2025/2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
Preparation Guide by Assessment
Technologies Institute (ATI) - Graded A+ with
Detailed Rationales for First-Attempt Success
believing that others, who are discussing the next meal,
are talking about them - ANSWER//ideas of reference
Feels singled out for harm by others (being hunted down
by FBI) - ANSWER//Persecution Believes that she is all
powerful and important like a god - ANSWER//grandeur
believes that his body is changing in an unusual way,
scubas growing a third arm - ANSWER//somatic delusions
May feel that her spouse is sexually involved with another
individual - ANSWER//Jealousy Believes that a force
outside his body is controlling him - ANSWER//being
controlled believes that her thoughts are heard by others -
ANSWER//thought broacasting believes that others
thoughts are being inserted into his mind -
ANSWER//thought insertion Believe that her thoughts
have been removed form her mind by an outside agency -
ANSWER//thought withdrawal is obsessed with religious
beliefs - ANSWER//religiosity The client may say sentence
after sentence but each sentence may relate to another
topic and the listeniner is bale to follow the clients
thoughts - ANSWER//flight of ideas Made up words that
have meaning only to the client such as i tranged and
flitted. - ANSWER//neologisms What are the standardized
screen tools for psychotic disorders - ANSWER//-Global
assessment of functioning scale -scale for assessment of
negative symptoms -brief psychiatric rating scale -Brief
psychiatric rating scale -abnormal involuntary movement
scale (AIMS) What antidepressants are prescribed for
psychotic disorders - ANSWER//Paxil -monitor for SI -
Notify for deepened depression -Do not stop abruptly
What are the anxiolytics/ bento's used for psychotic
disorders? - ANSWER//-Ativan -Klonopin -sedative effects
,-need to get blood tests for ANC -use caution in older
adults What are the personality disorders in cluster A -
ANSWER//(Odd and eccentric traits) -Paranoid -Schizoid -
Schizotypal Characterized by odd beliefs leading to
interpersonal difficulties, an eccentric appearance, and
magical thinking or perceptual distortions that are not clear
delusions or hallucinations - ANSWER//schizotypal
Dealing with anxiety by reaching out to others. Ex: a nurse
who lost a family member in a fire is a volunteer firefighter
- ANSWER//Altruism Dealing with unacceptable feelings
or impulses by unconsciously substitute acceptable forms
of expression. Ex: a person who has feelings of anger and
hostility toward his work supervisor sublimates those
feelings by working out vigorously a the gym during his
lunch period - ANSWER//Sublimation Voluntarily denying
unpleasant thoughts and feelings. Ex: A person who has
lost his job states he will worry about paying his bills next
week - ANSWER//Suppression Putting unacceptable
ideas, thoughts, and emotions out of conscious
awareness. Ex: a person who has a fear of the dentist's
drill continually "forgets" his dental appointments. -
ANSWER//Repression What are healthy defense
mechanisms? - ANSWER//alturism and sublimation what
are intermediate defenses - ANSWER//repression reaction
formation displacement rationalization undoing What are
immature defenses - ANSWER//projection dissociation
splitting denial Shifting feelings related to an object,
person, or situation to another less threatening object,
person, or situation Ex: A person who is angry about
losing his job destroys his child's favorite toy -
ANSWER//displacement Overcompensating or
demonstrating the opposite behavior of what is felt. Ex: a
person who dislikes her sisters daughter offers to babysit
so that her sister can go out of town - ANSWER//reaction
formation Performing an act to make up for prior behavior.
Ex; An adolescent completes his chores without being
prompted to after having an argument with his parents. -
,ANSWER//undoing creating reasonable and acceptable
explanations for unacceptable behavior Ex: A young adult
explains he had to drive home from a party after drinking
alcohol because he had to feed his dog. -
ANSWER//rationalization temporarily blocking memories
and perceptions from consciousness Ex: an adolescent
witnesses a shooting and is unable to recall any details of
the vent - ANSWER//dissociation demonstrating an
inability to reconcile negative and positive attributes of self
or others Ex:a client tells a nurse that she is the only one
who cares about her, yet the following day the same client
refuses to talk to the nurse - ANSWER//splitting Blaming
others for unacceptable thoughts and feelings Ex: a young
adult planes his substance use disorder on his parents
refusal to buy him a new car - ANSWER//projection
pretending the truth is no reality to manage the anxiety of
acknowledging what is real. Ex: A parent who is informed
that his son was killed in combat tells everyone he is
coming home for the holidays. - ANSWER//denial
Orientation phase of a therapeutic relationship includes
what? - ANSWER//-Introduction to client and state
purpose -Set the contract: meeting time, place, frequency,
duration and date of termination -discuss confidentiality -
build trust by establishing expectations and boundaries -
set goals with the client -explore the clients ideas, issues,
and needs -explore the meaning got testing behaviors -
enforce limits on testing or other inappropriate behaviors
Working phase of a therapeutic relationship includes what?
- ANSWER//-maintain contract -perform ongoing
assessment -facilitate the clients expression of needs and
issues -encourage pt to problem solve -promote self
esteem -foster positive behavioral change -explore and
deal with resistance and other defense mechanisms -
recognize transference and countertransference -reassess
goals and plan -remind client of termination date
Termination phase of a therapeutic relationship includes
what? - ANSWER//-provide pt tine to discuss thoughts and
, feelings about termination -discuss the clients experience
with separation and loss summarize goals and
achievements -review memories of work in the sessions -
express own feelings -discuss ways to incorporate new
healthy behaviors matinaing limits of final termination
What is included in cognitive reframing - ANSWER//-
priority restructuring -journal keeping -assertiveness
training -monitoring thoughts. A therapist or others serve
as a role models for a client, who imitates this modeling to
improve behavior - ANSWER//Modeling The client
receives positive rewards for positive behavior positive
reinforcement - ANSWER//operant conditioning This
therapy is the planned, progressive, or graduate exposure
to anxiety providing stimuli in relief situation, or by
imagining events that case anxiety during exposure the
client uses relaxation - ANSWER//systematic
desensitization Pairing of a maladaptive behavior with a
punishment or unpleasant stimui such as a bitter taste or
mild electric shock as punishment for behaviors such as
alcohol use disorder violence self mutilation and thumb
sucking - ANSWER//aversion therapy This therapy uses
various techniques to control pain tension and anxiety -
ANSWER//meditation, guided imagery, diaphragmatic
breathing, muscle relaxation, and biofeedbacks exposing
a client while in the company of a therapist to a great deal
of an undesirable stimulus in an attempt to turn off the
anxiety response - ANSWER//flooding preventing a client
from performing a compulsive behavior with the intent that
anxiety will diminish - ANSWER//response prevention
teaching a client, when negative thoughts or compulsive
behaviors arise, to say or shout, "stop" and substitute a
positive thought. this goal over time is for the client to use
the command silently - ANSWER//thought stopping This
style supports group interacting and decision making to
solve problems - ANSWER//democratic the group process
progresses without any attempt by the leader to control
the direction - ANSWER//laissez-faire The leader
Preparation Guide by Assessment
Technologies Institute (ATI) - Graded A+ with
Detailed Rationales for First-Attempt Success
believing that others, who are discussing the next meal,
are talking about them - ANSWER//ideas of reference
Feels singled out for harm by others (being hunted down
by FBI) - ANSWER//Persecution Believes that she is all
powerful and important like a god - ANSWER//grandeur
believes that his body is changing in an unusual way,
scubas growing a third arm - ANSWER//somatic delusions
May feel that her spouse is sexually involved with another
individual - ANSWER//Jealousy Believes that a force
outside his body is controlling him - ANSWER//being
controlled believes that her thoughts are heard by others -
ANSWER//thought broacasting believes that others
thoughts are being inserted into his mind -
ANSWER//thought insertion Believe that her thoughts
have been removed form her mind by an outside agency -
ANSWER//thought withdrawal is obsessed with religious
beliefs - ANSWER//religiosity The client may say sentence
after sentence but each sentence may relate to another
topic and the listeniner is bale to follow the clients
thoughts - ANSWER//flight of ideas Made up words that
have meaning only to the client such as i tranged and
flitted. - ANSWER//neologisms What are the standardized
screen tools for psychotic disorders - ANSWER//-Global
assessment of functioning scale -scale for assessment of
negative symptoms -brief psychiatric rating scale -Brief
psychiatric rating scale -abnormal involuntary movement
scale (AIMS) What antidepressants are prescribed for
psychotic disorders - ANSWER//Paxil -monitor for SI -
Notify for deepened depression -Do not stop abruptly
What are the anxiolytics/ bento's used for psychotic
disorders? - ANSWER//-Ativan -Klonopin -sedative effects
,-need to get blood tests for ANC -use caution in older
adults What are the personality disorders in cluster A -
ANSWER//(Odd and eccentric traits) -Paranoid -Schizoid -
Schizotypal Characterized by odd beliefs leading to
interpersonal difficulties, an eccentric appearance, and
magical thinking or perceptual distortions that are not clear
delusions or hallucinations - ANSWER//schizotypal
Dealing with anxiety by reaching out to others. Ex: a nurse
who lost a family member in a fire is a volunteer firefighter
- ANSWER//Altruism Dealing with unacceptable feelings
or impulses by unconsciously substitute acceptable forms
of expression. Ex: a person who has feelings of anger and
hostility toward his work supervisor sublimates those
feelings by working out vigorously a the gym during his
lunch period - ANSWER//Sublimation Voluntarily denying
unpleasant thoughts and feelings. Ex: A person who has
lost his job states he will worry about paying his bills next
week - ANSWER//Suppression Putting unacceptable
ideas, thoughts, and emotions out of conscious
awareness. Ex: a person who has a fear of the dentist's
drill continually "forgets" his dental appointments. -
ANSWER//Repression What are healthy defense
mechanisms? - ANSWER//alturism and sublimation what
are intermediate defenses - ANSWER//repression reaction
formation displacement rationalization undoing What are
immature defenses - ANSWER//projection dissociation
splitting denial Shifting feelings related to an object,
person, or situation to another less threatening object,
person, or situation Ex: A person who is angry about
losing his job destroys his child's favorite toy -
ANSWER//displacement Overcompensating or
demonstrating the opposite behavior of what is felt. Ex: a
person who dislikes her sisters daughter offers to babysit
so that her sister can go out of town - ANSWER//reaction
formation Performing an act to make up for prior behavior.
Ex; An adolescent completes his chores without being
prompted to after having an argument with his parents. -
,ANSWER//undoing creating reasonable and acceptable
explanations for unacceptable behavior Ex: A young adult
explains he had to drive home from a party after drinking
alcohol because he had to feed his dog. -
ANSWER//rationalization temporarily blocking memories
and perceptions from consciousness Ex: an adolescent
witnesses a shooting and is unable to recall any details of
the vent - ANSWER//dissociation demonstrating an
inability to reconcile negative and positive attributes of self
or others Ex:a client tells a nurse that she is the only one
who cares about her, yet the following day the same client
refuses to talk to the nurse - ANSWER//splitting Blaming
others for unacceptable thoughts and feelings Ex: a young
adult planes his substance use disorder on his parents
refusal to buy him a new car - ANSWER//projection
pretending the truth is no reality to manage the anxiety of
acknowledging what is real. Ex: A parent who is informed
that his son was killed in combat tells everyone he is
coming home for the holidays. - ANSWER//denial
Orientation phase of a therapeutic relationship includes
what? - ANSWER//-Introduction to client and state
purpose -Set the contract: meeting time, place, frequency,
duration and date of termination -discuss confidentiality -
build trust by establishing expectations and boundaries -
set goals with the client -explore the clients ideas, issues,
and needs -explore the meaning got testing behaviors -
enforce limits on testing or other inappropriate behaviors
Working phase of a therapeutic relationship includes what?
- ANSWER//-maintain contract -perform ongoing
assessment -facilitate the clients expression of needs and
issues -encourage pt to problem solve -promote self
esteem -foster positive behavioral change -explore and
deal with resistance and other defense mechanisms -
recognize transference and countertransference -reassess
goals and plan -remind client of termination date
Termination phase of a therapeutic relationship includes
what? - ANSWER//-provide pt tine to discuss thoughts and
, feelings about termination -discuss the clients experience
with separation and loss summarize goals and
achievements -review memories of work in the sessions -
express own feelings -discuss ways to incorporate new
healthy behaviors matinaing limits of final termination
What is included in cognitive reframing - ANSWER//-
priority restructuring -journal keeping -assertiveness
training -monitoring thoughts. A therapist or others serve
as a role models for a client, who imitates this modeling to
improve behavior - ANSWER//Modeling The client
receives positive rewards for positive behavior positive
reinforcement - ANSWER//operant conditioning This
therapy is the planned, progressive, or graduate exposure
to anxiety providing stimuli in relief situation, or by
imagining events that case anxiety during exposure the
client uses relaxation - ANSWER//systematic
desensitization Pairing of a maladaptive behavior with a
punishment or unpleasant stimui such as a bitter taste or
mild electric shock as punishment for behaviors such as
alcohol use disorder violence self mutilation and thumb
sucking - ANSWER//aversion therapy This therapy uses
various techniques to control pain tension and anxiety -
ANSWER//meditation, guided imagery, diaphragmatic
breathing, muscle relaxation, and biofeedbacks exposing
a client while in the company of a therapist to a great deal
of an undesirable stimulus in an attempt to turn off the
anxiety response - ANSWER//flooding preventing a client
from performing a compulsive behavior with the intent that
anxiety will diminish - ANSWER//response prevention
teaching a client, when negative thoughts or compulsive
behaviors arise, to say or shout, "stop" and substitute a
positive thought. this goal over time is for the client to use
the command silently - ANSWER//thought stopping This
style supports group interacting and decision making to
solve problems - ANSWER//democratic the group process
progresses without any attempt by the leader to control
the direction - ANSWER//laissez-faire The leader
