CCC Psychological First Aid 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In PFA, 'stabilization' is most accurately defined as:
- Administering sedative medication to calm acutely distressed survivors
- Calming and orienting emotionally overwhelmed survivors to the present (Correct answer)
- Isolating distressed survivors from the larger group
- Completing a formal psychiatric assessment of the survivor
Correct answer: Calming and orienting emotionally overwhelmed survivors to the present
Stabilization in PFA involves calming and grounding survivors who are overwhelmed, not clinical or pharmacological intervention.
Question 2: During the 'Information Gathering' action of PFA, the chaplain should prioritize:
- Documenting the survivor's full psychiatric and medical history
- Identifying the survivor's immediate needs and current concerns (Correct answer)
- Collecting evidence and statements for legal or insurance purposes
- Assessing for pre-existing mental health diagnoses
Correct answer: Identifying the survivor's immediate needs and current concerns
PFA information gathering focuses on understanding the survivor's immediate needs and concerns to provide relevant, timely assistance.
Question 3: The 'Practical Assistance' component of PFA is best illustrated by which chaplain action?
- Offering a structured session of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
- Helping a survivor contact a family member or locate essential medication (Correct answer)
- Conducting a formal suicide risk assessment using a validated tool
- Providing a provisional diagnosis of acute stress disorder
Correct answer: Helping a survivor contact a family member or locate essential medication
Practical assistance addresses concrete immediate needs such as facilitating family contact or locating essential personal items.
Question 4: 'Connection with Social Supports' in PFA is based on which core principle?
- Removing survivors from existing supports to prevent secondary trauma
- Linking survivors exclusively to professional mental health services
- Encouraging survivors to rely on the chaplain as their primary support
- Facilitating reconnection with family, friends, and community networks (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Facilitating reconnection with family, friends, and community networks
Social support is a key resilience factor; PFA promotes reconnection with natural supports rather than replacing them with professional helpers.
Question 5: Which best describes PFA's stance on emotional processing immediately after a traumatic event?
- Survivors must verbalize their experience to prevent future PTSD
- Emotional expression should be welcomed but never forced (Correct answer)
- Emotional reactions indicate pathology requiring clinical management
- All survivors must complete a structured emotional debriefing session
Correct answer: Emotional expression should be welcomed but never forced
PFA creates space for survivors to express themselves if they choose, but does not force emotional processing or trauma narration.
Question 6: PFA is appropriate for which survivor populations?
- Only children under 12 years of age
- Only adults without pre-existing mental health conditions
- Survivors of all ages and diverse backgrounds (Correct answer)
- Only military veterans and first responders
Correct answer: Survivors of all ages and diverse backgrounds
PFA is designed to be adaptable and appropriate for diverse populations across all age groups and backgrounds.
Question 7: Which survivor presentation most clearly signals the need for referral beyond PFA?
- Crying and openly expressing grief and sadness
- Difficulty concentrating on questions asked by the chaplain
- Active suicidal ideation with a specific plan and intent (Correct answer)
- Reluctance to discuss the traumatic event with anyone
Correct answer: Active suicidal ideation with a specific plan and intent
Active suicidal ideation with a plan and intent is a clinical emergency requiring immediate specialized intervention beyond PFA's scope.
CCC Psychological First Aid 2
In PFA, 'stabilization' is most accurately defined as: