Free Practice Questions for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association CPRP Exam

Difficulty articulating goals, especially due to fear of dreaming, suggests a need to rebuild hope and self-awareness. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain V: Strategies for Facilitating Recovery) emphasizes strategies that reconnect individuals with their strengths and aspirations to foster goal-setting (Task V.A.2: "Support individuals in identifying personal strengths and interests to inform recovery goals"). Option A (reconnecting with his interests and talents) aligns with this, as exploring interests and talents helps the individual rediscover what motivates him, reducing fear and building confidence to articulate meaningful goals.

Option B (problem solving and social skills) is relevant for implementation but not for initial goal identification. Option C (developing self-esteem) is a longer-term outcome, not the immediate strategy for goal-setting fears. Option D (developing coping skills) addresses fear management but not the core issue of reconnecting with aspirations. The PRA Study Guide highlights strengths-based exploration as key to overcoming barriers to goal-setting, supporting Option A.

Supporting an individual recently discharged from inpatient care involves addressing barriers to community integration, such as past housing conflicts, while prioritizing self-determination. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain III: Community Integration) emphasizes empowering individuals to make choices about their living arrangements to foster stability and safety (Task III.A.1: "Support individuals in accessing and maintaining stable housing"). Option D (help him make a decision about where he wants to live) aligns with this by focusing on person-centered planning, allowing the individual to explore housing options that address his feelings of unsafety and anger, such as locations or settings that feel secure and supportive.

Option A (anger management group) addresses anger but not the root issue of housing-related distress or safety concerns. Option B (residential program) assumes a specific solution without involving the individual’s preferences, which may not align with his recovery goals. Option C (supported housing with a roommate) is prescriptive and may not suit his needs, especially given past conflicts with others, without first exploring his preferences. The PRA Study Guide underscores the importance of choice in housing to promote community integration, supporting Option D.

Integrating peer support services involves leveraging individuals with lived experience to support others, but it requires careful management of professional dynamics. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain VI: Systems Competencies) emphasizes establishing clear roles and boundaries to ensure effective peer integration (Task VI.C.2: "Support the integration of peer services within program structures"). Option B (power and boundaries) aligns with this, as peer supporters, who share personal experiences, may face challenges with maintaining professional boundaries or navigating power dynamics (e.g., avoiding over-identification or dual relationships), which agencies must address through training and policies.

Option A (absenteeism and benefits) is a general employment concern, not specific to peer support. Option C (medication and symptoms) is a clinical issue, not a primary integration concern. Option D (stigma and confidentiality) is relevant but secondary to boundary issues, which are more critical for peer role clarity. The PRA Study Guide highlights power and boundary management as key for peer support integration, supporting Option B.

Retention in community-based services, such as outpatient programs or supported housing, is critical for individuals with serious mental illness to maintain community integration. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain III: Community Integration) emphasizes identifying and addressing barriers to sustained community participation (Task III.B.2: "Identify barriers to community integration and develop strategies to overcome them"). Hospital recidivism (Option C) is the most frequent disruptor, as recurrent hospitalizations due to symptom exacerbation or crises interrupt engagement with community-based services, leading to disengagement from supports like case management or rehabilitation programs.

Option A (family dynamics) can influence retention but is less universally disruptive than hospitalizations, which directly remove individuals from community settings. Option B (medication management) is a factor, but its impact is often secondary to crises leading to hospitalization. Option D (financial instability) is a barrier to community living but less directly tied to service retention compared to hospital recidivism, which physically and logistically disrupts service continuity. The PRA Study Guide notes that hospital recidivism is a primary challenge to maintaining community-based service engagement, supporting Option C.

The individual’s car accident and subsequent challenges require revisiting her goals to address her current circumstances and emotional state. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain IV: Assessment, Planning, and Outcomes) emphasizes re-evaluating goals in response to significant life changes to ensure person-centered planning remains relevant (Task IV.B.1: "Develop person-centered plans based on individual aspirations"). Option D (help the individual determine her goals with regard to returning to massage therapy training) aligns with this, as it prioritizes exploring whether she still wishes to pursue massage therapy or adjust her goals (e.g., alternative careers or delayed training) given her injuries, transportation issues, and feelings of being overwhelmed.

Option A (provide education on alternative programs) assumes a change in direction without confirming her goals. Option B (develop contacts) is premature without clarity on her aspirations. Option C (assess potential to return) is a secondary step, as her goals must guide the assessment. The PRA Study Guide underscores goal re-evaluation as the first step after disruptions, supporting Option D.

In the pre-contemplative stage of change, individuals are not yet considering changing their behavior (e.g., substance use) and may deny or minimize the problem. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain I: Interpersonal Competencies) emphasizes building trust and rapport with individuals in early stages of change to foster engagement and openness to future interventions (Task I.B.3: "Adapt communication strategies to build trust and engagement"). Option D (developing a trusting relationship) aligns with this, as establishing trust through empathetic, non-judgmental interactions is critical to help the individual feel safe and eventually consider change, particularly for someone with co-occurring substance abuse and mood disorders.

Option A (teaching the skill of saying no) is action-oriented and premature for pre-contemplation. Option B (identifying triggers) is relevant in later stages, like contemplation or preparation. Option C (establishing a goal to decrease use) assumes readiness not present in pre-contemplation. The PRA Study Guide, referencing the Stages of Change model, highlights trust-building as the primary focus for pre-contemplative individuals, supporting Option D.

The Stages of Change model (Prochaska and DiClemente) is used in psychiatric rehabilitation to assess an individual’s readiness to modify behaviors, such as substance use. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain IV: Assessment, Planning, and Outcomes) includes assessing readiness for change to inform person-centered planning (Task IV.A.2: "Assess individual’s stage of change and readiness for goal-setting"). Option C (Precontemplation) aligns with this, as individuals in the precontemplation stage are not yet considering change, often denying or minimizing the problem (e.g., the individual does not believe his substance abuse is a problem and has no intention of changing).

Option A (Denial) is not a formal stage of change, though denial may characterize precontemplation. Option B (Bargaining) is a stage in the Kübler-Ross grief model, not the Stages of Change. Option D (Contemplation) involves considering change but not acting, which does not match the individual’s lack of intention to change. The PRA Study Guide details the Stages of Change model, confirming precontemplation as the stage for lack of problem recognition, supporting Option C.

The individual’s workplace anger outbursts threaten her job, indicating a need for skill-building to manage emotions effectively. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain V: Strategies for Facilitating Recovery) emphasizes teaching self-management skills to support recovery goals, such as maintaining employment (Task V.B.4: "Teach skills using evidence-based methods"). Option B (provide the individual with anger management techniques) aligns with this, as techniques like deep breathing, cognitive reframing, or time-outs can help her regulate emotions, address the behavior that led to the warning, and reduce the risk of job loss.

Option A (check medication) assumes a clinical issue without evidence and is outside the rehabilitation focus. Option C (encourage a meeting with the supervisor) may be a later step but does not address the individual’s immediate need to manage anger. Option D (reassure she will not lose her job) is unrealistic and avoids addressing the behavior. The PRA Study Guide highlights skill-based interventions for workplace challenges, supporting Option B.

Conflicts over house rules in a group home require interpersonal competencies to facilitate collaborative resolution and skill-building. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain I: Interpersonal Competencies) emphasizes fostering communication and conflict resolution skills to address group dynamics in a recovery-oriented manner (Task I.B.2: "Facilitate conflict resolution using recovery-oriented approaches"). Option D (foster communication and conflict resolution skills of the group) aligns with this, as it involves guiding the group to develop skills like active listening, problem-solving, and negotiation, enabling them to address current and future conflicts constructively while maintaining a cohesive living environment.

Option A (encourage explaining issues) is a step but lacks the skill-building focus needed for lasting resolution. Option B (discuss problems separately) may preserve confidentiality but does not promote group communication or resolve the collective issue. Option C (emphasize rule importance) is directive and does not empower the group to address underlying conflicts. The PRA Study Guide underscores group-based conflict resolution skills as critical for shared living settings, supporting Option D.

Supporting holistic health, particularly when addressing side effects of psychotropic medications, is a critical competency in psychiatric rehabilitation. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain VII: Supporting Health & Wellness) emphasizes educating individuals about health conditions and facilitating communication with healthcare providers (Task VII.A.2: "Provide education on health conditions and treatment options"). Option A (provide education on metabolic syndrome and discuss how to talk about his concerns with his primary physician and psychiatrist) aligns with this task by empowering the individual with knowledge about metabolic syndrome—a common side effect of antipsychotics characterized by weight gain, high cholesterol, and increased diabetes risk—and supporting collaborative care with medical professionals to explore management options (e.g., lifestyle changes or medication adjustments).

Option B (choosing between mental and physical health) is inappropriate, as it presents a false dichotomy and contradicts recovery-oriented principles that integrate both mental and physical health (Domain V). Option C (emphasizing mental health over physical concerns) dismisses the individual’s valid concerns, violating person-centered care principles (Domain I). Option D (highlighting prevalence) normalizes the issue but fails to provide actionable steps, unlike Option A. The PRA Study Guide underscores the importance of holistic health education and advocacy, reinforcing Option A.