HSP Intervention and Evidence-Based Treatment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which component of Motivational Interviewing (MI) involves the clinician reflecting back ambivalence without pushing for change?
- Confrontation
- Rolling with resistance (Correct answer)
- Direct advice-giving
- Behavioral activation
Correct answer: Rolling with resistance
Rolling with resistance is a core MI principle where the therapist avoids arguing and instead acknowledges and explores the client's ambivalence.
Question 2: A health psychologist is treating a patient with fibromyalgia using an evidence-based approach targeting pain catastrophizing. Which treatment is most appropriate?
- Prolonged Exposure
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for chronic pain (Correct answer)
- EMDR
- Interpersonal Therapy
Correct answer: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for chronic pain
CBT for chronic pain directly targets maladaptive cognitions such as pain catastrophizing and is well-supported for fibromyalgia.
Question 3: In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the 'diary card' is primarily used to:
- Record medication side effects
- Track target behaviors and skill use between sessions (Correct answer)
- Document session transcripts
- Monitor therapist adherence
Correct answer: Track target behaviors and skill use between sessions
Diary cards help clients and therapists monitor urges, emotions, and skill use throughout the week, guiding session priorities.
Question 4: Which treatment approach has the strongest evidence base for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Supportive counseling
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) (Correct answer)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Correct answer: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP, a form of CBT, is the gold-standard behavioral treatment for OCD, directly targeting avoidance of feared stimuli and compulsive rituals.
Question 5: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) differs from traditional CBT primarily because it:
- Focuses on challenging and correcting distorted thoughts
- Aims to eliminate negative emotions entirely
- Encourages acceptance of thoughts without trying to change their content (Correct answer)
- Uses medication as a primary tool
Correct answer: Encourages acceptance of thoughts without trying to change their content
ACT promotes psychological flexibility by teaching clients to accept inner experiences and defuse from unhelpful thoughts rather than disputing them.
Question 6: A psychologist using Behavioral Activation for depression focuses primarily on:
- Correcting cognitive distortions about the future
- Increasing engagement in rewarding activities to counter withdrawal (Correct answer)
- Teaching progressive muscle relaxation techniques
- Exploring early childhood attachment patterns
Correct answer: Increasing engagement in rewarding activities to counter withdrawal
Behavioral Activation targets depression's cycle of withdrawal by scheduling and reinforcing engagement with positively reinforcing activities.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the 'third wave' of cognitive-behavioral therapies?
- Emphasis on unconscious drives and defense mechanisms
- Focus solely on classical and operant conditioning
- Integration of mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based approaches (Correct answer)
- Reliance on pharmacological interventions as adjuncts
Correct answer: Integration of mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based approaches
Third-wave CBT approaches such as ACT, DBT, and MBCT emphasize acceptance, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility alongside behavioral strategies.
HSP Intervention and Evidence-Based Treatment 2
Which component of Motivational Interviewing (MI) involves the clinician reflecting back ambivalence without pushing for change?