AP®︎ Psychology: Topic 5.5 Practice Test
Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with focused practice questions on Topic 5.5 of AP Psychology – Treatment of Psychological Disorders.
Questions List
Topic 5.5
Question 1 Easy
This question tests the following: 5.5.D.1
Which type of therapy involves free association and dream interpretation?
What You’re Being Tested On:
Explore the learning objectives taken directly from the College Board’s AP® Psychology Curriculum. Ensure you’re prepared for the exact topics covered on the AP® exam, in-class tests, and quizzes, and gain confidence in your mastery of the material.
Topic 5.5: Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Learning Objective: 5.5.A
Describe research and trends in the treatment of psychological disorders.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.A.1
Many researchers who have conducted meta-analytic studies of psychotherapy conclude that psychotherapies are generally effective. Many psychologists use evidence-based interventions to develop treatment plans. Therapists should exhibit cultural humility and establish a therapeutic alliance with the client to deliver therapy successfully.
Learning Objective: 5.5.B
Describe research and trends in the treatment of psychological disorders.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.B.1
Due to the increased use and effectiveness of psychotropic medication therapy, hospitals and asylums deinstitutionalized massive numbers of people in the late 20th century. Therapists now prefer to treat in decentralized ways, often with a combination of medication and psychological therapies.
Learning Objective: 5.5.C
Describe ethical principles in the treatment of psychological disorders.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.C.1
Psychologists in clinical or therapeutic situations must follow certain ethical principles as established by the APA, including nonmaleficence, fidelity, integrity, and respect for people’s rights and dignity.
Learning Objective: 5.5.D
Describe techniques used with psychological therapies.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.D.1
Psychodynamic therapies employ free association and dream interpretation to uncover the unconscious mind.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.D.2
Cognitive therapies may employ cognitive restructuring or fear hierarchies to combat maladaptive thinking. Cognitive therapy proposes that people should focus on the cognitive triad—negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.D.3
Applied behavior analysis involves applying principles of conditioning to address mental disorders and developmental disabilities. Exposure therapies (such as systematic desensitization), aversion therapies, and token economies all employ principles of applied behavior analysis. Biofeedback uses principles of conditioning to help clients regulate body systems (such as the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems) that contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.D.4
Cognitive-behavioral therapies, such as dialectical behavior therapy and rational-emotive behavior therapy, combine techniques from the cognitive and behavioral perspectives to treat mental and behavioral disorders.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.D.5
Therapy from the humanistic perspective, commonly referred to as person-centered therapy, employs active listening and unconditional positive regard.
Learning Objective: 5.5.E
Explain how group therapy is different from individual therapy.
Learning Objective: 5.5.F
Describe effective uses of hypnosis.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.F.1
Hypnosis has shown effectiveness in treating pain and anxiety. Research does not support the use of hypnosis to retrieve accurate memories or regress in age.
Learning Objective: 5.5.G
Describe interventions derived from the biological perspective.
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.G.1
Psychoactive medications, such as antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, lithium, or antipsychotic medications, interact with specific neurotransmitters in the central nervous system to address possible biochemical causes of mental disorders. Psychoactive medications can have side effects such as tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder related to the regulation of dopamine in the nervous system).
Essential Knowledge: 5.5.G.2
Surgical or invasive interventions include psychosurgery (which may involve lesioning), TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), or electroconvulsive therapy. The lobotomy is a form of psychosurgery that was popular in the mid-20th century but is rarely, if ever, performed today.
