Which of the following best describes illness anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondriac?
Overreaction of a medical symptom.
Faked symptoms.
Abnormal voluntary motor or sensory dysfunction.
Worry about health despite no symptoms.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Overreaction of a medical symptom. While individuals with illness anxiety disorder (IAD) may misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of serious illness, the key feature is excessive health-related worry in the absence of significant symptoms, rather than just overreacting to existing symptoms.
B. Faked symptoms. Feigning symptoms is characteristic of factitious disorder (formerly Munchausen syndrome) or malingering, where individuals intentionally produce or exaggerate symptoms for attention or external gain. In IAD, the concern is genuine but unfounded, rather than intentionally fabricated.
C. Abnormal voluntary motor or sensory dysfunction. This describes conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), where individuals experience neurological symptoms (e.g., paralysis, blindness, or seizures) without a medical explanation, typically triggered by psychological stress.
D. Worry about health despite no symptoms. Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is marked by persistent, excessive fear of having a serious illness, despite minimal or no symptoms and repeated medical reassurance. Patients often engage in excessive health-related behaviors (e.g., frequent doctor visits, checking their body) or avoid medical care altogether due to fear of diagnosis.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Vindictive. Being vindictive is more characteristic of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) rather than conduct disorder (CD). While both disorders involve defiant and hostile behavior, ODD is marked by persistent anger, argumentativeness, and vindictiveness, whereas CD includes more severe violations of social norms and the rights of others.
B. Deceitful. Deceitfulness is a core symptom of conduct disorder. It includes lying, manipulating others, shoplifting, and breaking promises for personal gain. This behavior is often done without guilt or remorse.
C. Aggressive towards people and animals. Physical aggression is a defining feature of conduct disorder. Individuals may bully, threaten, fight, use weapons, or show cruelty towards animals without regard for others' safety.
D. Destroying property. Conduct disorder includes deliberate destruction of property, such as vandalism, arson, or breaking into buildings, often as a way to exert control or express defiance.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Delusions are a positive symptom of schizophrenia, not a negative symptom. They are false, fixed beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary. Common types include persecutory, grandiose, and bizarre delusions. Positive symptoms result from excess dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway.
B. Avolition is a negative symptom characterized by a lack of motivation to initiate and sustain goal-directed activities. It leads to difficulties with personal hygiene, work, and social engagement, significantly impairing daily functioning.
C. Apathy is a negative symptom marked by a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or emotional responsiveness. Individuals with schizophrenia may show indifference to social interactions, personal achievements, or daily activities.
D. Alogia (poverty of speech) is a negative symptom where individuals speak less and provide minimal verbal responses. This reflects impaired thought processing and reduced cognitive engagement, common in schizophrenia's mesocortical dopamine pathway dysfunction.
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