MFT Assessment and Diagnosis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An MFT working with a bilingual immigrant family should be aware that culturally adapted assessments are important primarily because:
- Bilingual clients always score higher on intelligence measures
- Standard norms may not be valid for clients from different cultural backgrounds (Correct answer)
- Translated tests are legally required for non-English speakers
- Cultural differences eliminate the need for formal diagnosis
Correct answer: Standard norms may not be valid for clients from different cultural backgrounds
Assessment norms are derived from specific populations, and applying tools normed on one cultural group to another can produce invalid or biased results.
Question 2: Which DSM-5 condition is characterized by at least 1 month of preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, despite medical reassurance and lack of a confirmed medical diagnosis?
- Somatic Symptom Disorder
- Illness Anxiety Disorder (Correct answer)
- Conversion Disorder
- Factitious Disorder
Correct answer: Illness Anxiety Disorder
Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly Hypochondriasis) involves excessive fear of serious illness with minimal or no somatic symptoms, despite medical reassurance.
Question 3: When conducting a risk assessment for suicide, which factor is associated with the HIGHEST immediate risk?
- History of depression in a first-degree relative
- Vague ideation with no plan
- Specific plan with means available and stated intent (Correct answer)
- Recent job loss without suicidal ideation
Correct answer: Specific plan with means available and stated intent
A specific, lethal plan combined with access to means and stated intent represents the highest immediate risk for suicide.
Question 4: In the context of differential diagnosis, comorbidity refers to:
- A diagnosis that rules out all other conditions
- The presence of two or more diagnosable conditions in the same individual (Correct answer)
- A secondary diagnosis caused by a primary mental disorder
- Overlapping symptoms that cannot be separately diagnosed
Correct answer: The presence of two or more diagnosable conditions in the same individual
Comorbidity describes the co-occurrence of two or more distinct diagnoses in one individual, each meeting its own diagnostic criteria.
Question 5: A therapist observes that a child arranges dolls in the playroom to reenact scenes from what appears to be domestic violence at home. This is an example of which assessment approach?
- Projective play assessment
- Behavioral observation (Correct answer)
- Structured diagnostic interview
- Self-report inventory
Correct answer: Behavioral observation
Behavioral observation involves clinically watching and recording client behaviors in naturalistic or structured settings to gather diagnostic information.
Question 6: According to the DSM-5, which of the following is required to diagnose Borderline Personality Disorder?
- Onset before age 12
- At least 5 of 9 specified criteria present (Correct answer)
- Presence of psychotic features
- History of manic episodes
Correct answer: At least 5 of 9 specified criteria present
BPD requires a pervasive pattern of instability meeting at least 5 of the 9 diagnostic criteria, beginning by early adulthood.
Question 7: The Faces IV assessment is most directly used to measure which family therapy concept?
- Triangulation and coalition patterns
- Family cohesion and flexibility (adaptability) (Correct answer)
- Communication and problem-solving skills
- Differentiation of self within the family system
Correct answer: Family cohesion and flexibility (adaptability)
Faces IV is the fourth version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, measuring family cohesion and flexibility based on Olson's Circumplex Model.
MFT Assessment and Diagnosis 4
An MFT working with a bilingual immigrant family should be aware that culturally adapted assessments are important primarily because: