Abnormal Psychology and Psychopathology MCQs 2026

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

1. A Medication alone ✓
2. B Vulnerability interacting with stress ✓
3. C Birth order alone ✓
4. D Dream symbols alone ✓

The biopsychosocial model emphasizes:

1. A Genetics only ✓
2. B Punishment only ✓
3. C Brain scans only ✓
4. D Interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors ✓

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

1. A Genetic influence ✓
2. B No environmental effect ✓
3. C Malingering ✓
4. D A measurement error only ✓

A prodromal phase of psychosis refers to:

1. A The final stage of dementia only ✓
2. B Early subtle symptoms before a full psychotic episode ✓
3. C A medication side effect only ✓
4. D A legally defined insanity plea ✓

Which is a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

1. A Flat affect ✓
2. B Grandiose delusion ✓
3. C Command hallucination ✓
4. D Disorganized speech ✓

Which symptom is classified as a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

1. A Auditory hallucinations ✓
2. B Flat affect ✓
3. C Avolition ✓
4. D Social withdrawal ✓

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

1. A Two days ✓
2. B Two weeks ✓
3. C Six months ✓
4. D One year ✓

A panic attack typically reaches peak intensity within:

1. A Several hours ✓
2. B Several days ✓
3. C Minutes ✓
4. D Several weeks ✓

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

1. A A fixed false belief ✓
2. B A sudden loss of memory ✓
3. C A manic mood episode ✓
4. D A repetitive act performed to reduce anxiety ✓

Generalized anxiety disorder is most associated with:

1. A Excessive worry across many situations ✓
2. B Brief fear limited to one object ✓
3. C Alternating mania and depression ✓
4. D Loss of contact with reality ✓

A diagnosis of bipolar I disorder requires at least one:

1. A Panic attack ✓
2. B Manic episode ✓
3. C Specific phobia ✓
4. D Dysthymic episode ✓

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

1. A Only compulsions and obsessions ✓
2. B Only grandiosity and pressured speech ✓
3. C Intrusion, avoidance, negative mood, and arousal symptoms ✓
4. D Only memory loss without distress ✓

Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by:

1. A Persistent fear of public scrutiny ✓
2. B Intentional production of symptoms for money ✓
3. C Restricted eating due to body image fear ✓
4. D Disruption of identity with recurrent gaps in recall ✓

Anorexia nervosa centrally involves:

1. A Restriction of energy intake with intense fear of weight gain ✓
2. B Binge eating without distress ✓
3. C Psychosis after substance use ✓
4. D Excessive sleep with euphoria ✓

Bulimia nervosa is distinguished by recurrent binge eating plus:

1. A Permanent memory decline ✓
2. B Compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or laxative misuse ✓
3. C Fixed non-bizarre delusions ✓
4. D Motor tics before age six ✓

Somatic symptom disorder emphasizes:

1. A Symptoms intentionally feigned for external reward ✓
2. B Only neurological symptoms from brain injury ✓
3. C Excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors about physical symptoms ✓
4. D Mood elevation lasting one week ✓

A delusion is:

1. A A perception of a real object ✓
2. B A learned motor habit ✓
3. C A normal grief response ✓
4. D A fixed false belief not changed by contrary evidence ✓

Kleptomania is best described as:

1. A Fear of being trapped in crowds ✓
2. B Recurrent binge eating ✓
3. C Repeated panic attacks after trauma ✓
4. D Recurrent failure to resist stealing items not needed for use or value ✓

Intermittent explosive disorder features:

1. A Aggressive outbursts grossly out of proportion to provocation ✓
2. B Persistent depressed mood only ✓
3. C Fixed hallucinations ✓
4. D Identity switching ✓

Substance use disorder is assessed through criteria involving:

1. A Only intelligence scores ✓
2. B Impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological signs ✓
3. C Only dream content ✓
4. D Only family size ✓

Withdrawal refers to:

1. A A false sensory perception ✓
2. B Fear of public places ✓
3. C Symptoms after reducing or stopping a substance ✓
4. D Long-term stable personality trait ✓

Tolerance means:

1. A Inability to recall childhood ✓
2. B Fear of germs ✓
3. C A sudden manic episode ✓
4. D Needing more of a substance for the same effect or reduced effect at the same dose ✓

A hallucination is:

1. A A perception without an external stimulus ✓
2. B A mistaken interpretation of a real stimulus ✓
3. C A culturally shared belief ✓
4. D A learned relaxation response ✓

An illusion differs from a hallucination because an illusion is:

1. A A fixed false belief ✓
2. B A misperception of a real external stimulus ✓
3. C A complete lack of emotion ✓
4. D A panic attack ✓

An obsession is:

1. A A learned reward ✓
2. B A sleep stage ✓
3. C An intrusive and unwanted thought, urge, or image ✓
4. D A legal incentive ✓

A compulsion is performed mainly to:

1. A Increase hallucinations ✓
2. B Create a manic episode ✓
3. C Improve intelligence ✓
4. D Reduce distress or prevent a feared event ✓

Learned helplessness theory is most often linked to:

1. A Depression ✓
2. B Narcissism ✓
3. C Delirium ✓
4. D Kleptomania ✓

The dopamine hypothesis is most closely associated with:

1. A Specific learning disorder ✓
2. B Conversion paralysis ✓
3. C Psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia ✓
4. D Seasonal sleep changes ✓

Delirium is characterized by:

1. A Acute, fluctuating disturbance in attention and awareness ✓
2. B Lifelong intellectual deficits only ✓
3. C Stable personality traits ✓
4. D Six months of worry ✓

Major neurocognitive disorder usually involves:

1. A A single panic attack ✓
2. B Significant cognitive decline interfering with independence ✓
3. C Fear of body weight ✓
4. D Short-lived euphoria ✓

Autism spectrum disorder commonly includes:

1. A Only hallucinations ✓
2. B Only depressed mood ✓
3. C Social communication deficits and restricted repetitive behaviors ✓
4. D Only substance craving ✓

ADHD requires symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that:

1. A Only occur during intoxication ✓
2. B Always begin after age 40 ✓
3. C Require hallucinations ✓
4. D Begin before age 12 and occur in more than one setting ✓

Intellectual disability is diagnosed using deficits in:

1. A Intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning ✓
2. B Mood and appetite only ✓
3. C Vision and hearing only ✓
4. D Sleep and dreams only ✓

Oppositional defiant disorder is mainly marked by:

1. A Loss of reality testing ✓
2. B Angry, argumentative, and vindictive behavior ✓
3. C Severe memory impairment ✓
4. D Compulsive gambling only ✓

Conduct disorder involves a repetitive pattern of:

1. A Fear of contamination ✓
2. B Delusional jealousy ✓
3. C Violating rights of others or major age-appropriate norms ✓
4. D Restricted food intake only ✓

Catatonia primarily refers to abnormalities of:

1. A Appetite only ✓
2. B Motor behavior ✓
3. C Visual acuity ✓
4. D Blood pressure ✓

Antisocial personality disorder requires a pattern of:

1. A Excessive orderliness and perfectionism ✓
2. B Fear of abandonment with identity diffusion ✓
3. C Disregard for and violation of the rights of others ✓
4. D Detachment from social relationships only ✓

Borderline personality disorder is most associated with:

1. A Grandiosity without mood swings ✓
2. B Lifelong absence of social interest ✓
3. C Delusions lasting one month ✓
4. D Instability in relationships, self-image, and affect ✓

Narcissistic personality disorder is marked by:

1. A Grandiosity, need for admiration, and reduced empathy ✓
2. B Compulsions to reduce anxiety ✓
3. C Persistent low mood for two weeks ✓
4. D Sudden neurological weakness ✓

Avoidant personality disorder is best described as:

1. A Suspiciousness with odd beliefs ✓
2. B Social inhibition with feelings of inadequacy ✓
3. C Rule breaking for external gain ✓
4. D Unstable identity and self-harm ✓

Dependent personality disorder mainly involves:

1. A Detached indifference to praise ✓
2. B Perfectionism that blocks task completion ✓
3. C Excessive need to be cared for with submissive behavior ✓
4. D Lack of remorse after aggression ✓

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by:

1. A Fear of germs and washing rituals ✓
2. B Alternating mania and depression ✓
3. C Binge eating and purging ✓
4. D Detachment from social relationships and restricted affect ✓

Specific phobia is defined by:

1. A Marked fear of a specific object or situation ✓
2. B Fear of all social judgment ✓
3. C Persistent hallucinations ✓
4. D Memory loss after trauma only ✓

Agoraphobia is most accurately described as fear of:

1. A Being contaminated by germs ✓
2. B Places where escape may be difficult or help unavailable ✓
3. C Having multiple identities ✓
4. D Eating in front of others only ✓

Social anxiety disorder primarily involves fear of:

1. A Separation from a caregiver ✓
2. B Objects such as snakes only ✓
3. C Negative evaluation by others ✓
4. D Sudden memory decline ✓

Separation anxiety disorder is centered on:

1. A Reduced need for sleep ✓
2. B Obsessions about symmetry ✓
3. C Intentional feigning of illness ✓
4. D Excessive fear about separation from attachment figures ✓

Illness anxiety disorder involves:

1. A Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness ✓
2. B Low weight due to restriction ✓
3. C Fear of heights only ✓
4. D Identity fragmentation ✓

Conversion disorder involves:

1. A Deliberate symptoms for legal benefit ✓
2. B Neurological symptoms incompatible with medical findings ✓
3. C Persistent grandiose beliefs ✓
4. D Binge eating followed by purging ✓

Factitious disorder differs from malingering because factitious disorder has:

1. A Only accidental symptoms ✓
2. B Only substance-induced symptoms ✓
3. C No obvious external reward for symptom production ✓
4. D No intentional behavior ✓

Malingering is best defined as:

1. A Unconscious conversion of stress ✓
2. B Intrusive thoughts with rituals ✓
3. C Mood disorder with psychosis ✓
4. D Intentional production of symptoms for external incentives ✓