100+ Free ABPP Rehabilitation Psychology Practice Questions

Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

GCS — mild 13-15, moderate 9-12, severe 3-8. PTA duration — mild <1 day, moderate 1-7, severe >7, very severe >4 weeks (Russell-Smith); Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT) measures daily. Rancho Los Amigos Levels I (no response) through X (purposeful/appropriate); IV-VI are confused-agitated/inappropriate/appropriate; informs agitation management. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) / Confusion Assessment Protocol (CAP). Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R; Giacino & Kalmar) for disorders of consciousness — coma, UWS (vegetative state), MCS. mTBI (concussion) recovery — VA/DoD and CDC graduated return-to-activity (not prolonged dark-room rest); Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test-guided exertion; CBT for persistent symptoms. Cicerone et al. Cognitive Rehabilitation Practice Standards/Guidelines — strategy-based memory training, Attention Process Training, Goal Management Training (Levine, Robertson, Stuss), metacognitive strategy training, holistic neurorehabilitation. Memory rehab — compensatory external aids (NeuroPage, smartphones), errorless learning, spaced retrieval. Neurobehavioral disturbance and Rancho IV agitation — functional behavioral analysis, ABC tracking, environmental modification first; pharmacotherapy (atypical antipsychotics, beta-blockers, anticonvulsants) per behavioral plan; avoid first-generation antipsychotics that impair recovery. VA/DoD polytrauma TBI-PTSD — integrated CPT/PE with cognitive accommodations. SUD comorbidity (~50% pre-injury intoxication at time of TBI) — AUDIT, DAST, integrated treatment with MOUD when needed.

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS): A complete (no motor/sensory below NLI including S4-S5); B sensory incomplete; C motor incomplete >50% muscles <3; D motor incomplete >50% muscles ≥3; E normal. Neurological level functional outcomes: C5 — deltoid/biceps preserved, mobile arm supports for ADLs; C6 — wrist extension (tenodesis grasp); C7 — triceps, self-transfer; C8/T1 — hand intrinsics; T1-L2 paraplegia; L3-S1 ambulation potential. Autonomic dysreflexia in T6+ SCI — severe hypertension, reflex bradycardia, pounding headache, sweating above injury; most often bladder distention or bowel impaction; sit up, find/treat trigger, antihypertensives if persistent. Bladder management — clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) every 4-6 hours, indwelling Foley, suprapubic, reflex voiding with external catheter. Pressure injury prevention — routine skin checks, pressure relief every 15-30 min, cushion/wheelchair fit, nutrition. SCI pain — nociceptive + neuropathic (at-level and below-level); multimodal CBT-CP, ACT, gabapentinoids, antidepressants. Sexual function — UMN preserves reflex erection; LMN preserves psychogenic; PDE5 inhibitors; vibratory stimulation/electroejaculation for fertility. SCI etiology — MVCs (~38%), falls (~32%, leading in older adults), violence, sports.

Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke outcome predictors — initial impairment severity (NIHSS, Fugl-Meyer), age, premorbid function, lesion size/location, white matter disease, recurrence, depression. Post-stroke depression ~30%, elevated mortality, worsened rehab outcomes; AHA/ASA recommends routine PHQ-9 or SADQ in aphasia, SSRIs, behavioral intervention. Aphasia — Broca (left inferior frontal — nonfluent, effortful, agrammatic, comprehension relatively preserved), Wernicke (left superior temporal — fluent, paraphasic, comprehension impaired), global, conduction, transcortical, anomic. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT; Taub, EXCITE trial) — restrain less-affected arm, massed practice ~6 hours/day, 2-3 weeks. Constraint-Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT; Pulvermüller). Unilateral neglect (right MCA parietal) — visual scanning, prism adaptation, limb activation, environmental cueing. Anosognosia (right hemisphere). Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) — disinhibited laughing/crying disproportionate to mood; dextromethorphan/quinidine (Nuedexta), SSRIs. Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQ-21, SADQ-H) for aphasia + depression.

Pediatric Rehabilitation

Pediatric TBI predictors — initial severity, age at injury (younger may have greater long-term deficits due to skill development), premorbid function, family environment, rehab access. Pediatric SCI etiologies — MVCs, sports (diving, football, gymnastics), falls, violence; SCIWORA (Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality) in young children due to elastic spine — MRI essential. Cerebral palsy — non-progressive disorder of movement/posture; GMFCS Levels I-V; associated cognitive, sensory, behavioral conditions. PEDI-CAT (birth-20) — Daily Activities, Mobility, Social/Cognitive, Responsibility. WeeFIM (6 months-7 years; up to 21 in developmental disabilities). GMFM-88/66 across 5 dimensions. PedsQL health-related quality of life. Family-centered care, sibling/parent adjustment, school re-entry under IDEA 2004 (IEP) or 504 Plan under Rehabilitation Act, longitudinal follow-up because deficits may emerge with development.

Chronic Disability Adjustment & Coping

WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, 2001) — biopsychosocial framework integrating body functions/structures, activity, participation, and environmental and personal factors. Modern adjustment models — Livneh & Antonak, Wright, Vash — multidimensional, dynamic, rejecting fixed grief stages; emphasizing person-environment interaction and identity reconstruction. CBT, ACT (psychological flexibility), behavioral activation, problem-solving therapy (Mynors-Wallis; Nezu) — adapted for cognitive/physical needs. MS fatigue — CBT-F, energy conservation/pacing (Packer), modafinil/amantadine. Caregiver burden — Zarit Burden Interview, problem-solving training (Grant, Elliott), respite, family CBT, psychoeducation. Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP; Lorig) — peer-led 6-week structured curriculum. Amputation adjustment — multidisciplinary peer support (Amputee Coalition), prosthetic training, phantom-limb pain (mirror therapy; Ramachandran), CBT for body image and PTSD. Community reintegration, peer mentoring, Independent Living Centers.

Neuropsychological Aspects of Rehab

Rehabilitation neuropsychology — impairments + preserved strengths + compensatory strategies + accommodations + treatment planning (beyond diagnosis). Halstead-Reitan (fixed comprehensive battery) vs Boston Process Approach (Kaplan — flexible hypothesis-driven). Performance Validity Tests — TOMM, Word Memory Test, Reliable Digit Span, Medical Symptom Validity Test (AACN Position Paper — recommended in all neuropsych evaluations). Frontal/dysexecutive syndromes — initiation, planning, response inhibition, set-shifting (WCST perseveration), Stroop interference, disinhibition (orbitofrontal) vs apathy (mesial frontal). Executive assessment — Trail Making A/B, D-KEFS subtests, WCST, BRIEF-A, Stroop. MoCA brief cognitive screen. Driving evaluation — UFOV, Trail Making, visual acuity off-road; on-road by Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS). MMPI-3/PAI in TBI requires consideration of reading capacity, symptom overlap, validity-scale interpretation.

Ethics & Legal

Capacity (Appelbaum-Grisso four functional components — understanding, appreciation, reasoning, expressing a choice; MacCAT-T tool) — decision-specific, distinct from competency (legal). Surrogate hierarchy when capacity absent. ADA Title I — reasonable accommodations including flexible scheduling, modified workstation, assistive technology, breaks, job restructuring, reduced cognitive load (unless undue hardship). Vocational rehabilitation — work hardening, job analysis, supported employment. Supported Employment / IPS (Drake) — place-and-train, individualized match, on-the-job coaching, time-unlimited support; strong RCT evidence in SMI. APA Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology — IME role with role/limits disclosure; avoid dual treating-forensic roles; PVT/SVT standard. APA Telepsychology Guidelines — HIPAA-compliant platforms, location verification for licensure, emergency planning, PSYPACT. APA Multicultural Guidelines, cultural humility (Tervalon & Murray-García), intersectionality (Crenshaw), minority stress (Meyer). Disability justice framework, person-first vs identity-first language per community preference. End-of-life/palliative rehabilitation — dignity therapy (Chochinov), meaning-centered psychotherapy (Breitbart).

Multidisciplinary Team & Consultation

CMS IRF (Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility) criteria — 24-hour rehab physician oversight, intensive therapy (typically 3 hours/day, 5 days/week or 15 hours/week), interdisciplinary team, reasonable expectation of measurable functional improvement, 60% Rule conditions. CARF and Joint Commission accreditation standards. Multidisciplinary team — physiatrist, rehab psychologist, OT, PT, SLP, RN, social worker, recreation therapist, dietitian, case manager, with patient/family at center. Structured rounds, shared documentation, family meetings, role clarity, conflict management, patient-centered goal setting. Discharge planning — functional assessment (FIM), home environment, equipment, caregiver training, follow-up, community resources. Community-based rehab — Independent Living Centers, peer mentoring, ICF-aligned participation goals.