ANSA Mental Health & Substance Use Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On the ANSA rating scale, a score of '2' for a mental health item means the assessor should:
- Document the finding and monitor at next review
- Take immediate action to address this need (Correct answer)
- Discharge the individual from services
- Consult a psychiatrist before proceeding
Correct answer: Take immediate action to address this need
A rating of 2 on the ANSA indicates the need requires action in the current service plan.
Question 2: An adult reports drinking four to five beers nightly and states it does not affect his job performance. How should this be rated on the ANSA Alcohol Use item?
- 0 — no evidence of a problem
- 1 — mild concern, watch and monitor
- 2 — action needed in the service plan (Correct answer)
- 3 — immediate action required
Correct answer: 2 — action needed in the service plan
Daily heavy alcohol use that the individual minimizes still meets criteria for action (rating 2) because it poses significant health and safety risk.
Question 3: Which ANSA domain specifically addresses an individual's history of traumatic experiences and their ongoing impact on functioning?
- Affect Dysregulation
- Adjustment to Trauma (Correct answer)
- Impulse Control
- Psychosis
Correct answer: Adjustment to Trauma
The Adjustment to Trauma item captures how well an individual has adapted to and recovered from past traumatic experiences.
Question 4: A clinician rates a client's 'Cognitive Functioning' as 3 on the ANSA. This indicates the client:
- Has mild memory lapses that do not interfere with daily tasks
- Requires periodic prompting to complete routine activities
- Has cognitive impairment so severe it creates immediate safety concerns (Correct answer)
- Shows age-appropriate cognitive decline with no functional impact
Correct answer: Has cognitive impairment so severe it creates immediate safety concerns
A rating of 3 on any ANSA item signals an immediate, safety-level need requiring urgent intervention.
Question 5: When assessing substance use on the ANSA, which factor most directly influences whether use is rated a 1 versus a 2?
- The specific substance being used
- Whether the use disrupts functioning or poses safety risk (Correct answer)
- The individual's stated motivation to change
- The number of substances used concurrently
Correct answer: Whether the use disrupts functioning or poses safety risk
The distinction between ratings 1 and 2 hinges on functional impairment and safety risk, not merely the type or number of substances.
Question 6: Which statement best describes the purpose of including 'Strengths' domains in an ANSA assessment that also covers mental health needs?
- Strengths scores are averaged with needs scores to produce a total risk level
- Identifying strengths provides a foundation for building an individualized service plan (Correct answer)
- Strengths domains are optional and rarely used in clinical practice
- Documenting strengths satisfies a billing requirement unrelated to planning
Correct answer: Identifying strengths provides a foundation for building an individualized service plan
ANSA strengths are actionable assets that clinicians leverage when designing treatment and recovery plans.
Question 7: An individual discloses occasional marijuana use with no reported functional impairment and expresses a desire to reduce use. What is the most appropriate ANSA Substance Use rating?
- 0 — no current need identified
- 1 — mild concern, watch and monitor (Correct answer)
- 2 — action needed
- 3 — immediate intervention required
Correct answer: 1 — mild concern, watch and monitor
Mild, self-monitored use with expressed motivation to change but no functional impairment is best captured as a rating of 1 (watch and monitor).
ANSA Mental Health & Substance Use Assessment 2
On the ANSA rating scale, a score of '2' for a mental health item means the assessor should: