Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis Flashcards
7 cards from real NCMHCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis flashcards as text
A client reports persistent sadness, loss of interest, weight gain, hypersomnia, and fatigue for 8 weeks. Which DSM-5 diagnosis is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder requires five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period, and this client meets that threshold with a 8-week duration.
During a mental status exam, a client jumps rapidly from topic to topic with no logical connection. This is BEST described as:
Answer: Loosening of associations
Loosening of associations refers to illogical, disorganized shifts between unrelated topics with no apparent connection.
Which structured diagnostic interview is specifically designed to assess DSM-5 criteria across major mental health disorders in adult outpatient settings?
Answer: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5)
The SCID-5 is a semi-structured diagnostic interview used by clinicians to assess DSM-5 diagnoses systematically.
A counselor notices a client's affect is dramatically exaggerated and rapidly shifting during intake. This presentation is BEST described as:
Answer: Labile affect
Labile affect is characterized by rapid, exaggerated shifts in emotional expression that are often disproportionate to the situation.
A 17-year-old client is brought in by parents. The client refuses to speak and the parents report the client has been arrested twice for theft. The counselor suspects Conduct Disorder. Which additional criterion is essential for this diagnosis?
Answer: Behavior must violate the rights of others or societal norms
Conduct Disorder requires a repetitive pattern of behavior violating the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms.
Which of the following BEST represents a biopsychosocial model component during intake assessment?
Answer: Exploring family history, current stressors, and medical conditions together
The biopsychosocial model integrates biological factors (medical history), psychological factors (mental symptoms), and social factors (stressors, support).
A client describes feeling detached from their body, as if watching themselves from outside. This experience is BEST described as:
Answer: Depersonalization
Depersonalization involves a sense of detachment from one's own mental processes or body, often described as feeling like an outside observer.