NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 2

Question 1

During an intake assessment, a client reports hearing voices that comment on their behavior. Which additional assessment question is MOST critical to ask next?

Accepted Answer

Do the voices ever tell you to harm yourself or others?

Answer

Assessing for command hallucinations that direct harm is the most critical safety concern when a client reports auditory hallucinations.

Question 2

A client presents with depressed mood, weight gain, excessive sleeping, and leaden paralysis. These symptoms are MOST consistent with which DSM-5 specifier?

Accepted Answer

Major depressive disorder with atypical features

Answer

Atypical features include mood reactivity, weight gain, hypersomnia, leaden paralysis, and interpersonal rejection sensitivity.

Question 3

Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate for measuring the severity of a client's alcohol use disorder?

Accepted Answer

AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)

Answer

The AUDIT was developed by WHO specifically to assess the full spectrum of alcohol use severity, including hazardous use, dependence symptoms, and harmful consequences.

Question 4

A 7-year-old child is referred for assessment after being expelled from school for repeated aggressive outbursts. Which diagnostic consideration should the counselor evaluate FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Trauma history and adverse childhood experiences

Answer

Trauma and adverse childhood experiences must be evaluated first because they can present with behavioral symptoms identical to externalizing disorders.

Question 5

During a diagnostic interview, a client describes periods of elevated mood lasting 3-4 days with decreased need for sleep, rapid speech, and increased goal-directed activity that do not cause significant functional impairment. This presentation MOST closely aligns with which diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar II Disorder, current episode hypomanic

Answer

Hypomanic episodes last at least 4 days with elevated mood and associated symptoms but without significant functional impairment, consistent with Bipolar II Disorder.

NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Practice Test

NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Practice Test

NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 2