Exam #1 Flashcards
- You are completing a court-ordered evaluation in order to determine the person’s competency to stand trial and during the administration of the MMPI-2 your client jumps out of his seat and shouts “OK, OK, I killed her!” Now you areobligated to include this information in your report; it is a court-ordered report.
obligated to include this information; privilege is waived because the mental status is part of the defense.
obligated to include this information; privilege is waived because you know have a Tarasoff situation.
not obligated to include the confessional information.
The Correct Answer is “D”
Since the question does not indicate that the client has waived consent, the law protects the defendant at this juncture. He is protected by laws that prohibit the use of evaluation data to determine the defendant’s guilt. The best course of action is to not include any incriminating evidence in the competency report, but instead only information relevant to the defendant’s competence (G.B. Melton, Psychological Evaluations for the Court, New York, Guilford, 1987).
- A woman who has been abused by her husband comes to therapy. What would a family systems therapist do first in this case?invite the husband into therapy
teach her how to manage her husband’s anger
find out if the woman is currently safe from abuse and, if necessary, rehearse an escape plan with her
explore patterns of abuse in her family of origin
The Correct Answer is “C”
The key word in this question is “first.” The first concern in this case – for a systems therapist as well as any other therapist – is to ensure the client’s safety, and only choice C addresses this issue. If the client’s safety were not an issue, A would probably be the best answer, since systems therapists would focus on the whole system rather than its constituent parts. In other words, they would want to work with the couple rather than just one of the spouses. Choice D sounds like something an extended family systems (Bowenian) therapist would do. Although Bowen’s work is based on systems theory, so are many other schools of family therapy. Therefore, D is the third best answer – A, which applies more generally to systems theory, is better.
- You are the only provider in a rural community and your spouse’s coworker asks if he could schedule an appointment with you. Which of the following is the best course of action?You must refer him.
You must schedule an appointment with him.
You should refer him if you believe that treating him would impair your objectivity.
You should discuss this with your spouse and this coworker to determine if this constitutes a dual relationship.
The Correct Answer is “C”
According to APA’s Ethics Code regarding multiple relationships (3.05[a]), “A psychologist refrains from entering into a multiple relationship if the multiple relationship could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist’s objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists.” Choice A is too prohibitive. Although it may be necessary to refer this person, if it appears unlikely that entering into a professional relationship would impair your objectivity or would otherwise be harmful to the person, you could treat him. Choice B can be eliminated because psychologists and other health professionals have no legal or ethical obligation to enter into a professional relationship. And Choice D can be eliminated because discussing the matter with your spouse would be a breach of confidentiality.
Ethics and Professional Practice
79. The mother of a 3-year old has been told her daughter is very gifted. She wants to encourage the child’s abilities and asks you, a school psychologist, to assess the girl’s IQ score level and suggest a plan for her future education. You should:
comply with the request. comply with the request, but inform the mother that test results at this age are not very valid as predictors of future performance. suggest that the test not be given, but agree to help the mother in deciding on the future educational plans for her child. inform the mother that there are no standardized valid tests available for children of such a young age.
The Correct Answer is “B”© Academic Review
In this case there is nothing wrong with you testing the child and tests are available. But you should also use your knowledge and judgment to counsel the mother about the use of tests for such a young child. While it’s true that there is some predictive validity for intelligence tests starting at about 18 months to 2 years of age, you should still tell the mother that many things will determine her daughter’s future school performance and that we can’t be so sure she will continue as she presently is.
Ethics and Professional Practice
88. A psychologist who sees a family consisting of a mother, stepfather, and two children from the mother’s first marriage, aged 10 and 14, must
provide individual therapy as needed to each member. meet with each family member separately at least once. see family members only as a group. provide an understandable explanation of services to the children
The Correct Answer is “D”
Of the choices listed, only the fourth describes something the psychologist “must” do. As part of informed consent procedures, the psychologist will explain the nature of the services to the parents. And, according to APA’s Ethics Code, when working with clients who legally cannot give informed consent such as children, psychologists must “provide an appropriate explanation” of the services as well as “seek the individual’s assent” and “consider such persons’ preferences and best interests.” The other choices may describe good practices depending on the situation; for instance, many family therapists believe that they should not treat family members both individually and as a family, and also many would meet with family members individually at least once. However, these are not absolute requirements and are not required by APA’s Ethics Code.
- Of the following, which would not be inconsistent with a psychologist’s ethical obligations?
Beginning a sexual relationship with a cousin of a former patient who terminated therapy a year earlier. Engaging in a sexual relationship with a patient who ended therapy two years earlier wherein therapy was not terminated for the intention of commencing this relationship. Accepting a new patient with whom the psychologist had been sexually involved four years before. Having a sexual relationship with a psychological assistant that the psychologist is currently supervising.
The Correct Answer is “A”
A. While there are several types of inappropriate relationships described in this question “A.” would not be inconsistent with a psychologist’s ethical obligations and is the correct answer. Ethical Standard 10.06 specifically mentions “current” clients or patients, but does not prohibit “former” clients or patients. “Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with individuals they know to be close relatives, guardians, or significant others of current clients/patients. Psychologists do not terminate therapy to circumvent this standard” While sexual relationships with former patients are not altogether prohibited after two years (b.) in the Ethics Code, they are discouraged, and the psychologist would “bear the burden of demonstrating that there has been no exploitation.” Specifically, Ethical Standard 10.08 states “Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients even after a two-year interval except in the most unusual circumstances.” Response choice (c.) is incorrect as Ethical Standard 10.07 states, “Psychologists do not accept as therapy clients/patients persons with whom they have engaged in sexual intimacies.” Ethical Standard 7.07 addresses (d.) “Psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with students or supervisees who are in their department, agency, or training center or over whom psychologists have or are likely to have evaluative authority.”
- Which of the following is not a recommendation of APA’s Guidelines for Providers of Service to Ethnic, Linguistic, and Culturally Diverse Populations?Psychologists should downplay their own culture and emphasize the client’s culture.
Psychologists should help clients understand, maintain, and resolve their own sociocultural identification.
Psychologists should seek to help determine whether a so-called “problem” stems from racism or bias in others so that clients don’t inappropriately personalize problems.
Psychologists should work to eliminate biases, prejudices, and discriminatory practices
The Correct Answer is “A”
Although these Guidelines do emphasize the need to consider, respect, and understand the client’s cultural background, they don’t advise psychologists to downplay their own backgrounds. The other choices are all paraphrases of statements contained in these Guidelines.
- You see a client for the first time. She is already receiving treatment from another professional, and she is not clear about why she wants additional treatment from you. In this situation, you should
treat the client and let her discuss what she is doing with the other professional when she is comfortable enough to do so. contact the other professional and attempt to work out a coordinated treatment plan with him or her. attempt to discuss with the client the reason she is seeking the services of a second therapist. inform the client that it would be unethical for you to continue therapy with her.
The Correct Answer is “C”
In answering ethics questions, it is a good idea to bring to mind the language of the applicable ethical standard and choose the answer that is most consistent with that standard. According to Standard 10.04 (Providing Therapy to Those Served by Others), psychologists should consider treatment issues and the client’s welfare, and discuss these issues with the client, “in order to minimize the risk of confusion and conflict,” and should “proceed with caution and sensitivity to the therapeutic issues.” Of the choices listed, only C states that you would discuss the issue with the client, and is therefore the best answer.
- You are hired by a company to evaluate applicants and current employees for the purposes of hiring, promotion, training, and termination. You are told that the company has applicants and employees sign a waiver of confidentiality prior to seeing you. Which of the following best describes your best course of action in this situation?
You should tell the employer that the company's policy violates your ethical obligations and refuse to do the evaluations until the policy is changed. You should conduct the evaluations but provide the employer only with information that is directly relevant to the purpose of the evaluation. You should discuss the impact of the waiver with applicants and employees and see if they want to continue with the evaluation process. You should provide the employer with any requested information since applicants and employees have already signed a waiver of confidentiality.
The Correct Answer is “C”
In any situation, a general waiver is not the best approach. Waivers should be specific in terms of the kind of information that will be revealed. The best answer to this question would probably be some combination of responses A and C (you’d want to discuss the issue with the employer). However, it’s not necessary to refuse to do the evaluations as long as you discuss the implications of the waiver with the applicants and employees, so response C is the best answer.
- A woman comes to you who has been put on morphine due to her pain. She is an ex-alcoholic in recovery and does not want to become addicted to the morphine. She asks your assistance in lowering the dosage. You should:
Work with her physician to lower the dose–but explain that synthetic morphine isn't addicting Tell her she needs to speak directly to her physician Suggest she give you the extra morphine and you will dispose of it properly Support her choice to not get addicted and work with her physician
The Correct Answer is “D”
It is really alright to support your client’s idea even if it isn’t yours. You would want to get a signed release to speak to the prescribing physician and work with him or her to support your client’s choice.
- The purpose of licensure in psychology and other mental health fields is toprotect the consumer by limiting practice to those who are qualified.
provide uniform national standards of minimal competence in the field.
protect the public by ensuring that professional have enough knowledge about the field.
allow consumers to choose professionals who are the best in the field.
The Correct Answer is “A”
All 50 states in the U.S., the 10 provinces in Canada, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia regulate the practice of psychology and require psychologists to obtain licenses in order to practice professionally. The purpose of licensure and licensure laws are to protect the public by only allowing qualified persons to practice; i.e., persons who have demonstrated that have met minimum standards of competence as defined by state or provincial law. Contrary to choice 2, licensure is a matter of state law, not national standards. Choice 3 is not complete enough; licensure is intended to ensure that professionals meet standards of competence, which extend beyond just knowledge
- A psychologist is providing therapy to a client through the client’s Employee Assistance Program at work. The client’s supervisor can be informed by the psychologist that the client is receiving treatment:under no circumstances
if the client’s problem is affecting her job performance
if the supervisor referred the client to the program
if that is the only information he reveals to the supervisor
The Correct Answer is “C”
C. Generally, in the context of an EAP, information about an employee/client’s condition or treatment should not be disclosed without the employee/client’s consent. However, as “c.” states, when the employee/client comes to therapy as the result of a referral by his or her supervisor, the supervisor can be given certain limited information: He or she can be told if the employee/client kept the appointment, whether the employee/client needs treatment, and whether the employee/client accepted treatment. The supervisor should not be given any other confidential information unless the psychologist has permission from the employee/client. Confidentiality can also be breached under the same conditions that it can be breached in other contexts (e.g., danger to self, mandated reports).
- The Larry P. v. Riles case is important because it:
defined the relationship between standard intellectual assessments and placement in Mental Retardation classes. was the first time a court addressed bias in job selection in private industry. relates to how much information must be revealed to research participants. limited certain restraint of trade clauses in the APA Ethics Code, such as using patient testimonials.
The Correct Answer is “A”
This was a California case related to the use of standardized intelligence tests for assessing children for placement in special classes for the mentally retarded. It’s one of several famous cases and rulings which questioned the validity of using these tests for this purpose. The ruling, which continues to be challenged, banned the use of IQ tests in the placement of minority children in special education classes.
- You belong to a managed-care panel and a client with a 12-session limit was referred to you. Without calling to cancel, she does not show up for her fourth session. How would you bill for the missed session?
bill the insurance company bill the client according to office policies bill the client for the co-payment and the insurance company for the no-show you cannot bill either the client or insurance company
The Correct Answer is “B”
The best answer is that you should bill according to your office policies which, presumably, was explained and agreed to by the client at the beginning of treatment (Standard 6.04: Fees and Financial Arrangements). If charging the client for the missed session was not agreed upon in advance, this would be unethical (which response “D” suggests). Responses “A” and “D” are correct in stating that you cannot bill the insurance company, since you should only bill insurance for services that you actually provide (Standard 6.06: Accuracy in Reports to Payors and Funding Sources). While your financial agreement may or may not require the client to cover the co-payment for missed sessions (response “C”), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes do not provide a code for no-shows, and billing for services not rendered is unethical.
Ethics and Professional Practice
189. You see a client for eight sessions for short-term therapy for depression following an accident at work that left him unable to work. A year later, the client’s attorney contacts you and asks you to testify on the client’s behalf in his lawsuit against the employer. In this case, you should
refer the attorney and his client to a psychologist who specializes in forensic evaluations. agree to testify since the attorney will likely compel your testimony via a subpoena. clarify that it will be necessary to conduct a new evaluation in order to serve as an expert witness. explain that you will be only able to testify as and clarify the role of a fact witness.
The Correct Answer is “D”
According to the APA’s Ethical Standards, when asked to provide service at the request of a third party “psychologists attempt to clarify at the outset of the service the nature of the relationship with all individuals or organizations involved.” In this question, you need to understand the role of psychologists in forensic settings to know how to explain the nature of your service to this client. In these settings, a psychologist can serve as either an expert or a fact witness. An expert witness is someone who has superior knowledge about a particular psychological issue in a legal case based on her training or experience, and offers that opinion if permitted or asked to do so by the court. A fact witness, on the other hand, is one who testifies about facts relevant to the case; when a psychologist testifies as a fact witness, it would be because he has treated a client and the events or disclosures that occurred in the treatment are relevant to the case. The roles of expert witness and fact witness are contradictory in numerous ways; for instance, an expert witness’s client is an attorney, whereas a treating psychologist’s client is the patient. Therefore, psychologists should not serve as both fact and expert witnesses in the same case. Additionally, the attorney’s request to testify “on behalf of the client” requires clarification; this could be interpreted to mean that your primary role would be to advocate for the client as opposed to testifying truthfully. For these reasons, of the choices listed, the best answer is to explain that you only can testify as a fact witness and to clarify your role as such.
