HSP Evaluation and Diagnosis 2

Question 1

A health psychologist is evaluating a patient with chronic pain. Which instrument is most specifically designed to assess pain catastrophizing?

Accepted Answer

Pain Catastrophizing Scale

Answer

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) directly measures rumination, magnification, and helplessness related to pain.

Question 2

When diagnosing Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM-5, which criterion differentiates it from DSM-IV's Somatization Disorder?

Accepted Answer

Medically unexplained symptoms are no longer required

Answer

DSM-5 SSD focuses on disproportionate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors rather than requiring symptoms to be medically unexplained.

Question 3

A clinician uses the MMPI-2-RF instead of the MMPI-2. The primary advantage of the RF version is:

Accepted Answer

Hierarchical structure with reduced scale redundancy

Answer

The MMPI-2-RF uses a hierarchical, deductive structure that reduces redundancy and improves discriminant validity compared to the MMPI-2.

Question 4

A patient presents with episodic chest pain, dizziness, and fear of dying, but cardiac workup is negative. The next most appropriate diagnostic consideration is:

Accepted Answer

Panic Disorder

Answer

Recurrent episodes of intense physical symptoms with fear of dying or losing control, without medical cause, are hallmark features of Panic Disorder.

Question 5

In neuropsychological assessment, which test battery is most commonly used to evaluate a broad range of cognitive domains in adults following brain injury?

Accepted Answer

Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery

Answer

The Halstead-Reitan Battery is a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery widely used to assess cognitive functioning after acquired brain injury.

(HSP) Certified Health Service Psychologist Practice Test

(HSP) Certified Health Service Psychologist Practice Test

HSP Evaluation and Diagnosis 2