Q.1 Which of the following is a hallmark symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Obsessive thoughts
Re-experiencing the trauma
Compulsive behaviors
Mood swings
Explanation - PTSD is characterized by re-experiencing traumatic events through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts.
Correct answer is: Re-experiencing the trauma
Q.2 Acute Stress Disorder differs from PTSD primarily in terms of:
Severity of symptoms
Duration of symptoms
Type of trauma
Age of onset
Explanation - Acute Stress Disorder symptoms last from 3 days to 4 weeks, while PTSD symptoms persist for more than a month.
Correct answer is: Duration of symptoms
Q.3 Which neurotransmitter is most implicated in the hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD?
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
GABA
Explanation - In PTSD, hyperarousal and exaggerated startle responses are linked to increased norepinephrine activity.
Correct answer is: Norepinephrine
Q.4 Which type of therapy has the strongest evidence for treating PTSD?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Hypnotherapy
Explanation - Trauma-focused CBT, including exposure therapy, is considered first-line treatment for PTSD.
Correct answer is: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Q.5 Adjustment disorder is most accurately characterized by:
Psychotic symptoms
Emotional or behavioral response to a stressor within 3 months
Chronic depressive episodes
Memory loss
Explanation - Adjustment disorder occurs in response to a specific stressor and manifests within 3 months, with distress out of proportion to the event.
Correct answer is: Emotional or behavioral response to a stressor within 3 months
Q.6 Which of the following is NOT a diagnostic criterion for PTSD according to DSM-5?
Intrusive symptoms
Avoidance
Hyperarousal
Manic episodes
Explanation - Manic episodes are characteristic of bipolar disorder, not PTSD.
Correct answer is: Manic episodes
Q.7 In children, PTSD may present differently than in adults, often with:
Nightmares and bedwetting
Increased appetite
Mania
Hallucinations
Explanation - Children with PTSD may show regressive behaviors such as bedwetting and separation anxiety along with trauma-related nightmares.
Correct answer is: Nightmares and bedwetting
Q.8 Which hormone is often dysregulated in PTSD, contributing to stress response abnormalities?
Cortisol
Insulin
Thyroxine
Oxytocin
Explanation - PTSD is associated with altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and abnormal cortisol levels.
Correct answer is: Cortisol
Q.9 A veteran experiencing flashbacks and hypervigilance six months after combat exposure most likely has:
Acute Stress Disorder
PTSD
Adjustment Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Explanation - Symptoms persisting for more than a month after trauma with re-experiencing and hyperarousal indicate PTSD rather than Acute Stress Disorder.
Correct answer is: PTSD
Q.10 Which of the following is a common comorbidity with PTSD?
Major depressive disorder
Parkinson’s disease
Schizophrenia
Multiple sclerosis
Explanation - PTSD frequently co-occurs with depression and anxiety disorders.
Correct answer is: Major depressive disorder
Q.11 Prolonged exposure therapy works primarily through which mechanism?
Memory suppression
Extinction learning
Pharmacologic enhancement
Dream analysis
Explanation - Prolonged exposure helps patients confront trauma memories in a safe environment, reducing fear responses through extinction learning.
Correct answer is: Extinction learning
Q.12 Which of the following is a dissociative symptom commonly seen in trauma-related disorders?
Depersonalization
Tremors
Hallucinations
Euphoria
Explanation - Dissociation, including depersonalization and derealization, can occur in PTSD and other trauma-related disorders.
Correct answer is: Depersonalization
Q.13 Reactive Attachment Disorder typically develops in children who have experienced:
Traumatic brain injury
Severe neglect or inconsistent caregiving
Natural disasters
Bullying at school
Explanation - Reactive Attachment Disorder arises in children with early neglect or insufficient caregiving, leading to difficulty forming healthy attachments.
Correct answer is: Severe neglect or inconsistent caregiving
Q.14 Which class of medications is considered first-line pharmacologic treatment for PTSD?
SSRIs
Antipsychotics
Benzodiazepines
Mood stabilizers
Explanation - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for PTSD treatment.
Correct answer is: SSRIs
Q.15 Acute Stress Disorder is diagnosed when trauma symptoms last:
Less than 3 days
3 days to 4 weeks
1-2 months
More than 6 months
Explanation - Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder last at least 3 days but less than 4 weeks following trauma.
Correct answer is: 3 days to 4 weeks
Q.16 Which of the following is a key difference between PTSD and Adjustment Disorder?
Presence of trauma
Age of onset
Cognitive impairment
Psychotic features
Explanation - PTSD requires exposure to a traumatic event, while Adjustment Disorder can be triggered by less severe stressors.
Correct answer is: Presence of trauma
Q.17 A patient with PTSD reports feeling detached from reality and observing themselves from outside their body. This is called:
Flashbacks
Derealization
Depersonalization
Dissociative amnesia
Explanation - Depersonalization involves feeling disconnected from oneself, whereas derealization involves feeling the environment is unreal.
Correct answer is: Depersonalization
Q.18 Which environmental factor increases the risk of developing trauma-related disorders?
Supportive social network
Childhood abuse or neglect
High socioeconomic status
Stable family environment
Explanation - Early life trauma such as abuse or neglect increases vulnerability to PTSD and other stressor-related disorders.
Correct answer is: Childhood abuse or neglect
Q.19 Which of the following is considered a protective factor against PTSD?
Prior trauma exposure
Strong social support
High neuroticism
Early childhood adversity
Explanation - A supportive environment and strong social connections reduce the risk of developing PTSD after trauma.
Correct answer is: Strong social support
Q.20 Dissociative amnesia is best described as:
Loss of memory for important personal information due to trauma
Memory loss from brain injury
Loss of short-term memory from aging
Global cognitive decline
Explanation - Dissociative amnesia involves inability to recall significant personal events, usually related to trauma or stress.
Correct answer is: Loss of memory for important personal information due to trauma
Q.21 Which type of PTSD is characterized by severe dissociation and emotional numbing?
Complex PTSD
Acute PTSD
Delayed-onset PTSD
Adjustment disorder
Explanation - Complex PTSD arises from prolonged or repeated trauma and often includes dissociation, emotional dysregulation, and interpersonal difficulties.
Correct answer is: Complex PTSD
Q.22 Which symptom cluster is NOT part of DSM-5 PTSD criteria?
Intrusion
Avoidance
Hyperarousal
Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
Explanation - PTSD criteria include intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition/mood, and hyperarousal, but not OCD symptoms.
Correct answer is: Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
Q.23 Which statement about Adjustment Disorder is true?
It only occurs in children
Symptoms always last more than 6 months
It results from identifiable stressors
It is always associated with trauma exposure
Explanation - Adjustment disorder is triggered by identifiable stressors but not necessarily by trauma, and symptoms are typically short-term.
Correct answer is: It results from identifiable stressors
Q.24 Which psychological intervention focuses on reducing avoidance behaviors and processing traumatic memories in PTSD?
Prolonged exposure therapy
Interpersonal therapy
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Psychoanalysis
Explanation - Prolonged exposure therapy helps patients confront trauma memories and reduce avoidance, improving PTSD symptoms.
Correct answer is: Prolonged exposure therapy