ABPP Clinical Psychology flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

DSM-5-TR severity thresholds

Substance use disorder: 2-3 criteria mild, 4-5 moderate, 6 or more severe. Remission specifiers distinguish early (3-12 months) from sustained (over 12 months) remission.

Cognitive triad

Beck's model that depression involves negative beliefs about the self, the world, and the future, targeted through cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation in CBT.

DBT four modules

Linehan's skills modules are mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, taught alongside chain analysis of target behaviors and consultation team support.

SUDS rating scale

Subjective Units of Distress Scale from 0 to 100 used to build exposure hierarchies and guide progression from low- to high-anxiety items during exposure therapy.

Wechsler score distribution

Full Scale IQ and index scores have a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, so a 15-point difference equals one standard deviation and is clinically noteworthy.

Reliable Change Index

Jacobson and Truax statistic computed as (post minus pre) divided by the standard error of difference; absolute values above 1.96 indicate statistically reliable change.

VIQ-PIQ dissociation

A verbal-performance IQ gap can suggest lateralized dysfunction; lower performance IQ points toward right-hemisphere or visual-spatial deficits, while lower verbal IQ suggests left-hemisphere or language deficits.

Acute versus chronic suicide risk

Acute risk reflects imminent, dynamic factors such as recent loss, discharge, or lethal-means access; chronic risk reflects longstanding static vulnerability and prior attempts.

Clozapine monitoring requirement

Clozapine is indicated for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and requires regular absolute neutrophil count monitoring because of agranulocytosis risk; lithium is used for bipolar maintenance.

Tarasoff duty to protect

Arises when a client poses serious imminent danger to an identifiable other; protective actions may include warning, notifying police, or hospitalization, varying by jurisdiction.

Behavioral activation rationale

Depression reduces activity and reinforcement; scheduling graded, valued activities increases positive reinforcement and reverses withdrawal-maintaining cycles in CBT for depression.

Exposure with response prevention

For OCD, the client confronts anxiety-provoking stimuli while refraining from rituals; habituation and inhibitory learning reduce compulsive behavior over repeated trials.

Differential diagnosis in assessment

Systematically rule out medical, substance, and developmental explanations before assigning a psychiatric diagnosis; base decisions on convergent data from interview, testing, and records.

Psychoeducational assessment components

Includes norm-referenced cognitive and achievement testing, developmental and educational history, behavioral observations, and integration with teacher or parent rating scales.

Neuropsychological test interpretation limits

Scores must be interpreted in context of premorbid functioning, effort, culture, and sensory/motor limits; isolated low scores may reflect measurement error rather than impairment.

Stages of change model

Prochaska and DiClemente describe precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse; interventions should match the client's current stage.

Informed consent elements

APA Standard 3.10 requires disclosure of purpose, procedures, risks and benefits, alternatives, confidentiality limits, fees, and the right to withdraw at any time.

Confidentiality limits

Confidentiality may be breached for imminent danger to self or others, suspected child or elder abuse, court order, or valid client waiver, consistent with law and ethics codes.

Multiple relationship standard

APA Standard 3.05 prohibits relationships that could impair objectivity or risk exploitation; assess power differential, duration, and likelihood of harm before proceeding.

Boundaries of competence

APA Standards 2.01 and 2.02 require practicing within education, training, and supervised experience, and limiting emergency services to stabilization before referral.

Test data protection

APA Standards 9.04 and 9.11 require safeguarding test materials and raw data, releasing them only to qualified professionals or as legally required or consented.

Fees and billing disclosure

APA Standards 6.01 and 6.04 require establishing fees and billing arrangements as early as feasible and clarifying collection and third-party payment terms.

Record retention requirements

Psychologists maintain records per law and regulation, ensure confidentiality of stored data, and arrange secure transfer or disposition when closing or leaving a practice.

Ethical decision-making steps

Identify the dilemma, consult the ethics code, law, and colleagues, evaluate alternatives and consequences, act, document the rationale, and review the outcome.

Aspirational versus enforceable standards

APA Ethics Code general principles are aspirational ideals, while ethical standards are enforceable rules; both apply across all settings and roles of psychologists.

HIPAA minimum necessary rule

Covered entities must limit protected health information disclosure to the minimum needed for the purpose, absent consent or a specific legal exception.

Informed consent with minors

Obtain parental or guardian permission plus the minor's assent, explaining limits of confidentiality and developmentally appropriate information about procedures and risks.

Supervision responsibility

Supervisors delegate only tasks the supervisee can competently perform and remain responsible for client welfare, ensuring appropriate oversight and documentation of supervision.

Termination and abandonment

APA Standard 10.10 requires avoiding abandonment, providing pretermination counseling and referrals when services end, except when the client poses danger.

Conflict between ethics and law

APA Standard 1.02 permits psychologists to comply with law while making known their commitment to the Ethics Code and resolving conflicts responsibly.

Advocacy and public statements

APA Standards 5.01 and 5.02 require accuracy and scientific basis in public statements, advertisements, and testimonials, avoiding false or deceptive claims.

Sexual intimacies prohibition

APA Standard 10.08 prohibits sexual intimacies with current clients or their significant others and imposes a minimum two-year post-termination restriction.