Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

Which therapeutic approach addresses the cognitive aspects of a mental health condition and focuses on changing negative thought patterns?

1. Mindfulness-based therapy

2. Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy

3. Interpersonal therapy

4. Psychodynamic therapy

The correct answer is: Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is specifically designed to address the cognitive aspects of mental health conditions, particularly those resulting from trauma. This therapeutic approach focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that can contribute to emotional distress and behavioral issues. One of the core components of TF-CBT involves cognitive restructuring, which helps individuals recognize how their thoughts about a traumatic experience may be distorted or unhelpful. By targeting these cognitive distortions, TF-CBT enables individuals to develop healthier thought patterns, thereby reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition to cognitive elements, TF-CBT integrates behavioral techniques to help clients gradually face and process their trauma, allowing for a comprehensive approach to recovery. This holistic focus on both cognition and behavior makes it particularly effective for individuals dealing with trauma-related mental health conditions. Other approaches, such as mindfulness-based therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, while valuable, do not specifically emphasize the restructuring of negative thought patterns in the same way that TF-CBT does. Mindfulness-based therapy may focus more on awareness and acceptance of thoughts and feelings rather than changing them. Interpersonal therapy centers on interpersonal relationships and social functioning, and psychodynamic therapy explores