below-average intellectual ability and adaptive functioning.
The reason that intellectual disability was recorded on the same DSM-IV axis as personality disorders is because
this axis relates to relatively chronic conditions that are less responsive to treatment.
The diagnostic criteria for intellectual disability include an assessment of adaptive functioning because an IQ score is
- an insufficient measure of impairment.
The fact that IQ scores have, on average, risen over the past century is called the ________ effect.
Lesch-Nyhan
syndrome is an example of a
genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability.