Direct Client Work
A social worker in private practice is meeting with a client for an intake. The client states that she is depressed and feels that she is alone in the world. What should the social work do NEXT in this situation?
A. Tell the client that she is not alone and point out the support she does have
B. Acknowledge the client’s feelings of depression and loneliness
C. Continue to collect information needed for the biopsychosocial evaluation
D. Create a safety plan to ensure the client’s safety
B
Rationale: It is important to engage the client and build rapport by acknowledging her feelings. A safety plan is NOT YET needed as the client has not expressed suicidal thoughts or ideations.
John is a 28-year-old male who feels down most of the time. He experiences frequent, intrusive thoughts that he is not worthy and unlikeable. He tries to overcompensate for his thoughts by taking on more than he can handle, which leads to failure and furthers his feelings of inadequacy. He states that he has little energy and has lost his interest in socializing with friends. He reports that he has had these thoughts for more than 5 years and nothing he tries makes him feel better. What DSM diagnosis is appropriate for John?
A. Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
B. Persistent Depressive Disorder.
C. Dysthymia.
D. Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
B. The client has been experiencing mild depression symptoms for more than 5 years. Depression symptoms that last for 2 years or more fall under Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD).
Which of the following medications is used to treat alcoholism by making clients feel ill if they consume alcohol while taking it?
A. Clozaril
B. Effexor
C. Antabuse
D. Topamax
C. Antabuse produces unpleasant side effects (nausea, vomiting, dizziness, upset stomach) when combines with alcohol
Which of the following is NOT a core value in the social work professions Code of Ethics?
A. Minimizing risk to self and others
B. Social Justice
C. Importance of human relationships
D. Service
A .Code of ethics values are service, social justice, dignity, worth of a person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence.
A 10-year-old child would like to start earning an allowance for completing chores around the house. During several attempts to do these chores, she is scolded and told she is doing them wrong. According to Erikson’s stages, she may experience doubts in her abilities due to a crisis in which of the following stages?
A. Industry versus inferiority.
B. Initiative versus guilt.
C. Autonomy versus shame/doubt.
D. Generativity versus stagnation
A. In the industry vs. inferiority phases, children want to feel competent and take on more responsibility. When they successfully take on these responsibilities they will continue to engage but if they do not gain or feel competent their self-esteem will be hurt and they will not engage in new responsibilities
You are working in a foster care agency with a potential foster care family. The family will be fostering a newborn who was exposed to drug and alcohol abuse in utero. The family asks the social worker what this will mean for the baby. What would be the BEST response for the social worker to give the family?
A. Assure the family that with their support and caregiving they can reverse the effects of the exposure with love and nurture
B. Ask the family if knowing this background on the baby changes their decision on fostering
C. Provide information on the potential effects of drug and alcohol exposure for newborns and let the family know support and resources will be provided if needed
D. Suggest that the family join a support group for foster parents of newborns
C
Rationale: The social worker should educate the family on potential effects of drug exposure during pregnancy and offer support and resources.
Mark is a 19-year-old college student. Over the past few weeks, his family and friends have noticed increasingly odd behaviors. On many occasions, they’ve overheard him whispering in an agitated voice, even though there is no one nearby. He has refused to answer or make calls on his cell phone, claiming that if he does it will activate a deadly chip that was implanted in his brain by the government so they can listen to his conversations. His parents have tried to get him to go with them to a psychiatrist for an evaluation, but he declines. He continues to accuse his parents of conspiring with the government to take him down. He no longer showers or attends classes. John is failing all of his college classes and will be on academic probation if his grades do not improve. What DSM diagnosis is appropriate for Mark?
A. Bipolar 1 Disorder.
B. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
C. Schizoid Personality Disorder.
D. Paranoid Schizophrenia
D. Mark is showing symptoms of schizophrenia including hallucinations, lack of ability to function in school/ work settings, and paranoid/ irrational thinking.
Which of the following medications is NOT typically used for the treatment of ADHD?
A. Adderall
B. Ritalin
C. Dexedrine
D. Tofranil
D. Tofranil is an antidepressant that is sometimes used for anxiety disorders. The others are all stimulants used for ADHD.
When clients sue social workers for malpractice, social workers fulfill their ethical obligations by:
A. Not releasing any information about treatment including whether or not the client was seen
B. Providing all information obtained during treatment so the court can get a complete picture of the clients concerns
C. Not responding to the courts because the information is privileged.
D. Releasing only the information related to the nature of the lawsuits.
D. Social workers are allowed to defend themselves when sued by clients. Social workers should limit the information released to that which is relevant to the allegations in the lawsuit
A 13-year-old boy is able to stay home alone because he is aware of dangers, can cook for himself, and problem-solves when needed. This child has reached which stage of cognitive development according to Piaget?
A. Sensorimotor.
B. Formal operations.
C. Concrete operations.
D. Preoperational
B. In the formal operations phase, adolescents can think abstractly, make logical decisions and care for their needs.
A client has made substantial progress in treatment and has achieved all established goals. When the social worker speaks to the client about discharge the client states that he does not want to stop seeing the social worker because he his worried about his future needs. As there are no additional treatment goals the social worker agrees to see the client probono for the next 6 months or until the client feels more comfortable. These actions are:
A. Ethical because there are no fee for the session
B. Not ethical since there are no new treatment goals
C. Ethical since the client does not feel ready to end treatment.
D. Not ethical because termination decisions are the responsibility of the social worker`
B. It is unethical to continue to treat clients when services are no longer needed.
Dave is a 35-year-old male who has been in and out of the ER due to ringing in his ears, tunnel vision, increased anxiety, and difficulty breathing. Dave’s physician was unable to find a medical explanation for his symptoms, which left Dave feeling unsure of himself, stressed, and angry. Over the last 6 months, Dave has had several instances where he felt an intense fear that would reach a peak within a few minutes. During these instances, he would also experience sweating, heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. During these episodes, Dave feels like he is dying. As a result, Dave is worried about having another attack. In addition, he has begun to avoid unfamiliar places and people where it may be difficult to get help in the event of another attack. Dave has been avoiding social situations and is reluctant to go to work because he fears that he will experience this heightened fear at any given moment. What DSM diagnosis is appropriate for Dave?
A. Panic Disorder.
B. Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
C. Social Anxiety Disorder.
D. Specific Phobia Disorder
A. Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and are very preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly and cause physical symptoms related to panic attacks and anxiety.
List 2 Benzodiazepine anti anxiety medications
Alprazolam ( Xanax)
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Diazepam (Valium)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Buspirone (Buspar)
Test Trick to remember most generic meds in this category end in "pam" or "lam". Most antidepressant generic drug names end "inine" or "pram".
Which of the following would be UNETHICAL use of identifying client data?
A. Releasing information to a targeted victim under duty to warn
B. Notifying CYFD of suspected neglect
C. Seeking assistance from a supervisor or consultant concerning critical treatment issues
D. Using it in a grant application for emergency funding due to significant budget cuts
D. Releasing information is mandated under duty to warn and child abuse protections. D is unethical because it is directly tied to client safety or duty to warn. Identifying client data should never be used on a grant application
A 4-year-old child and her sister are playing “doctor” with their stuffed animals. The sister states that one of the animals has gotten sick and needs to go to the hospital. The 4-year-old begins to get very upset and flees to the mother crying She states “ my bear is sick and won’t get better.” What is the name of this concept and which cognitive stage is it associated with?
A. Animism; Pre-operational.
B. Magical thinking; Pre-operational.
C. Object Permanence; Concrete- operational.
D. Egocentrism; Concrete- operational
A. Animism is part of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Animism Is the belief that inanimate objects (such as toys and teddy bears) have human feelings and intentions
A family seeks treatment with a social worker. During the assessment process, the social worker learns that the parents expect their children to follow strict rules adn teh children are severely punished if they do not. When the social worker asks the children why they have to follow several of the rules, teh children are not sure why and respond "We just do" The parents in this family are MOST likely using which parenting style?
A. Authoritative
B. Punitive
C. Authoritarian
D. Corporal
C. Authoritarian parents fail to explain reasons behind rules. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children and are willing to listen and have a more democratic approach.
Hannah is a 33-year-old woman who presents with a history of non-suicidal self-injury, specifically cutting her arms and legs, since she was a teenager. She has made two suicide attempts by overdosing on prescribed medications, one as a teenager and one six months ago, and states these thoughts give her a plan to “get out”. Hannah describes a longstanding pattern of changing her hobbies, style of clothing, and friend groups. At times, she showers her boyfriend with gifts buying him expensive items and spending all of her time with him. Other times she gets into arguments with her partner and states “ you are the worst, I wish I never met you.” After lashing out, she reports feeling regret and panic at the thought of him leaving her. When asked about her sexual behavior, Hannah suggests that she often sleeps with multiple partners some of whom she doesn't even know because it makes her feel loved. What DSM diagnosis is appropriate for Hannah?
A. Bipolar 1 Disorder.
B. Borderline Personality Disorder.
C. Schizophreniform.
D. Schizoaffective Disorder
B. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and an individual's sense of identity. Hannah is engaging in risky behavior and has previously attempted suicide on two occasions. Given the scenario, it is suggested that this symptomatology has been present and consistent for most of Hannah’s adult life. The answer is not A Bipolar 1 Disorder because these patterns of behavior are longer lasting. Personality disorders are characterized by a long-term pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that cause distress and problems functioning
An increased risk for agranulocytosis is associated with which medication?
A. Clozaril
B. Lexapro
C. Lithium
D. Xanax
A. Agranulocytosis is a lowering of the white blood cell counts that require monitoring of bloodwork.
A social worker is providing therapy to a client who has been in treatment for one year. The client has not paid their bill for services in over 2 months. The client has made arrangements and been put on a payment plan and still has not made payments. Ethically speaking, what should social work do?
A. Provide pro bono services to the client
B. Continue therapy for the client free of charge
C. Give the client one week to pay off the charges
D. End therapy services if you have determined that a client is not a danger to herself or others
D
Rationale: According to the Code of Ethics, clients can be terminated if they are not paying for services, if the lack of payment has been communicated and the client is not a danger to themselves of others.
According to Freud, which of the following is an example of how a person would behave if their id went unchecked?
A. They see a cake and want to eat it so they go ahead and eat the entire cake.
B. They see a cake and want to eat it but wait a few hours to have a piece.
C. They see a cake and want to eat it so they walk away and do not have a piece.
D. They see a cake and want to eat it but offer it to a friend instead.
A. According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, the id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories. The id works on the pleasure principle and acts on impulses and desires
A social worker is a facilitator for a group diagnosed with anorexia. Over several weeks clients talk about their diverse backgrounds including their varied early childhood experiences. The social worker comments that this disorder is caused by many different factors. What concept is the social worker referring to?
A. Homeostasis
B. Equifinality
C. Subsystems
D. Diagnostic related groups
B. Equifinality refers to the concept that similar outcomes may stem from different experiences. Different early experiences in life can lead to similar outcomes. There are many different experiences that can lead to the same problems, behaviors, and or disorders
Which of the following changes occurred from the DSM-IV to the DSM V with regard to the diagnosis of Conduct Disorder?
A. Symptoms must cause significant impairement in social, academic, or occupational functioning
B. This diagnosis usually occurs prior to adulthood
C. A descriptive features specifier is used for those who meet the full criteria, but also present with limited prosocial emotions.
D. At least one symptom must be present in the last 6 months.
C. All of the response choice are accurate with regard to the diagnosis of Conduct Disorder according to the DSM 5. However the descriptive features specifier for those with limited prosocial emotion such as empathy or guilt was not available in the DSM 4
A client is being discharged from an inpatient hospitalization. Upon admission, he slept most of the time, reported extreme despair, and felt hopeless. Several days later while hospitalized he appeared jittery and agitated. His speech was rambling and he wandered around the unit, talking to others for hours. He also has trouble sleeping. This client is MOST likely going to prescribed which of the following medications upon discharge.
A. Lithium
B. Elavil
C. Ativan
D. Haldol
A. The clients behaviors are consistent with Bipolar Disorder
You are volunteering to work on a crisis hotline. You receive an anonymous call and the caller discloses his wife has made threatening comments and he is worried she may have a plan to commit suicide. As you are taking down the information you realize that this man’s wife is your client. Ethically speaking, what is the best course of action?
A. Hang up. Taking the call would be a conflict of interest.
B. Suggest ways the caller can help protect the safety of his wife.
C. Tell the caller you are his wife's therapist and ask to speak to the wife directly.
D. Continue the call and collect information about the wife so you can bring it up in your next therapy session.
B. Answers C, and D would violate the ethical principle of confidentiality. Answer A is not appropriate as we would never hang up on a client in crisis. B is the most appropriate answer
A 38-year-old woman quits her high-paying marketing job to focus on her children and become a school counselor. What stage would Erikson consider this to be:
A. Integrity vs. Despair.
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt.
C. Generativity vs. Stagnation.
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion.
C. In the generativity vs. stagnation phase, people are looking for ways to make a difference in the world by caring for others as well as creating and accomplishing things that make the world a better place. She quits her high-paying job to focus on her children and become a counselor which shows she is trying to have a deeper purpose in her life and the lives of others