NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 3

Question 1

A client presents with persistent sadness, anhedonia, sleep disturbances, and reports that symptoms have been present for 3 weeks. Which diagnosis is MOST appropriate at this time?

Accepted Answer

Unspecified Depressive Disorder

Answer

Major Depressive Disorder

Answer

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Answer

Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood

Question 2

During a clinical intake, a counselor notices a client uses vague language, avoids eye contact, and provides minimal responses. The BEST next step is to:

Accepted Answer

Use open-ended questions and reflective listening to build rapport

Answer

Confront the client about their resistance

Answer

Immediately administer a structured diagnostic interview

Answer

Refer the client to a psychiatrist

Question 3

Which DSM-5 criterion differentiates Bipolar I Disorder from Bipolar II Disorder?

Accepted Answer

Presence of at least one full manic episode in Bipolar I

Answer

Presence of hypomanic episodes only in Bipolar I

Answer

Depressive episodes are required only in Bipolar II

Answer

Psychotic features occur only in Bipolar II

Question 4

A counselor is completing a biopsychosocial assessment. Which of the following best represents the 'social' component?

Accepted Answer

Client's current employment status and family support system

Answer

Client's history of head trauma

Answer

Client's cognitive distortions about failure

Answer

Client's prescribed psychotropic medications

Question 5

A client reports hearing voices that comment on their behavior and expresses the belief that a TV news anchor is sending them secret messages. These symptoms are MOST consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia

Answer

Delusional Disorder

Answer

Brief Psychotic Disorder

Answer

Schizophreniform Disorder

Question 6

When assessing a client for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the counselor must confirm that the traumatic event meets which DSM-5 Criterion A requirement?

Accepted Answer

Exposure must involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence

Answer

The client must have directly experienced the trauma

Answer

The client must have lost consciousness during the event

Answer

The trauma must have occurred within the past 6 months

Question 7

A client scores 22 on the PHQ-9 during intake. What does this score indicate, and what is the counselor's PRIORITY action?

Accepted Answer

Severe depression; conduct a suicide risk assessment

Answer

Mild depression; schedule a follow-up in 4 weeks

Answer

Moderate depression; initiate CBT immediately

Answer

Minimal depression; provide psychoeducation only