Psychological Interventions & Treatment Strategies Flashcards

When a postpartum patient with depression and significant sleep deprivation presents for therapy, the clinician should prioritize:

Answer: Addressing sleep as a treatment target alongside depressive symptoms

Sleep deprivation can worsen and maintain postpartum depression, so addressing sleep alongside depressive symptoms is a critical therapeutic priority.

A perinatal clinician using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) would help a patient with postpartum anxiety primarily by:

Answer: Increasing psychological flexibility and helping her act according to her values despite anxiety

ACT focuses on increasing psychological flexibility—accepting difficult thoughts and feelings without struggle while committing to valued actions.

Which of the following is the most evidence-based group therapy format for postpartum depression?

Answer: CBT or IPT-based structured group therapy

Structured group formats based on CBT or IPT have the strongest evidence base for treating postpartum depression in group settings.

A clinician is using Circle of Security (COS) with a postpartum mother who has anxious attachment. The primary goal of this intervention is to:

Answer: Help the mother understand and respond to her infant's attachment needs

Circle of Security helps caregivers understand their infant's attachment cues and signals, improving their ability to serve as a secure base and safe haven.

When treating perinatal insomnia using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which component directly addresses dysfunctional beliefs about sleep?

Answer: Cognitive restructuring of sleep-related beliefs

Cognitive restructuring in CBT-I specifically targets unhelpful beliefs and attitudes about sleep (e.g., 'I must get 8 hours or I cannot function') that perpetuate insomnia.

A perinatal clinician working with a patient who has limited insight into her depression and resists therapy should use which approach to build therapeutic alliance?

Answer: Use empathic validation, psychoeducation, and motivational enhancement strategies

Building therapeutic alliance with resistant patients requires empathic validation, normalization, and motivational techniques to increase readiness for engagement.

Which principle of trauma-informed care is most critical when conducting psychological treatment with a survivor of intimate partner violence during the perinatal period?

Answer: Prioritizing safety, choice, and empowerment throughout treatment

Trauma-informed care for IPV survivors must prioritize safety planning, restore a sense of choice and control, and use an empowerment-based approach throughout treatment.