MSW LICENSING EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Paradoxical - Correct Answers -prescribing the symptom
meta message - Correct Answers -meaning the comes through between the lines;
determined by relationship, context, timing & purpose
ego dystonic - Correct Answers -values, personality traits & behaviors of an individual
that are considered inconsistent with self-perception
delirium - Correct Answers -a syndrome or cluster of symptoms;
loss of cognitive functioning such as clear thinking, reasoning & orientation (often
temporary)
no hallucinations or delusions
Triangulation - Correct Answers -action of bringing another individual into a situation to
act as an ally or distractor when an individual feels powerless or misunderstood
Unconditional Positive Regard - Correct Answers -concept of seeing the client as worthy
of respect and dignity regardless of their actions or stated beliefs;
paramount component of social worker's professional behavior & ethical conduct
Zero-based Budgeting - Correct Answers -budget is developed from scratch;
not related to previous budgets
delusions - Correct Answers -beliefs that are psychotic, including delusions of grandeur
& persecution
assimilation - Correct Answers -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 - Correct Answers -symptoms of dementia; individuals can't name or recognize
objects
acrophobia - Correct Answers -fear of heights
,Olfactory Hallucination - Correct Answers -an imagined smell
delusion - Correct Answers -false belief rigidly held even with contra-evidence & reason
hallucinations - Correct Answers -a perception without an accompanying external reality
example: seeing an elephant in the room
abreaction - Correct Answers -repressed memories of a painful event or conflict are
restored to consciousness; it is relived with appropriate emotional content
projection - Correct Answers -disowning aspects of self by assigning them to other
people
example: paranoia
retroffection - Correct Answers -doing to oneself what one wants to do to others
example: redirecting anger you have for someone else inward
confluence - Correct Answers -absence of boundaries between self & environment,
causing intolerance of any differences between oneself & environment
often underlies feelings of guilt & resentment
independent variable - Correct Answers -the item that is thought to influence or cause a
behavior or outcome
What is therapeutic approach in mental health research an example of? - Correct
Answers -independent variable
dependent variable - Correct Answers -outcome or behavior thought to be caused or
influenced by the independent variable
mortality - Correct Answers -loss of research participants during the course of a study
Hawthorne Effect - Correct Answers -when subjects behave differently than they
normally do because they know they are being observed for research
assessments - Correct Answers -provides basis for treatment planning;
should be on-going process
identifies cl's strengths & resources
should include internal & external experiences
an assessment should include: - Correct Answers -cognitive & emotional functioning
motivation
cultural norms
percent of acculturation
problem-solving skills
, health
support system
Somatoform Disorders - Correct Answers -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 - Correct Answers -excessive anxiety & worry about many
things;
persists for minimum of 6 months
significant impairment
onset before 30 years
Acute Stress Disorder - Correct Answers -PTSD-like symptoms
immediately follows exposure to traumatic event
lasts 2 days - 4 weeks
PTSD - Correct Answers -repeatedly re-experiences traumatic event with increased
arousal; avoids internal & external stimuli that are reminiscent of trauma
minimum of 1 month
Panic Attack - Correct Answers -period of intense fear/discomfort that peaks within 10
min.
Dysthymic Disorder - Correct Answers -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 - Correct Answers -first referral is to a medical doctor
Alcoholism treatment - Correct Answers -medical referral first
therapy to increase responsible behavior
Medication classes used to treat depressive disorders - Correct Answers -MAOI's,
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI's), selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRI's)
Pervasive Development Disorders - Correct Answers -severe impairment in social
interaction & communication skills; repetitive and nonfunctional behavior
Autistic Disorder, Rhett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's
Disorder
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Paradoxical - Correct Answers -prescribing the symptom
meta message - Correct Answers -meaning the comes through between the lines;
determined by relationship, context, timing & purpose
ego dystonic - Correct Answers -values, personality traits & behaviors of an individual
that are considered inconsistent with self-perception
delirium - Correct Answers -a syndrome or cluster of symptoms;
loss of cognitive functioning such as clear thinking, reasoning & orientation (often
temporary)
no hallucinations or delusions
Triangulation - Correct Answers -action of bringing another individual into a situation to
act as an ally or distractor when an individual feels powerless or misunderstood
Unconditional Positive Regard - Correct Answers -concept of seeing the client as worthy
of respect and dignity regardless of their actions or stated beliefs;
paramount component of social worker's professional behavior & ethical conduct
Zero-based Budgeting - Correct Answers -budget is developed from scratch;
not related to previous budgets
delusions - Correct Answers -beliefs that are psychotic, including delusions of grandeur
& persecution
assimilation - Correct Answers -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 - Correct Answers -symptoms of dementia; individuals can't name or recognize
objects
acrophobia - Correct Answers -fear of heights
,Olfactory Hallucination - Correct Answers -an imagined smell
delusion - Correct Answers -false belief rigidly held even with contra-evidence & reason
hallucinations - Correct Answers -a perception without an accompanying external reality
example: seeing an elephant in the room
abreaction - Correct Answers -repressed memories of a painful event or conflict are
restored to consciousness; it is relived with appropriate emotional content
projection - Correct Answers -disowning aspects of self by assigning them to other
people
example: paranoia
retroffection - Correct Answers -doing to oneself what one wants to do to others
example: redirecting anger you have for someone else inward
confluence - Correct Answers -absence of boundaries between self & environment,
causing intolerance of any differences between oneself & environment
often underlies feelings of guilt & resentment
independent variable - Correct Answers -the item that is thought to influence or cause a
behavior or outcome
What is therapeutic approach in mental health research an example of? - Correct
Answers -independent variable
dependent variable - Correct Answers -outcome or behavior thought to be caused or
influenced by the independent variable
mortality - Correct Answers -loss of research participants during the course of a study
Hawthorne Effect - Correct Answers -when subjects behave differently than they
normally do because they know they are being observed for research
assessments - Correct Answers -provides basis for treatment planning;
should be on-going process
identifies cl's strengths & resources
should include internal & external experiences
an assessment should include: - Correct Answers -cognitive & emotional functioning
motivation
cultural norms
percent of acculturation
problem-solving skills
, health
support system
Somatoform Disorders - Correct Answers -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 - Correct Answers -excessive anxiety & worry about many
things;
persists for minimum of 6 months
significant impairment
onset before 30 years
Acute Stress Disorder - Correct Answers -PTSD-like symptoms
immediately follows exposure to traumatic event
lasts 2 days - 4 weeks
PTSD - Correct Answers -repeatedly re-experiences traumatic event with increased
arousal; avoids internal & external stimuli that are reminiscent of trauma
minimum of 1 month
Panic Attack - Correct Answers -period of intense fear/discomfort that peaks within 10
min.
Dysthymic Disorder - Correct Answers -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 - Correct Answers -first referral is to a medical doctor
Alcoholism treatment - Correct Answers -medical referral first
therapy to increase responsible behavior
Medication classes used to treat depressive disorders - Correct Answers -MAOI's,
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI's), selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRI's)
Pervasive Development Disorders - Correct Answers -severe impairment in social
interaction & communication skills; repetitive and nonfunctional behavior
Autistic Disorder, Rhett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's
Disorder
