Clinical psychology — AS & A Level Psychology (9990) questions by topic
Clinical psychology essays and structured questions describe treatments for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, use the SUDS scale from Chapman and DeLapp's phobia case study, describe Beck's cognitive theory and learned helplessness as explanations of depression, and plan an experiment comparing anti-depressant drugs, worth 2 to 24 marks.
Explain, suggest, outline, describe and evaluate lead 94 real questions across 2023 to 2025 papers. Because debate-style questions need each issue linked explicitly back to the named treatment rather than asserted in isolation, drafting a response and checking the instantly marked result shows fast whether that link, and not just the definition, is present.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is defining an issue or debate, such as reductionism, without linking it to the specific treatment or study, which limits an answer to a lower level.
- Examiners repeatedly note candidates writing about validity when reliability was asked for, and citing social desirability as a K-SAS-specific weakness when it applies to any self-report.
- Reports flag time wasted describing an experiment's IV and DV when the required method was a questionnaire.
- A common error is proposing self-report methods such as questionnaires or interviews when the question explicitly excluded self-report.
- Strong answers explained how SSRIs reduce OCD symptoms by altering serotonin levels while contrasting this with CBT and ERP's holistic approach, and described test-retest or split-half reliability in full.
May–June 2025, Paper 31
Mahmoud has schizophrenia. His doctor suggests cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to help manage Mahmoud's positive symptoms. Suggest how CBT could be used to help Mahmoud manage…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline Miller's feeling-state theory of impulse control disorders. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Emi was unfairly dismissed from her job at a factory which she was very upset about. Afterwards, she started a fire at the factory, which made her feel better. Later she felt very…
Answer this question and get it marked →For the treatment and management of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Describe SSRIs and exposure and response prevention (ERP). [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 32
Fazli has pyromania, he is unable to resist starting fires. Fazli sets fires and then watches them burn, in order to relieve his anxiety. Suggest how imaginal desensitisation…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline systematic desensitisation as a treatment for a specific phobia. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →When Lina was a child, outside with her mother, she saw a snake. She then developed a phobia of snakes. Suggest a psychodynamic explanation for why Lina has this phobia of snakes.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the following psychological explanations of depression: - Beck's cognitive theory of depression, and - learned helplessness. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 33
Mahmoud has schizophrenia. His doctor suggests cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to help manage Mahmoud's positive symptoms. Suggest how CBT could be used to help Mahmoud manage…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline Miller's feeling-state theory of impulse control disorders.
Answer this question and get it marked →Emi was unfairly dismissed from her job at a factory which she was very upset about. Afterwards, she started a fire at the factory, which made her feel better. Later she felt very…
Answer this question and get it marked →For the treatment and management of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Describe SSRIs and exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 41
The key study by Chapman and DeLapp (2013) on blood/injection/injury phobia used the subjective unit of discomfort scale (SUDS) to assess the change in the anxiety levels of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Ellis developed rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) for the treatment of mood (affective) disorders. Outline how irrational beliefs are changed by REBT.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using a postal questionnaire to investigate attributional styles in adults with depression. Your plan must include details about: - type(s) of data - sampling…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
In the key study by Freeman et al. (2003) using virtual reality (VR) to investigate persecutory ideation, comments were made by the participants about the avatars. Give one…
Answer this question and get it marked →Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be measured using psychometric tests such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Outline the scale used to assess question…
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using an observation to investigate which type of compulsion is most common in people diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Your plan must include…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
The key study by Chapman and DeLapp (2013) on blood/injection/injury phobia used the subjective unit of discomfort scale (SUDS) to assess the change in the anxiety levels of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Ellis developed rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) for the treatment of mood (affective) disorders. Outline how irrational beliefs are changed by REBT.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using a postal questionnaire to investigate attributional styles in adults with depression. Your plan must include details about: - type(s) of data - sampling…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 31
Sarah is always thinking about germs. At work she eats lunch alone as she believes this will protect her colleagues. She always washes her hands for 15 minutes in very hot water.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by the determinism versus free-will debate. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Olivia has a bipolar disorder and is receiving cognitive restructuring as therapy. In her first session she said: 'My life used to be 100% perfect! I had an amazing job and…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the behavioural explanation and the psychodynamic explanation of fear-related disorders. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 32
Craig has a phobia of blood and injections. He watches someone having an injection on television, feels faint and now he is too frightened to turn on his television. Suggest how…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by 'nurture', including an example from the behavioural explanation of fear-related disorders. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Dr Begum is a clinician who sees a patient, Joan. Joan describes how she spends her day feeling miserable and not knowing what to do with her time. She thinks it is her own fault…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for the treatment and management of schizophrenia. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 33
Sarah is always thinking about germs. At work she eats lunch alone as she believes this will protect her colleagues. She always washes her hands for 15 minutes in very hot water.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by the determinism versus free-will debate.
Answer this question and get it marked →Suggest how cognitive restructuring can help Olivia with both her depressive and manic episodes.
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the behavioural explanation and the psychodynamic explanation of fear-related disorders.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
The key study by Freeman et al. (2003), using virtual reality to investigate persecutory ideation, included a number of self-reports such as the VR-Paranoia questionnaire. Give…
Answer this question and get it marked →Covert sensitisation is a treatment for impulse control disorders. Outline how one study used covert sensitisation to treat a participant (e.g. Glover, 1985).
Answer this question and get it marked →There can be problems with using electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for schizophrenia, for example side effects. Plan an experiment with a longitudinal design to…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
From the key study by Lovell et al. (2006) on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: Identify two criteria that were necessary for participants to meet to be included in…
Answer this question and get it marked →Kleptomania can be assessed using the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (K-SAS). State one question used on the K-SAS.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using a questionnaire with closed questions to investigate the effectiveness of using imaginal desensitisation for treating pyromania. Your plan must include details…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
The key study by Freeman et al. (2003), using virtual reality to investigate persecutory ideation, included a number of self-reports such as the VR-Paranoia questionnaire. Give…
Answer this question and get it marked →Covert sensitisation is a treatment for impulse control disorders. Outline how one study used covert sensitisation to treat a participant (e.g. Glover, 1985).
Answer this question and get it marked →There can be problems with using electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for schizophrenia, for example side effects. Plan an experiment with a longitudinal design to…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 31
Jude has a phobia of some foods. This affects his everyday life because he is anxious when other people are eating these foods near him. Suggest how systematic desensitisation…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline the reductionism side of the reductionism versus holism debate. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Aisha finds she has trouble relaxing. She visits her doctor, who suggests using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder assessment (GAD-7). Suggest two reasons why the doctor wants to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the study by Lovell et al. (2006) on treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using telephone administered cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 32
Manjit has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her psychiatrist thinks all mental disorders have a biological cause. Suggest how the psychiatrist could help Manjit to understand a…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline the idiographic versus nomothetic debate. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Leo's parents are worried about his recent behaviour. His mother thinks that he may have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Leo's father says 'I do not agree. Leo has not been…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the psychological explanations of impulse control disorders: • behavioural: positive reinforcement, and • cognitive: Miller's feeling-state theory. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 33
Jude has a phobia of some foods. This affects his everyday life because he is anxious when other people are eating these foods near him. Suggest how systematic desensitisation…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline the reductionism side of the reductionism versus holism debate.
Answer this question and get it marked →Aisha finds she has trouble relaxing. She visits her doctor, who suggests using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder assessment (GAD-7). Suggest two reasons why the doctor wants to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the study by Lovell et al. (2006) on treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using telephone administered cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
Outline what is meant by a clinical interview.
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain what is meant by the term 'pyromania'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan an experiment to investigate which anti-depressant drug is more effective for treating depression. Your plan must include details about: - experimental design - type of…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Explain what is meant by the term 'exposure hierarchy'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline how a person's level of depression is interpreted using the BDI.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using a questionnaire with open questions to investigate generalised anxiety disorder in university students. Your plan must include details about: - question…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
Outline what is meant by a clinical interview.
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain what is meant by the term 'pyromania'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan an experiment to investigate which anti-depressant drug is more effective for treating depression. Your plan must include details about: • experimental design • type of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 31
Explain what is meant by 'pyromania'. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe explanations of depression. [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
For one specific phobia: Identify two characteristics of this phobia. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the treatment and management of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 33
Explain what is meant by 'pyromania'.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be treated with biomedical treatments and it can be managed with psychological treatments. Biomedical treatments include the use of drugs…
Answer this question and get it marked →Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can receive treatment with a therapist face-to-face or by telephone. Design a study using a telephone interview to investigate…
Answer this question and get it marked →'Biochemical techniques, such as the use of drugs, can treat all patients with schizophrenia effectively.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
Outline how operant conditioning explains token economy.
Answer this question and get it marked →Design a study using observation to investigate the frequency of the characteristics of schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders.
Answer this question and get it marked →'All impulse control disorders are caused by high levels of dopamine.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of research you have studied to support your…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 43
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be treated with biomedical treatments and it can be managed with psychological treatments. Biomedical treatments include the use of drugs…
Answer this question and get it marked →Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can receive treatment with a therapist face-to-face or by telephone. Design a study using a telephone interview to investigate…
Answer this question and get it marked →'Biochemical techniques, such as the use of drugs, can treat all patients with schizophrenia effectively.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 23
In the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia), a boy was repeatedly asked to use the Feelings Thermometer. Other questions investigated his phobia further and showed that…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 31
Outline two common compulsions of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the treatment and management of impulse control disorders and non-substance addictive disorder. [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 32
Explain what is meant by 'mania'. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe explanations of schizophrenia and delusional disorder. [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 33
Outline two common compulsions of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the treatment and management of impulse control disorders and non-substance addictive disorder. [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
Explain what is meant by the term 'bipolar disorder'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Design a study to investigate the long-term effectiveness of systematic desensitisation in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Psychometric measures used to assess anxiety disorders, such as the Generalised Anxiety Disorder assessment (GAD-7), provide therapists with no useful information.' To what…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
Outline two characteristics of generalised anxiety, other than it being caused by a wide range of situations or events, rather than one specific event.
Answer this question and get it marked →Design a study using a questionnaire to investigate the frequency of characteristics of addiction in a group of individuals diagnosed with a gambling disorder.
Answer this question and get it marked →'A case study of a person with an impulse control disorder, such as kleptomania, will reveal more about the characteristics of the disorder than any other method.' To what extent…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
One explanation of bipolar disorder is that it is genetic. The study by Oruc et al. (1997) selected 42 patients with bipolar disorder. Sixteen of these patients had a first-degree…
Answer this question and get it marked →Design a study to investigate the long-term effectiveness of systematic desensitisation in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Psychometric measures used to assess anxiety disorders, such as the Generalised Anxiety Disorder assessment (GAD-7), provide therapists with no useful information.' To what…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Psychology topics
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- Consumer psychology (93)
- Health psychology (93)
- Organisational psychology (93)
- Biological approach (38)
- Cognitive approach (37)
- Learning approach (36)
- Social approach (31)