CPC Mental and Behavioral Health 2

Question 1

A community paramedic visits a patient with schizophrenia who stopped taking antipsychotic medication three weeks ago. Which sign is most indicative of decompensation?

Accepted Answer

Return of auditory hallucinations and paranoid ideation

Answer

Increased appetite and weight gain

Answer

Mild insomnia and daytime fatigue

Answer

Slightly elevated blood pressure

Question 2

When using Motivational Interviewing (MI) with a patient resistant to mental health treatment, which response best demonstrates the 'rolling with resistance' technique?

Accepted Answer

'I understand you're not ready right now — what would need to change for you to consider it?'

Answer

'You really need to take your medication or things will get worse.'

Answer

'Your family is very worried about you and wants you to get help.'

Answer

'The doctor ordered this treatment and you should follow their instructions.'

Question 3

A patient with bipolar disorder presents in a manic episode with grandiose thinking and poor insight. What is the community paramedic's priority intervention?

Accepted Answer

Assess safety, ensure medication compliance, and coordinate with the psychiatric team

Answer

Administer a PRN benzodiazepine immediately

Answer

Encourage the patient to engage in physical activity to discharge excess energy

Answer

Defer all intervention until the episode resolves on its own

Question 4

Which validated screening tool is most appropriate for assessing depression severity in a community paramedic follow-up visit?

Accepted Answer

PHQ-9

Answer

AUDIT-C

Answer

CAGE questionnaire

Answer

MMSE

Question 5

During a home visit, a patient discloses they have been hearing voices commanding them to harm their neighbor. Under mandatory reporting laws, the community paramedic should:

Accepted Answer

Immediately notify appropriate authorities and initiate psychiatric emergency protocols

Answer

Keep the disclosure confidential per HIPAA

Answer

Document only and inform the supervising physician at the next scheduled call

Answer

Advise the patient to call their psychiatrist when they feel ready

Question 6

A community paramedic is conducting a mental status examination. Which finding in a patient's thought process is most concerning for a psychiatric emergency?

Accepted Answer

Thought blocking with sudden interruption of speech

Answer

Circumstantial thinking with mild tangential responses

Answer

Flight of ideas with rapid topic changes

Answer

Slightly slowed speech with preserved logic

Question 7

A patient with PTSD becomes visibly agitated and hypervigilant when the community paramedic arrives in uniform. The best initial approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Step back, use a calm voice, identify yourself, and ask for permission to enter

Answer

Ask the patient to explain why they are afraid of uniforms

Answer

Have dispatch send a plainclothes social worker instead

Answer

Document the behavior as non-compliant and reschedule the visit