SPEX Exam Flashcards

Which of the following best explains why base rates are critical when interpreting psychological test results?

Answer: Low base rates reduce the positive predictive value of a test even when sensitivity is high

When a condition is rare (low base rate), even a highly sensitive test will produce many false positives, dramatically lowering positive predictive value and affecting clinical decisions.

A psychologist is treating a client who discloses they are a licensed pharmacist currently diverting controlled substances. The psychologist's primary ethical obligation is to:

Answer: Assess for substance use disorder and explore reporting options given laws and ethics guidelines

The psychologist must assess the clinical situation, consult relevant ethics and legal guidelines, and consider whether mandatory reporting applies, balancing confidentiality with public safety.

Which approach is the gold standard evidence-based treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Answer: Prolonged Exposure (PE) or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Both Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy have the strongest empirical support for PTSD treatment, endorsed by major clinical guidelines including the VA/DoD and APA.

What is the primary purpose of conducting a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) before designing an intervention for a child with challenging behavior?

Answer: To identify the antecedents and consequences that maintain the behavior

An FBA identifies the function of behavior (e.g., attention, escape, sensory) by examining antecedents and consequences, enabling function-based rather than symptom-only interventions.

Which of the following measurement concepts refers to the degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure?

Answer: Validity

Validity refers to the extent to which a test accurately measures the construct it is designed to assess, encompassing content, criterion, and construct validity.

During a telehealth session, a client in another state discloses active suicidal ideation with a plan. The psychologist's first obligation is to:

Answer: Verify the client's location and apply the emergency protocols of the state where the client is physically located

In telehealth emergencies, the laws of the state where the client is physically located govern duty-to-protect obligations, requiring the psychologist to know the client's location and those applicable laws.

A researcher wants to establish that a new CBT protocol for depression causes improvements rather than merely correlates with them. The strongest research design to accomplish this is:

Answer: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) with active control condition

An RCT with random assignment and an active control condition is the gold standard for establishing causal relationships between treatment and outcome by controlling for confounds.