Defense Mechanisms in Therapy
16. A mother of a teenage boy is unable to acknowledge that her son’s mental
illness is perpetuated by his poly substance use disorder and is insisting
that his father’s genes are to blame. Which defense mechanism is
employed?
A. Reaction formation
B. Regression
C. Denial
D. Dissociation
17. A 36-year-old Korean male who has recently started attending graduate
school complains of persistent abdominal pain despite an extensive
gastrointestinal work-up including an upper and lower gastroscopy.
Which of the following defense mechanisms is employed?
A. Conversion
B. Dissociation
C. Denial
D. Reaction formation
Defense Mechanisms in Therapy
18. The PMHNP is treating a client for generalized anxiety disorder with
depressive symptoms. Treatment has included both psychopharmacology
and interpersonal psychotherapy. The patient abruptly reports a
reemergence of the symptoms that have been in remission. In what phase
of therapy is this an expected finding?
A. Orientation
B. Working/treatment
C. Termination
D. Acclimation
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19. All of the following are attributes of cultural care that may influence the
therapeutic alliance except
A. Religion
B. Gender roles
C. Beliefs
D. Urban setting
20. Anxiety can arise from intrapsychic conflict among the structures of the
mind. Which structure of the mind deals with reality testing and the
thinking process?
A. Id
B. Ego
C. Superego
D. Defense mechanisms
ANSWERS
1. Answer A. The member is expressing the belief regarding the seriousness
of the condition as minimal, and that the cost of abstaining from the
addiction is reducing time with friends. Self-efficacy is an individual’s
belief in his or her innate ability to achieve a goal and perceived benefits
refer to the individual’s perception of the effectiveness of an action to
reduce a threat or illness. Perceived susceptibility is the individual’s
perception of acquiring disease or illness, and cues to action are stimuli
necessary to trigger a health-promoting behavior. APA
