Screening and Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real MAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Screening and Assessment flashcards as text
A counselor administering the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) notices the client skipped several items. The counselor should:
Answer: Ask the client to complete the skipped items before interpreting the score
Missing items compromise the total BDI-II score; the counselor should invite the client to answer skipped items to ensure a valid, complete result.
Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'specifiers' in DSM-5 substance use disorder diagnoses?
Answer: Indicating severity as mild, moderate, or severe based on symptom count
DSM-5 uses specifiers such as mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), and severe (6+ criteria) to characterize the intensity of a substance use disorder.
When assessing a client from a culture where discussing substance use is highly stigmatized, the counselor's most effective adaptation is to:
Answer: Frame questions in culturally sensitive ways and build trust before exploring sensitive topics
Culturally adapted assessment involves using respectful, contextually appropriate language and establishing rapport before exploring stigmatized behaviors.
The CAGE questionnaire's question 'Have you ever felt you needed to Cut down on your drinking?' primarily screens for which criterion?
Answer: Loss of control over use
The desire or failed attempts to cut down reflect loss of control over use, a core diagnostic criterion for alcohol use disorder.
During assessment, a client discloses that they are currently experiencing suicidal ideation with a plan. According to ethical and legal standards, the counselor must:
Answer: Conduct a structured suicide risk assessment and take protective action if warranted
Active suicidal ideation with a plan requires an immediate, structured risk assessment to determine lethality and implement appropriate safety measures.
Which of the following assessment findings would most support a diagnosis of stimulant use disorder rather than stimulant intoxication alone?
Answer: A pattern of failed attempts to control stimulant use over the past 12 months
A substance use disorder requires a persistent, maladaptive pattern of use over time; a single intoxication episode does not meet the DSM-5 criteria for a use disorder.
In a comprehensive addiction assessment, the term 'treatment history' is most important because it:
Answer: Identifies what has or has not worked in the past to inform current treatment planning
Prior treatment experiences reveal effective strategies, barriers to engagement, and relapse triggers that should shape the current individualized treatment plan.