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. What is the importance of continuing education for PTSD professionals in Pharmacology & Medication Management? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
4. Which social factor is most consistently identified as protective against PTSD development after trauma? → Social support from trusted relationships
5. What does residual risk mean in PTSD practice? → Risk remaining after all controls are implemented
6. What is evidence-based practice in PTSD Patient Assessment & Evaluation? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
7. What is a records management audit in PTSD? → Reviewing practices to ensure compliance with policies
8. Treatment for comorbid PTSD and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) most often involves: → Sequenced or integrated trauma-focused CBT and ERP
9. A client with PTSD reports persistent sadness, anhedonia, and active suicidal ideation. What should the clinician prioritize? → Safety assessment and addressing suicidal ideation first
10. Which neurotransmitter system is most implicated in the hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD? → Noradrenergic system
11. What is peer review in PTSD Infection Control & Prevention? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
12. What does professional competency require of a PTSD practitioner? → Maintaining current knowledge through continuing education
13. What is the hierarchy of controls in PTSD risk management? → Elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, then PPE
14. Which brain region shows reduced activity in PTSD, contributing to difficulty regulating emotional responses? → Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
15. What is the importance of continuing education for PTSD professionals in Patient Assessment & Evaluation? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
16. When treating comorbid PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, which approach is generally recommended? → Integrated treatment targeting both conditions concurrently
17. Which concept best describes an individual's ability to adapt positively following trauma exposure? → Post-traumatic growth
18. In PTSD practice, what constitutes a conflict of interest? → When personal interests could compromise professional judgment
19. Which sleep-related physiological disturbance is most characteristic of PTSD? → REM sleep dysregulation including nightmares and REM fragmentation
20. What is the importance of continuing education for PTSD professionals in Infection Control & Prevention? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
21. Which physiological marker is most associated with the freeze/dissociative response in PTSD? → Dorsal vagal activation associated with bradycardia and immobility
22. What is evidence-based practice in PTSD Infection Control & Prevention? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
23. What is a PTSD professional's obligation regarding confidentiality? → Protecting client information and disclosing only with authorization or legal requirement
24. What is peer review in PTSD Patient Assessment & Evaluation? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
25. What is peer review in PTSD Pharmacology & Medication Management? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
26. What role do standard operating procedures play in PTSD Infection Control & Prevention? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
27. Which anxiety disorder most commonly co-occurs with PTSD? → Generalized Anxiety Disorder
28. How does professional liability insurance protect PTSD practitioners? → Covering financial losses from claims of negligence or errors
29. What is scope creep in PTSD project management? → Uncontrolled scope expansion without adjusting time, cost, or resources
30. What is a needs assessment in PTSD Pharmacology & Medication Management practice? → Identifying gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes