Week 11

Question 1

Q1: What is a key contributor to burnout among psychologists, according to Kaeding (2023)?
a) Excessive administrative tasks
b) Use of evidence-based practices
c) Activation of early maladaptive schemas (EMS)
d) Lack of physical health

Answer 1

Correct Answer: c) Activation of early maladaptive schemas (EMS)
Source: [Kaeding et al., 2023 – p. 3]

Question 2

Q2: What does the ‘empathy trap’ refer to in psychological practice?
a) Clients manipulating therapists with emotions
b) Therapists relying on empathy instead of intervention
c) Emotional over-identification leading to exhaustion
d) Misdiagnosis due to overemphasis on emotions

Answer 2

Correct Answer: c) Emotional over-identification leading to exhaustion
Source: [Insight Transcript – 00:18:21]

Question 3

Q3: According to the APS article on burnout, which systemic factor most strongly contributes to psychologist distress?
a) Lack of therapy supervision
b) Poor interpersonal skills
c) Unmanageable caseloads and limited systemic support
d) Client trauma exposure

Answer 3

Correct Answer: c) Unmanageable caseloads and limited systemic support
Source: [APS Burnout Article – Section: Systemic Challenges]

Question 4

Q4: Which cognitive mechanism can make psychologists vulnerable to burnout, as described in the schema literature?
a) Resilience bias
b) Overcompensation mode
c) Emotional numbing
d) Rational detachment

Answer 4

Correct Answer: b) Overcompensation mode
Source: [Burnout & Coping Modes – p. 8]

Question 5

Q5: What ethical concern is raised in the context of psychologist suicide, according to the review by Kaeding et al.?
a) Confidentiality breaches postmortem
b) Lack of professional development
c) Stigma within the profession about help-seeking
d) Ineffective use of AI for support

Answer 5

Correct Answer: c) Stigma within the profession about help-seeking
Source: [Psychologist Suicide – p. 3]

Question 6

Q6: What is one purpose of discussing ‘maladaptive schemas’ in the context of burnout prevention?
a) To reassign clinical responsibility
b) To identify clients with BPD
c) To help practitioners recognise personal vulnerability patterns
d) To assess DSM-5 traits

Answer 6

Correct Answer: c) To help practitioners recognise personal vulnerability patterns
Source: [Burnout & Coping Modes – p. 5]

Question 7

Q7: How did participants in the Insight episode describe the toll of empathy overload?
a) It made them more attentive
b) It sharpened their clinical judgment
c) It depleted their energy and impacted personal wellbeing
d) It improved client rapport

Answer 7

Correct Answer: c) It depleted their energy and impacted personal wellbeing
Source: [Insight Transcript – 00:27:45]

Question 8

Q8: What professional response is recommended to reduce burnout risk?
a) Focus exclusively on client outcomes
b) Increase emotional involvement
c) Build reflective capacity and seek supervision
d) Avoid emotionally challenging cases

Answer 8

Correct Answer: c) Build reflective capacity and seek supervision
Source: [Lecture Transcript – 00:34:21]

Question 9

Q9: Which finding was highlighted in the systematic review on the economic cost of mental illness?
a) Anxiety is the most expensive condition globally
b) Direct treatment costs are higher than productivity loss
c) Mental disorders contribute significantly to global productivity loss
d) Only inpatient costs are considered significant

Answer 9

Correct Answer: c) Mental disorders contribute significantly to global productivity loss
Source: [Cost of Mental Disorders – Abstract]

Question 10

Q10: What is the ethical implication of untreated burnout among psychologists?
a) Enhanced empathy
b) Increased referral accuracy
c) Compromised decision-making and boundary setting
d) Reduced use of diagnostic labels

Answer 10

Correct Answer: c) Compromised decision-making and boundary setting
Source: [Lecture Transcript – 00:29:55]

Question 11

Q11: In schema theory, what coping style may lead a psychologist to emotionally disconnect from clients?
a) Surrender mode
b) Overcompensation
c) Avoidant coping
d) Schema healing

Answer 11

Correct Answer: c) Avoidant coping
Source: [Burnout & Coping Modes – p. 7]

Question 12

Q12: Why is self-awareness essential in preventing professional burnout?
a) It makes supervision unnecessary
b) It guarantees client outcomes
c) It allows monitoring of early warning signs
d) It reduces need for breaks

Answer 12

Correct Answer: c) It allows monitoring of early warning signs
Source: [Tutorial Transcript – 00:14:23]

Question 13

Q13: How does burnout in psychologists differ from ordinary stress?
a) Burnout affects only private practice clinicians
b) Burnout includes chronic emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation
c) Stress has no physical symptoms
d) Burnout is resolved quickly with holidays

Answer 13

Correct Answer: b) Burnout includes chronic emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation
Source: [Lecture – Slide 8]

Question 14

Q14: What intervention does the APS suggest to address burnout risks?
a) Remove all trauma cases
b) Institute reflective practice and workload review
c) Introduce mandatory group therapy
d) Use burnout as diagnostic exclusion

Answer 14

Correct Answer: b) Institute reflective practice and workload review
Source: [APS Article – Final Recommendations]

Question 15

Q15: What is a limitation of empathy if not balanced with boundaries?
a) It reduces burnout
b) It decreases client self-reliance
c) It increases therapist vulnerability
d) It improves transference resolution

Answer 15

Correct Answer: c) It increases therapist vulnerability
Source: [Insight Transcript – 00:21:10]

Question 16

Q16: What schema might be activated in a psychologist who cannot say no to additional client load?
a) Abandonment
b) Entitlement
c) Subjugation
d) Unrelenting standards

Answer 16

Correct Answer: d) Unrelenting standards
Source: [Kaeding et al., 2023 – p. 4]

Question 17

Q17: According to the tutorial, which reflective question can help prevent empathy exhaustion?
a) “What is this client’s diagnosis?”
b) “How can I rescue this person?”
c) “Where am I emotionally after this session?”
d) “What does the literature say?”

Answer 17

Correct Answer: c) “Where am I emotionally after this session?”
Source: [Tutorial Transcript – 00:22:51]

Question 18

Q18: What client behaviour can activate a helper’s maladaptive schema if not recognised?
a) Avoidance of therapy
b) Excessive gratitude
c) Over-reliance and helplessness
d) Quick goal achievement

Answer 18

Correct Answer: c) Over-reliance and helplessness
Source: [Insight Transcript – 00:23:30]

Question 19

Q19: According to the week 11 lecture, burnout is not just a psychological issue but also a:
a) Behavioural reward system
b) Cultural myth
c) Workplace health and safety concern
d) Client confidentiality issue

Answer 19

Correct Answer: c) Workplace health and safety concern
Source: [Lecture – Slide 11]

Question 20

Q20: What is one postvention recommendation in response to psychologist suicide?
a) Immediate disciplinary review
b) Mandatory leave for all staff
c) Facilitate open discussion and team debriefing
d) Restrict disclosure to media

Answer 20

Correct Answer: c) Facilitate open discussion and team debriefing
Source: [Psychologist Suicide – p. 6]