PT 6.1 Psychology Unit 4 AOS2 - Deborah VAN | Laabri

1

From a psychological perspective, being mentally healthy is best described as

the absence of a mental illness.

being popular and having lots of friends.

rarely experiencing negative emotions, such as anger.

using one’s cognitive, emotional and social abilities effectively.

1

One problem with using placebos in research into mental health and disorders is that:

researchers can’t use deception under any circumstance

using placebo’s in treatment may require the mentally unwell individual to go without proper treatment

it would breach informed consent to tell participants about a placebo.

it is expensive to use placebos in research

1

Which of the following statements is not a characteristic of a mental health problem?

it lasts for short period of time

there is a disruption to the individual’s normal thoughts, feelings and behaviour

it requires medication to overcome

all of the above are characteristics of a mental health problem

1

An individual with a high level of functioning is likely to:

have a generally positive outlook on life

be socially disconnected

participate fully in work and leisure activities

have a generally negative outlook on life

1

The ability of an individual to adapt and cope with adversity is known as:

self-efficacy

mental health

resilience

mental health problem

1

A person who is experiencing good mental health:

will never have suffered from mental health problems

may be experiencing a high level of stress

will continuously experience mental health problems

may experience stressors but will generally overcome them

1

Why is a placebo treatment likely to be an ethical problem when used in an experiment to test a new drug for a mental illness?

the treatment may interfere with a person’s ability to give informed consent

participants who are not given the drug may be exposed to harm

participants who are given the drug may be exposed to harm

the treatment will cause the placebo effect

1

Sasha, a university student who also works part-time in a cafe, is placed at ‘X’ on the mental health continuum based on her mental health status. Which one of the following scenarios most likely reflects Sasha’s current situation?

Sasha has been experiencing a consistently low mood, she is not engaged in her course and has not attended lectures for the past few months

Sasha deferred her course because she could not manage both work and study. This has resulted in sleeping problems for the last few weeks.

Sasha is coping with the workload at university and is happy to have met someone she is interested in, but she is stressed about her decision to transfer to another course next year.

Sasha needs a driver’s licence to travel to university but she keeps failing her licence test. This is really frustrating her but she continues to take driving lessons and books another test.

1

Over a few months, Marguerite experienced significant issues with her boss at work. Marguerite is usually very optimistic and positive but her problems with her boss were making her very unhappy. She could not think of any solution. Marguerite discussed the situation with her partner, who had noticed a significant change in her attitude. Her partner suggested that she join him at the gym to help manage her stress.
Which of the following identifies the internal and external factors interacting to put Marguerite’s mental health at risk?

Internal: physical health. External: family relationships

Internal: genetic predisposition to anxiety. External: lack of solutions

Internal: emotional state. External: interactions with her boss

Internal: low self-esteem. External: conflict resolution skills

1

Fletcher has recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia. His psychologist decided that Fletcher would be the perfect candidate to participate in a study assessing the use of a new type of therapy. The psychologist knew Fletcher would be unable to understand the nature, purpose and risks of the study so he didn’t mention the new technique he would use with him during his therapy sessions.

Standardised testing

Informed consent

Use of placebo treatment

Withdrawal rights

3

One year ago, Toby’s wife died. For the past six months, Toby has been acting out of character. Despite being physically in good health, he has not left the house for several weeks and has asked his parents to shop for groceries for him. Whenever his parents visit, they notice that he has not showered for days and is often wearing the same clothes. He lost his job because of extended absences and his friends are concerned as Toby is no longer responding to their text messages or telephone calls. He has also shown a lack of interest in physical activity despite previously completing many marathons.
Give three reasons why these behaviours may cause Toby’s psychologist to conclude that he has a mental illness. (3 marks)

2

Ben is completing the application process to be admitted into ASIO. This position has a high level of stress and he must undergo an interview with a psychologist to determine whether he is able to cope with stressful situations. Outline two characteristics of good mental health that the psychologist might be looking for during the interview. (2 marks)