CBT & Behavioral Therapy: ABFM practice questions

6 board-style questions on cbt & behavioral therapy in the PulseMD family medicine question bank, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

A 26-year-old woman presents with recurrent unexpected panic attacks (palpitations, diaphoresis, shortness of breath, chest tightness, derealization, and fear of dying) occurring 2-3 times weekly for 3 months. Between attacks, she constantly worries about having another attack and avoids shopping malls and public transit. Cardiac workup and thyroid function are normal. What is the recommended treatment approach?

1. Propranolol 40 mg before entering feared situations
2. SSRI daily combined with cognitive behavioral therapy
3. Alprazolam as needed for panic attacks
4. Gabapentin 300 mg three times daily

Sample question 2

A 32-year-old male veteran presents with 6 months of intrusive nightmares about a combat experience, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, avoidance of crowded places, and difficulty sleeping. He startles easily at loud noises. He has been using alcohol nightly to help him sleep. PHQ-9 is 12 and PCL-5 score is 52 (positive for PTSD). What is the most appropriate treatment plan?

1. Prescribe zolpidem for insomnia and clonazepam for hyperarousal
2. Start an atypical antipsychotic for nightmares and hypervigilance
3. Start sertraline, refer for trauma-focused CBT (CPT or PE), and consider prazosin for nightmares
4. Recommend eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as sole treatment without medication

Create a free PulseMD account to answer these, see the explanations, and practice five minutes a day.

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