CSAM Diagnosis of Anger Issues 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which physiological measurement is commonly used in biofeedback-assisted anger diagnosis to detect autonomic arousal during provocation?
- Blood oxygen saturation
- Galvanic skin response (GSR) (Correct answer)
- Bone density
- Cortisol blood levels
Correct answer: Galvanic skin response (GSR)
Galvanic skin response measures electrodermal activity linked to sympathetic nervous system arousal and is used to detect physiological anger reactions.
Question 2: When conducting a risk assessment with an angry client, which factor MOST significantly increases the risk of violent behavior?
- Client verbalizes frustration during session
- History of prior violent behavior toward others (Correct answer)
- Elevated scores on self-report anger scales
- Difficulty maintaining eye contact during interview
Correct answer: History of prior violent behavior toward others
Past violent behavior is the single strongest empirical predictor of future violence and must be weighted heavily in any risk assessment.
Question 3: A client reports anger episodes with sudden onset, rapid de-escalation within 30 minutes, and no premeditation. These features are MOST consistent with which type of aggression?
- Predatory aggression
- Reactive/impulsive aggression (Correct answer)
- Instrumental aggression
- Proactive aggression
Correct answer: Reactive/impulsive aggression
Reactive or impulsive aggression is characterized by rapid onset in response to perceived threat or frustration, short duration, and lack of planning.
Question 4: Which comorbid condition is MOST frequently found alongside anger disorders and can amplify aggressive responses through hypervigilance and threat perception?
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Correct answer)
- Specific Phobia
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
Correct answer: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD commonly co-occurs with anger disorders, and its hypervigilance and threat-sensitization symptoms significantly increase aggressive reactivity.
Question 5: The Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) developed by Buss and Perry measures four dimensions of aggression. Which of the following is NOT one of those dimensions?
- Physical aggression
- Hostility
- Anger
- Passive aggression (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Passive aggression
The Buss-Perry AQ measures physical aggression, verbal aggression, hostility, and anger—passive aggression is not one of its four subscales.
Question 6: A client's anger appears to be consistently triggered only when they perceive being disrespected or treated unfairly. A CSAM clinician would identify this as which type of anger trigger?
- Environmental trigger
- Somatic trigger
- Injustice trigger (Correct answer)
- Loss trigger
Correct answer: Injustice trigger
Injustice triggers are activated when an individual perceives unfair treatment, disrespect, or violation of personal rights, a common anger trigger category.
Question 7: Which interview technique is MOST effective for eliciting accurate anger episode information when a client is defensive or minimizing?
- Confrontational direct questioning
- Motivational Interviewing techniques (Correct answer)
- Written questionnaires only
- Third-party rating scales only
Correct answer: Motivational Interviewing techniques
Motivational Interviewing's non-confrontational, empathic approach is most effective at reducing defensiveness and eliciting honest self-disclosure about anger behavior.
CSAM Diagnosis of Anger Issues 4
Which physiological measurement is commonly used in biofeedback-assisted anger diagnosis to detect autonomic arousal during provocation?