ASWB LCSW EXAM DIAGNOSES STUDY GUIDE
avoidant personality disorder - Answers - -sensitive to criticism/rejection
-feel inadequate/inferior
-avoidance of interpersonal contact/relationships
-shyness in social situations/relationships
-fear of disapproval, embarrassment
-want to have relationships but too anxious to engage
*low self-esteem/self-worth; distorted self image
social anxiety disorder - Answers - -anxious ab social situations/environment itself &
how they will do in that environment
-fear they may be judged negatively
*can have a solid self-esteem
generalized anxiety disorder - Answers - -excessive anxieties and worries occur more
days than not for at least 6 months
-anxiety/worry accompanied by at least 3:
-edginess/restlessness, impaired concentration, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability,
increased muscle ache/soreness
unspecified depressive disorder - Answers - -lighter impact than MDD, doesn't meet full
criteria
-less than 2 weeks of depressive symptoms
paranoid personality disorder - Answers - -distrust/suspicion of others and their motives
-unforgiving, idea others are demeaning them, aggressive outbursts, doubting loyalty,
reluctant to confide in people, hold grudges, pervasive distrust
EX: Hitler & Stalin
schizoid personality disorder - Answers - -detachment from social relationships and
restricted range of emotional expression, don't enjoy most activities, cold/indifferent
-loner/isolated, little or no sexual desires
EX: Squidward
schizotypal personality disorder - Answers - -don't engage socially bc paranoid of social
contacts, cognitive distortions,
-odd/eccentric dress, thinking, and beliefs
-flat, paranormal or superstitious beliefs
-belief that certain causal incidents have hidden messages meant only for you
ex: Willy Wonka
, reactive attachment disorder - Answers - consistent pattern of emotionally withdrawn
behavior toward adult categories
rumination disorder - Answers - disorder in which they re-chew food already swallowed
PICA - Answers - disorder of eating food with no nutritional value
-soil, dirt, hair, paper, etc
conversion disorder - Answers - suffering from physical symptoms that are experienced
but have no physical basis or explanation
false imputation (malingering) - Answers - ascribing real symptoms to a cause a client
knows is unrelated to the symptoms
-schizophrenic on LAI goes to hospital on hot day for AVH
pure malingering - Answers - feigning a nonexistent disorder for external gain/benefit
partial malingering - Answers - exaggeration of existing symptoms for external
gain/benefit
haphephobia - Answers - fear or being touched
acrophobia (ack-roh-FOH-bee-ah) - Answers - fear of heights
algophobia - Answers - fear of pain
nocturia - Answers - bed wetting
antisocial personality disorder - Answers - -indifference and manipulation
-violating law & rights/safety of others
-problems w the law
-aggressive/violent behavior
-use charm to exploit/harm others
-strong lack of remorse, no empathy
-conduct disorder is usually a precursor
-occurring since age 15 years
EX: The Joker from Batman
somatic symptom disorder - Answers - -symptoms are extremely troubling & interfere
with everyday functioning, excessive worry about symptoms
-no specific number of symptoms required
premenstrual dysphoric disorder - Answers - -symptoms must occur in final week before
onset of menses
-symptoms must be minimal/absent in the week after menses
avoidant personality disorder - Answers - -sensitive to criticism/rejection
-feel inadequate/inferior
-avoidance of interpersonal contact/relationships
-shyness in social situations/relationships
-fear of disapproval, embarrassment
-want to have relationships but too anxious to engage
*low self-esteem/self-worth; distorted self image
social anxiety disorder - Answers - -anxious ab social situations/environment itself &
how they will do in that environment
-fear they may be judged negatively
*can have a solid self-esteem
generalized anxiety disorder - Answers - -excessive anxieties and worries occur more
days than not for at least 6 months
-anxiety/worry accompanied by at least 3:
-edginess/restlessness, impaired concentration, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability,
increased muscle ache/soreness
unspecified depressive disorder - Answers - -lighter impact than MDD, doesn't meet full
criteria
-less than 2 weeks of depressive symptoms
paranoid personality disorder - Answers - -distrust/suspicion of others and their motives
-unforgiving, idea others are demeaning them, aggressive outbursts, doubting loyalty,
reluctant to confide in people, hold grudges, pervasive distrust
EX: Hitler & Stalin
schizoid personality disorder - Answers - -detachment from social relationships and
restricted range of emotional expression, don't enjoy most activities, cold/indifferent
-loner/isolated, little or no sexual desires
EX: Squidward
schizotypal personality disorder - Answers - -don't engage socially bc paranoid of social
contacts, cognitive distortions,
-odd/eccentric dress, thinking, and beliefs
-flat, paranormal or superstitious beliefs
-belief that certain causal incidents have hidden messages meant only for you
ex: Willy Wonka
, reactive attachment disorder - Answers - consistent pattern of emotionally withdrawn
behavior toward adult categories
rumination disorder - Answers - disorder in which they re-chew food already swallowed
PICA - Answers - disorder of eating food with no nutritional value
-soil, dirt, hair, paper, etc
conversion disorder - Answers - suffering from physical symptoms that are experienced
but have no physical basis or explanation
false imputation (malingering) - Answers - ascribing real symptoms to a cause a client
knows is unrelated to the symptoms
-schizophrenic on LAI goes to hospital on hot day for AVH
pure malingering - Answers - feigning a nonexistent disorder for external gain/benefit
partial malingering - Answers - exaggeration of existing symptoms for external
gain/benefit
haphephobia - Answers - fear or being touched
acrophobia (ack-roh-FOH-bee-ah) - Answers - fear of heights
algophobia - Answers - fear of pain
nocturia - Answers - bed wetting
antisocial personality disorder - Answers - -indifference and manipulation
-violating law & rights/safety of others
-problems w the law
-aggressive/violent behavior
-use charm to exploit/harm others
-strong lack of remorse, no empathy
-conduct disorder is usually a precursor
-occurring since age 15 years
EX: The Joker from Batman
somatic symptom disorder - Answers - -symptoms are extremely troubling & interfere
with everyday functioning, excessive worry about symptoms
-no specific number of symptoms required
premenstrual dysphoric disorder - Answers - -symptoms must occur in final week before
onset of menses
-symptoms must be minimal/absent in the week after menses
