ABCN Patient Communication Skills 5

Question 1

A patient with severe depression expresses hopelessness after receiving feedback indicating significant cognitive deficits. The neuropsychologist should first:

Accepted Answer

Conduct a brief safety assessment and provide appropriate crisis resources if indicated

Answer

Safety assessment takes clinical priority when a patient expresses hopelessness, as this may indicate risk for self-harm.

Question 2

A referring physician asks the neuropsychologist to 'soften' the feedback to protect the patient from distress. The most ethical response is to:

Accepted Answer

Provide the patient with accurate, complete feedback while being sensitive to emotional needs

Answer

Accuracy and completeness are ethical obligations; emotional sensitivity in delivery is appropriate, but withholding material findings is not.

Question 3

When providing feedback to an older adult with hearing impairment, which environmental modification is most important?

Accepted Answer

Reducing background noise and facing the patient directly during speech

Answer

Minimizing background noise and maintaining direct visual contact supports lip-reading and maximizes speech intelligibility for patients with hearing loss.

Question 4

A patient who is a healthcare professional receives feedback indicating impairment that may affect professional competence. The neuropsychologist should:

Accepted Answer

Address functional implications directly, including potential professional reporting obligations

Answer

When cognitive impairment has professional safety implications, clinicians have an ethical and sometimes legal duty to discuss mandatory reporting obligations with the patient.

Question 5

The PRIMARY purpose of a follow-up contact after a neuropsychological feedback session is to:

Accepted Answer

Clarify any remaining questions and assess whether recommendations are being implemented

Answer

Follow-up contact supports recommendation implementation, addresses emerging questions, and reinforces therapeutic continuity after the formal feedback session.

(ABCN) American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology Practice Test

(ABCN) American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology Practice Test

ABCN Patient Communication Skills 5