LMHC Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 5

Question 1

A counselor is completing a biopsychosocial assessment and asks about the client's family history of mental illness, early childhood experiences, and current support system. This information is PRIMARILY used to:

Accepted Answer

Identify predisposing, precipitating, and protective factors relevant to the presenting problem

Answer

The biopsychosocial model systematically examines biological, psychological, and social factors—including family history, early experiences, and supports—to understand the client's clinical picture.

Question 2

Which DSM-5 specifier is added to a Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis when the client also presents with psychomotor agitation or retardation, anhedonia, and excessive guilt that is nearly delusional?

Accepted Answer

With melancholic features

Answer

The 'with melancholic features' specifier applies when MDD includes pervasive anhedonia, distinct quality of depressed mood, and neurovegetative symptoms like psychomotor changes.

Question 3

A counselor uses motivational interviewing techniques during intake to assess a client's ambivalence about treatment. This approach is MOST aligned with which assessment concept?

Accepted Answer

Readiness to change and stage of change assessment

Answer

Motivational interviewing is grounded in the Transtheoretical Model and helps assess where the client falls across the stages of change (precontemplation through maintenance).

Question 4

A client reports that symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood began after starting a new medication prescribed by their physician. The counselor should FIRST consider which diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Medication-Induced Anxiety or Depressive Disorder (due to another medical condition)

Answer

When psychiatric symptoms are the direct physiological result of a prescribed medication, a substance/medication-induced disorder is the appropriate DSM-5 diagnosis.

Question 5

During the diagnostic assessment, the counselor asks the client to interpret the proverb 'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.' This question MOST directly assesses which cognitive domain?

Accepted Answer

Abstract thinking

Answer

Abstract thinking is assessed via proverb interpretation, metaphors, or similarities/differences tasks; inability to move beyond literal meaning suggests concrete thinking.

(LMHC) Licensed Mental Health Counselor Certification Practice Test

(LMHC) Licensed Mental Health Counselor Certification Practice Test

LMHC Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 5