MFT Exam Prep: Free Practice Questions

One topic that could be tested on your MFT exam, which you may have little to no experience with, is psychosis. Regardless of your personal or professional experience with psychosis, our MFT exam prep programs will help you learn everything you need to know for possible MFT exam questions. The most common questions I receive from those using our MFT exam prep programs regarding this topic are related to diagnosis and crisis management. However, there are several other ways the subject of psychosis may be tested on your MFT Clinical exam. 

The exam may test your knowledge of:

1. Diagnostic criteria for psychotic disorders
2. When to initiate hospitalization
3. Collaboration with other medical professionals
4. Engaging family members in treatment
5. Identifying adjunct services

In this blog, we will look at a sample MFT exam question that focuses on diagnosis. This category of disorders is distinguished by the primary symptoms of delusions, prominent hallucinations, disorganized speech, or disorganized or catatonic behavior.

Let’s take a look at the question below and see how well you know your differentials:

Practice Question:

A therapist in a community mental health clinic begins an intake with a 22-year-old client. During the course of the intake, the therapist learns that approximately 2 months ago, the client had a 2-week period in which they experienced paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations about their neighbors. While they report that they’ve had no symptoms since then, the client’s affect is blunted, they speak in a monotonous voice and when prompted, reports that they still have not gone back to work and have gained 15 pounds. What is the most likely diagnosis in this case?

A. Brief Psychotic Disorder

B. Schizophreniform Disorder

C. Schizophrenia

D. Delusional Disorder

(Scroll down for answer and rationale)

Answer:

The correct answer to the question above is B. 

Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, and Brief Psychotic Disorder all have similar symptom profiles, but differ in their duration of symptoms and in some of the fine details. For Brief Psychotic Disorder, the episode lasts for more than 1 day, but less than 1 month, and lacks the characteristic “negative” symptoms seen in the other two disorders. In addition, the person returns to premorbid functioning. With Schizophreniform Disorder, the episode (including prodromal, active phase, and residual phase) lasts for at least 1 month but less than 6 months. If the episode persists beyond the 6-month mark, a diagnosis of Schizophrenia is warranted. For MFT exam questions, it is important with these disorders to rule out substance abuse or general medical condition that could be causing the psychotic symptoms.

While the client’s positive symptoms only lasted two weeks, it appears that they are still suffering from negative symptoms. This means their total episode is in the 1-6 month time frame of Schizophreniform Disorder.

MFT Exam Prep

Are you ready to pass your MFT Clinical exam? Our straightforward, sensible approach can help you not only pass, but pass with CONFIDENCE. TDC’s MFT exam prep programs have helped THOUSANDS of MFTs successfully pass their exams! We have no doubt we can prepare you, too. One of the benefits of signing up for one of our MFT exam prep programs is that every customer has access to a coach they can email anytime questions come up; you’re never alone in your studies. Whether you’re preparing for the California MFT clinical exam or the National MFT exam, we have an exam prep program for you! Check out our MFT Exam Prep programs. Learn more about our exam prep in general at The Therapist Development Center home page.

Are you looking for more study questions?

We post monthly MFT exam practice questions on some of the most commonly tested topics. Be sure to check back next month for a new practice question and blog!