ABPSYCH Mock Boards w Answers
ABPSYCH Mock Boards w Answers
a) Brain abnormalities
b) Genetic inheritance
c) Demonic possession and witchcraft
d) Environmental stressors
a) Humorism
b) Phrenology
c) Psychoanalysis
d) Behaviorism
a) Humorism
Rationale: Hippocrates proposed the humoral theory, which linked health to the
balance of four bodily fluids or "humors."
3. In the humoral theory of Hippocrates, which humor was associated with a melancholic
temperament?
a) Blood
b) Black bile
c) Yellow bile
d) Phlegm
b) Black bile
Rationale: In Hippocrates’ theory, an excess of black bile was thought to cause
melancholia (depression).
a) Moon
b) Sun
c) Fire
d) Water
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
a) Moon
Rationale: "Lunatic" is derived from "luna," the Latin word for the moon, as it
was believed that lunar phases influenced mental health.
a) Biological
b) Psychological
c) Social
d) All of the above
a) Dopamine
b) Serotonin
c) Acetylcholine
d) GABA
b) Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, and
its dysfunction is linked to depression.
9. Which part of the brain is primarily involved in the regulation of emotions and is often
studied in psychopathology?
a) Cerebellum
b) Medulla
c) Limbic system
d) Occipital lobe
c) Limbic system
Rationale: The limbic system, particularly the amygdala, plays a central role in
emotional regulation and is often implicated in psychopathology.
a) To conduct research
b) To diagnose psychological disorders
c) To administer medication
d) To perform surgery
11. The process of determining whether a particular problem meets the criteria for a specific
psychological disorder is called:
a) Treatment
b) Therapy
c) Diagnosis
d) Prognosis
c) Diagnosis
Rationale: Diagnosis is the process of identifying whether an individual's
symptoms align with a recognized psychological disorder.
12. Which of the following is a key characteristic of a good clinical assessment tool?
a) Complexity
b) Ambiguity
c) Standardization
d) Subjectivity
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
c) Standardization
Rationale: A reliable assessment tool must be standardized to ensure consistency
in administration and scoring across different contexts.
13. What does the term "reliability" refer to in the context of clinical assessment?
14. Which type of reliability measures the extent to which different raters agree on their
assessments?
a) Test-retest reliability
b) Inter-rater reliability
c) Internal consistency
d) Face reliability
b) Inter-rater reliability
Rationale: Inter-rater reliability assesses the level of agreement among different
clinicians using the same tool.
a) To diagnose disorders
b) To develop treatments
c) To understand the causes of psychological disorders
d) To assess personality traits
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
17. Which research method involves the intensive examination of an individual or small
group?
a) Survey research
b) Case study
c) Experimental research
d) Correlational research
b) Case study
Rationale: Case studies involve in-depth investigations of individuals or small
groups, often used for rare or complex conditions.
19. In experimental research, the variable that is manipulated by the researcher is called the:
a) Dependent variable
b) Independent variable
c) Control variable
d) Confounding variable
b) Independent variable
Rationale: The independent variable is the factor that the researcher controls or
changes to observe its effects on the dependent variable.
20. The variable that is measured to assess the effect of the manipulation in an experiment is
called the:
a) Independent variable
b) Dependent variable
c) Control variable
d) Confounding variable
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
b) Dependent variable
Rationale: The dependent variable is the outcome that is measured to see how it is
affected by the independent variable.
Rationale: GAD is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about multiple life areas,
not limited to any one subject.
Rationale: Panic disorder involves sudden and intense episodes of fear (panic attacks) often
accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, dizziness, or sweating.
c) Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Rationale: OCD is marked by obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts) and compulsions
(repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety).
30. Which disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or
personality states?
a) Dopamine
b) Norepinephrine
c) Serotonin
d) GABA
c) Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin is strongly associated with mood regulation, and lower levels are linked
to depression.
a) Fasting
b) Excessive exercise
c) Self-induced vomiting
d) All of the above
a) Eating large amounts of food without feeling in control and without compensatory
behaviors
Rationale: Binge eating disorder is characterized by episodes of overeating without
compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging).
40. The main difference between bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder is:
a) Erectile disorder
b) Female orgasmic disorder
c) Gender dysphoria
d) Premature ejaculation
c) Gender dysphoria
Rationale: Gender dysphoria is not a sexual dysfunction; it refers to distress due to a
mismatch between gender identity and assigned sex. Sexual dysfunctions are related to
problems with sexual desire, arousal, or performance (e.g., erectile disorder, orgasmic
disorder).
42. A recurrent and intense sexual arousal from the exposure of one's genitals to an
unsuspecting person is called:
a) Voyeuristic disorder
b) Exhibitionistic disorder
c) Frotteuristic disorder
d) Sexual sadism disorder
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
b) Exhibitionistic disorder
Rationale: Exhibitionistic disorder involves exposing one's genitals to an unsuspecting
person for sexual arousal. Voyeuristic disorder involves observing others, frotteuristic
disorder involves rubbing against non-consenting individuals, and sexual sadism involves
deriving pleasure from inflicting pain.
b) Discomfort or distress due to a mismatch between gender identity and assigned sex at
birth
Rationale: Gender dysphoria refers to the distress experienced when an individual's gender
identity does not align with their biological sex.
44. Which of the following treatments is often used for erectile disorder?
a) Alcohol
b) Heroin
c) Cocaine
d) Marijuana
c) Cocaine
Rationale: Cocaine is a stimulant that increases the activity of the nervous system. Alcohol
and heroin are depressants, while marijuana is considered a separate category with both
stimulant and depressant properties.
47. What is the term for a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically
significant impairment or distress?
a) Substance tolerance
b) Substance withdrawal
c) Substance use disorder
d) Substance intoxication
a) Euphoria
b) Increased energy
c) Tremors
d) Hallucinations
c) Tremors
Rationale: Tremors, along with anxiety and hallucinations, are common symptoms of
alcohol withdrawal.
49. Which therapy approach is often used to treat substance use disorders?
Rationale: CBT is widely used for treating substance use disorders, helping individuals
modify their behavior and thought patterns related to substance use.
a) THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
b) CBD (cannabidiol)
c) MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
d) LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)
a) THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
Rationale: THC is the main psychoactive component in marijuana, responsible for its
mind-altering effects.
52. Individuals with which personality disorder are often described as "drama queens" or
excessively emotional?
54. A person who exhibits a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, such that their
motives are interpreted as malevolent, is likely suffering from:
55. Which of the following personality disorders is most closely associated with a lack of
empathy and an inflated sense of self-importance?
a) Sleepwalking
b) Acting out dreams
c) Difficulty falling asleep
d) Excessive daytime sleepiness
a) Anorexia nervosa
b) Bulimia nervosa
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
a) Anorexia nervosa
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any eating disorder, due to
complications such as malnutrition and suicide.
a) Eating behaviors
b) Sleep disorders
c) Anxiety levels
d) Mood disorders
b) Sleep disorders
Rationale: Polysomnography is a comprehensive sleep study used to diagnose sleep
disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia.
59. Which treatment is often used for individuals with anorexia nervosa?
a) Cognitive-behavioral therapy
b) Electroconvulsive therapy
c) Deep brain stimulation
d) Family-based treatment
d) Family-based treatment
Rationale: Family-based treatment (FBT) is an evidence-based therapy for anorexia nervosa,
particularly for adolescents, and involves the family in the recovery process.
60. Which neurotransmitter is implicated in the regulation of mood, appetite, and sleep, and
is often targeted in the treatment of eating and sleep disorders?
a) Dopamine
b) Serotonin
c) GABA
d) Acetylcholine
b) Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin plays a crucial role in mood, appetite, and sleep regulation, and many
treatments for mood, eating, and sleep disorders target serotonin.
a) Anhedonia
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
b) Avolition
c) Hallucinations
d) Alogia
c) Hallucinations
Rationale: Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, and
disorganized thinking. Negative symptoms involve deficits like anhedonia, avolition, and
alogia.
62. What is the term for false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary?
a) Hallucinations
b) Delusions
c) Disorganized thinking
d) Negative symptoms
b) Delusions
Rationale: Delusions are false beliefs maintained despite contradictory evidence, often found
in disorders like schizophrenia.
a) Visual
b) Olfactory
c) Auditory
d) Tactile
c) Auditory
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices, are the most common type of
hallucination in schizophrenia.
a) Delusions
b) Disorganized speech
c) Anhedonia
d) Catatonia
c) Anhedonia
Rationale: Anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure, is a negative symptom of schizophrenia.
Negative symptoms reflect a decrease or absence of normal functions.
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
65. Which subtype of delusional disorder involves the belief that one is loved by someone,
often of higher status?
a) Grandiose type
b) Persecutory type
c) Erotomanic type
d) Jealous type
c) Erotomanic type
Rationale: In erotomanic delusional disorder, the person believes that someone, usually of
higher status, is in love with them.
66. The most common age range for the onset of schizophrenia is:
a) Childhood
b) Early adolescence
c) Late adolescence to early adulthood
d) Middle adulthood
a) Weight gain
b) Tardive dyskinesia
c) Increased energy
d) Insomnia
b) Tardive dyskinesia
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia is a potential side effect of first-generation antipsychotics,
involving involuntary movements, usually of the face and mouth.
68. What is the primary goal of family therapy in the treatment of schizophrenia?
Rationale: Family therapy aims to reduce expressed emotion (EE), which can increase stress
and the risk of relapse in individuals with schizophrenia.
69. Which of the following brain abnormalities is often found in individuals with
schizophrenia?
a) Enlarged ventricles
b) Increased brain volume
c) Thicker cortex
d) Increased gray matter
a) Enlarged ventricles
Rationale: Enlarged ventricles are a common brain abnormality found in individuals with
schizophrenia, indicating a loss of brain tissue.
70. Which psychological intervention has shown promise in helping individuals with
schizophrenia manage their symptoms and improve functioning?
a) Psychoanalysis
b) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
c) Hypnotherapy
d) Humanistic therapy
71. Which of the following is a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
a) Hallucinations
b) Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
c) Impaired social communication and interaction
d) Delusions
a) Dysgraphia
b) Dyscalculia
c) Dyslexia
d) Dyspraxia
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
c) Dyslexia
Rationale: Dyslexia, which involves difficulties with reading, is the most common learning
disorder in children.
a) Only inattentiveness
) Only hyperactivity
c) Inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity
d) Impulsivity only
a) Fidgeting
b) Interrupting others
c) Easily distracted
d) Climbing excessively
c) Easily distracted
Rationale: Being easily distracted is a symptom of inattention in ADHD. Fidgeting and
interrupting others are symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity.
c) Intellectual disability
Rationale: Intellectual disability is marked by significant limitations in intellectual
functioning and adaptive behaviors.
a) Gradual onset
b) Rapid onset
c) Irreversible cognitive impairment
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
d) Normal consciousness
b) Rapid onset
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by a rapid onset of confusion and cognitive impairment,
often reversible with treatment.
77. Alzheimer's disease is most commonly associated with which type of neurocognitive
disorder?
a) Severe
b) Hallucinations
c) Progressive memory loss
d) Motor
a) Dopamine
b) Serotonin
c) Acetylcholine
d) GABA
c) Acetylcholine
Rationale: Acetylcholine is significantly affected in Alzheimer's disease, and medications
often aim to increase its levels to improve memory and cognition.
80. Which type of neurocognitive disorder is associated with chronic alcohol abuse?
a) Parkinson's disease
b) Huntington's disease
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
c) Korsakoff's syndrome
d) Vascular neurocognitive disorder
c) Korsakoff's syndrome
Rationale: Korsakoff's syndrome, a form of neurocognitive disorder, is associated with
chronic alcohol abuse and severe memory impairments.
a) Competence
b) Wealth accumulation
c) Political engagement
d) Personal opinion
a) Competence
Rationale: The APA Ethics Code emphasizes competence, which ensures that psychologists
provide services within their areas of expertise. Other core principles include beneficence,
nonmaleficence, justice, and respect for people's rights.
82. Informed consent in therapy must include which of the following elements?
a) Confidentiality limitations
b) Therapist’s political beliefs
c) Patient's financial status
d) Therapist’s personal background
a) Confidentiality limitations
Rationale: Informed consent must include the limitations of confidentiality, such as
situations involving harm to self or others, or legal requirements for disclosure.
83. Which ethical principle emphasizes the importance of doing no harm to the client?
a) Beneficence
b) Nonmaleficence
c) Justice
d) Fidelity
b) Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence refers to the ethical principle of "do no harm," ensuring that
actions taken do not cause unnecessary harm to the client.
84. What is the purpose of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY NO PART OF THIS PAPER SHOULD BE
MOCK BOARD EXAM REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION
85. What is the legal term for the duty to protect a client from harm, even if it involves
breaking confidentiality?
a) Duty to warn
b) Duty to inform
c) Duty to report
d) Duty to advise
a) Duty to warn
Rationale: Duty to warn requires a therapist to break confidentiality if a client poses a clear
risk of harm to others, based on legal and ethical guidelines.
86. Which court case established the duty to warn in the United States?
90. Which type of legal commitment involves a person being admitted to a psychiatric
facility against their will?
a) Voluntary commitment
b) Involuntary commitment
c) Partial hospitalization
d) Outpatient commitment
b) Involuntary commitment
Rationale: Involuntary commitment is when an individual is admitted to a psychiatric
facility without their consent, typically due to concerns about their safety or the safety of
others.