Ethical Standards & Professional Practice Flashcards

A CBT-I client who is a nurse asks the practitioner detailed questions about hypnotic medication dosing for her patients. The practitioner should:

Answer: Clarify that medication guidance is outside the CBT-I scope and suggest appropriate clinical resources

Scope of practice boundaries require practitioners to redirect questions that fall outside their competency, even when the client has professional credentials.

When obtaining informed consent for CBT-I, which element is most critical to include?

Answer: The temporary worsening of sleepiness that may occur during sleep restriction

Clients must be warned about the initial increase in daytime sleepiness from sleep restriction so they can make an informed decision and take necessary safety precautions.

A practitioner trained in CBT-I is asked to supervise a trainee who will deliver the intervention. Ethical supervisory practice requires:

Answer: Ensuring the trainee is competent and that client welfare is monitored throughout supervision

Supervisors bear ethical and often legal responsibility for supervisee conduct and must actively monitor client welfare, not merely observe administrative compliance.

A CBT-I practitioner who experiences personal burnout and chronic fatigue notices it is affecting session quality. The ethical course of action is to:

Answer: Seek consultation or personal therapy and consider reducing caseload to protect client welfare

Ethical codes require practitioners to monitor their own health and take corrective action when impairment may compromise client care.

Which statement best describes the ethical use of outcome measures in CBT-I?

Answer: Standardized measures like the ISI should be used to track progress and inform treatment decisions

Regular use of validated instruments such as the Insomnia Severity Index supports evidence-based, client-centered care and transparent documentation.

A client objects to completing sleep diaries, citing privacy concerns. The practitioner's ethical response is to:

Answer: Explore the concerns, offer alternative methods, and document the discussion and outcome

Respecting client autonomy requires the practitioner to address concerns collaboratively, explore alternative monitoring strategies, and document the informed decision.

In CBT-I research, participant deception is generally:

Answer: Permissible only when IRB-approved, scientifically necessary, and followed by full debriefing

Research ethics allow limited deception only under strict conditions: IRB approval, no reasonable alternative, minimal risk, and complete debriefing afterward.