which of the following statements about brain dysfunction and psychiatric disorders is correct

ATI RN

Psychology 101 Final Exam

1. Which of the following statements about brain dysfunction and psychiatric disorders is correct?

A. Identifiable brain damage is often the cause of psychiatric disorders.
B. Brain damage may decrease the risk of developing a psychiatric condition.
C. Changes in brain function appear to play a role in many psychiatric disorders.
D. Brain development can be altered by experience, always leading to changes in the brain that decrease the risk of developing a psychiatric condition.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct statement is C: 'Changes in brain function appear to play a role in many psychiatric disorders.' This statement is accurate as research suggests that alterations in brain function are associated with various psychiatric disorders. Option A is incorrect because while brain damage can contribute to some psychiatric conditions, it is not always the primary cause. Option B is incorrect as brain damage typically increases the risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Option D is incorrect because while brain development can be influenced by experiences, it does not always decrease the risk of psychiatric conditions.

2. Sigmund Freud developed an innovative procedure for treating people with psychological problems, which he called?

A. Behavior modification.
B. Primal therapy.
C. Psychoanalysis.
D. Rational-emotive therapy.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis, not behavior modification, primal therapy, or rational-emotive therapy, as an innovative method for treating psychological problems. Psychoanalysis focuses on exploring unconscious motivations to understand and address psychological disorders, making it the correct answer. Behavior modification involves changing behavior through conditioning techniques, primal therapy emphasizes expressing repressed emotions, and rational-emotive therapy aims to identify and change irrational beliefs.

3. What is extinction and how might it be used in treating a disorder?

A. Extinction strengthens the conditioned response by continuously pairing the conditioned stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.
B. Extinction is the process of eliminating a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus.
C. Extinction is ineffective and is not used in treating disorders.
D. Extinction is the process of intensifying the conditioned response by pairing the conditioned stimulus with a stronger unconditioned stimulus.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Extinction is the process of eliminating a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus. This helps in reducing or eliminating undesired behaviors. Choice A is incorrect because extinction does not strengthen the conditioned response but weakens it. Choice C is also incorrect as extinction is a valid technique used in treating disorders by reducing unwanted behaviors. Choice D is incorrect as extinction does not involve intensifying the conditioned response but rather diminishing it.

4. What neurotransmitter was first believed to be the cause of schizophrenia?

A. GABA
B. Serotonin
C. Epinephrine
D. Dopamine

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is Dopamine. Dopamine was initially thought to be the primary cause of schizophrenia. This neurotransmitter hypothesis was based on the observation that drugs that increase dopamine activity can worsen symptoms of schizophrenia, while drugs that decrease dopamine activity can improve symptoms. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because GABA, serotonin, and epinephrine were not the neurotransmitters initially believed to be the cause of schizophrenia.

5. Distinguish between necessary, sufficient, and contributory causes of abnormal behavior.

A. Necessary causes are required for a disorder to develop but do not guarantee it.
B. Sufficient causes guarantee a disorder will develop, but they are not required.
C. Contributory causes increase the likelihood of a disorder but are neither necessary nor sufficient.
D. Contributory causes are conditions that guarantee the occurrence of a disorder.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In understanding abnormal behavior, it is crucial to differentiate between necessary, sufficient, and contributory causes. Necessary causes are those that are required for a disorder to develop, meaning that without them, the disorder would not occur. However, their presence does not guarantee the occurrence of the disorder. Sufficient causes, on the other hand, are those that alone can guarantee the development of a disorder, but they are not the only factors that can lead to it. Contributory causes are factors that increase the likelihood of a disorder but are not essential on their own nor do they guarantee the disorder. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer as it accurately describes the role of necessary causes in the development of abnormal behavior. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they misrepresent the definitions and roles of sufficient and contributory causes in causing abnormal behavior.