Candidate Number
926C8
THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX
MSc EXAMINATION 2015
ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
SAMPLE
DO NOT TURN OVER UNTIL INSTRUCTED
TO BY THE CHIEF INVIGILATOR
INSTRUCTIONS
Answer ALL parts of Section A and TWO further questions
from Section B.
Section A carries 20% and Section B carries 80% of the marks.
Time allowed: 2 hours
SECTION A
The answers to this section, one to each question, should be
marked on the answer sheet provided
[20 multiple choice questions each with 4 alternatives]
SECTION B
Answer TWO questions from this section in the answer books provided. Please
use a separate answer book for each question.
[8 choices of essay question]
1. Do not write your name on the question paper or answer sheet/book.
2. Do not tear off any part of this question paper.
3. At the end of the examination the question paper and answer sheet/book, used or
unused, will be collected from you before you leave the examination room
926C8
ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – SAMPLE PAPER
SECTION A
One answer to each question should be marked on the answer sheet
provided
1. Which of the following has been associated with conduct disorder in
adolescence?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Criminal behaviour leading to a prison sentence
Psychosis
Antisocial personality disorder
All of the above
[Note: If the correct answer is d, no credit will be given for answering a, b, or
c]
2. In early Alzheimer’s Disease, which is NOT a common symptom:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Anomia
Hallucination
Social withdrawal
Anxiety
3. Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Social anxiety is linked to genetic factors
Social anxiety is linked to overprotective parenting style
Social anxiety is more likely to manifest in adulthood
Social anxiety may result from early shaming experiences
4. The Whitehall study indicated an association between coronary heart disease
and which of the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Lack of training for the job
Low job control
Anger management issues
Depression
2
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926C8
ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – SAMPLE PAPER
5. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
a) Schizophrenia makes people violent
b) If you hear voices or hold delusional beliefs you have schizophrenia
c) Siblings of people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia are more likely
to suffer mental health problems in their lifetime
d) People with a diagnosis of schizophrenia are more likely to commit murder
than their non-schizophrenic peer group
6. Which of the following statements correctly describes the general findings of
studies examining treatment of childhood anxiety?
a)
b)
c)
d)
CBT and sertraline are not significantly different in terms of efficacy
CBT improves outcome in around 60% of cases
CBT and sertraline combined produce the best outcome
All of the above
[Note: If d is the correct answer, no credit will be given for answering a, b or c]
7. Which of the following has NOT been associated with psychosis?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Birth complications
Maternal stress
Child abuse
Large families
8. Which of the following defines Beck’s cognitive triad?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Negative beliefs about self, world and future
Negative beliefs about self, world and others
Negative beliefs about self, others and future
Negative beliefs about present, past, and future
9. According to Banerjee (2009) which of the following does NOT have a
significant association with quality of life for the person with dementia?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Carer gender
Carer depression
Carer burden
Care setting
3
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926C8
ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – SAMPLE PAPER
10. The term psychological dependence is used when:
a) It is clear that the individual has changed their life to ensure continued use
of the drug
b) An individual’s activities are centred on the drug and its use
c) Use leads to neglect of other important activities such as work, social and
family commitments
d) All of the above
[Note: If d is the correct answer, no credit will be given for answering a, b or c]
11. Most current Alzheimer treatments work by altering levels of which
neurotransmitter?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Dopamine
GABA
Noradrenaline
Acetylcholine
12. In replacement treatments, benzodiazepines are used as replacement for
which of the following?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Heroin and alcohol
Cocaine and heroin
Alcohol and barbiturates
All of the above
[Note: If d is the correct answer, no credit will be given for answering a, b or c]
13. According to Seligman (1971), specific phobias of certain stimuli can be
explained by:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Associating those stimuli with a traumatic experience
An evolved tendency to acquire fear of those stimuli
Vicarious learning
Attentional biases to those stimuli
4
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926C8
ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – SAMPLE PAPER
14. Which of the following is responsible for neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer
type dementia?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Ubiquitin
Amyloid
Tau
Prion
15. Which of the following characterizes the Normative Developmental Approach
to childhood psychopathologies?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Focus on stability and consistency of the condition
Focus on age of onset of the condition
Focus on family history of the condition
Focus on behavioural manifestation of the condition
16. The incidence of dementia in 65 and 80 year olds is approximately ______
and ______ respectively:
a)
b)
c)
d)
37% and 67%
17% and 37%
7% and 27%
27% and 57%
17. Which of the following is not considered to be a cardinal feature of
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? :
a) Eccentric’ behaviour marked by odd patterns of thinking and
communication
b) An enduring pattern of instability in personal relationships
c) A lack of a well-defined and stable self-image
d) Regular and unpredictable changes in mood
18. Which of the following is not information provided in DSM-IV-TR?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Essential features of the disorder
Associated features
A list of symptoms that must be present for diagnosis
Information on treatment options
5
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926C8
ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – SAMPLE PAPER
19. Which of the following is NOT a criticism of the monoamine model of
depression?
a)
b)
c)
d)
The models lacks specificity
The model does not predict the delayed time frame for mood change
The model is based on the success of drugs in changing mood
The model does not predict receptor sensitivity changes
20. Lifetime prevalence rate for OCD is:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Around 2.5%
Around 1%
Around 4.5%
Less than 1%
6
/Turn over
926C8
ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – SAMPLE PAPER
SECTION B
Answer TWO questions from this section in the answer book provided
21.
How can both CBT and pharmacology claim treatment efficacy for
schizophrenia?
22.
How have empirical studies contributed to our understanding of how
social phobia is acquired and/or maintained?
23.
With reference to a specific disorder, describe the processes engaged by
a clinical psychologist conducting cognitive behaviour therapy. How does
the therapist ascertain whether their interventions have been successful?
24.
With reference to a specific anxiety disorder, critically evaluate two
contrasting aetiological models.
25.
Does Beck’s model of depression need to be altered to accommodate the
role of social factors in aetiology?
26.
Using empirical studies to support your argument, evaluate current
symptomatic treatments for Alzheimer type dementia.
27.
Describe our current understanding of the genetic risk factors for
Alzheimer type dementia.
28.
Discuss the contribution of social and genetic influences in the
development of addictive behaviours.
End of Paper
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ABNORMAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – SAMPLE PAPER
926C8
MCQ Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
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20
d
a
c
b
c
d
d
a
a
d
d
c
b
c
a
c
a
d
c
a
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