Abnormal Psychology and Psychopathology MCQs 2026

Somatic symptom disorder emphasizes:

1. ASymptoms intentionally feigned for external reward✓
2. BOnly neurological symptoms from brain injury✓
3. CExcessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors about physical symptoms✓
4. DMood elevation lasting one week✓

Bulimia nervosa is distinguished by recurrent binge eating plus:

1. APermanent memory decline✓
2. BCompensatory behaviors such as vomiting or laxative misuse✓
3. CFixed non-bizarre delusions✓
4. DMotor tics before age six✓

Anorexia nervosa centrally involves:

1. ARestriction of energy intake with intense fear of weight gain✓
2. BBinge eating without distress✓
3. CPsychosis after substance use✓
4. DExcessive sleep with euphoria✓

Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by:

1. APersistent fear of public scrutiny✓
2. BIntentional production of symptoms for money✓
3. CRestricted eating due to body image fear✓
4. DDisruption of identity with recurrent gaps in recall✓

Post-traumatic stress disorder commonly includes which cluster of symptoms?

1. AOnly compulsions and obsessions✓
2. BOnly grandiosity and pressured speech✓
3. CIntrusion, avoidance, negative mood, and arousal symptoms✓
4. DOnly memory loss without distress✓

A diagnosis of bipolar I disorder requires at least one:

1. APanic attack✓
2. BManic episode✓
3. CSpecific phobia✓
4. DDysthymic episode✓

Generalized anxiety disorder is most associated with:

1. AExcessive worry across many situations✓
2. BBrief fear limited to one object✓
3. CAlternating mania and depression✓
4. DLoss of contact with reality✓

In obsessive-compulsive disorder, a compulsion is best described as:

1. AA fixed false belief✓
2. BA sudden loss of memory✓
3. CA manic mood episode✓
4. DA repetitive act performed to reduce anxiety✓

A panic attack typically reaches peak intensity within:

1. ASeveral hours✓
2. BSeveral days✓
3. CMinutes✓
4. DSeveral weeks✓

The minimum duration of symptoms for a major depressive episode is usually:

1. ATwo days✓
2. BTwo weeks✓
3. CSix months✓
4. DOne year✓

Which symptom is classified as a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

1. AAuditory hallucinations✓
2. BFlat affect✓
3. CAvolition✓
4. DSocial withdrawal✓

Which is a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

1. AFlat affect✓
2. BGrandiose delusion✓
3. CCommand hallucination✓
4. DDisorganized speech✓

Conduct disorder involves a repetitive pattern of:

1. AFear of contamination✓
2. BDelusional jealousy✓
3. CViolating rights of others or major age-appropriate norms✓
4. DRestricted food intake only✓

Agoraphobia is most accurately described as fear of:

1. ABeing contaminated by germs✓
2. BPlaces where escape may be difficult or help unavailable✓
3. CHaving multiple identities✓
4. DEating in front of others only✓

Specific phobia is defined by:

1. AMarked fear of a specific object or situation✓
2. BFear of all social judgment✓
3. CPersistent hallucinations✓
4. DMemory loss after trauma only✓

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by:

1. AFear of germs and washing rituals✓
2. BAlternating mania and depression✓
3. CBinge eating and purging✓
4. DDetachment from social relationships and restricted affect✓

Dependent personality disorder mainly involves:

1. ADetached indifference to praise✓
2. BPerfectionism that blocks task completion✓
3. CExcessive need to be cared for with submissive behavior✓
4. DLack of remorse after aggression✓

Avoidant personality disorder is best described as:

1. ASuspiciousness with odd beliefs✓
2. BSocial inhibition with feelings of inadequacy✓
3. CRule breaking for external gain✓
4. DUnstable identity and self-harm✓

Social anxiety disorder primarily involves fear of:

1. ASeparation from a caregiver✓
2. BObjects such as snakes only✓
3. CNegative evaluation by others✓
4. DSudden memory decline✓

Separation anxiety disorder is centered on:

1. AReduced need for sleep✓
2. BObsessions about symmetry✓
3. CIntentional feigning of illness✓
4. DExcessive fear about separation from attachment figures✓

Illness anxiety disorder involves:

1. APreoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness✓
2. BLow weight due to restriction✓
3. CFear of heights only✓
4. DIdentity fragmentation✓

Conversion disorder involves:

1. ADeliberate symptoms for legal benefit✓
2. BNeurological symptoms incompatible with medical findings✓
3. CPersistent grandiose beliefs✓
4. DBinge eating followed by purging✓

Factitious disorder differs from malingering because factitious disorder has:

1. AOnly accidental symptoms✓
2. BOnly substance-induced symptoms✓
3. CNo obvious external reward for symptom production✓
4. DNo intentional behavior✓

Malingering is best defined as:

1. AUnconscious conversion of stress✓
2. BIntrusive thoughts with rituals✓
3. CMood disorder with psychosis✓
4. DIntentional production of symptoms for external incentives✓

Delirium is characterized by:

1. AAcute, fluctuating disturbance in attention and awareness✓
2. BLifelong intellectual deficits only✓
3. CStable personality traits✓
4. DSix months of worry✓

Major neurocognitive disorder usually involves:

1. AA single panic attack✓
2. BSignificant cognitive decline interfering with independence✓
3. CFear of body weight✓
4. DShort-lived euphoria✓

Autism spectrum disorder commonly includes:

1. AOnly hallucinations✓
2. BOnly depressed mood✓
3. CSocial communication deficits and restricted repetitive behaviors✓
4. DOnly substance craving✓

ADHD requires symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that:

1. AOnly occur during intoxication✓
2. BAlways begin after age 40✓
3. CRequire hallucinations✓
4. DBegin before age 12 and occur in more than one setting✓

Intellectual disability is diagnosed using deficits in:

1. AIntellectual functioning and adaptive functioning✓
2. BMood and appetite only✓
3. CVision and hearing only✓
4. DSleep and dreams only✓

Oppositional defiant disorder is mainly marked by:

1. ALoss of reality testing✓
2. BAngry, argumentative, and vindictive behavior✓
3. CSevere memory impairment✓
4. DCompulsive gambling only✓

Narcissistic personality disorder is marked by:

1. AGrandiosity, need for admiration, and reduced empathy✓
2. BCompulsions to reduce anxiety✓
3. CPersistent low mood for two weeks✓
4. DSudden neurological weakness✓

Borderline personality disorder is most associated with:

1. AGrandiosity without mood swings✓
2. BLifelong absence of social interest✓
3. CDelusions lasting one month✓
4. DInstability in relationships, self-image, and affect✓

Antisocial personality disorder requires a pattern of:

1. AExcessive orderliness and perfectionism✓
2. BFear of abandonment with identity diffusion✓
3. CDisregard for and violation of the rights of others✓
4. DDetachment from social relationships only✓

A delusion is:

1. AA perception of a real object✓
2. BA learned motor habit✓
3. CA normal grief response✓
4. DA fixed false belief not changed by contrary evidence✓

Catatonia primarily refers to abnormalities of:

1. AAppetite only✓
2. BMotor behavior✓
3. CVisual acuity✓
4. DBlood pressure✓

A compulsion is performed mainly to:

1. AIncrease hallucinations✓
2. BCreate a manic episode✓
3. CImprove intelligence✓
4. DReduce distress or prevent a feared event✓

Learned helplessness theory is most often linked to:

1. ADepression✓
2. BNarcissism✓
3. CDelirium✓
4. DKleptomania✓

The diathesis-stress model explains disorder as the result of:

1. AMedication alone✓
2. BVulnerability interacting with stress✓
3. CBirth order alone✓
4. DDream symbols alone✓

The dopamine hypothesis is most closely associated with:

1. ASpecific learning disorder✓
2. BConversion paralysis✓
3. CPsychotic symptoms in schizophrenia✓
4. DSeasonal sleep changes✓

The biopsychosocial model emphasizes:

1. AGenetics only✓
2. BPunishment only✓
3. CBrain scans only✓
4. DInteraction of biological, psychological, and social factors✓

Higher concordance for a disorder among monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins suggests:

1. AGenetic influence✓
2. BNo environmental effect✓
3. CMalingering✓
4. DA measurement error only✓

A prodromal phase of psychosis refers to:

1. AThe final stage of dementia only✓
2. BEarly subtle symptoms before a full psychotic episode✓
3. CA medication side effect only✓
4. DA legally defined insanity plea✓

Kleptomania is best described as:

1. AFear of being trapped in crowds✓
2. BRecurrent binge eating✓
3. CRepeated panic attacks after trauma✓
4. DRecurrent failure to resist stealing items not needed for use or value✓

Intermittent explosive disorder features:

1. AAggressive outbursts grossly out of proportion to provocation✓
2. BPersistent depressed mood only✓
3. CFixed hallucinations✓
4. DIdentity switching✓

Substance use disorder is assessed through criteria involving:

1. AOnly intelligence scores✓
2. BImpaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological signs✓
3. COnly dream content✓
4. DOnly family size✓

Withdrawal refers to:

1. AA false sensory perception✓
2. BFear of public places✓
3. CSymptoms after reducing or stopping a substance✓
4. DLong-term stable personality trait✓

Tolerance means:

1. AInability to recall childhood✓
2. BFear of germs✓
3. CA sudden manic episode✓
4. DNeeding more of a substance for the same effect or reduced effect at the same dose✓

A hallucination is:

1. AA perception without an external stimulus✓
2. BA mistaken interpretation of a real stimulus✓
3. CA culturally shared belief✓
4. DA learned relaxation response✓

An illusion differs from a hallucination because an illusion is:

1. AA fixed false belief✓
2. BA misperception of a real external stimulus✓
3. CA complete lack of emotion✓
4. DA panic attack✓

An obsession is:

1. AA learned reward✓
2. BA sleep stage✓
3. CAn intrusive and unwanted thought, urge, or image✓
4. DA legal incentive✓