COCAS flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- DSM-5-TR
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision; provides criteria for mental disorders and includes cultural and diagnostic codes.
- Differential diagnosis
- The process of distinguishing a disorder from other conditions with similar symptoms by considering medical, substance-induced, and other psychiatric causes.
- Cultural Formulation Interview
- A 16-question DSM-5 tool used to assess cultural factors that influence diagnosis, treatment, and the therapeutic relationship.
- Comorbidity
- The presence of two or more disorders in the same individual at the same time; common in mental health and requires comprehensive assessment.
- Cognitive restructuring
- A CBT technique that helps clients identify, challenge, and replace maladaptive thoughts with more balanced and realistic ones.
- Behavioral activation
- A CBT intervention for depression that increases engagement in rewarding activities to improve mood and reduce avoidance.
- Exposure therapy
- A behavioral technique involving gradual, repeated exposure to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety through habituation and extinction.
- Cognitive distortions
- Systematic errors in thinking, such as all-or-nothing thinking or catastrophizing, that contribute to emotional distress.
- SSRIs
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; first-line antidepressants for depression and anxiety; side effects include GI upset and sexual dysfunction.
- Benzodiazepines
- Anxiolytic medications that enhance GABA; used short-term for anxiety; risk of dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal.
- Serotonin syndrome
- A potentially life-threatening condition caused by excess serotonergic activity; symptoms include agitation, hyperthermia, and tremor; requires emergency care.
- Informed consent
- The ethical and legal requirement to provide clients with information about treatment, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to withdraw before starting therapy.
- Tarasoff duty
- A legal duty to warn or protect identifiable third parties when a client poses a serious threat of violence.
- Mandated reporting
- The legal requirement for professionals to report suspected child abuse or neglect to designated authorities.
- Dual relationship
- A situation in which a therapist has another significant relationship with a client (e.g., business, social) that could impair objectivity or exploit the client.
- Evidence-based practice
- The integration of best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and client values and preferences in making treatment decisions.
- Randomized controlled trial
- An experimental study design in which participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups to establish causal effects.
- Effect size
- A quantitative measure of the strength of a treatment effect; Cohen's d values of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 are small, medium, and large.
- Meta-analysis
- A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies to estimate an overall effect size and increase statistical power.
- Cultural competence
- The ability to understand and effectively interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, involving awareness, knowledge, and skills.
- Cultural humility
- A lifelong commitment to self-reflection, acknowledging power imbalances, and maintaining openness to cultural differences in clinical work.
- Microaggressions
- Brief, everyday verbal or nonverbal slights that communicate hostile or derogatory messages toward marginalized groups.
- Social determinants of health
- Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that impact health, including income, education, and discrimination.
- Clinical supervision
- A formal relationship in which a more experienced professional oversees and guides the clinical work of a supervisee to ensure quality care and professional development.
- Consultation
- A collaborative process in which a professional seeks expert advice from a colleague regarding a clinical or organizational issue, without transferring responsibility for the client.
- Competency-based supervision
- A supervision approach that identifies specific clinical competencies, observes performance, provides feedback, and assesses outcomes.
- Due process in supervision
- Fair and transparent procedures for addressing supervisee performance problems, including clear expectations, feedback, and opportunities for remediation.
- HIPAA
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; federal law protecting the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI).
- CPT codes
- Current Procedural Terminology codes used for billing insurance claims; e.g., 90837 for 60-minute psychotherapy.
- Sliding scale
- A fee structure that adjusts the cost of services based on the client's income and ability to pay.
- Professional liability insurance
- Insurance that protects mental health professionals against claims of malpractice or negligence.
- Notice of Privacy Practices
- A HIPAA-required document that informs clients about how their health information may be used and disclosed and their rights.