Free Geropsychology Board Certification Practice Questions

Question 1

An 84-year-old hospitalized patient who was conversant yesterday becomes inattentive over several hours, alternates between agitation and drowsiness, and cannot sustain a simple conversation. The family reports no comparable change at home. What is the most appropriate immediate clinical response?

Accepted Answer

Arrange urgent medical evaluation for an acute confusional state and possible medical or medication causes

Answer

Begin a brief cognitive screen and defer medical contact unless the score falls below the usual dementia threshold

Answer

Treat the presentation as progression of a neurocognitive disorder and obtain a more detailed history at the next visit

Answer

Use supportive psychotherapy to reduce distress, then reassess orientation after the patient has rested

Question 2

A 79-year-old client with mild cognitive impairment can explain the purpose, likely benefits, and common risks of psychotherapy, compare it with alternatives, and consistently communicate a choice. Her daughter insists that the client cannot consent because she forgets appointments. Which response best reflects sound ethical practice?

Accepted Answer

Assess capacity for this decision and involve the daughter only with appropriate consent and confidentiality safeguards

Answer

Accept the daughter's view because memory impairment establishes incapacity for treatment decisions

Answer

Ask the daughter to sign consent because family members are presumed to be surrogate decision-makers for older adults

Answer

Arrange a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation first, because global cognitive status must be established before any consent decision can be considered

Question 3

A 72-year-old widower reports persistent low mood, withdrawal, and self-critical thoughts six months after his spouse's death. He remains able to experience moments of connection, but says he wants help re-engaging with daily life. Medical evaluation has found no acute cause. Which initial psychotherapy approach is best supported for this presentation?

Accepted Answer

Use an age-adapted evidence-based depression intervention, such as behavioral activation, while assessing grief-related needs and risk

Answer

Recommend avoiding discussion of the deceased until the anniversary has passed

Answer

Interpret the symptoms as an inevitable stage of aging and focus treatment on acceptance alone

Answer

Refer exclusively for medication management because psychotherapy is less effective in later life

Question 4

A researcher compares depressive-symptom scores in adults aged 65-75 and adults aged 85-95 using a questionnaire whose wording refers to employment, driving, and independent household management. The oldest group scores higher. Which concern most directly limits the conclusion that the oldest group has more depression?

Accepted Answer

The items may not measure the same construct across age groups; examine measurement equivalence and context

Answer

Conclude that the oldest group has more depression after checking that both groups received the same questionnaire and had reasonably comparable sample sizes

Answer

The questionnaire is invalid for any participant older than 85, regardless of validation evidence

Answer

Age is a continuous variable, so grouping participants makes statistical analysis impossible

Question 5

A 76-year-old outpatient scores 8 on the PHQ-9. She reports low energy and poor sleep but denies depressed mood and loss of interest; she has recently started a medication that can cause fatigue. What is the best interpretation?

Accepted Answer

Treat the score as a symptom indicator, then assess duration, impairment, safety, and medical or medication causes

Answer

The score establishes major depressive disorder because any PHQ-9 score above 5 is diagnostic

Answer

The score rules out clinically important depression because it is below 10

Answer

The somatic symptoms should be removed from the score before interpreting it, even without a validated scoring method

Question 6

During a long-term-care team meeting, a nurse reports that a resident becomes distressed during evening personal care. The psychologist suspects that rushed communication and hearing loss contribute. Which action best uses an interdisciplinary systems approach?

Accepted Answer

Develop a shared formulation with nursing and relevant staff, agree on a practical communication adjustment, and review whether distress changes

Answer

Ask nursing to follow the psychologist's treatment plan without further discussion to avoid role confusion

Answer

Ask the nurse to document each episode for a month, then make a decision without changing care routines until the record provides a stable baseline

Answer

Recommend transferring the resident to a different facility before testing lower-burden changes

Question 7

A psychologist is evaluating an older adult whose first language is not English. The client performs poorly on a verbally loaded cognitive screen administered through an interpreter, but daily functioning and family observations are inconsistent with severe impairment. What should the psychologist do next?

Accepted Answer

Interpret cautiously and integrate language, education, collateral history, and everyday functioning

Answer

Apply the published cutoff without adjustment because standardized scores are comparable across languages

Answer

Diagnose a major neurocognitive disorder because poor screening performance outweighs collateral information

Answer

Repeat the same test immediately with a different interpreter and average the two scores

Question 8

A psychologist working in a rural community is asked to provide therapy to an older adult who is the parent of a close personal friend. The client has few local alternatives and the psychologist has relevant clinical competence. What is the most professionally appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Weigh foreseeable boundary risks and alternatives, then discuss safeguards transparently with the client

Answer

Accept automatically because scarcity of services overrides concerns about multiple relationships

Answer

Decline automatically because any overlap between personal and professional networks is prohibited

Answer

Accept the referral after obtaining the friend's assurance that personal matters will remain separate, and document that informal agreement as the main safeguard

Question 9

A primary-care clinic asks a geropsychologist to explain why several older patients repeatedly miss follow-up appointments. Data suggest transportation barriers, hearing difficulties during reminder calls, and confusion about appointment instructions. Which consultation response is most useful?

Accepted Answer

Share a biopsychosocial formulation and help the clinic test accessible reminders and transportation support

Answer

Recommend that clinicians label repeated missed visits as nonadherence and discharge patients who miss twice

Answer

Ask the clinic to refer each patient for individual assessment first, then use those assessments to decide whether any clinic-wide change is warranted

Answer

Tell the clinic to purchase a cognitive test and use it as the sole predictor of missed appointments

Question 10

An older adult in assisted living tells a psychologist that a staff member has been taking money from her account. She is frightened that reporting it will lead to retaliation. The psychologist has reasonable suspicion of financial exploitation. What is the best next action?

Accepted Answer

Assess safety, explain confidentiality limits, document objectively, and follow applicable reporting procedures

Answer

Promise absolute secrecy to preserve rapport and investigate the staff member independently

Answer

Interview the staff member and resident together immediately so their accounts can be compared before deciding whether a formal report is warranted

Answer

Wait for conclusive proof because reporting suspicion would violate the staff member's confidentiality

Free Geropsychology Board Certification Practice Questions

Domain 1: Professionalism

Question 1

Domain 3: Scientific Knowledge and Methods

Question 2

Domain 5: Individual and Cultural Diversity

Question 3

Domain 6: Ethical/Legal Standards

Question 4

Question 5

Domain 7: Interdisciplinary Systems

Question 6

Domain 8: Assessment

Question 7

Question 8

Domain 9: Intervention

Question 9

Domain 10: Consultation

Question 10

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