CAT Addiction Technician Foundational Knowledge 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which neurotransmitter is most directly associated with the rewarding effects of addictive substances?
- Serotonin
- Dopamine (Correct answer)
- GABA
- Norepinephrine
Correct answer: Dopamine
Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter involved in the brain's reward pathway, and most addictive substances cause a surge of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.
Question 2: A client in early recovery reports strong cravings after passing a bar where they used to drink. This is best described as:
- Withdrawal symptom
- Conditioned cue response (Correct answer)
- Protracted abstinence syndrome
- Tolerance reversal
Correct answer: Conditioned cue response
Environmental cues (places, people, objects) associated with past substance use can trigger conditioned cravings through classical conditioning.
Question 3: Which of the following is a PRIMARY characteristic of physical dependence?
- Loss of control over use
- Withdrawal symptoms upon cessation (Correct answer)
- Continued use despite social consequences
- Preoccupation with obtaining the substance
Correct answer: Withdrawal symptoms upon cessation
Physical dependence is defined by the presence of withdrawal symptoms when substance use is stopped or significantly reduced.
Question 4: The ASAM Patient Placement Criteria primarily helps clinicians determine:
- Which medication to prescribe for withdrawal
- The appropriate level of care for a client (Correct answer)
- Whether a client meets legal criteria for involuntary treatment
- How long a client should remain in residential treatment
Correct answer: The appropriate level of care for a client
The ASAM criteria provide a multidimensional framework to match patients to the most appropriate level of care based on clinical needs.
Question 5: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is based on which therapeutic style?
- Directive and confrontational
- Collaborative and client-centered (Correct answer)
- Cognitive-behavioral and structured
- Psychodynamic and insight-oriented
Correct answer: Collaborative and client-centered
MI is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication that strengthens a person's own motivation and commitment to change.
Question 6: Which stage of the Transtheoretical Model describes a client who is actively making changes but has been doing so for fewer than six months?
- Contemplation
- Preparation
- Action (Correct answer)
- Maintenance
Correct answer: Action
The Action stage involves the client actively modifying their behavior, experiences, or environment to overcome their problem within the past six months.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a biopsychosocial assessment in addiction treatment?
- To diagnose the specific substance use disorder subtype
- To gather comprehensive information across biological, psychological, and social domains (Correct answer)
- To determine insurance coverage eligibility
- To assign a DSM-5 severity rating
Correct answer: To gather comprehensive information across biological, psychological, and social domains
A biopsychosocial assessment collects information about a client's physical health, mental health, and social circumstances to inform a holistic treatment plan.
CAT Addiction Technician Foundational Knowledge 2
Which neurotransmitter is most directly associated with the rewarding effects of addictive substances?