Psychology of Depression and Mental Health

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Questions and Answers

Gender differences in the prevalence of depression may be partly due to the fact that when stressful experiences occur:

Women tend to act, while men tend to think.

Women tend to distract themselves by drinking, while men tend to delve into their work.

Women tend to delve into their work, while men tend to distract themselves by drinking.

Women tend to think, while men tend to act. (correct)

The criteria for classifying behavior as psychologically disordered:

Have remained largely unchanged over the course of history.

Vary by culture and with time. (correct)

Vary from time to time.

Vary from culture to culture.

Most mental health workers today take the view that disordered behaviors:

Arise from the interaction of nature and nurture. (correct)

Are the product of learning.

Are organic diseases.

Are usually genetically triggered.

The view that all behavior arises from the interaction of heredity and environment is referred to as the __________ approach.

biopsychosocial Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the most pervasive of the psychological disorders?

Depression Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not true concerning depression?

Most depressive episodes appear not to be preceded by any particular factor or event. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not true regarding schizophrenia?

It occurs more frequently in lightly populated areas. Signup and view all the answers

Evidence of environmental effects on psychological disorders is seen in the fact that certain disorders, such as , are universal, whereas others, such as , are culture-bound.

Depression; anorexia nervosa Signup and view all the answers

The effect of drugs that block receptors for dopamine is to:

Alleviate schizophrenia symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

The diagnostic reliability of DSM-IV:

Is relatively high. Signup and view all the answers

Because of some troubling thoughts, Carl recently had a PET scan of his brain that revealed excessive activity in the anterior cingulate area. Carl's psychiatrist believes that Carl suffers from:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder Signup and view all the answers

The term insanity refers to:

Legal definitions. Signup and view all the answers

Phobias and obsessive-compulsive behaviors are classified as:

Anxiety disorders. Signup and view all the answers

According to the social-cognitive perspective, a person who experiences unexpected aversive events may develop helplessness and manifest a(n):

Mood disorder. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was presented in the text as evidence of biological influences on anxiety disorders?

All of the above were presented. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Gender Differences in Depression

Gender differences in depression prevalence are influenced by behavioral responses to stress.
Women are more likely to think about stressful events, while men tend to take action.

Criteria for Psychological Disorders

Classification of disordered behavior varies based on cultural and temporal factors.

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Health

Modern mental health perspectives view disordered behaviors as products of both genetic and environmental interactions.
The biopsychosocial approach emphasizes the interplay of heredity and environment in explaining behaviors.

Prevalence of Psychological Disorders

Depression is the most widespread psychological disorder.
Common belief: depression is more frequent in females than males.

Characteristics of Depression

Many depressive episodes can occur without preceding factors, challenging common misconceptions.
Most episodes last fewer than three months, and many individuals recover without professional therapy.

Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia typically appears during adolescence or early adulthood and shows higher incidence in those born in winter and spring.
It is not more common in lightly populated areas, which is a common misconception.

Environmental vs. Cultural Disorders

Some disorders, like depression, are considered universal, while others, like anorexia nervosa, are culture-bound.

Drug Effects on Schizophrenia

Medications blocking dopamine receptors are effective in alleviating symptoms of schizophrenia.

Diagnostic Classification

The DSM-IV has relatively high diagnostic reliability, although specifics can vary by patient demographics.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Elevated activity in the anterior cingulate area, as seen in brain scans, can indicate OCD.

Legal Definitions of Insanity

The concept of insanity is defined legally rather than clinically, relating mainly to psychotic disorders.

Classification of Phobias and OCD

Phobias and obsessive-compulsive behaviors are classified under anxiety disorders.

Unexpected aversive events can lead to helplessness and the development of mood disorders from a social-cognitive perspective.

Biological Influences on Anxiety Disorders

Evidence of biological components includes:
- Similar phobias in identical twins.
- High activity levels in the frontal lobes of those with OCD.
- Effectiveness of drugs dampening fear responses in the amygdala in treating OCD.

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Description

This quiz explores various aspects of depression, including gender differences, cultural influences on mental health, and the nature vs. nurture debate. Delve into the characteristics and prevalence of psychological disorders to enhance your understanding of these important topics in psychology.