PTSD Patient Assessment & Evaluation 2

Question 1

Which structured clinical interview is considered the gold standard for diagnosing PTSD?

Accepted Answer

CAPS-5

Answer

The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) is the gold standard diagnostic interview for PTSD.

Question 2

A patient reports recurrent distressing dreams about their trauma. Which DSM-5 PTSD criterion does this symptom fall under?

Accepted Answer

Criterion B – Intrusion

Answer

Recurrent distressing dreams related to the traumatic event are classified under Criterion B (Intrusion symptoms).

Question 3

When assessing PTSD in a veteran, which tool is specifically designed and validated for military populations?

Accepted Answer

PC-PTSD-5

Answer

The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) was developed specifically for use in primary care and VA settings with military populations.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes 'dissociative amnesia' in the context of PTSD assessment?

Accepted Answer

Inability to recall important aspects of the traumatic event

Answer

Dissociative amnesia in PTSD refers to the inability to recall important aspects of the traumatic event, often due to dissociation.

Question 5

During an initial PTSD assessment, a patient becomes visibly distressed when recounting their trauma. The best clinical response is to:

Accepted Answer

Pause, validate the patient's distress, and offer grounding techniques

Answer

Pausing to validate distress and offering grounding techniques supports the patient's safety while maintaining the therapeutic alliance.

(PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Certification Practice Test