PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
(GRADED A+)
,1. The psychiatric technician reinforces a client exactly every ten minutes when the
client is cleaning his room. This type of intermittent reinforcement is referred to as:
A. Fixed-interval.
B. Variable-interval.
C. Fixed-ratio.
D. Variable-ratio. - ANSWER A. Fixed-interval.
Rarionale: Intermittent reinforcement refers to a type of reinforcement schedule where
responses are reinforced only occasionally or intermittently. In this scenario, the
psychiatric technician reinforces the client every ten minutes when the client is cleaning
his room. The reinforcement is provided at fixed time intervals (every ten minutes),
regardless of the client's behavior. This is an example of a fixed-interval schedule,
where reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time has elapsed since the
previous reinforcement.
2. Which of the following is an example of the Premack Principle?
A. When Helen is not scratching her face, she receives verbal praise.
B. Kevin would rather play his compact discs than set the table for dinner. The rule is he
can't listen to his compact discs until after he sets the table for dinner.
C. David gets reinforced after every fifth dish he washes.
D. Judy gets a token every time she uses the toilet. At the end of the day she gets to
cash in her tokens for a snack. - ANSWER B. Kevin would rather play his compact discs
than set the table for dinner. The rule is he can't listen to his compact discs until after he
sets the table for dinner.
Rationale: The Premack Principle, also known as "Grandma's Rule," states that a high-
probability behavior can be used to reinforce a low-probability behavior. In this example,
Kevin prefers playing his compact discs (high-probability behavior) over setting the table
for dinner (low-probability behavior). The rule that he can only listen to his compact
discs after he sets the table serves as reinforcement for the less preferred behavior of
setting the table.
3. An age-appropriate activity for a 15-year-old male client would be:
A. Putting together a 50-piece puzzle.
B. Playing basketball.
C. Driving an automobile.
D. Playing with blocks. - ANSWER B. Playing basketball.
, Rationale: An age-appropriate activity for a 15-year-old male client should take into
account their physical abilities and interests. Playing basketball is a suitable choice as it
promotes physical exercise, coordination, teamwork, and social interaction. It aligns with
the developmental stage of a 15-year-old male and provides an opportunity for both
physical and social development.
5. Donald is a 21-year-old client who resides at a state developmental center. He often
has seizures even though he is taking anticonvulsant medication. Nodules are present
on his nose and recently it has been discovered that he has them in his abdomen. The
most likely diagnosis for this client is:
A. de Lange's Syndrome.
B. Von Reckinghausen's Disease.
C. Sturge- Weber Disease.
D. Tuberous Sclerosis. - ANSWER D. Tuberous Sclerosis.
Rationale: The symptoms described, including seizures and the presence of nodules on
the nose and abdomen, are characteristic of Tuberous Sclerosis (TS). TS is a genetic
disorder that causes the growth of noncancerous tumors in various organs, including
the brain, kidneys, heart, and skin. Seizures are a common manifestation of TS, and the
presence of nodules (called angiofibromas) on the nose and abdomen is a
characteristic sign. Therefore, based on the symptoms described, Tuberous Sclerosis is
the most likely diagnosis for Donald.
6. One physical characteristic of a person born with Down syndrome that is not found
with other developmental disabilities is:
A. Severe mental retardation.
B. A simian line.
C. Unusual facial characteristics.
D. A large head. - ANSWER B. A simian line
Rationale: The simian line, also known as a single palmar crease, is a physical
characteristic that can be observed in some individuals with Down syndrome. It is
characterized by a single horizontal crease across the palm of the hand, rather than the
typical two creases (known as the distal transverse crease and the proximal transverse
crease) that most people have. This feature is considered distinct to Down syndrome
and is not commonly found in individuals with other developmental disabilities.
The presence of a simian line in individuals with Down syndrome can be explained by
understanding the underlying genetic cause of the condition. Down syndrome is caused
by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, either in whole or in part. This
BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
(GRADED A+)
,1. The psychiatric technician reinforces a client exactly every ten minutes when the
client is cleaning his room. This type of intermittent reinforcement is referred to as:
A. Fixed-interval.
B. Variable-interval.
C. Fixed-ratio.
D. Variable-ratio. - ANSWER A. Fixed-interval.
Rarionale: Intermittent reinforcement refers to a type of reinforcement schedule where
responses are reinforced only occasionally or intermittently. In this scenario, the
psychiatric technician reinforces the client every ten minutes when the client is cleaning
his room. The reinforcement is provided at fixed time intervals (every ten minutes),
regardless of the client's behavior. This is an example of a fixed-interval schedule,
where reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time has elapsed since the
previous reinforcement.
2. Which of the following is an example of the Premack Principle?
A. When Helen is not scratching her face, she receives verbal praise.
B. Kevin would rather play his compact discs than set the table for dinner. The rule is he
can't listen to his compact discs until after he sets the table for dinner.
C. David gets reinforced after every fifth dish he washes.
D. Judy gets a token every time she uses the toilet. At the end of the day she gets to
cash in her tokens for a snack. - ANSWER B. Kevin would rather play his compact discs
than set the table for dinner. The rule is he can't listen to his compact discs until after he
sets the table for dinner.
Rationale: The Premack Principle, also known as "Grandma's Rule," states that a high-
probability behavior can be used to reinforce a low-probability behavior. In this example,
Kevin prefers playing his compact discs (high-probability behavior) over setting the table
for dinner (low-probability behavior). The rule that he can only listen to his compact
discs after he sets the table serves as reinforcement for the less preferred behavior of
setting the table.
3. An age-appropriate activity for a 15-year-old male client would be:
A. Putting together a 50-piece puzzle.
B. Playing basketball.
C. Driving an automobile.
D. Playing with blocks. - ANSWER B. Playing basketball.
, Rationale: An age-appropriate activity for a 15-year-old male client should take into
account their physical abilities and interests. Playing basketball is a suitable choice as it
promotes physical exercise, coordination, teamwork, and social interaction. It aligns with
the developmental stage of a 15-year-old male and provides an opportunity for both
physical and social development.
5. Donald is a 21-year-old client who resides at a state developmental center. He often
has seizures even though he is taking anticonvulsant medication. Nodules are present
on his nose and recently it has been discovered that he has them in his abdomen. The
most likely diagnosis for this client is:
A. de Lange's Syndrome.
B. Von Reckinghausen's Disease.
C. Sturge- Weber Disease.
D. Tuberous Sclerosis. - ANSWER D. Tuberous Sclerosis.
Rationale: The symptoms described, including seizures and the presence of nodules on
the nose and abdomen, are characteristic of Tuberous Sclerosis (TS). TS is a genetic
disorder that causes the growth of noncancerous tumors in various organs, including
the brain, kidneys, heart, and skin. Seizures are a common manifestation of TS, and the
presence of nodules (called angiofibromas) on the nose and abdomen is a
characteristic sign. Therefore, based on the symptoms described, Tuberous Sclerosis is
the most likely diagnosis for Donald.
6. One physical characteristic of a person born with Down syndrome that is not found
with other developmental disabilities is:
A. Severe mental retardation.
B. A simian line.
C. Unusual facial characteristics.
D. A large head. - ANSWER B. A simian line
Rationale: The simian line, also known as a single palmar crease, is a physical
characteristic that can be observed in some individuals with Down syndrome. It is
characterized by a single horizontal crease across the palm of the hand, rather than the
typical two creases (known as the distal transverse crease and the proximal transverse
crease) that most people have. This feature is considered distinct to Down syndrome
and is not commonly found in individuals with other developmental disabilities.
The presence of a simian line in individuals with Down syndrome can be explained by
understanding the underlying genetic cause of the condition. Down syndrome is caused
by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, either in whole or in part. This
