Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

What psychological concept best explains the response of the patient with traumatic brain injury who lists various dog types?

1. Perseveration

2. Disinhibition

3. Echolalia

4. Cluttering

The correct answer is: Perseveration

Perseveration is the psychological concept that best explains the response of a patient with a traumatic brain injury who lists various dog types. This behavior involves the repetition of a specific thought or action beyond what is considered appropriate or relevant to the context. In cases of neurological impairment, such as traumatic brain injury, individuals may have difficulty shifting their focus from an initial response, leading to persistent verbal or motor responses. For example, when a patient fixates on naming different dog breeds, it reflects a tendency to repeat a thought that has become stuck in their mind, demonstrating the inability to redirect their attention or modify their response to match the conversation or context. This phenomenon is often seen in patients with brain injuries or other cognitive disorders where executive functioning is compromised. Other choices, while they may involve atypical verbal behaviors, do not specifically align with the behavior described. Disinhibition refers to a lack of restraint in social or emotional contexts, echolalia involves the immediate or delayed repetition of another's speech, and cluttering pertains to a speech impairment characterized by a rapid and disorganized speech pattern, none of which directly explain the focused listing behavior observed in this patient.