Therapist Development Center Practice Exam 1

During an evaluation, a childhood abuse survivor becomes agitated and unresponsive. What is the most likely reason for this behavior?

1. The client is experiencing a psychotic episode.

2. The client suffers from multiple personality disorder.

3. The client is re-experiencing past trauma.

4. The client is abusing substances to deal with the trauma.

The correct answer is: The client is re-experiencing past trauma.

When a childhood abuse survivor exhibits agitation and becomes unresponsive during an evaluation, it is often indicative of re-experiencing past trauma. This re-experiencing can manifest as intense emotional distress in response to reminders or triggers related to the abuse. The agitation may stem from a sudden flood of memories or feelings that the client is struggling to process, leading to a fight-or-flight response, which can cause individuals to become overwhelmed and disengage from the present situation. Survivors of trauma may sometimes dissociate as a coping mechanism, allowing them to escape the painful emotions connected to their experiences. Thus, the behavior of becoming unresponsive can be understood as a protective response to an overwhelming emotional state, rather than a sign of a psychotic episode or a disorder like multiple personality disorder. Additionally, while substance abuse can affect mood and behavior, the context primarily points towards the trauma response as the core issue in this scenario.