ASWB LCSW CLINICAL EXAM MATERIAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A

ASWB LCSW CLINICAL EXAM MATERIAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A In treating a client in crisis, the caseworker should focus on a. the immediate presenting problem b. a few specific problems in day-to-day functioning c. a wide range of problems in day-to-day functioning d. underlying personality problems the immediate presenting problem A social worker is interviewing a new patient who presents some symptoms of depression. The patient reports recent changes such as diminished functioning, marked weight gain, early morning awakening, fatigue, inability to concentrate, suicidal thoughts and headaches. The patient mentions that he started a new medication for a medical condition three weeks ago. The worker would first: a. arrange a psychiatric consultation in order to have an anti-depressant prescribed b. ascertain the prescribed medication and investigate its side-effects c. proceed with a thorough psychosocial history and precipitating events d. hospitalize this patient until the suicidal ideation passes ascertain the prescribed medication and investigate its side-effects A social worker is utilizing environmental manipulation as a technique when he/she: a. represents the agency at a health and welfare council meeting b. uses a psychosocial framework c. suggests the use of psychoactive medications d. helps the client find more satisfying employment in a supportive environment helps the client find more satisfying employment in a supportive environment A diagnosis of Schizophreniform Disorder is generally applied to clients whose psychotic symptoms: a. are related to substance abuse b. are very long term c. show a marked and continuing decline in functioning d. are similar to those of schizophrenia and have existed more than one month, but less than six months. are similar to those of schizophrenia and have existed more than one month, but less than six months. A 15 year old female patient at a mental health clinic complains that for the past three weeks she has been uncharacteristically angry and irritable and has had difficulty concentrating on school work. She says that she feels "down in the dumps". Her appetite has diminished and though weighing 120 pounds a month earlier, she has lost 9 pounds. She has difficulty sleeping and has withdrawn from after school activities that she had previously found interesting and enjoyable. During the interview she seems constantly in motion, rising several times and walking around the room before returning to her chair. It is most likely that she is suffering from: a. a drug induced depression b. a somatoform disorder c. a depressive episode d. an adolescent behavior disorder a depressive episode The policy of providing Permanency Planning refers to: a. children who are at risk of removal or are removed from their own homes b. the development of a plan through which abused and neglected children will be assured of a stable family situation throughout childhood c. a stable foster care plan for children removed from their homes d. the use of adoption for children at risk the development of a plan through which abused and neglected children will be assured of a stable family situation throughout childhood DSM IV permits certain diagnoses for mental disorders to be made, even though the diagnosis does not totally fit DSM IV criterion. These diagnoses are normally modified by the word: a. revised b. provisional c. temporary d. latent provisional A social worker and his agency supervisor are sued for malpractice by the family of a teen age boy who made several attempts at suicide and finally succeeded in killing himself. Which statement best reflects the supervisor's legal status in this lawsuit? a. Since the supervisor was not the direct clinician and had never personally treated the youth, she is not liable for any negligent actions committed by others in the agency. b. The supervisor shares vicarious legal liability and is responsible for carefully monitoring and evaluating the status of every case under treatment by her supervisees, and for keeping records concerning the supervisee's work on the case. c. The agency is the only legally liable party and the workers are not individually responsible. d. In cases such as these, parents often believe that a finding of negligence on the part of the clinician will reduce their sense of loss and failure. The laws The supervisor shares vicarious legal liability and is responsible for carefully monitoring and evaluating the status of every case under treatment by her supervisees, and for keeping records concerning the supervisee's work on the case. c. The agency is the only legally liable party and the workers are not individually responsible. A patient presents at an ambulatory care facility and is in obvious psychological distress, showing severe anxiety and paranoia. The clinician is unable to determine the exact configuration of the patient's symptoms, but is certain that it is an Anxiety Disorder. The worker is unable to determine if the is order is primary, caused by the patient's severe kidney disease or related to other factors such as the patient's continuing substance abuse. The most likely DSM IV diagnosis is; a. Anxiety Disorder, with generalized anxiety b. Anxiety Disorder, undifferentiated c. Anxiety Disorder, NOS d. Anxiety Disorder, provisional Anxiety Disorder, NOS A school social worker interviews a 15 year old male student with an IQ of 70. Though assigned to slower classes, the student maintains social relationships and is able to respond appropriately to teachers and class mates. His school work is within the range that would be expected for his recorded IQ. He can read somewhat below grade level. and is able to do very basic arithmetic. He is also able to follow instructions and is generally amiable in responding to coaching and correction. In developing a plan with this student and the family, the social worker would: a. plan for eventual supervised residence in a facility for the mentally disabled b. establish a plan that includes vocational preparation and that will eventually lead to independent living. c. emphasize vocational achievement in the near term d. provide coaching and tutoring to improve his reading establish a plan that includes vocational preparation and that will eventually lead to independent living. A DSM IV diagnosis of a specific disorder generally includes a criterion of: a. a clinically significant impairment, or distress in a social, occupational, or other important area. b. a description that includes an identifiable etiology c. distress that exceeds 6 weeks d. no medical involvement a clinically significant impairment, or distress in a social, occupational, or other important area. A DSM IV diagnosis: a. provides sufficient information for developing a treatment plan b. ends the treatment planning process c. is insufficient by itself for treatment planning d. is an early or intermediate step in the treatment planning process. is an early or intermediate step in the treatment planning process. A DSM IV diagnosis often includes a specifier or suffix to delineate the severity of the disorder. The usual specifier is: a. mild, moderate or severe b. in partial remission c. in full remission d. prior history mild, moderate or severe A client begins treatment with a social worker and tells the social worker that he must promise never to involuntarily hospitalize him no matter how depressed or suicidal he may seem. The underlying ethical principle that determines the social worker's response is: a. The obligation to start where the client is b. The expectation that the client has good reasons to raise this issue. c. The need to do what is necessary to keep a severely ill client from ending treatment. d. Never to make a promise that is in conflict with legal and ethical requirements. Never to make a promise that is in conflict with legal and ethical requirements. A social worker who attempts to impose her judgments on clients is most likely to elicit clients': a. acquiescence b. cooperation c. resistance d. appreciation resistance In a first interview, a worker observes that the client moves slowly, with stooped posture, talks slowly and in a lifeless way, lacks spontaneity, and shows little change in facial expression as they discuss the client's problem. The worker would most likely suspect: a. depression b. a manic stage c. anxiety d. delusional thinking depression In a first session at an HMO mental health clinic with a couple who want to address marital problems, the wife complains that the biggest problem in their marriage is the husband's nasty temper. The worker's best response is: a. can you tell me more about this problem? b. you done anything that might provoke his anger? c. at our session today he doesn't seem to have a problem with self control. d. to ask the husband if he wishes to discuss his problems with his temper can you tell me more about this problem? A social worker at a health center is working with a young adolescent group concerned with drug and alcohol prevention. The social worker is uneasy about conflicts within the group and is fearful that they may interfere with group process. The worker's supervisor might initially: a. seek to delineate and resolve the worker's personal history with regard to conflict b. communicate support, indicating that controversy and conflict may be normal and natural means for resolving issues c. inquire about the concerns of the worker and reflect back the issues without resolving them d. suggest that the worker not reach any conclusions and bring in any issues which might arise communicate support, indicating that controversy and conflict may be normal and natural means for resolving issues Children who suffer physical, mental or emotional injuries inflicted by caretaking adults are commonly termed: a. children of poverty b. abused or neglected children c. developmentally masochistic d. victims abused or neglected children Under most state laws, mental health professionals must alert child welfare agencies or other lawful authorities to: a. suspicion of child abuse b. evidence of child sexual abuse c. imminent threats to a child d. child custody battles suspicion of child abuse A supervisor wants to observe a supervisee's client interview through a two way mirror. Because the supervisor is a professional staff member with overall responsibility for all cases in treatment by staff, the worker would: a. not need to obtain the client's informed consent since the observation's purpose is supervision b. not have to obtain informed consent of the client, since such consent is given when clients sign a release form for information at intake c. have to obtain the client's informed consent on the observation and its use d. have to obtain informed consent only if the session is to be recorded have to obtain the client's informed consent on the observation and its use A social worker is conducting a small counseling group. The members seem to have some difficulty in beginning. A statement the worker would not make is: a. In what way can I help you to begin? b. Who might like to begin? c. It's sometimes difficult to begin d. It seems hard to begin today In what way can I help you to begin? A hospital patient is referred to social services after she complains of insufficient money for food. After talking with the patient, the worker's diagnosis is that the patient, although from a low income family, is not indigent. She seems to consistently have difficulties managing money and does not appear to handle her funds appropriately. Her diet appears nutritionally adequate. The worker's most suitable action would be to: a. help the patient obtain assistance from a casework agency for help with money management b. provide continuing casework treatment through the hospital social service department to insure that her diet remains adequate c. suggest to the patient that she apply to the public welfare agency to determine eligibility for public assistance d. reassure the patient that her income can be made to cover her essential needs help the patient obtain assistance from a casework agency for help with money management A social worker using a psychosocial casework approach is not likely to: a. consider the client-worker relationship to be a basic therapeutic tool b. rely on psychiatric diagnostic-classifications c. be concerned with the client's interaction with the environment d. frequently use novel, unconventional treatments frequently use novel, unconventional treatments The process of assessment is the task of the: a. social worker b. client c. social worker and the client d. agency psychiatrist social worker and the client