Review Practice Exercise 1

Generalized Anxiety Disorder > Mental Health

Exam Review

Practice Exercise 1

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Total Questions : 5

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Question 1:

According to psychodynamic theory, what factors contribute to the development of generalized anxiety disorder? Select all that apply.

A. Unresolved parent-child conflicts B. Delayed ego development C. Excessive use of defense mechanisms D. High self-esteem E. Rational problem-solving

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Unresolved conflicts between parent and child create internal tension and unconscious fear, which manifest as chronic anxiety in adulthood.

Choice B:

Delayed ego development impairs the ability to regulate impulses and manage stress, increasing vulnerability to anxiety disorders.

Choice C:

Defense mechanisms used excessively suppress emotional conflict but prevent resolution, leading to persistent anxiety symptoms.

Choice D:

High self-esteem reflects healthy ego strength and adaptive functioning, which are protective against anxiety disorders.

Choice E:

Rational problem-solving is a mature coping strategy that reduces anxiety by resolving stressors rather than avoiding them.

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Question 2:

Which brain structure is most involved in the regulation of emotional responses and is implicated in the pathophysiology of generalized anxiety disorder?

A. Occipital lobe B. Hippocampus C. Cerebellum D. Medulla oblongata

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

The occipital lobe processes visual stimuli and is not involved in emotional regulation or anxiety pathophysiology.

Choice B:

Hippocampus. The hippocampus regulates stress responses and encodes emotional memory. Its dysfunction contributes to persistent worry and impaired fear extinction.

Choice C:

The cerebellum coordinates motor activity and balance; while it has emerging roles in cognition, it’s not central in anxiety.

Choice D:

The medulla oblongata controls autonomic functions like respiration and heart rate, not emotional processing or anxiety regulation.

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Question 3:

According to cognitive theory, anxiety is maintained primarily due to:

A. Serotonin overactivity in the limbic system B. Distorted thinking and dysfunctional appraisal of situations C. Past trauma stored in long-term memory D. Excess dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Serotonin overactivity is implicated in mood disorders but is not the primary mechanism in cognitive theory’s explanation of anxiety.

Choice B:

Distorted thinking. Cognitive theory emphasizes that dysfunctional appraisals and irrational beliefs sustain anxiety by reinforcing perceived threats and avoidance.

Choice C:

While past trauma may contribute to anxiety, cognitive theory focuses on current thought patterns rather than stored memories.

Choice D:

Dopamine excess is more relevant to psychotic disorders and reward pathways, not central to anxiety maintenance in cognitive theory.

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Question 4:

Which of the following are biological factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder? Select all that apply.

A. Elevated blood lactate B. Overactivity of norepinephrine C. Low serotonin activity D. Increased dopamine levels E. Decreased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Elevated blood lactate is more closely associated with panic disorder than GAD; it can provoke panic attacks but is not a key factor in GAD.

Choice B:

Overactive norepinephrine pathways are implicated in hyperarousal symptoms in GAD, including restlessness, irritability, and increased startle response.

Choice C:

Low serotonin levels are associated with poor regulation of mood and anxiety, contributing to excessive worry and persistent anxious affect.

Choice D:

Increased dopamine is not characteristic of GAD; excessive dopamine activity is more linked with psychotic disorders and some manic states, not anxiety.

Choice E:

Decreased GABA activity results in reduced inhibition of neural circuits, leading to heightened excitability and anxiety symptoms seen in GAD.

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Question 5:

Which neurotransmitter is most directly involved in mediating arousal and anxiety symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder?

A. Acetylcholine B. GABA C. Norepinephrine D. Dopamine

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Acetylcholine is more involved in memory, attention, and voluntary movement; it has little role in the anxiety arousal pathway.

Choice B:

GABA inhibits neuronal activity and reduces anxiety, but it does not directly mediate arousal—it works by dampening overexcitation.

Choice C:

Norepinephrine is directly linked to arousal and stress response; its hyperactivity causes increased sympathetic output, triggering anxiety symptoms.

Choice D:

Dopamine is primarily related to reward, pleasure, and motor functions, not the physiological arousal symptoms seen in anxiety disorders.

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Total Questions : 5

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Practice Exercise 1

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