Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis Flashcards
7 cards from real LMHC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis flashcards as text
A client presents with a 2-week history of depressed mood, anhedonia, significant weight loss, insomnia, and feelings of worthlessness. Which DSM-5 diagnosis is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder requires 5+ symptoms including depressed mood or anhedonia lasting at least 2 weeks, which this client meets.
During the intake interview, a client discloses that they recently lost their job and are struggling financially. The BEST way to document this information is under which assessment domain?
Answer: Psychological stressors and support systems
Financial stress and job loss are psychosocial stressors captured under the social history and stressors domain of a biopsychosocial assessment.
Which structured clinical interview is widely considered the gold standard for establishing DSM-5 diagnoses in research and clinical settings?
Answer: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5)
The SCID-5 is a semi-structured interview designed to yield reliable DSM-5 diagnoses and is considered the gold standard diagnostic tool.
A counselor is assessing a 16-year-old client who reports using alcohol on weekends but denies it causes problems. What is the MOST appropriate next step?
Answer: Administer a validated adolescent substance use screening tool such as the CRAFFT
The CRAFFT is a validated screening tool for adolescent substance use that goes beyond self-report to identify risk and problem patterns.
A client scores 15 on the PHQ-9. What level of depression severity does this indicate?
Answer: Moderately severe depression
PHQ-9 scores of 15–19 indicate moderately severe depression, guiding treatment planning decisions.
Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a mental status examination (MSE) during intake?
Answer: To obtain a systematic snapshot of the client's current cognitive and emotional functioning
The MSE provides a structured assessment of appearance, behavior, speech, affect, thought, cognition, insight, and judgment at the time of the interview.
A client reports experiencing intense fear of social situations and avoids them due to worry about embarrassing themselves for more than 6 months. Which diagnosis should the counselor consider FIRST?
Answer: Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by marked fear of social situations due to fear of scrutiny or embarrassment, lasting 6+ months and causing functional impairment.