CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) Questions
and Verified Answers
Non-Confrontational answer - The essential difference between suspect encounter training,
that officers traditionally, and how to approach the mentally ill is the need to be what?
The program's inception was in Memphis, TN., after the shooting of a 26 year old mentally ill
person.
In September 1987, white Memphis police officers answered a 911 call. A young African-
American man with a history of mental illness was cutting himself with a knife and threatening
suicide. Police officers are trained to respond with deadly force when they perceive their lives
are in danger.
At the outset of the incident, it appeared that the only life in danger was the young man's from
self-inflicted wounds. As they were trained to do at the time, officers at the scene confronted
the man and demanded he drop his weapon. At this, he became more upset and ran at the
officers who, in fear for their own safety, opened fire and killed him.
This event lead to the creation of CIT a year later. answer - Explain the reason behind CIT
Training.
Being less physical, less authoritative, less confrontational, less controlling approach you end up
having more control and authority over the person in a mental health crisis. answer - Define
Control Paradox.
Illness, disease, or condition that either substantially impacts a person's thought, perception of
reality, emotional process, or judgement, or grossly impairs a person's behavior, as manifested
by recent disturbance behavior. answer - What is the General Definition of Mental Illness?
,Mental illness is diagnosed based on behaviors and thinking as evaluated by a psychiatrist,
psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed social worker, or other qualified
professionals using a tool known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fourth Edition, most commonly called the DSM-IV. answer - What is the Professional Definition
of Mental Illness?
Personality Disorders
Mood Disorders
Psychosis
Developmental Disorders answer - List four prominent categories of mental illness.
A diminished capacity and inability to tell right from wrong. answer - Define Insanity.
Legal Term answer - Is insanity a legal term or a psychological term?
A sharp dividing line between "normal" and "abnormal" behavior does not exist. Adjustment
seems to follow what is called a "normal distribution", with most people clustered around the
center and the rest spreading out towards the extremes. answer - Explain Abnormal Versus
Normal Behavior.
Paranoid
Antisocial
, Borderline answer - List the three most common personality disorders encountered by law
enforcement officers.
Tendency to interpret the actions of others as deliberately threatening or demeaning
Foresee being in position to be used or harmed by others
Perceive dismissiveness from other people answer - List the characteristics of a paranoid
personality
Most commonly recognized in males
A pattern of irresponsible and antisocial behavior diagnosed at or after age 18
May have one or more of the following:
History of truancy as a child or adolescent, may have run away from home
Starting fights
Using weapons
Physically abusing animals or other people
Deliberately destroying others property
Lying
and Verified Answers
Non-Confrontational answer - The essential difference between suspect encounter training,
that officers traditionally, and how to approach the mentally ill is the need to be what?
The program's inception was in Memphis, TN., after the shooting of a 26 year old mentally ill
person.
In September 1987, white Memphis police officers answered a 911 call. A young African-
American man with a history of mental illness was cutting himself with a knife and threatening
suicide. Police officers are trained to respond with deadly force when they perceive their lives
are in danger.
At the outset of the incident, it appeared that the only life in danger was the young man's from
self-inflicted wounds. As they were trained to do at the time, officers at the scene confronted
the man and demanded he drop his weapon. At this, he became more upset and ran at the
officers who, in fear for their own safety, opened fire and killed him.
This event lead to the creation of CIT a year later. answer - Explain the reason behind CIT
Training.
Being less physical, less authoritative, less confrontational, less controlling approach you end up
having more control and authority over the person in a mental health crisis. answer - Define
Control Paradox.
Illness, disease, or condition that either substantially impacts a person's thought, perception of
reality, emotional process, or judgement, or grossly impairs a person's behavior, as manifested
by recent disturbance behavior. answer - What is the General Definition of Mental Illness?
,Mental illness is diagnosed based on behaviors and thinking as evaluated by a psychiatrist,
psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed social worker, or other qualified
professionals using a tool known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fourth Edition, most commonly called the DSM-IV. answer - What is the Professional Definition
of Mental Illness?
Personality Disorders
Mood Disorders
Psychosis
Developmental Disorders answer - List four prominent categories of mental illness.
A diminished capacity and inability to tell right from wrong. answer - Define Insanity.
Legal Term answer - Is insanity a legal term or a psychological term?
A sharp dividing line between "normal" and "abnormal" behavior does not exist. Adjustment
seems to follow what is called a "normal distribution", with most people clustered around the
center and the rest spreading out towards the extremes. answer - Explain Abnormal Versus
Normal Behavior.
Paranoid
Antisocial
, Borderline answer - List the three most common personality disorders encountered by law
enforcement officers.
Tendency to interpret the actions of others as deliberately threatening or demeaning
Foresee being in position to be used or harmed by others
Perceive dismissiveness from other people answer - List the characteristics of a paranoid
personality
Most commonly recognized in males
A pattern of irresponsible and antisocial behavior diagnosed at or after age 18
May have one or more of the following:
History of truancy as a child or adolescent, may have run away from home
Starting fights
Using weapons
Physically abusing animals or other people
Deliberately destroying others property
Lying
