Crisis Intervention Techniques Flashcards

A TBI survivor who was previously compliant suddenly refuses all care and becomes verbally abusive. What should the CBIS consider first?

Answer: A possible medical change such as infection, pain, or seizure activity

Sudden behavioral changes in TBI survivors often signal underlying medical issues such as urinary tract infection, pain, or neurological change.

Which of the following best defines 'crisis' in the context of TBI rehabilitation?

Answer: A state in which the individual's coping mechanisms are overwhelmed and behavior poses risk

A crisis is specifically defined as a state where overwhelmed coping leads to behavior that poses risk to the individual or others.

During verbal de-escalation, which staff behavior is most likely to escalate rather than calm a TBI survivor in crisis?

Answer: Crossing arms and using a commanding tone

Crossed arms and a commanding tone are perceived as threatening and authoritarian, which increases defensive aggression in distressed individuals.

What is the significance of 'antecedent control' in preventing behavioral crises in TBI survivors?

Answer: It modifies conditions before a behavior occurs to reduce the likelihood of crisis

Antecedent control modifies environmental or interpersonal conditions prior to problematic behavior to prevent the crisis from occurring.

A CBIS observes that a TBI survivor's crisis episodes consistently occur before meal times. What intervention best uses this pattern?

Answer: Proactively providing snacks and sensory support before hunger-related dysregulation occurs

Proactively addressing the identified antecedent (hunger/low blood sugar) directly prevents the predictable crisis from occurring.

Which ethical principle is most relevant when a TBI survivor in crisis refuses a recommended safety intervention?

Answer: Balancing respect for autonomy with duty to prevent harm requires individualized clinical judgment

Ethical crisis intervention requires individualized judgment that weighs the survivor's autonomy against the professional duty to prevent harm.

After a crisis has been resolved, which action is most important for the long-term care of the TBI survivor?

Answer: Updating the behavior support plan based on what was learned from the crisis

Each crisis is a data point that should inform updates to the individualized behavior support plan to prevent future occurrences.