Social Work Licensure Practice Exam
Questions with Correct Answers
While mental disturbances exhibit many different features and behaviors, there are
some problems that seem to coexist with diagnoses of major depression, PTSD and
Substance Abuse Disorders. Which feature listed below is MOST likely to coexist
with the diagnoses of major depression, PTSD, and substance abuse disorders? -
ANSWER-sleep disturbances
A definition of a mental disorder in a DSM-5 diagnostic assessment requires -
ANSWER-a clinically significant impairment or distress that may be supported by
observations of friends, coworkers, or relatives.
In assessing risk factors for alcohol dependence among adolescents, the social
worker would be most interested in - ANSWER-a biological family history of alcohol
abuse
A 70-year-old woman cares for her chronically ill 77-year-old husband at home. He
has degenerative disease that will eventually make him totally dependent on her
care. She also has a chronic heart condition and fears that she cannot care for him
too much longer. In counseling her and helping her plan for her chronically ill
husband, a social worker would seek to - ANSWER-help her assess and identify the
range of choices that are available to her and her husband, such as home care and
residential care.
a 9-year-old boy lives at home with his remarried mother, stepfather, and 3-year-old
half-sister. The boy is sometimes ignored and mistreated by both his mother and
stepfather. The treatment does not rise to the level of severe abuse, but the situation
is worsening and the boy is beginning to show signs of emotional disturbance. the
stepfather seems to resent the boy's presence in the home and has little insight into
his own behavior. Both parents claim they do not want the boy removed from the
home. Which strategy should the child welfare worker recommend for the boys'
welfare FIRST? - ANSWER-Temporary foster home placement to prevent further
mistreatment, while the parents receive treatment
A client, who is a talented computer programmer, believes that he is so valuable to
his firm that he will be promoted soon to the senior staff and asked to advise the
board on strategic policy. At the same time, he is certain that some recent problems
at work are attributable to his supervisor. He has no concrete evidence to support
either of his beliefs. He believes his supervisor is not giving him sufficient credit, and
is belittling his skills and contributions in discussions with senior officers of the
company. He also suspects that his supervisor enters mistakes into his programs to
disturb his professional reputation. The MOST likely diagnosis for this client would be
- ANSWER-paranoid personality disorder
, Basic to a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder, as distinguished from a diagnosis
of schizophrenia, is that - ANSWER-the duration of the illness is always less than six
months
A 25-year-old client developed a marked fear of being alone in public places from
which there is no handy exit- subways, tunnels, bridges, crowds. Her fear has lasted
more than 2 years. As a result she has restricted her usual activities unless
accompanied by a "safe" friend. Most of the time, her avoidance behaviors
determine and shape her mobility, and require adjustments by family members. This
client is struggling with - ANSWER-agoraphobia
Of the following, the most characteristic trait of obsessive-compulsive personality
disorder is - ANSWER-ambivalence
The factor that is LEAST necessary to assess ego functioning is - ANSWER-
education
The voluntary production and presentation of false or grossly exaggerated physical
or psychological symptoms in pursuit of a goal that is obviously recognizable is
called - ANSWER-malingering
An unmarried mother refuses to reveal the name of the child's father, but wishes to
relinquish the child for adoption. Recent court cases have created precedents that
could jeopardize a legal adoption if the father's approval is not sought. Moreover,
knowledge of the father's background is important for health reasons. The
caseworker decides to FIRST - ANSWER-provide psychoeducation around the value
of giving this information to the agency
A 24-year-old client had seen the "best" specialists for her many physical symptoms
over the past 10 years. She even went to see an allegy specialist for her "puffy
eyelids." She could not keep track of her illnesses, doctors, and medicines but was
resigned to being sickly. This kept her from forming attachments and advancing in
her job. She could be diagnosed with having - ANSWER-a somatic symptom
disorder
According to the DSM-5, the diagnostic criterion for a schizophrenic disorder must
include - ANSWER-continuous duration of symptoms for at least six months
A 21-year-old client was brought in for treatment by her family after 10 days of
exhibiting an elevated mood where she called old friends at all hours, insomnia, flight
of ideas, grandiosity, and nonstop energy. She was also occasionally irritable and
hypersensitive to criticism. Substance abuse was not involved. The MOST likely
reasoning for this behavior is - ANSWER-manic episode
The diagnosis for a patient who is isolated, displays extreme purposeless
negativism, is usually mute and assumes a rigid posture when moved, is MOST
likely - ANSWER-catatonic
A middle-aged woman complains of a recent lack of general motivation, lethargy,
and feelings of frustration and hopelessness. She says she is usually upbeat and
Questions with Correct Answers
While mental disturbances exhibit many different features and behaviors, there are
some problems that seem to coexist with diagnoses of major depression, PTSD and
Substance Abuse Disorders. Which feature listed below is MOST likely to coexist
with the diagnoses of major depression, PTSD, and substance abuse disorders? -
ANSWER-sleep disturbances
A definition of a mental disorder in a DSM-5 diagnostic assessment requires -
ANSWER-a clinically significant impairment or distress that may be supported by
observations of friends, coworkers, or relatives.
In assessing risk factors for alcohol dependence among adolescents, the social
worker would be most interested in - ANSWER-a biological family history of alcohol
abuse
A 70-year-old woman cares for her chronically ill 77-year-old husband at home. He
has degenerative disease that will eventually make him totally dependent on her
care. She also has a chronic heart condition and fears that she cannot care for him
too much longer. In counseling her and helping her plan for her chronically ill
husband, a social worker would seek to - ANSWER-help her assess and identify the
range of choices that are available to her and her husband, such as home care and
residential care.
a 9-year-old boy lives at home with his remarried mother, stepfather, and 3-year-old
half-sister. The boy is sometimes ignored and mistreated by both his mother and
stepfather. The treatment does not rise to the level of severe abuse, but the situation
is worsening and the boy is beginning to show signs of emotional disturbance. the
stepfather seems to resent the boy's presence in the home and has little insight into
his own behavior. Both parents claim they do not want the boy removed from the
home. Which strategy should the child welfare worker recommend for the boys'
welfare FIRST? - ANSWER-Temporary foster home placement to prevent further
mistreatment, while the parents receive treatment
A client, who is a talented computer programmer, believes that he is so valuable to
his firm that he will be promoted soon to the senior staff and asked to advise the
board on strategic policy. At the same time, he is certain that some recent problems
at work are attributable to his supervisor. He has no concrete evidence to support
either of his beliefs. He believes his supervisor is not giving him sufficient credit, and
is belittling his skills and contributions in discussions with senior officers of the
company. He also suspects that his supervisor enters mistakes into his programs to
disturb his professional reputation. The MOST likely diagnosis for this client would be
- ANSWER-paranoid personality disorder
, Basic to a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder, as distinguished from a diagnosis
of schizophrenia, is that - ANSWER-the duration of the illness is always less than six
months
A 25-year-old client developed a marked fear of being alone in public places from
which there is no handy exit- subways, tunnels, bridges, crowds. Her fear has lasted
more than 2 years. As a result she has restricted her usual activities unless
accompanied by a "safe" friend. Most of the time, her avoidance behaviors
determine and shape her mobility, and require adjustments by family members. This
client is struggling with - ANSWER-agoraphobia
Of the following, the most characteristic trait of obsessive-compulsive personality
disorder is - ANSWER-ambivalence
The factor that is LEAST necessary to assess ego functioning is - ANSWER-
education
The voluntary production and presentation of false or grossly exaggerated physical
or psychological symptoms in pursuit of a goal that is obviously recognizable is
called - ANSWER-malingering
An unmarried mother refuses to reveal the name of the child's father, but wishes to
relinquish the child for adoption. Recent court cases have created precedents that
could jeopardize a legal adoption if the father's approval is not sought. Moreover,
knowledge of the father's background is important for health reasons. The
caseworker decides to FIRST - ANSWER-provide psychoeducation around the value
of giving this information to the agency
A 24-year-old client had seen the "best" specialists for her many physical symptoms
over the past 10 years. She even went to see an allegy specialist for her "puffy
eyelids." She could not keep track of her illnesses, doctors, and medicines but was
resigned to being sickly. This kept her from forming attachments and advancing in
her job. She could be diagnosed with having - ANSWER-a somatic symptom
disorder
According to the DSM-5, the diagnostic criterion for a schizophrenic disorder must
include - ANSWER-continuous duration of symptoms for at least six months
A 21-year-old client was brought in for treatment by her family after 10 days of
exhibiting an elevated mood where she called old friends at all hours, insomnia, flight
of ideas, grandiosity, and nonstop energy. She was also occasionally irritable and
hypersensitive to criticism. Substance abuse was not involved. The MOST likely
reasoning for this behavior is - ANSWER-manic episode
The diagnosis for a patient who is isolated, displays extreme purposeless
negativism, is usually mute and assumes a rigid posture when moved, is MOST
likely - ANSWER-catatonic
A middle-aged woman complains of a recent lack of general motivation, lethargy,
and feelings of frustration and hopelessness. She says she is usually upbeat and
