CIC Crisis Evaluation & Response Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When conducting a lethality assessment, which factor most significantly elevates suicide risk?
- Vague ideation without a plan
- A specific plan with access to lethal means (Correct answer)
- Expressing sadness and hopelessness
- History of prior therapy
Correct answer: A specific plan with access to lethal means
A specific, detailed plan combined with access to lethal means represents the highest level of imminent suicide risk.
Question 2: The SAD PERSONS scale is used primarily to assess risk for which crisis type?
- Domestic violence escalation
- Suicide (Correct answer)
- Acute psychosis
- Substance overdose
Correct answer: Suicide
SAD PERSONS is a mnemonic-based assessment tool specifically designed to evaluate suicide risk factors.
Question 3: A crisis counselor is evaluating a client who experienced a sudden job loss. Which response best reflects a strength-based crisis evaluation approach?
- Focus exclusively on the client's distress symptoms
- Identify past coping successes and current support resources (Correct answer)
- Refer immediately to a psychiatrist without further assessment
- Minimize the loss to reduce client anxiety
Correct answer: Identify past coping successes and current support resources
Strength-based evaluation identifies existing resilience and supports to inform an effective response plan.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'precipitating event' in crisis evaluation?
- The client's long-standing personality traits
- A specific trigger that pushed the person beyond their coping threshold (Correct answer)
- The counselor's initial intervention technique
- The diagnosis assigned during the crisis intake
Correct answer: A specific trigger that pushed the person beyond their coping threshold
A precipitating event is the immediate stressor or trigger that destabilized the individual's equilibrium.
Question 5: During a crisis evaluation, a client states they have a gun at home but denies any intent to use it. The counselor should:
- Accept the denial and proceed with standard supportive counseling
- Assess means restriction and explore safe storage or removal options (Correct answer)
- End the session and contact police immediately without further assessment
- Document the statement but take no further action
Correct answer: Assess means restriction and explore safe storage or removal options
Even without stated intent, access to lethal means warrants means restriction counseling as part of safety planning.
Question 6: Which triage level in crisis response indicates that a client requires immediate hospitalization or emergency intervention?
- Level I — Minimal distress
- Level II — Moderate crisis
- Level III — Severe crisis with imminent danger (Correct answer)
- Level IV — Stabilized client in follow-up
Correct answer: Level III — Severe crisis with imminent danger
Level III triage indicates imminent danger to self or others, requiring immediate intensive intervention or hospitalization.
Question 7: A counselor notices a client's affect is flat and they respond in monosyllables during crisis evaluation. This observation is best documented as:
- Client is uncooperative and resistant
- Client shows restricted affect and limited verbal output (Correct answer)
- Client is cognitively impaired
- Client has antisocial tendencies
Correct answer: Client shows restricted affect and limited verbal output
Accurate clinical documentation describes observable behavioral signs rather than interpretive labels.
CIC Crisis Evaluation & Response Planning 2
When conducting a lethality assessment, which factor most significantly elevates suicide risk?