NR 326 Mental Health Nursing EXAM 2 50 Multiple-
Choice Questions with Rationales Chamberlain
PSYCHOTHERAPY & BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (~12 questions)
1. A patient with a phobia of elevators works with a therapist to master relaxation
techniques, then is gradually exposed to riding elevators. This therapy is called:
A. Modeling
B. Aversion therapy
C. Systematic desensitization
D. Flooding
Answer: C
Rationale: Systematic desensitization involves progressive exposure to anxiety-
provoking stimuli while using relaxation techniques to suppress the anxiety response.
2. A patient with alcohol use disorder is given a medication that causes severe
nausea and vomiting when alcohol is consumed. This treatment is an example of:
A. Flooding
B. Aversion therapy
C. Response prevention
D. Thought stopping
Answer: B
Rationale: Aversion therapy pairs a maladaptive behavior (drinking alcohol) with an
unpleasant stimulus (nausea/vomiting) to promote behavior change.
3. A therapist demonstrates appropriate social behaviors in a stressful situation,
and the patient imitates these behaviors. This technique is called:
A. Modeling
B. Role-playing
C. Systematic desensitization
D. Shaping
Answer: A
Rationale: Modeling involves a therapist or others serving as role models for the client
to imitate, improving behavior in similar situations.
, 4. A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder is prevented from performing
hand-washing rituals and is gradually helped to limit the time between rituals until
the urge dissipates. This is an example of:
A. Aversion therapy
B. Flooding
C. Response prevention
D. Thought stopping
Answer: C
Rationale: Response prevention prevents the patient from performing a compulsive
behavior with the goal that anxiety will diminish over time.
5. A patient with borderline personality disorder who engages in self-injurious
behavior is most likely to benefit from which therapy?
A. Cognitive therapy
B. Behavioral therapy
C. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
D. Psychoanalysis
Answer: C
Rationale: DBT is a cognitive-behavioral therapy specifically designed for patients with
personality disorders who exhibit self-injurious behavior. It focuses on gradual behavior
changes and provides acceptance and validation.
6. A patient with a spider phobia is brought into a room filled with spiders and told
to remain there until the anxiety subsides. This technique is:
A. Systematic desensitization
B. Flooding
C. Modeling
D. Aversion therapy
Answer: B
Rationale: Flooding involves exposing the client to a large amount of the undesirable
stimulus at once in an attempt to extinguish the anxiety response.
7. A patient who experiences negative thoughts is taught to snap a rubber band on
the wrist and say "stop" silently, then substitute a positive thought. This is called:
A. Thought stopping
B. Cognitive reframing
C. Response prevention
Choice Questions with Rationales Chamberlain
PSYCHOTHERAPY & BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (~12 questions)
1. A patient with a phobia of elevators works with a therapist to master relaxation
techniques, then is gradually exposed to riding elevators. This therapy is called:
A. Modeling
B. Aversion therapy
C. Systematic desensitization
D. Flooding
Answer: C
Rationale: Systematic desensitization involves progressive exposure to anxiety-
provoking stimuli while using relaxation techniques to suppress the anxiety response.
2. A patient with alcohol use disorder is given a medication that causes severe
nausea and vomiting when alcohol is consumed. This treatment is an example of:
A. Flooding
B. Aversion therapy
C. Response prevention
D. Thought stopping
Answer: B
Rationale: Aversion therapy pairs a maladaptive behavior (drinking alcohol) with an
unpleasant stimulus (nausea/vomiting) to promote behavior change.
3. A therapist demonstrates appropriate social behaviors in a stressful situation,
and the patient imitates these behaviors. This technique is called:
A. Modeling
B. Role-playing
C. Systematic desensitization
D. Shaping
Answer: A
Rationale: Modeling involves a therapist or others serving as role models for the client
to imitate, improving behavior in similar situations.
, 4. A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder is prevented from performing
hand-washing rituals and is gradually helped to limit the time between rituals until
the urge dissipates. This is an example of:
A. Aversion therapy
B. Flooding
C. Response prevention
D. Thought stopping
Answer: C
Rationale: Response prevention prevents the patient from performing a compulsive
behavior with the goal that anxiety will diminish over time.
5. A patient with borderline personality disorder who engages in self-injurious
behavior is most likely to benefit from which therapy?
A. Cognitive therapy
B. Behavioral therapy
C. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
D. Psychoanalysis
Answer: C
Rationale: DBT is a cognitive-behavioral therapy specifically designed for patients with
personality disorders who exhibit self-injurious behavior. It focuses on gradual behavior
changes and provides acceptance and validation.
6. A patient with a spider phobia is brought into a room filled with spiders and told
to remain there until the anxiety subsides. This technique is:
A. Systematic desensitization
B. Flooding
C. Modeling
D. Aversion therapy
Answer: B
Rationale: Flooding involves exposing the client to a large amount of the undesirable
stimulus at once in an attempt to extinguish the anxiety response.
7. A patient who experiences negative thoughts is taught to snap a rubber band on
the wrist and say "stop" silently, then substitute a positive thought. This is called:
A. Thought stopping
B. Cognitive reframing
C. Response prevention
