Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis Flashcards
7 cards from real LMSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis flashcards as text
A client with no prior psychiatric history presents after a traumatic car accident with flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance of driving for 2 weeks. The most appropriate diagnosis to consider is:
Answer: Acute Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder is diagnosed when PTSD-like symptoms occur within 3 days to 4 weeks following a traumatic event; PTSD requires symptoms lasting more than 1 month.
Which of the following is an example of a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
Answer: Alogia
Alogia (poverty of speech) is a negative symptom reflecting diminished thought and communication, contrasted with positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.
A social worker is assessing an elderly client for cognitive impairment. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is administered. Which domain is NOT assessed by the MMSE?
Answer: Abstract reasoning and executive function
The MMSE does not comprehensively assess executive function or abstract reasoning; the MoCA is more sensitive for these domains.
A client describes episodes of unexpected intense fear lasting about 10 minutes with heart pounding, sweating, and fear of dying, occurring twice in the past month. Between episodes they worry constantly about having another one. This best describes:
Answer: Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder requires recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus persistent concern or behavioral change related to the attacks for at least 1 month.
When using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), which item most specifically indicates HIGH acute risk?
Answer: Active ideation with intent and a specific plan
Active suicidal ideation with intent to act and a specific plan is the highest-risk category on the C-SSRS and requires immediate intervention.
A social worker is assessing a client who recently immigrated and notes that the client's described experiences of spiritual visitations may reflect cultural beliefs rather than psychotic symptoms. This consideration is an example of:
Answer: Cultural formulation and differential diagnosis
Cultural formulation requires clinicians to consider how cultural context shapes symptom expression and whether experiences reflect pathology or normative cultural/religious beliefs.
Which DSM-5 disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating without compensatory purging behaviors, occurring at least once a week for 3 months?
Answer: Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder involves recurrent binge eating with marked distress but without the compensatory behaviors (purging, fasting, excessive exercise) seen in Bulimia Nervosa.