MSW LICENSING EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
assimilation - ANSWER -incorporating aspects of one's environment into an existing
thought structure (Piaget);
example: moving to a different county, you begin to adopt the cultural traditions and
language
agnosia - ANSWER -symptoms of dementia; individuals can't name or recognize
objects
acrophobia - ANSWER -fear of heights
Olfactory Hallucination - ANSWER -an imagined smell
delusion - ANSWER -false belief rigidly held even with contra-evidence & reason
hallucinations - ANSWER -a perception without an accompanying external reality
example: seeing an elephant in the room
abreaction - ANSWER -repressed memories of a painful event or conflict are restored to
consciousness; it is relived with appropriate emotional content
projection - ANSWER -disowning aspects of self by assigning them to other people
example: paranoia
retroffection - ANSWER -doing to oneself what one wants to do to others
example: redirecting anger you have for someone else inward
confluence - ANSWER -absence of boundaries between self & environment, causing
intolerance of any differences between oneself & environment
often underlies feelings of guilt & resentment
Paradoxical - ANSWER -prescribing the symptom
meta message - ANSWER -meaning the comes through between the lines; determined
by relationship, context, timing & purpose
ego dystonic - ANSWER -values, personality traits & behaviors of an individual that are
considered inconsistent with self-perception
delirium - ANSWER -a syndrome or cluster of symptoms;
loss of cognitive functioning such as clear thinking, reasoning & orientation (often
temporary)
,no hallucinations or delusions
delusions - ANSWER -beliefs that are psychotic, including delusions of grandeur &
persecution
independent variable - ANSWER -the item that is thought to influence or cause a
behavior or outcome
What is therapeutic approach in mental health research an example of? - ANSWER -
independent variable
dependent variable - ANSWER -outcome or behavior thought to be caused or
influenced by the independent variable
mortality - ANSWER -loss of research participants during the course of a study
Hawthorne Effect - ANSWER -when subjects behave differently than they normally do
because they know they are being observed for research
assessments - ANSWER -provides basis for treatment planning;
should be on-going process
identifies cl's strengths & resources
should include internal & external experiences
an assessment should include: - ANSWER -cognitive & emotional functioning
motivation
cultural norms
percent of acculturation
problem-solving skills
health
support system
Somatoform Disorders - ANSWER -multiple, recurring physical complaints, with no
medical cause found
results in significant impairments, onset before 30 years, symptoms continue over a
period of many years
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER -excessive anxiety & worry about many
things;
persists for minimum of 6 months
significant impairment
onset before 30 years
Acute Stress Disorder - ANSWER -PTSD-like symptoms
immediately follows exposure to traumatic event
lasts 2 days - 4 weeks
, PTSD - ANSWER -repeatedly re-experiences traumatic event with increased arousal;
avoids internal & external stimuli that are reminiscent of trauma
minimum of 1 month
Panic Attack - ANSWER -period of intense fear/discomfort that peaks within 10 min.
Dysthymic Disorder - ANSWER -Long lasting Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms
generally have more energy than clients with MDD
Minimum of 2 or more years (kids - 1 year)
*at times at higher risk for suicide attempts
Anxiety Disorders - ANSWER -first referral is to a medical doctor
Alcoholism treatment - ANSWER -medical referral first
therapy to increase responsible behavior
Medication classes used to treat depressive disorders - ANSWER -MAOI's, serotonin-
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI's), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRI's)
Pervasive Development Disorders - ANSWER -severe impairment in social interaction &
communication skills; repetitive and nonfunctional behavior
Autistic Disorder, Rhett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's
Disorder
Autistic Disorder - ANSWER -significant impairment in communication & social
interaction; very restricted range of interests & activities
absence of age appropriate imagination and/or social play, failure to form age-
appropriate friendships, repetitive functionless routines, rituals &/or motions of body
parts
Rumination Disorder - ANSWER -repetitive regurgitation & re-chewing of food
at least 1 month
-normal functioning prior to dx
-not result of medical condition
-not exclusively with Anorexia/Bulimia
Major Depressive Disorder - ANSWER -at least one major depressive episode
Cyclothymic Disorder - ANSWER -rapid shifts between hypomanic episodes &
depressive symptoms;
minimum of 2 years;
similar to bipolar disorder, but less severe;
doesn't meet criteria of Major Depressive Episode
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
assimilation - ANSWER -incorporating aspects of one's environment into an existing
thought structure (Piaget);
example: moving to a different county, you begin to adopt the cultural traditions and
language
agnosia - ANSWER -symptoms of dementia; individuals can't name or recognize
objects
acrophobia - ANSWER -fear of heights
Olfactory Hallucination - ANSWER -an imagined smell
delusion - ANSWER -false belief rigidly held even with contra-evidence & reason
hallucinations - ANSWER -a perception without an accompanying external reality
example: seeing an elephant in the room
abreaction - ANSWER -repressed memories of a painful event or conflict are restored to
consciousness; it is relived with appropriate emotional content
projection - ANSWER -disowning aspects of self by assigning them to other people
example: paranoia
retroffection - ANSWER -doing to oneself what one wants to do to others
example: redirecting anger you have for someone else inward
confluence - ANSWER -absence of boundaries between self & environment, causing
intolerance of any differences between oneself & environment
often underlies feelings of guilt & resentment
Paradoxical - ANSWER -prescribing the symptom
meta message - ANSWER -meaning the comes through between the lines; determined
by relationship, context, timing & purpose
ego dystonic - ANSWER -values, personality traits & behaviors of an individual that are
considered inconsistent with self-perception
delirium - ANSWER -a syndrome or cluster of symptoms;
loss of cognitive functioning such as clear thinking, reasoning & orientation (often
temporary)
,no hallucinations or delusions
delusions - ANSWER -beliefs that are psychotic, including delusions of grandeur &
persecution
independent variable - ANSWER -the item that is thought to influence or cause a
behavior or outcome
What is therapeutic approach in mental health research an example of? - ANSWER -
independent variable
dependent variable - ANSWER -outcome or behavior thought to be caused or
influenced by the independent variable
mortality - ANSWER -loss of research participants during the course of a study
Hawthorne Effect - ANSWER -when subjects behave differently than they normally do
because they know they are being observed for research
assessments - ANSWER -provides basis for treatment planning;
should be on-going process
identifies cl's strengths & resources
should include internal & external experiences
an assessment should include: - ANSWER -cognitive & emotional functioning
motivation
cultural norms
percent of acculturation
problem-solving skills
health
support system
Somatoform Disorders - ANSWER -multiple, recurring physical complaints, with no
medical cause found
results in significant impairments, onset before 30 years, symptoms continue over a
period of many years
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - ANSWER -excessive anxiety & worry about many
things;
persists for minimum of 6 months
significant impairment
onset before 30 years
Acute Stress Disorder - ANSWER -PTSD-like symptoms
immediately follows exposure to traumatic event
lasts 2 days - 4 weeks
, PTSD - ANSWER -repeatedly re-experiences traumatic event with increased arousal;
avoids internal & external stimuli that are reminiscent of trauma
minimum of 1 month
Panic Attack - ANSWER -period of intense fear/discomfort that peaks within 10 min.
Dysthymic Disorder - ANSWER -Long lasting Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms
generally have more energy than clients with MDD
Minimum of 2 or more years (kids - 1 year)
*at times at higher risk for suicide attempts
Anxiety Disorders - ANSWER -first referral is to a medical doctor
Alcoholism treatment - ANSWER -medical referral first
therapy to increase responsible behavior
Medication classes used to treat depressive disorders - ANSWER -MAOI's, serotonin-
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI's), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRI's)
Pervasive Development Disorders - ANSWER -severe impairment in social interaction &
communication skills; repetitive and nonfunctional behavior
Autistic Disorder, Rhett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's
Disorder
Autistic Disorder - ANSWER -significant impairment in communication & social
interaction; very restricted range of interests & activities
absence of age appropriate imagination and/or social play, failure to form age-
appropriate friendships, repetitive functionless routines, rituals &/or motions of body
parts
Rumination Disorder - ANSWER -repetitive regurgitation & re-chewing of food
at least 1 month
-normal functioning prior to dx
-not result of medical condition
-not exclusively with Anorexia/Bulimia
Major Depressive Disorder - ANSWER -at least one major depressive episode
Cyclothymic Disorder - ANSWER -rapid shifts between hypomanic episodes &
depressive symptoms;
minimum of 2 years;
similar to bipolar disorder, but less severe;
doesn't meet criteria of Major Depressive Episode
