AMFTRB COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
TEST BANK 200+ QUESTIONS WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS
UPDATED 2024-2025
Dyadic Adjustment Scale - Answer-Measure the quality of the marriage based on how
each partner responds to the questions
Measures the adjustment of couple to marriage, examines levels of agreement on
numerous topics (finance, household responsibility), how often certain behaviors occur
(arguing), general happiness/attitude about future of marriage
32 items, completed in 10 minutes
4 sections: satisfaction, cohesion, consensus, how affection is expresses
MMPI-2 - Answer-Complete psychological inventory
Measures broad area of personality traits/characteristics
Used to diagnose major psychological/social disorder
Better understand family system
Commonly used for evaluation of clients entering drug/substance use treatments,
clients seeking treatment for chronic pain
Common in high stress jobs: law enforcement, firefighting, flying aircraft
MRI Assessment - Answer-- Pinpoint exact nature of the presenting problem in
behavioral terms
- Ask specific, guiding questions to get clients to move from broad complaints to more
specific statements
- Then work on coming up with solution to identified problem that fits client's nature,
beliefs, worldview (aka family's unique language)
- Therapist build a view of the family as a system by understanding how each member
is connected
- Leads to creation of what is known as the problem-solution loop
Three-Column Problem Formulation Model - Answer-Assessment tool to identify
problem behaviors and what is causing behaviors to continue
- right column: problem behavior is identified with important info (events before or after
problem, patterns/emotions association with behavior)
- middle column: family/individual belief systems that might maintain problem (perceived
abilities/deficits, worldview, denial, refusal to accept system responsibility approach,
ideas about consequences that dont allow for change)
,- left column: therapist notes contextual info (family history, major family stresses,
related incidents like death, divorces, school problems, health concerns, historical
patterns of family dysfunction)
Arnon Bentovim & Warren Kinston Psychoanalytic 5-Step Model: Forming Hypothesis -
Answer-1. observe family behavior around problem identifying how family behaves in
response to problem/how behavior affects problem
2. identify the role the problem plays in family
3. Figure out what is keeping family from resolving obvious problems/conflicts and
identifying possible fears/expectations
4. determine if the present problem is connected to past traumatic events
5. develop brief summary of the main problem
Gender Concerns - Answer-- If therapist doesnt pay attention to gender, he may allow
stereotypes/cultural bias alter his perceptions
- May assume problems with children's behavior/discipline can be connected to mother
- May out emphasis on father's career/expect dad to take back seat role in child rearing
- These could lead to an expectation of father not participating in therapy
- Gender plays role in shaping children's future beliefs, attitudes, expectations,
approaches to relationships
- Therapist that cling to concept of neutrality in respect to gender suggest that all roles
in family are equally influential which isnt always true
Cultural, Ethnic, Religious Concerns - Answer-- Therapist should always consider if he
is the best suited to treat family
- Referral could be made to therapist who could better serve (should be first step if
necessary)
- Therapist's can educate themselves by experiencing client's culture, ethnicity, religion
by visiting a church, cultural festival, watching tv relevant to culture, reading informative
books
- These actions offer respect/genuiness
- be careful when challenging problematic behavior tied to culture so you dont offend
client
Triangles - Answer-Murray Bowen
3 is the smallest system that can be stable
3 people whose actions are interconnected
Anxiety is big factor in formation
When 2 people have a problem they cant fix, they may turn to another person as outlet
for frustration/advice
This creates triangles as the new person has become interconnected with the pair
This allows a person to vent or lessen anxiety but doesnt always fix the problem
Can be temporary until problem is resolved or more permanent if 3rd person continues
involvement
Commonly observed in families involving parents, children, extended family
(grandparents)
,Network Analysis - Answer-Initial referral (doctor, court officer) is kept up-to-date on
client as legally allowed
Customer: family member most concerned about initiating therapy
Identified patient: one presented with the problem
Legally responsible person: parent, court official, state appointed social worker, or
identified patient
Primary supportive figures: parents, spouse, caregiver, health care provider
Social agents: court officers, social workers, probation officer, school officials, law
enforcement
Change promoters can be anyone with potential to perpetuate/resolve problem
Depression - Answer-Sense of helplessness, Unable to make decisions, Unable to
participate in normal activities, constantly seek reassurance
- This puts one partner in care taker role of depressed person
- Couple often fixed in these roles, increases frustration, develop resentment/insincere
responses
- A cycle of one partner seeking help, the other offering but without improvement
- Non-symptomatic partner may also become depressed/anxious
- Ending pattern by guiding couple in role-reversal; opening space for non-depressed
person to back off from daily caregiving; gives depressed person chance to improve;
writing positive requests: each partner writes down complaints, criticisms, negative
feelings in notepad, chooses the most important, restates it as a positive request to
partner (contents not discussed without therapist)
- Insecure attachment puts all members of a family at risk of anxiety/depression
- Families at risk that have poor communication/problem solving skills
- Children at risk in family situations where parents are critical, reject children as
individuals, or are depressed themselves
- Children at risk when family structure lacks warmth, doesnt allow for independence or
decision making, creates an overly negative atmosphere, exhibits constant conflict
between parent/child
- Parents are at risk with marriage dissatisfaction with marriage (intimacy issues,
suspected or actual infidelity, conflict with a child, excessive criticisms from partner
Grief - Answer-Physical, behavioral, cognitive reactions
- Physical: eating too little or too much, insomnia, symptoms of a medical nature such
as high blood pressure, headaches, stomach problems
- Behavior: withdrawal, irritability, low self-confidence, trouble focusing or making
decisions, hyperactivity, frantic cleaning, shopping, starting projects, working late hours;
high risk for self destructive behaviors (drinking, substance use, high risk sex, driving
drunk, taking extreme risks
- Cognitively: forgetfulness, inattention, distractability, low self esteem, blame self, dwell
on past to point of obession
- Normal for someone to feel guilt about lack of actions or action at time of recent death
- May suggest depression if guilt revolves around any issues unrelated to death
, - Commonly causes sluggish feelings, therapist should watch for severe limitation in
normal activity
- Crosses into depression when person's lose of interest interferes with life function
(marital problems, getting fired, failing to maintain contact with friends)
- Consider major depression if longer than few months
- Help client look at/talk about the relationship that was experienced; listen
- List qualities of loved one that stood out/affected them
- Talk about memorable moments
- If unresolved issues from relationship, encourage client to talk about it
- Help client construct personal history of memories (loved one's favorite vacations,
movies, important dates, achievements)
- Retelling funny/light-hearted moments, how the person change their life
Alcohol Use Disorder - Answer-When one partner develops alcohol problem, the other
assumes responsibility of caring for other, covering for them to friends/family/employers
- Unhealthy complimentary relationship develops: drinker is always in need, sober
partner is always trying to meet that need
- Loss of intimacy, financial problems, legal issues, endangering health
- Drinking becomes cycle of indulging, sleeping it off, experiencing heavy
divorce/remorse
- Can lead to verbal/physical abuse of partner/child
- Children of alcoholics are more likely to experience similar problems
Substance Use Disorder in Adolescence - Answer-- Ones that engage in risk taking
behavior are at greater risk for substance use disorder
- Ones with low self esteem by join undesirable, pressured groups
- Learning disabilities lead to drug use to improve feelings of self worth/accomplishment
- Child with negligent parents, lack of supervision, unclear boundaries, parental/family
member drug use, family with mental illness, parental criminal activity are more at risk
- Once adolescent begins using drugs, they are more likely to continue with high stress
situations (relationship problems, sex, school issues, lack of money, family conflict)
- Drug related legal problems are risk factor in continuation
- Ones who have formed a positive beliefs system about drugs from media/home/peers
are more like to abuse drugs
Suicide - Answer-Elderly: risk factors include actual/expected loss of loved one, medical
illness, pain management problems, disability, mood disorders, family problems,
financial problems
- Therapist be aware of patterns/warning signs that signal suicidal tendencies
(statements of finality, "I probably wont see you again," skipping medical appointments,
social routines, no grooming/hygiene; storing medications, financial care/legal
arrangements, new will or funeral arrangments)
- Risk factors for adolescences: family history of mental disorders/suicide attempts,
history of mental illness (depression, anxiety, schizo, bipolar), excessive alcohol/drug
use combined with mental illness is larger risk; traumatic, painful or chronic illness/injury
or ongoing abuse
