An Epidemiologist Is About to Testify to Congress on the Findings

question 72

Multiple Choice

An epidemiologist is about to testify to Congress on the findings of comorbidity. Which of the following points will she want to make after reviewing research on comorbidity?

• A) Most mental disorders have a biological basis.
• B) Those with severe impairment often have more than one disorder.
• C) We have underestimated the role of toxins as the cause of disorders.
• D) The majority of mental disorders tend to "run in families" as a result of genetic anomalies.

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Definitions:

Biological Clock

An internal timing mechanism in organisms that controls the cycle of daily activities, such as sleep and wakefulness, based on a roughly 24-hour period.

Subjective Night

The time during a 24-hour period when the biological clock is telling a person to go to sleep.

Melatonin Flux

Variations in the levels of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, typically influenced by light exposure.

Disruptive Malaise

A state of general discomfort or uneasiness, whose exact cause is difficult to identify, that disrupts regular functioning or well-being.