ASWB ASWB Certifications LCSW Questions & Answers

• Question 171:

  The standard resource for clinical diagnosis is known as the .

  A. ICD-10

  B. PIE

  C. DSM-5

  D. None ofthe above

  Correct Answer: C

  The Diagnostic and Statistical Nlanual, 5th Edition, is the clinical standard for diagnosing mental health issues in clients. The coding it provides is also the standard used for billing insurances.

• Question 172:

  Kenneth recently lost his only son in a horrific car accident. What behavioral goal would you wa nt to work towards in your therapy with Kenneth?

  A. Finding suitable distractions to take his mind off of thetragedy.

  B. Developing additional systems as new ways of managing his feelings.

  C. Begin a healthy grieving process around the loss.

  D. Finding ways to help him make sense ofhis tragic loss.

  Correct Answer: C

  When a person experiences loss, it is difficult for him or herto move forward without grieving the loss. Some would rather push feelings away than experience them. With loss, the best place to begin is helping the person to mourn and normalizing their feelings regarding their loss.

• Question 173:

  A clinical social worker is having difficulty assessing a cIient's disorder. Symptoms include compulsions, phobias, anxiety, depression, mood swings, and a sense of detachment from their surroundings. All of these are fairly common problems, so the social worker looks back into the patient's childhood. There she finds a history of sexual abuse by a guardian, though the client seems to have limited memory of the event. This helps the social worker diagnose which disorder?

  A. Post-traumatic stress disorder

  B. Dissociative disorder

  C. Bipolar disorder

  D. None ofthe above

  Correct Answer: B

  The cIient's history of sexual abuse along with symptoms such as compulsions, phobias, anxiety, depression, and mood swings are indicative of dissociative disorder. Dissociative disorder is also known as multiple personality disorder originating from a childhood trauma. Repeat abuse may cause an inability to recall information. Different identities form in an attempt to put these thoughts in their right place. While the dissociative disorder is in response to a childhood trauma, it does not fit the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which would include "reIMng" the event and flashbacks, avoidance, survivor's guilt, and/or severe irritability

• Question 174:

  AI is described byfriends and family as being self-centered. He has problems with anger but never wants to accept the blame. AI's relationships with two different women failed because he was physically abusive. A clinical socialworker might potentially assess this client with a number of disorders. What should be the primary concern?

  A. Depression

  B. Externalizers Personality Disorder

  C. Low self-esteem

  D. Violence

  Correct Answer: D

  Professionally and ethically, clinicians assess clients for harm to self or others. They have a duty, bylaw, to report any abuse to children underthe age of 18, and to report the imminent threat of harm by clients towards themselves or toward another person of any age.

• Question 175:

  Of the following types of studies, which are concerned with the effects of drugs on behavior, thought, perception, or mood?

  A. Pharmaceutical studies

  B. Psychopharmacological studies

  C. Psychoactive studies

  D. Chemical reactions

  Correct Answer: B

  Psychopharmacology refers to the study of drug-induced changes in thinking, mood and behavior. The most widely studied drugs are those available for treatment of mental disorders. Psychopharmacology is primarily focused on chemical interactions with the brain.

• Question 176:

  Citalopram or Celexa is often used to treat anxiety. It comes in tablet form and should be taken by mouth

  one time per day. This drug is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

  (SSRIs).

  How does citalopram work?

  A. It reduces circulation

  B. It speeds up circuits in the brain.

  C. It increases the amount of serotonin in the brain.

  D. It decreases the amount of serotonin in the brain.

  Correct Answer: C

  Citalopram increases the amount of serotonin in the brain. Increasing the amount of serotonin helps maintain mental balance for people suffering from anxiety or depression. Other common uses for Citalopram include treating depression, eating disorders, panic disorders, premen strual dysphoric disorder and social phobias. Many doctors will start their patients out on a low dose and slowly increase it over a series of weeks.

• Question 177:

  The Mitchell family worries about theirfour-year-old son, Michael. He has two other siblings, ages six and eight. Michael is quite active but only plays in solitude. Language is delayed and the child would rather point at things he wants. MichaeI's siblings attempt to hug him or cuddle with him, but he pushes them away. Eye contact is at a bare minimum, and he will wander off if not adequately supervised. What diagnosis would be given to a child with these symptoms?

  A. Anti-social disorder

  B. Mild/Moderate impairment

  C. Narcissistic disorder

  D. Autism disorder

  Correct Answer: D

  Michael is likely suffering from a spectrum disorder called Autism. Symptoms vary according to a chiId's chronological age and development. Multiple nonverbal behaviors such as body posture and facial expressions may be a problem. Social interaction and communication is impaired, limiting most actMties.

• Question 178:

  Borderline personality disorder makes indMduals feel uncertain about their identity and self-image. Those suffering from this problem tend to take little responsibility for their pred icaments and view themselves as victims. This disorder can have long-term chronic patterns, often affecting work and relationships. Which of thefollowing symptoms is not associated with borderline personality disorder?

  A. Impulsiveness

  B. Obsession

  C. Substance abuse

  D. Sexual relationships

  Correct Answer: B

  Symptoms of borderline personality disorder include impulsiveness, substance abuse, and irresponsible sexual relationships, but not obsession. Other symptoms include the intolerance of being alone, feelings of emptiness, frequent anger episodes, and self-injury. IndMduals with this problem often avoid real or imaginary abandonment and demonstrate impulsive tendencies. Group therapy is the most successfulwith borderline personality disorder.

• Question 179:

  Miranda is a clinical social worker completing a family assessment. As she acquires more information from the parents on a six-year-old son and his behaviors, it becomes obvious that further evaluation will be required. The chiId's teacher has contacted the parents with complaints about his conduct at school. He does not appear to be able to focus on specific tasks and becomes bored after a few minutes, failing to complete any assignments. Running around the classroom during quiet time is becoming a daily habit, and the child forgets where he puts things. What kind of assessment will the social worker refer for this child?

  A. Learning disability

  B. Oppositional defiance disorder

  C. Conduct disorder

  D. Attention deficit hyperactMty disorder

  Correct Answer: D

  Attention deficit hyperactMty disorder or ADHD cannot be diagnosed unless it has negatively affected at least two areas of the chiId's life - for example home life, classroom, community or playground interactions

  -for at least six months. ADHD usually appears in children under the age of seven.

• Question 180:

  A clinical social worker is establishing services for a famiIy's daughter. She has been in trouble at school for bullying and initiating fights and, according to her parents, ran away from home twice. At the age of 12, she has already been in trouble for truancy and setting fire to a neighbor's garbage can. What do these actions indicate?

  A. Conduct disorder

  B. Oppositional defiant disorder

  C. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

  D. Delinquency

  Correct Answer: A

  Conduct disorder normally manifests before the age of 13 with serious violations to rules. Although, this problem is more common in boys, it also affects the female population. Children with conduct disorder are often physically cruel to people and animals. They lack a sense of guilt and demonstrate selfishness.