PTSD Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PTSD facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which component of the Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) model is most relevant to PTSD? → Person-centered, community-based, long-term support that addresses the whole person
2. How does professional liability insurance protect PTSD practitioners? → Covering financial losses from claims of negligence or errors
3. A newly certified PTSD specialist is asked to supervise an unlicensed trainee. The supervisor's primary ethical obligation is to: → Ensure client welfare is protected through oversight of the trainee's work
4. The Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) model is specifically designed for which population? → Children, adolescents, and their caregivers
5. What is the importance of continuing education for PTSD professionals in Pharmacology & Medication Management? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
6. Which social factor is most consistently identified as protective against PTSD development after trauma? → Social support from trusted relationships
7. A patient presents with PTSD symptoms following repeated workplace harassment over 2 years. When completing the assessment, the clinician should: → Consider whether the cumulative exposure meets Criterion A as repeated traumatic events
8. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is distinguished from standard EMDR primarily by its use of: → Voluntary image replacement and a fixed brief protocol typically completed in 1-5 sessions
9. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when performing a procedure that may generate splashes of blood or body fluids? → Gloves, gown, and eye protection
10. Which specifier should be noted when a client first meets full PTSD criteria six months after a traumatic event? → Delayed Expression
11. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5) differs from the CAPS-5 in that the SCID-5: → Assesses a broad range of DSM-5 diagnoses, not only PTSD
12. What does residual risk mean in PTSD practice? → Risk remaining after all controls are implemented
13. In what circumstance may a clinician disclose PTSD records without client consent under mandatory reporting laws? → When there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect
14. A clinician differentiating PTSD from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) should consider that: → BPD typically predates trauma and lacks the clear event-linked onset of PTSD
15. In group therapy for PTSD, clinicians are ethically obligated to inform members that: → Confidentiality cannot be fully guaranteed among group members
16. A PTSD client who has been stable for months suddenly presents in acute distress following an anniversary of their trauma. This is best described as: → An anniversary reaction, a predictable trauma response requiring adjusted support
17. What is the minimum recommended duration for performing hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand rub? → 20 seconds
18. Which approach BEST describes the use of 'trauma-informed language' in clinical documentation? → Using person-first, non-blaming language that avoids pathologizing responses to trauma
19. What is evidence-based practice in PTSD Patient Assessment & Evaluation? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
20. Which of the following best describes the role of an infection preventionist (IP) in a behavioral health facility? → Monitoring infection rates, educating staff, and implementing prevention policies
21. What is a records management audit in PTSD? → Reviewing practices to ensure compliance with policies
22. Treatment for comorbid PTSD and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) most often involves: → Sequenced or integrated trauma-focused CBT and ERP
23. A client with PTSD reports persistent sadness, anhedonia, and active suicidal ideation. What should the clinician prioritize? → Safety assessment and addressing suicidal ideation first
24. Which neurotransmitter system is most implicated in the hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD? → Noradrenergic system
25. Which action by a healthcare worker represents a break in standard precautions? → Recapping a used needle using the two-handed technique
26. When conducting a trauma evaluation, asking about all categories of potential trauma exposure is important because: → Multiple traumas may compound symptom severity and alter treatment planning
27. Which factor is most associated with RESILIENCE and reduced emergency escalation in individuals with PTSD following trauma exposure? → Strong social support networks and perceived social connectedness
28. The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) draws on which theoretical model to address PTSD through auditory intervention? → Polyvagal theory and neuroception
29. What is peer review in PTSD Infection Control & Prevention? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
30. When a PTSD client is in acute crisis and requires involuntary hospitalization, which ethical principle is the clinician invoking? → Beneficence overriding autonomy