NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis 4

Question 1

A client describes long-standing patterns of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy that have caused significant occupational problems. The MOST likely diagnosis is:

Accepted Answer

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Answer

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Answer

Borderline Personality Disorder

Question 2

Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate for evaluating the severity of alcohol use disorder in a clinical setting?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

Answer

Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

Answer

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2)

Answer

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID)

Question 3

In the NCMHCE simulation format, after reading a clinical vignette, the counselor selects information-gathering options. Which of the following is considered a CONTRAINDICATED information-gathering choice?

Accepted Answer

Asking the client to prove their symptoms are real

Answer

Asking about current medications

Answer

Conducting a mental status examination

Answer

Reviewing prior treatment records

Question 4

A school counselor notices a 9-year-old student is excessively fearful of separating from parents, refuses to attend school, and reports stomachaches most mornings. The MOST appropriate diagnosis to consider is:

Accepted Answer

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Answer

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer

Social Anxiety Disorder

Answer

Specific Phobia

Question 5

A counselor is conducting a mental status examination. Which domain is being assessed when the counselor notes that the client's speech is rapid, loud, and difficult to interrupt?

Accepted Answer

Speech

Answer

Affect

Answer

Thought process

Answer

Insight

Question 6

A client meets criteria for both Major Depressive Disorder and Panic Disorder. According to DSM-5 guidelines, the counselor should:

Accepted Answer

Diagnose both disorders as comorbid conditions

Answer

Diagnose only the primary disorder to avoid over-pathologizing

Answer

Use an unspecified diagnosis until one disorder resolves

Answer

Refer to psychiatry before making any diagnosis

Question 7

Which of the following BEST describes the difference between a delusion and an overvalued idea?

Accepted Answer

Delusions are fixed false beliefs held with absolute certainty; overvalued ideas are unreasonable beliefs held with some doubt

Answer

Delusions are culturally normative beliefs; overvalued ideas are not

Answer

Overvalued ideas occur only in psychotic disorders; delusions occur in mood disorders

Answer

Delusions require medication; overvalued ideas do not