Question 1

A therapist says to her client, "What is said in this room is kept in strict confidence unless there are legal or therapeutic reasons to reveal it.Under most circumstances, though, you have control over what gets disclosed.Unless you give me permission, I will not disclose any confidential information." The therapist is describing the ____.

Accepted Answer

The therapist is describing the client's privileged communication, which refers to the client's right to have their communications with the therapist kept confidential, with certain exceptions as noted by the therapist.

Question 2

Keeping client information confidential is ____.

Accepted Answer

Keeping client information confidential is an ethical obligation for therapists and is governed by professional codes of ethics. While there are some legal exceptions where therapists may be required to breach confidentiality (such as reporting child abuse or threat of harm to self or others), in general, confidentiality is considered an essential component of therapy.

Question 3

Privileged communication is a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

Privileged communication is a legal concept that protects certain communications between a professional (like a therapist) and their client from being disclosed without the client's permission, making it narrower in scope compared to the broader ethical principle of confidentiality, which encompasses a wider range of information protection.

Question 4

Which of the following was a major impetus supporting deinstitutionalization?

Accepted Answer

The notion that many mental hospitals were primarily "warehouses for the insane" that provided little benefit to patients was a major impetus supporting deinstitutionalization. This led to the closure of many mental hospitals and the movement of patients to community-based settings. Funding for community programs (choice A) was a result of deinstitutionalization rather than a cause. The cases of Rennie v. Klein (1978) and Rogers v. Okin (1979) (choice B) addressed the rights of mentally ill individuals but were not major impetuses for deinstitutionalization. The passing of the "Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists" by the American Psychological Association in 2003 (choice C) is unrelated to deinstitutionalization.

Question 5

What is the ethical standard that protects clients from disclosure of information without their consent?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality is the ethical standard that protects clients from disclosure of information without their consent. It is an essential component of building trust in the therapeutic relationship, and therapists have a legal and ethical obligation to maintain client confidentiality, except in certain specific circumstances (such as when there is an imminent risk of harm to the client or others). Privileged communication refers to a legal concept that provides additional protection to confidential communications between certain professionals (such as attorneys and their clients) in certain contexts (such as a court of law). Duty to warn refers to the ethical and legal obligation of mental health professionals to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to third parties when there is a specific, identifiable risk of such harm. Due process refers to a legal concept that ensures individuals are treated fairly and equitably in judicial and administrative proceedings.

Question 6

Since its inception in the 1960s, the impact of deinstitutionalization has been to ____.

Accepted Answer

Deinstitutionalization aimed to decrease the number of people living in large mental institutions, and it did so by reducing the need for institutionalization and promoting community-based care. However, it did not completely eliminate institutionalization, and there are still some mentally ill individuals who are committed to institutions. Nonetheless, the number of people in institutions has decreased significantly, by around 75 percent since the 1960s. Homelessness among mentally ill individuals has also increased since deinstitutionalization, as many were unable to access adequate community-based care and support. Therefore, option B is the most accurate choice.

Question 7

Monica, age 12, gives her therapist convincing evidence that she was sexually molested by her stepfather from the time she was 8 until she was 11.According to the principle of privileged communication, the therapist ____.

Accepted Answer

The principle of privileged communication does not apply in cases of suspected child abuse, where therapists are mandated reporters and must report the abuse to the proper authorities to protect the child and potentially other children from harm.

Question 8

Critics of deinstitutionalization argue that ____.

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that deinstitutionalization allowed states to transfer their responsibility to care for individuals with mental illness onto the community, resulting in inadequate support and resources. They also argue that this policy has led to a rise in homelessness and incarceration among individuals with mental illness.

Question 9

Under which of the following circumstances can a therapist divulge information about a client to a third party?

Accepted Answer

Therapists have an ethical and legal obligation to maintain confidentiality with their clients. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule, one of which is when a client presents a danger to themselves or others. In such cases, a therapist may be legally required to disclose information to third parties such as law enforcement or family members in order to prevent harm. Options A, B, and D do not necessarily justify the breach of confidentiality.

Question 10

A clinical psychologist says, "I want my patients to maintain as much contact with their home communities as possible and to get their treatment on an outpatient basis using drug treatment and psychotherapy so that they can stay in the community." These comments support the principle of ____.

Accepted Answer

The principle of mainstreaming refers to the practice of integrating individuals with mental health issues into the larger community through outpatient treatment options. This aligns with the clinical psychologist's desire for patients to stay in their home communities and receive treatment on an outpatient basis.

Question 11

A psychologist says, "I believe that the therapeutic process involves such a deep personal association between therapist and patient that ethically it requires me to keep sensitive information secret from others." The psychologist is referring to ____.

Accepted Answer

The psychologist is referring to confidentiality, which is the ethical duty to keep sensitive information obtained through the therapeutic process private and not disclose it to others without the patient's consent.

Question 12

Which statement about legal protection of therapists is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The therapist-client relationship does have legal protection, and in fact, in some instances, it has stronger legal protection than the attorney-client relationship. Confidentiality is a fundamental principle of the therapist-client relationship, and laws such as HIPAA provide legal protection for client information. It is not accurate to say that no states have client-privileged communication laws, as many states have laws that protect the confidentiality of therapy sessions. While the regulation of psychiatric practices may vary from state to state, it is not true that only five states regulate psychiatric practices.

Question 13

Dr.Vera learns in the midst of a therapy session that his client has been committing a series of violent rapes.Can Dr.Vera divulge this information to the police?

Accepted Answer

While therapists generally have a duty to maintain confidentiality, there are limited circumstances where they may need to breach confidentiality, such as when there is a risk of harm to the client or others. In this case, the therapist may choose to disclose the information to the police, but doing so may create liability for the therapist if it is not handled properly. It is important for the therapist to carefully consider the potential consequences and consult with legal and ethical experts before making a decision.

Question 14

The legal system uses three standards of proof: beyond a reasonable doubt, clear and convincing evidence, and preponderance of evidence.For mental health purposes, the burden of proof standards is ____.

Accepted Answer

For mental health purposes, the standard of proof often used is "clear and convincing evidence," which is a higher standard than "preponderance of evidence" but lower than "beyond a reasonable doubt."

Question 15

In a study of the public's view of confidentiality in the therapeutic relationship, it was found that most people ____.

Accepted Answer

The study found that most people believe that whatever is discussed in therapy is kept confidential and not disclosed.

Question 16

Research of mental patients who are placed in alternative community treatment programs such as providing permanent housing, special care, and concerned community treatment indicated that ____.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that alternative community treatment programs, which provide permanent housing, special care, and concerned community treatment, reduce homelessness and improve the well-being of mental patients who receive this kind of help. Patients in mental institutions were found to enjoy the hospital environment more than the alternative treatment environment, and outcomes were worse for those in alternative care than those in mental institutions. Choice D is the best answer because it accurately reflects the findings of research on this subject.

Question 17

Since deinstitutionalization began, huge numbers of former mental patients have been discharged from psychiatric facilities.It appears that possibly millions of them ____.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that a large percentage of the discharged mental patients are suffering from severe forms of mental illness such as schizophrenia and alcoholism, and are homeless or living in unstable housing situations. Many of them also face challenges in accessing healthcare and employment opportunities, which further contribute to their struggles. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 18

Homelessness is increasing at an alarming pace in the United States.Among the homeless, it is estimated that ____ to ____ suffer from a mental disorder.

Accepted Answer

Estimates suggest that between 30% to 70% of the homeless population in the United States suffer from some form of mental disorder. This wide range reflects variations in study methodologies and definitions of mental illness, but it underscores the significant overlap between homelessness and mental health issues.

Question 19

The policy in which people with mental disorders were moved out of large mental hospitals and back into agencies in their local communities beginning in the 1960s is called ____.

Accepted Answer

Deinstitutionalization is the policy in which people with mental disorders were moved out of large mental hospitals and back into agencies in their local communities beginning in the 1960s. Communalization and the right to receive treatment are not commonly used terms in the context of mental health policy. The least intrusive treatment principle is a legal concept that guides the use of the least restrictive methods of treatment that are still effective for individuals with mental disorders.

Question 20

Much of the problem with deinstitutionalization appears to be the ____.

Accepted Answer

The lack of community preparation and resources for discharged patients is a key factor in the difficulties of deinstitutionalization. Without proper support, discharged patients may struggle to access necessary mental health services and face other challenges in reintegrating into the community.

Quiz 17: Legal and Ethical Issues in Abnormal Psychology