LPC Psychopathology and Diagnosis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client presents with recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent worry about future attacks for over a month. Which DSM-5 diagnosis best fits?
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder (Correct answer)
- Agoraphobia
- Specific Phobia
Correct answer: Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder requires recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus at least one month of anticipatory anxiety or maladaptive behavioral changes.
Question 2: Which specifier in DSM-5 Major Depressive Disorder indicates the presence of delusions or hallucinations?
- With anxious distress
- With melancholic features
- With psychotic features (Correct answer)
- With atypical features
Correct answer: With psychotic features
The 'with psychotic features' specifier is used when delusions or hallucinations accompany a major depressive episode.
Question 3: A client has a 6-month history of auditory hallucinations and disorganized speech but no negative symptoms and maintains employment. Which diagnosis is most appropriate?
- Schizophrenia
- Schizophreniform Disorder (Correct answer)
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Brief Psychotic Disorder
Correct answer: Schizophreniform Disorder
Schizophreniform Disorder requires symptoms lasting 1–6 months; Schizophrenia requires at least 6 months including prodromal and residual phases.
Question 4: Which personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy?
- Histrionic Personality Disorder
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Correct answer)
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Correct answer: Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is defined by grandiosity, entitlement, need for admiration, and empathy deficits.
Question 5: DSM-5 requires that symptoms of ADHD be present before what age to meet diagnostic criteria?
- 5 years
- 7 years
- 10 years
- 12 years (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 12 years
DSM-5 requires several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms to be present before age 12.
Question 6: A veteran experiences flashbacks, avoidance of war-related stimuli, negative cognitions, and hyperarousal for 3 months after combat. Which diagnosis applies?
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorder with anxiety
- PTSD (Correct answer)
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
Correct answer: PTSD
PTSD requires symptoms in all four clusters (intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions/mood, hyperarousal) lasting more than one month after trauma.
Question 7: Which DSM-5 disorder involves episodes of binge eating without compensatory behaviors, occurring at least once a week for three months?
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating Disorder (Correct answer)
- Purging Disorder
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Correct answer: Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder is defined by recurrent binge eating without the purging or compensatory behaviors seen in Bulimia Nervosa.
LPC Psychopathology and Diagnosis 2
A client presents with recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent worry about future attacks for over a month.
Which DSM-5 diagnosis best fits?