LCSW Crisis Intervention and Risk Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of crisis intervention?
- Provide long-term psychotherapy
- Restore the individual to pre-crisis functioning (Correct answer)
- Diagnose the underlying mental health disorder
- Arrange inpatient psychiatric treatment
Correct answer: Restore the individual to pre-crisis functioning
Crisis intervention aims to stabilize the client and restore them to their previous level of functioning as quickly as possible.
Question 2: Which crisis intervention model consists of seven stages including assessment, ensuring client safety, and providing support?
- Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model (Correct answer)
- Caplan's Developmental Crisis Model
- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Model
- The ABC Model of Crisis Intervention
Correct answer: Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model
Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model is the most widely used framework in social work, progressing from assessment through follow-up.
Question 3: A client presents in crisis after an unexpected job loss. What is the social worker's FIRST priority?
- Explore childhood trauma contributing to the crisis
- Assess for immediate safety and suicide risk (Correct answer)
- Schedule a series of follow-up appointments
- Contact the client's former employer
Correct answer: Assess for immediate safety and suicide risk
Safety assessment is always the first priority in crisis intervention before addressing other psychological or practical concerns.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a 'situational crisis'?
- A crisis resulting from a predictable developmental transition
- A crisis caused by an unexpected external event (Correct answer)
- A crisis stemming from a scheduled life milestone
- A crisis related to a chronic mental health condition
Correct answer: A crisis caused by an unexpected external event
Situational crises are caused by unexpected or extraordinary external events such as accidents, natural disasters, or sudden losses.
Question 5: When conducting a suicide risk assessment, which mnemonic is commonly used to identify key warning signs?
- CAGE
- IS PATH WARM (Correct answer)
- PHQ-9
- GAF
Correct answer: IS PATH WARM
IS PATH WARM (Ideation, Substance abuse, Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopelessness, Withdrawal, Anger, Recklessness, Mood changes) is a widely used suicide warning sign tool endorsed by the American Association of Suicidology.
Question 6: In crisis intervention, what does 'psychological first aid' primarily focus on?
- Administering psychiatric medication on an emergency basis
- Reducing immediate distress and fostering adaptive functioning (Correct answer)
- Conducting comprehensive mental health diagnostic assessments
- Establishing a therapeutic alliance for long-term treatment
Correct answer: Reducing immediate distress and fostering adaptive functioning
Psychological first aid aims to reduce initial distress and promote short-term and long-term adaptive functioning immediately following crises or disasters.
Question 7: A client calls and reports suicidal ideation with a specific, detailed plan. What is the MOST appropriate immediate response?
- Schedule an appointment for the next available opening
- Encourage the client to call back only if the urge intensifies
- Initiate safety planning and coordinate emergency services if needed (Correct answer)
- Refer the client to a psychiatrist for medication evaluation only
Correct answer: Initiate safety planning and coordinate emergency services if needed
When a client presents with a specific suicidal plan, the social worker must immediately initiate safety planning and may need to involve emergency services to ensure the client's safety.
LCSW Crisis Intervention and Risk Assessment 1
What is the primary goal of crisis intervention?