Deck 3: Current Issues in Clinical Psychology

Question 1

Last spring,Johan earned his Ph.D.in clinical psychology in an APA-accredited program.This spring he will complete one year of supervised postdoctoral work and go to the state capital to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).What kind of professional designation does Johan appear to be pursuing?

A) assistant professor
B) certification
C) licensure
D) ABPP certification

Answer 1

licensure

Question 2

After many jobs in clinical psychology shifted from academic to private practice settings in the 1960s,

A) complaints arose about the adequacy of the Boulder model for practitioners.
B) many college and university psychology departments shrank due to problems retaining their faculty.
C) the qualifications required to practice clinically became much more rigorous than before.
D) the qualifications required to enter graduate school in clinical psychology became less rigorous than before.

Answer 2

complaints arose about the adequacy of the Boulder model for practitioners.

Question 3

The Psy.D.model of training grew out of a conference held in

A) Vail in 1973.
B) New York in 1960.
C) Denver in 1988.
D) Boulder in 1949.

Answer 3

Vail in 1973.

Question 4

Which of the following is true regarding certification?

A) Certification is a stronger form of regulation than licensing.
B) Certification is automatic for graduates of Ph. D. programs in clinical psychology.
C) Non-certified individuals can provide psychological services to the public as long as they do not use the title "psychologist" or the word "psychological" to describe themselves or their services.
D) all of the above

Question 5

The clinical scientist training model of clinical psychology

A) is currently the dominant training model.
B) emphasizes empirically supported clinical techniques.
C) is synonymous with the scientist-practitioner model.
D) all of the above

Question 6

The acceptance rate for applicants to Psy.D.programs is about

A) 5%.
B) 20%.
C) 40%.
D) 70%.

Question 7

Professional schools of clinical psychology

A) offer doctoral degrees.
B) tend to be "for-profit" institutions.
C) are not usually APA-accredited.
D) all of the above

Question 8

Professional schools differ from traditional university-based scientist-practitioner programs in ALL BUT WHICH of the following ways?

A) They depend less on part-time faculty.
B) They tend to admit far more students per class.
C) They tend to emphasize clinical over research skills.
D) They rely on tuition as their primary source of funding

Question 9

Among the following,the clinical psychologist most closely associated with the clinical scientist model of training is

A) DeLeon.
B) McFall.
C) Pope.
D) Heiby.

Question 10

As described in the text,the combined professional-scientific training program integrates aspects of what three specialties?

A) clinical, counseling, and school psychology
B) clinical, health, and neuropsychology
C) counseling, school, and organizational psychology
D) clinical, forensic, and health psychology

Question 11

Terrence and Zachary are each pursuing higher degrees in clinical psychology: Terrence a Ph.D.and Zachary a Psy.D.Based on this information alone,which student will likely finish his degree sooner?

A) Terrence
B) Zachary
C) Both will take about the same amount of time.
D) There's no way to answer this question based only on the information provided.

Question 12

Currently,the most popular training model for clinical psychologists is the

A) clinical scientist model.
B) scientist-practitioner model.
C) Vail model.
D) none of the above

Question 13

Professor Ferraro is talking with his students about developments in the clinical psychology profession.Which of his statements below is LEAST well-grounded?

A) "Over time, training programs are likely to focus more on brief, empirically supported treatments."
B) "If there aren't already more practice-oriented clinical psychologists out there than the market can support, there will be soon!"
C) "At present, everyone who seeks an accredited clinical internship can still get one."
D) "Research-oriented clinical psychologists will continue to play an important role in the future of the profession."

Question 14

Which of the following is true regarding licensure as a psychologist?

A) Licensure laws are uniform across all 50 states.
B) Licensure usually requires a master's degree.
C) Licensure usually requires passing a written exam.
D) Licensure is automatic for graduates of Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology.

Question 15

Which of the following is true?

A) Research suggests that clinical psychologists with Psy.D. degrees will have more trouble finding employment than those with Ph.D. degrees.
B) Compared to Psy.D. programs, Ph.D. programs admit a higher percentage of applicants.
C) Compared to Psy.D. programs, Ph.D. programs award more doctoral degrees.
D) none of the above

Question 16

According to proponents of the scientist-practitioner training model,clinical psychologists should

A) spend 50% of their time conducting research and 50% of their time conducting clinical work.
B) spend 25% of their time conducting research and 75% of their time conducting clinical work.
C) spend at least 10% of their time conducting research.
D) be able to understand and evaluate research even if they do not conduct it at all.

Question 17

The model of psychological training that emerged from the 1949 conference in Boulder,Colorado represents an attempt to

A) clearly emphasize clinical skill over research competency.
B) clearly emphasize research competency over clinical skill.
C) make graduate coursework less didactic and more "hands-on."
D) none of the above

Question 18

Over time,the proportion of doctorates in clinical psychology awarded by professional schools has

A) increased dramatically.
B) increased slightly.
C) remained constant.
D) decreased dramatically.

Question 19

What is ABPP?

A) an organization that offers certification of professional competence in a particular area, such as clinical neuropsychology or forensic psychology
B) a training model that emphasizes empirically supported clinical techniques
C) a national organization of graduate students in clinical psychology
D) a national organization that promotes research and practice in behavioral psychotherapy

Question 20

Elena and Jacquelyn are each pursuing higher degrees in clinical psychology: Elena a Ph.D.and Jacquelyn a Psy.D.Compared to Jacquelyn's program,students in Elena's program are __________ to receive full financial assistance and __________ to land a clinical internship.

A) more likely; less likely
B) more likely; more likely
C) less likely; less likely
D) less likely; more likely

Question 21

"Computer-assisted therapy" may refer to treatment administered via ALL BUT WHICH of the following?

A) videoconferencing
B) e-mail and text messages
C) therapy-based "apps"
D) All of the above would be considered modes of computer-assisted therapy.

Question 22

Jim wants to quit smoking secondary to some recent,serious health concerns.He and his therapist communicate frequently via e-mails and phone calls.In addition,his therapist periodically sends him links to webpages that offer useful techniques for dealing with cravings,and sends him automated text messages when he's likely to be at a high risk of relapse (e.g.,when on break at work,following meals).This treatment is an apt example of what is known as

A) an electronic therapy protocol.
B) ambulatory assessment.
C) computer-assisted therapy.
D) virtual therapy.

Question 23

ALL BUT WHICH of the following are criticisms against clinical psychologists obtaining prescription privileges?

A) Clinical psychologists would de-emphasize necessary medication and rely too heavily upon psychotherapy.
B) The relationship between clinical psychology and psychiatry/general medicine would suffer.
C) Clinical psychologists' malpractice insurance premiums would increase significantly.
D) It might lead to an increase in research sponsored by drug companies.

Question 24

Unlike a PPO,an HMO

A) employs a restricted number of providers to serve members.
B) contracts with outside providers to meet the needs of members.
C) is a type of managed care model.
D) attempts to contain health-care costs.

Question 25

Multiculturalism in clinical psychology

A) is discouraged by the American Psychological Association.
B) was a primary cause of the 1988 schism of the American Psychological Association.
C) is considered important for treatment, but not for research or education.
D) none of the above

Question 26

APA published its first code of ethics in the

A) 1930s.
B) 1950s.
C) 1970s.
D) 1990s.

Question 27

Dr.Spring,a clinical psychologist,has been treating individuals in a private practice setting since the 1970s.In what respect does her professional practice today,in a managed care environment,likely differ from her professional practice in the '70s and '80s?

A) the length of treatment she can provide
B) the type of treatment she can provide
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Question 28

In 1993,the Ad Hoc Task Force on Psychopharmacology of APA published recommendations regarding competence in prescribing.According to these recommendations,in order to achieve the highest level of competence (Level 3)and practice independently as a prescribing psychologist,the psychologist must have completed

A) undergraduate coursework in organic chemistry and neuroscience plus a one-semester graduate course in psychopharmacology.
B) six months of prescribing experience supervised by a psychiatrist.
C) a strong undergraduate background in biological sciences, two years of graduate training in psychopharmacology, and a postdoctoral psychopharmacology residency.
D) a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical psychology plus one year of postdoctoral training in a psychiatric treatment setting.

Question 29

Dr.Rodon earned her clinical psychology Ph.D.15 years ago and she has worked in the neuropsychology department of the university hospital for the last 10 years.Recently,she completed a rigorous process of verifying her professional credentials,submitting several samples of her work for review by peers,and completing an oral exam administered by a panel of experts in the area of neuropsychology.If successful,what will Dr.Rodon receive for her efforts?

A) licensure
B) ABPP certification
C) a clinical internship
D) full professorship

Question 30

ALL BUT WHICH of the following statements is true of "telehealth"?

A) It involves the delivery of health services using telecommunications technologies.
B) One significant advantage of telehealth is the reduction in stigma associated with seeking treatment at traditional clinics.
C) Most applications of telehealth to date have focused on poor urban communities with inadequate mental health facilities.
D) Two forms of telehealth relevant to clinical psychology are ambulatory assessment and computer-assisted therapy.

Question 31

Proponents of clinical psychologists obtaining prescription privileges argue that with prescription privileges,

A) clinical psychologists would be able to treat a wider range of clients.
B) care for patients needing both therapy and medication would be more efficient and cost-effective.
C) clinical psychologists would be better able to monitor changes in symptoms as a function of medication dosage.
D) all of the above

Question 32

Dr.LeFevre is reimbursed for his clinical work under a model where he receives incentives for providing high-quality yet efficient services.In other words,he is paid more if he achieves a good patient outcome in 8 sessions than if he achieves a similar outcome with a similar patient in 12 sessions.What is the term for this type of reimbursement model?

A) pay-for-performance disease-management model
B) treatment efficiency maximization model
C) efficient contingency reward model
D) consumer-directed health-care model

Question 33

According to U.S.Census Bureau projections,between 1995 and 2050,population growth will be lowest for

A) non-Hispanic Whites.
B) Blacks.
C) Hispanics.
D) Asian Americans.

Question 34

Contemporary private practice is dominated by

A) long-term, fee-for-service clinical work.
B) a resurgence of client-centered therapy.
C) clinical work within a managed care context.
D) personality assessment.

Question 35

According to supporters of cultural competence in clinical psychologists,clinicians should

A) adhere to the "myth of sameness."
B) have expertise specific to the cultural backgrounds of those they serve.
C) avoid scientific mindedness.
D) all of the above

Question 36

JoAnn has just begun treatment for generalized anxiety disorder,and her therapist gave her an electronic diary with instructions to rate her anxiety level and provide a brief description of the current situation every time she is prompted by the diary.The term for this type of assessment is

A) ambulatory assessment.
B) electronic symptom tracking.
C) real-time remote assessment.
D) periodic electronic evaluation.

Question 37

The history of private practice has witnessed

A) continuous cooperation between psychiatry and clinical psychology.
B) clinical psychologists trying, but failing, to earn reimbursement privileges from more than a handful of insurance carriers.
C) a decrease in the number of clinical psychologists interested in private practice.
D) none of the above

Question 38

The influence of managed care is likely to impact psychological treatment in the future in ALL BUT THE FOLLOWING ways:

A) There will be increased use of master's level providers and decreased use of doctoral level providers.
B) There will be decreased use of self-help interventions.
C) There will be greater use of computer- or Internet-assisted therapy.
D) More psychological services will be delivered via primary care settings.

Question 39

In 2007,the APA published recommendations pertaining to sensitive clinical practice with __________,due to concerns about diagnostic bias and other issues.

A) victims of abuse
B) girls and women
C) transgender individuals
D) multiracial individuals

Question 40

A 2005 study comparing traditional (therapist-provided)cognitive therapy for depression and computer-assisted therapy found that individuals benefitted

A) more from the traditional therapy than from the computer-assisted therapy.
B) less from the traditional therapy than from the computer-assisted therapy.
C) similarly from each form of therapy at the end of treatment, with the traditional group doing better at follow-up.
D) similarly from each form of therapy both at the end of treatment and at follow up.

Question 41

How has managed care influenced private practice psychotherapy?

Question 42

Explain at least three criticisms of the licensing requirement in psychology.

Question 43

Describe the likely impact of prescription privileges on graduate training in clinical psychology.

Question 44

According to the 1996 Supreme Court ruling in the Jaffe v.Redmond case,

A) mental health professionals who misrepresent their credentials are guilty of a felony.
B) a client's consent is necessary before his/her psychotherapy records can be disclosed.
C) specific confidentiality guidelines depend on the age of the client.
D) non-sexual dual relationships are not considered harmful to the client, from a legal perspective.

Question 45

In the Tarasoff case,the California Supreme Court ruled that

A) the therapist should not have broken confidentiality at all.
B) the therapist's actions were sufficient in the eyes of the law.
C) the therapist should have warned additional people.
D) the therapy conducted with the client caused the crime to be committed.

Question 46

What constitutes a dual relationship,and why are such relationships ethically inappropriate?

Question 47

What constitutes cultural competence,and why is it important?

Question 48

According to a recent survey (Pope & Vetter,1992)cited in the textbook,the type of ethical dilemma reported most frequently by APA members involved

A) confidentiality.
B) cultural competence.
C) clinical competence.
D) dual relationships.

Question 49

A psychologist is seeing a client who reports that he/she is planning to kill his/her spouse.If the ruling in the Tarasoff case is applicable to this situation,the psychologist should

A) maintain confidentiality and not share this information with anyone.
B) break confidentiality and inform police of this threat.
C) require the client to call police and inform them directly of the threat.
D) break confidentiality and inform all appropriate persons, including the spouse, of the threat.

Question 50

All but which of the following scenarios involves violation of the APA ethical principle of "competence"?

A) A clinician with a doctoral degree in counseling introduces herself as "Doctor Smith" and does not specify the nature of her training.
B) A clinician with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology uses an assessment or treatment procedure that he has not been specifically trained to use.
C) A clinician who is going through a messy divorce refers a similarly messy marital therapy case to another clinician due to fears that she would lack objectivity.
D) Each of the above scenarios involves violation of the competence principle.

Question 51

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Psy.D.model of training?

Question 52

Enumerate four advantages of ambulatory assessment over more traditional forms of assessment.

Question 53

Dr.Bigg has been treating Joshua,a man with panic disorder and moderate depression,weekly for two years,and between therapy sessions they often trade e-mail messages relating to Joshua's symptoms.Over that two-year span,Joshua's symptoms have been consistent; there's no evidence that he's gotten better or has been prevented from getting worse.How would you assess this situation from the standpoint of the APA Ethical Principles?

A) Dr. Bigg is breaching the ethical guidelines by trading e-mail messages with the client between sessions.
B) Dr. Bigg is breaching the ethical guidelines by failing to terminate the treatment and refer Joshua elsewhere.
C) Dr. Bigg is breaching the ethical guidelines in this case by offering individual therapy rather than less expensive group therapy.
D) There's no evidence that Dr. Bigg is breaching any ethical guideline in this case.

Question 54

Sexual intimacies between therapist and client

A) have a positive impact on many clients who are involved in them.
B) are not as harmful as emotional intimacies between therapist and client.
C) are not addressed by the APA Ethical Standards because they happen so infrequently.
D) are a type of "dual relationship."

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT considered a dual relationship between psychologist and client?

A) sexual activities with a client
B) employing a current client
C) becoming friends with a former client
D) All of the above are examples of dual relationships.

Question 56

Among the "General Principles" presented in the most recent revision of the APA ethics code is

A) beneficence and non-maleficence.
B) integrity.
C) justice.
D) all of the above

Question 57

In the Tarasoff case,the victim's parents

A) sued the parents of the client.
B) sued the therapist.
C) defended the therapist in court.
D) none of the above

Question 58

Briefly summarize the facts of the Tarasoff case and the implications of its ruling on the practice of psychotherapy.

Question 59

Compare and contrast the scientist-practitioner and clinical scientist models of training.

Question 60

In what way are physicians serving as role models for clinical psychology Ph.D.s desiring to work in private practice? Why do some consider this a bad thing?