ATCBE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
Circumstantial Thought process CORRECT ANSWER organized but over inclusive
Tangential Thought process CORRECT ANSWER occasional lapses in organization
Loosening associations CORRECT ANSWER frequent lapses in connection between thoughts
Blocking CORRECT ANSWER loses train of thought
Neologisms CORRECT ANSWER
Words created by the patient which have their own idiosyncratic meanings
Flight of ideas CORRECT ANSWER
Flow of thought is extremely rapid but connections remain in tact
Delusional Thought Content CORRECT ANSWER
a firmly held, false belief not shared by members of the patient's culture
Overvalued idea CORRECT ANSWER an idea that is intrusive and egodystonic
paranoid ideation CORRECT ANSWER
suspiciousness about others' motives and ideas of reference
Phobia CORRECT ANSWER
a specific fear that results in avoidance of the situation or object despite the patient's realizati
on that the fear is irrational
,describe the 10 areas of functioning evaluated in the mental status exam (MSE)
CORRECT ANSWER
Appearance, affect, mood, thought content, speech, thought process, cognition, judgment, insi
ght, movement and behavior
MSE- Appearance CORRECT ANSWER
Person's age, race, sex, civil status, and overall appearance.
MSE- Movement and behavior CORRECT ANSWER
Person's gait, posture, coordination, eye contact, facial expressions, and similar behaviors
Affect CORRECT ANSWER outwardly observable emotional reactions
mood CORRECT ANSWER
underlying emotional "atmosphere" or tone of the person's answers
Speech CORRECT ANSWER
volume/speed of speech, length of answers, appropriateness and clarity of the answers
thought content CORRECT ANSWER
Indications of hallucinations, delusions, obsessions, symptoms of disassociations, or thoughts o
f suicide via responses
thought process CORRECT ANSWER
irrelevant, detail, repeated words and phrases, interrupted thinking and illogical connections b
etween thoughts
cognition CORRECT ANSWER
knowing orientation with regard to time, place, and personal identity
,insight CORRECT ANSWER
ability to recognize a problem and understand its nature and severity
Bender Visual Motor Gestalt assessment CORRECT ANSWER used to evaluate "visual-
motor maturity", to screen for developmental disorders, or to assess neurological function or b
rain damage. It is administered to children and adults ages three and older and may be admini
stered in a group setting.
Bridge Drawing Assessment CORRECT ANSWER
is a sequential drawing in which the client draws a visual representation of the problem, mean
s of solving the problems and the desired solution
Landgarten Photo Collage Assessment CORRECT ANSWER
is a 4 task test adapts readily to various ethnic backgrounds as various photo images are availa
ble that match culture. It is easy for patients to produce, even if they are uncomfortable creati
ng images through drawing, painting, or sculpture.
Leverick Emotional and Cognitive Art Therapy Assessment CORRECT ANSWER
developed for exceptional nonverbal children who could draw. It assesses styles of coping and
thinking, organization and use of space, and planning and sequencing.
Psychomotor agitation CORRECT ANSWER
noticeable and marked increase in body movements; hand wringing, pacing
Psychomotor retardation CORRECT ANSWER
significant slowing of speech and body movements, lack of usual fidgetiness
expansive mood CORRECT ANSWER enthusiastic
euphoric mood CORRECT ANSWER feeling great, as if one just won the lottery
, blunted affect CORRECT ANSWER decrease in amplitude of emotional expression
flat affect CORRECT ANSWER virtually complete absence of affective expression
constricted affect CORRECT ANSWER normal amplitude but restricted range
inapropriate affect CORRECT ANSWER
emotions expressed are not congruent with content of patient's thoughts
labile affect CORRECT ANSWER unpredictable shifts in emotional state
basic techniques utilized in crisis intervention CORRECT ANSWER
assessment; determination of the therapeutic intervention; intervention; resolution
Explain theory of object relations CORRECT ANSWER
Objects can be people or things, such as transitional objects with which we form attachments.
these objects and the developing child's relationship with them are incorporated into a self, an
d become the building blocks of the self system. The self-
structure we internalize in early childhood functions as a blueprint for establishing and maintai
ning future relationships.
Describe the normal development of speech and language CORRECT ANSWER
As the speech mechanism and voice mature, an infant is able to make controlled sound. This b
egins in first few months of life with "cooing." By 6 months, an infant produces repetitive sylla
bles. End of first year, most children can say a few simple words. By 18 months, a child can say
8-
10 words. By age 2 a child can put together crude sentences. At age 3, 4, and 5, a child's vocab
ulary increases rapidly.
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
Circumstantial Thought process CORRECT ANSWER organized but over inclusive
Tangential Thought process CORRECT ANSWER occasional lapses in organization
Loosening associations CORRECT ANSWER frequent lapses in connection between thoughts
Blocking CORRECT ANSWER loses train of thought
Neologisms CORRECT ANSWER
Words created by the patient which have their own idiosyncratic meanings
Flight of ideas CORRECT ANSWER
Flow of thought is extremely rapid but connections remain in tact
Delusional Thought Content CORRECT ANSWER
a firmly held, false belief not shared by members of the patient's culture
Overvalued idea CORRECT ANSWER an idea that is intrusive and egodystonic
paranoid ideation CORRECT ANSWER
suspiciousness about others' motives and ideas of reference
Phobia CORRECT ANSWER
a specific fear that results in avoidance of the situation or object despite the patient's realizati
on that the fear is irrational
,describe the 10 areas of functioning evaluated in the mental status exam (MSE)
CORRECT ANSWER
Appearance, affect, mood, thought content, speech, thought process, cognition, judgment, insi
ght, movement and behavior
MSE- Appearance CORRECT ANSWER
Person's age, race, sex, civil status, and overall appearance.
MSE- Movement and behavior CORRECT ANSWER
Person's gait, posture, coordination, eye contact, facial expressions, and similar behaviors
Affect CORRECT ANSWER outwardly observable emotional reactions
mood CORRECT ANSWER
underlying emotional "atmosphere" or tone of the person's answers
Speech CORRECT ANSWER
volume/speed of speech, length of answers, appropriateness and clarity of the answers
thought content CORRECT ANSWER
Indications of hallucinations, delusions, obsessions, symptoms of disassociations, or thoughts o
f suicide via responses
thought process CORRECT ANSWER
irrelevant, detail, repeated words and phrases, interrupted thinking and illogical connections b
etween thoughts
cognition CORRECT ANSWER
knowing orientation with regard to time, place, and personal identity
,insight CORRECT ANSWER
ability to recognize a problem and understand its nature and severity
Bender Visual Motor Gestalt assessment CORRECT ANSWER used to evaluate "visual-
motor maturity", to screen for developmental disorders, or to assess neurological function or b
rain damage. It is administered to children and adults ages three and older and may be admini
stered in a group setting.
Bridge Drawing Assessment CORRECT ANSWER
is a sequential drawing in which the client draws a visual representation of the problem, mean
s of solving the problems and the desired solution
Landgarten Photo Collage Assessment CORRECT ANSWER
is a 4 task test adapts readily to various ethnic backgrounds as various photo images are availa
ble that match culture. It is easy for patients to produce, even if they are uncomfortable creati
ng images through drawing, painting, or sculpture.
Leverick Emotional and Cognitive Art Therapy Assessment CORRECT ANSWER
developed for exceptional nonverbal children who could draw. It assesses styles of coping and
thinking, organization and use of space, and planning and sequencing.
Psychomotor agitation CORRECT ANSWER
noticeable and marked increase in body movements; hand wringing, pacing
Psychomotor retardation CORRECT ANSWER
significant slowing of speech and body movements, lack of usual fidgetiness
expansive mood CORRECT ANSWER enthusiastic
euphoric mood CORRECT ANSWER feeling great, as if one just won the lottery
, blunted affect CORRECT ANSWER decrease in amplitude of emotional expression
flat affect CORRECT ANSWER virtually complete absence of affective expression
constricted affect CORRECT ANSWER normal amplitude but restricted range
inapropriate affect CORRECT ANSWER
emotions expressed are not congruent with content of patient's thoughts
labile affect CORRECT ANSWER unpredictable shifts in emotional state
basic techniques utilized in crisis intervention CORRECT ANSWER
assessment; determination of the therapeutic intervention; intervention; resolution
Explain theory of object relations CORRECT ANSWER
Objects can be people or things, such as transitional objects with which we form attachments.
these objects and the developing child's relationship with them are incorporated into a self, an
d become the building blocks of the self system. The self-
structure we internalize in early childhood functions as a blueprint for establishing and maintai
ning future relationships.
Describe the normal development of speech and language CORRECT ANSWER
As the speech mechanism and voice mature, an infant is able to make controlled sound. This b
egins in first few months of life with "cooing." By 6 months, an infant produces repetitive sylla
bles. End of first year, most children can say a few simple words. By 18 months, a child can say
8-
10 words. By age 2 a child can put together crude sentences. At age 3, 4, and 5, a child's vocab
ulary increases rapidly.
