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Course Test

In later life, mental health can be influenced by: [Help]

A An individual's current physical condition.

B Accumulated effects of past experiences.

C Age-specific stressors.

D All of the above

Which of the following is NOT true. Ageism: [Help]

A Can lead to stereotypes that older adults are less capable.

B May contribute to underdiagnosis or mismanagement of medical and mental health conditions in older adults.

C Reflects accurate biological differences and is therefore considered an evidence-based clinical practice principle.

D Can influence how older adults perceive obstacles to accessing mental health care.

Which of the following is NOT a mental health disorder that is more common or severe in older adults compared to younger and middle-aged populations? [Help]

A Depression

B Neurocognitive disorders

C Hoarding disorder

D Sleep disorders

Which of the following best explains why distinguishing normal aging from pathological aging is essential when assessing mental health concerns in older adults? [Help]

A Normal aging results in widespread neuron loss, making it difficult to identify mental health symptoms in older adults.

B Older adults are a heterogenous group, and accurate identification of mental health conditions requires understanding typical age-related changes in areas such as emotion, personality, and cognition.

C Pathological aging always presents with obvious and rapid declines, so distinguishing it from normal aging is generally straightforward.

D Typical emotional and personality functioning remains constant across the lifespan, so most changes seen in older adults are due to mental illness.

Which statement best reflects known patterns of suicide risk in late life? [Help]

A Suicide rates in the U.S. are highest among women aged 85 and older, particularly those living in rural areas.

B Depression is not strongly associated with suicide risk among older adults.

C Suicide rates peak for women in midlife, while older men – especially White men aged 75 and older – experience the highest suicide rates, with the greatest risk seen among those aged 85 and older in rural areas.

D Suicide is the leading cause of death overall in the United States, and risk does not vary significantly by age or gender.

Which of the following is NOT a typical change associated with normal aging of the brain? [Help]

A Gradual reductions in brain volume and alterations in grey and white matter

B Declines in key neurotransmitter systems and metabolic efficiency

C Cellular and molecular changes such as mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired proteostasis

D Rapid, widespread neuronal loss that results in sudden and severe cognitive decline

Which statement best reflects the role of cerebrovascular integrity in brain aging and dementia risk? [Help]

A Vascular factors have minimal impact on cognitive aging, and hypertension is not considered a major contributor to dementia risk in later life.

B Cardiovascular disease and risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and high cholesterol can accelerate brain aging and increase the risk of both vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

C Obesity is the strongest risk factor for dementia in midlife, contributing to nearly 30% of dementia cases in that age group.

D Elevated LDL-C levels and a history of diabetes have no demonstrated association with the rate of cognitive decline in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Differentiating normal aging from pathological aging is essential in geropsychological assessment, because: [Help]

A Most cognitive decline in adults aged 85 and older is considered a normal and inevitable aspect of aging.

B Pathological aging can be reliably identified without reference to an individual's functional heterogeneity.

C Understanding typical patterns of cognitive, emotional, and personality change helps clinicians avoid ageist assumptions and recognize when declines reflect disease processes rather than primary aging.

D Normal aging is defined as uniform across older adults, making deviations easy to detect.

Which feature best helps distinguish delirium from dementia in an older adult? [Help]

A Gradual onset of cognitive decline that progresses steadily over months to years

B Stable alertness with primarily memory-based impairments

C Acute onset of fluctuating attention and awareness, often developing over hours to days

D Consistently impaired short-term memory with preserved attention

The following statement that best reflects the clinical and epidemiological features of dementia (Major Neurocognitive Disorder) is that dementia: [Help]

A Involves modest cognitive decline that does not interfere with daily functioning and is most prevalent in adults under age 65.

B Is defined by significant decline in one or more cognitive domains that interferes with daily functioning and affects over 6 million Americans.

C Is caused exclusively by Alzheimer's disease, with little contribution from other pathologies such as Lewy body disease or vascular impairment.

D Primarily affects men, who account for the majority of dementia prevalence, mortality, and caregiving burden worldwide.

Which of the following symptom patterns is most characteristic of early Alzheimer's disease (AD)? [Help]

A Sudden onset of fluctuating attention, disorganized thinking, and rapid reversal of symptoms within hours to days

B Early changes in personality with prominent disinhibition, loss of empathy, and compulsive behaviors, while memory remains largely intact

C Visual hallucinations, pronounced REM sleep behavior disorder, and severe sensitivity to antipsychotic medications early in the disease course

D Gradual difficulty recalling newly learned information accompanied by progressive problems with planning, problem-solving, word-finding, and occasional disorientation during familiar tasks

Which dementia encompasses a group of clinical syndromes characterized by progressive alterations in behavior, executive functioning, or language abilities and typically presents with an insidious onset and a gradually progressive course? [Help]

A Alzheimer's

B Vascular

C Frontotemporal

D Lew Body

The primary purpose of the Pikes Peak Model for Training in Professional Geropsychology is to: [Help]

A Standardize diagnostic criteria for neurocognitive disorders in older adults.

B Outline essential competencies in attitudes, knowledge, and skills needed for effective, ethical psychological practice with older adults across all care settings.

C Provide federal regulations for behavioral health services in long-term care facilities.

D Establish reimbursement guidelines for psychological services for older adults under Medicare.

Which of the following best describes how age-based stereotypes and benevolent ageism can negatively affect clinical work with older adults? [Help]

A Negative stereotypes help clinicians quickly identify cognitive impairment, while benevolent ageism encourages older adults to remain engaged and independent.

B Both negative stereotypes and benevolent ageism accurately reflect typical aging and therefore support more efficient clinical decision-making.

C Negative stereotypes may lead to discriminatory attitudes and marginalization, while benevolent ageism – though seemingly kind – can result in condescending interactions that overlook individuality and promote dependency.

D Stereotypes and benevolent ageism have little influence on clinical interactions, as most older adults do not notice or respond to age-based assumptions.

It is essential for geropsychological assessment measures to be appropriately validated and normed for older adults, because: [Help]

A Older adults generally perform similarly to younger adults, so age-based norms are unnecessary but preferred.

B Appropriate norms and validated measures ensure accurate interpretation of test results and account for factors such as age, culture, language, education, sensory changes, and physical limitations that may influence performance.

C Standardized tests are rarely influenced by cultural or linguistic factors, so specialized norms help simplify administration.

D Sensory and physical changes in older adults make formal assessment unreliable, regardless of the test used.

Which statement best reflects known prevalence patterns of mental health disorders in later life? [Help]

A The prevalence of most mental health disorders – including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, and bipolar disorder – tends to be lower in older adults, although substance use disorders have risen among aging baby boomers.

B Most mental health disorders increase with age, with older adults showing higher rates of depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders than younger adults.

C Substance use disorders are extremely rare among older adults and have steadily declined across all recent cohorts.

D Mental health disorder prevalence remains constant across the lifespan, with no significant differences between younger and older adults

Which of the following therapies is NOT considered an evidence-based treatment (EBT) for older adults? [Help]

A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for late-life depression

B Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) for late-life depression

C Reminiscence/Life Review Therapy for mood and well-being

D Primal Scream Therapy for emotional expression in later life

Which statement best reflects the evidence regarding group-based interventions for older adults? [Help]

A Group therapies are generally ineffective for older adults, especially those with cognitive impairment.

B Group CBT-I has limited benefit for older adults and is not recommended compared with psychoeducational approaches.

C Meaning-Centered Men's Groups (MCMG) have not shown measurable effects on mood or suicidal ideation among older adults.

D Group CBT, group life review/reminiscence therapy, and group problem-solving therapy all have strong empirical support and are recommended evidence-based treatments for late-life depression.

A strong understanding of both normative and non-normative biological and cognitive aging is essential for psychologists working with older adults, because: [Help]

A Most psychological symptoms in older adults can be explained solely by the normal aging process, making medical evaluation unnecessary.

B Psychological symptoms in later life rarely overlap with medical symptoms, making diagnostic clarification straightforward.

C Recognizing how aging and chronic medical conditions influence mental health allows clinicians to create individualized biopsychosocial treatment plans and understand how comorbidities – such as diabetes, cancer, and Parkinson's disease – can contribute to depression and affect treatment adherence.

D Older adults typically experience only minimal interaction between emotional distress and physical health.

Which of the following statements best reflects the prevalence of mental health and neurocognitive conditions among residents in long-term care (LTC) settings? [Help]

A Fewer than one-third of nursing home residents experience cognitive impairment, and psychiatric disorders are relatively uncommon in assisted living facilities.

B Most LTC residents have no diagnosed mental health conditions, but those with dementia rarely have co-occurring psychiatric symptoms.

C Between 25% and 50% of assisted living residents have a psychiatric diagnosis, while approximately 75% of nursing home residents have at least one mental health diagnosis; cognitive impairment affects nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents.

D Depression and anxiety are rare among LTC residents, with fewer than 5% reporting symptoms of either condition.

Which of the following statements best reflects research findings on the emotional and behavioral impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term care (LTC) residents? [Help]

A Most LTC residents showed no emotional or behavioral changes during the pandemic, and mental health providers maintained consistent access to facilities throughout the first year.

B Many LTC residents experienced declines in emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning – exacerbated by social isolation and service interruptions – yet research also demonstrates significant resilience among older adults, particularly when supported by social connectedness and coping resources.

C Emotional distress among LTC residents was highest late in the pandemic because anxiety symptoms increased steadily over time without improvement.

D Visitor restrictions had minimal impact on LTC residents, as studies found no significant increases in loneliness, depressive symptoms, or behavioral concerns.

Which of the following best reflects the principles of trauma-informed care (TIC) in long-term care (LTC) settings? [Help]

A Prioritizing rapid behavioral control using pharmacological interventions to prevent re-traumatization.

B Assuming that only residents with documented trauma histories require trauma-informed approaches

C Recognizing that many LTC residents may have experienced trauma and ensuring care practices promote safety, trust, empowerment, and collaboration

D Viewing trauma-informed care as the responsibility of mental health providers only, rather than the full interdisciplinary team

According to the Psychologists in Long-Term Care (PLTC) Guidelines, which of the following is a central expectation for psychologists providing services in LTC settings? [Help]

A Prioritizing brief, symptom-focused treatment over interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce time burden on facilities

B Delivering psychological care without considering regulatory requirements, as these fall solely under administrative oversight

C Minimizing communication with staff and families to maintain strict therapeutic boundaries and reduce confidentiality concerns

D Providing ethical, person-centered, evidence-informed assessment and intervention while integrating medical, functional, and psychosocial factors unique to LTC residents

Based on the APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Older Adults, the following statement that best reflects competent and ethical practice for mental health providers working in long-term care (LTC) settings is that providers: [Help]

A May rely solely on their general clinical training, as specialized knowledge of aging is rarely necessary in LTC settings.

B Should recognize the limits of their competence, seek additional training or consultation when needed, and understand aging-related factors – such as medical comorbidities, dementia, and functional decline – that influence assessment and intervention in LTC settings.

C Need to be certified geropsychologists before offering any psychological services to LTC residents.

D Should avoid adapting interventions, since modifying treatment approaches can undermine the consistency of evidence-based practice.

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