Social Work License Exam Study Guide
Types of Mood Disorders –
Dysthymic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and
Bipolar Disorder
Dysthymic Disorder –
1. Dysthymia is a type of low-grade depression,
2. Dysthymia is a chronic long-lasting form of depression sharing many characteristic
symptoms of major depressive disorder.
3. These symptoms tend to be less severe but do fluctuate in intensity and
4. To be diagnosed, an adult must experience 2 or more of the symptoms of Major
Depressive Disorder for at least two years.
*Children - symptoms must be present for at least one year.
Major Depressive Disorder –
1. Presence of one (or more) major depressive episodes (experiencing at least 4 of the
symptoms listed below everyday) lasting at least 2 straight weeks within a 6 month
period.
2. Symptoms include: trouble sleeping, sleeping too much, irritability, isolation, loss of
appetite, weight gain, tearfulness, loss of interest in activities, headaches, body aches,
suicidal ideations, lack of ability to concentrate, feelings of hopelessness and despair.
3. The person's symptoms are a cause distress or difficulty in functioning at home, work,
or other important areas (social, occupational, recreational).
4. The person's symptoms are not caused by substance use (e.g., alcohol, drugs,
medication) or a medical disorder.
Bipolar Disorder –
1. Formerly referred to as "Manic Depression",
2. Bipolar is similar to depression but is characterized by the presence of manic
episodes in addition to depression.
,3. Manic episodes include: euphoria, racing thoughts, excessive talking, less need for
sleep, impulsiveness, and hallucinations (bipolar with psychotic features). Clients may
"cycle".
Types of Psychotic Disorders –
1. Schizophrenia
2. Schizoaffective Disorder
3. Schizophreniform
Schizophrenia –
1. Schizophrenia is described as a psychiatric diagnosis
2. Describes a mental illness characterized by impairments in a person's perceptions or
expression of reality.
Schizophrenia - Symptoms include:
Bizarre speech & appearance
Delusions
Hallucinations (auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile)
Disorganized speech
Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
Flat affect
Paranoia
Loss of Interest in personal hygiene
Schizophrenia: Positive Symptoms –
Thought Broadcasting
Delusions
Ideas of reference
Ideas of persecution
Delusions of grandeur
Hallucinations
Schizophrenia: Negative Symptoms –
Alogia - Delayed responses to questions comments
Anhedonia - inability to experience pleasure
Flat affect - monotone voice, absence of facial expressions
Social Withdrawal
Declining ability to care for self
Catatonia
Schizophreniform –
,The main symptoms of schizophreniform include:
delusions
hallucinations
disorganized speech
disorganized or catatonic behavior
an inability to show emotion - flat affect
an inability to experience pleasure
impaired or decreased speech
a lack of desire to form relationships, and
a lack of motivation
Symptoms are present for more than 1 month but no longer than 6 months
Schizoaffective Disorder –
The following are the criteria for a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder from the DSM-
IV-TR: Two (or more) of the symptoms listed on the schizophrenia slide are present for
the majority of a one-month period (or a shorter period of time if symptoms got better
with treatment):
Types of Personality Disorders –
1. Histrionic Personality Disorder
2. Borderline Personality Disorder
3. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
4. Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
5. Antisocial Personality Disorder
6. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
7. Schizoid Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder –
People with this disorder are usually able to function at a high level and can be
successful socially and at work.
Symptoms include:
1. Acting or looking overly seductive
2. Being easily influenced by other people
3. Being overly concerned with their looks
4. Being overly dramatic and emotional
5. Being overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval
6. Believing that relationships are more intimate than they actually are
7. Blaming failure or disappointment on others
8. Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
9. Having a low tolerance for frustration or delayed gratification
10. Needing to be the center of attention
, 11. Quickly changing emotions, which may seem shallow to others
Borderline Personality Disorder –
1. Relationships with others are intense and unstable. They swing wildly from love to
hate and back again. People with BPD will frantically try to avoid real or imagined
abandonment.
2. BPD patients may also be uncertain about their identity or self-image. They tend to
see things in terms of extremes, either all good or all bad. They also typically view
themselves as victims of circumstance and take little responsibility for themselves or
their problems.
Borderline Personality Disorder –
Other symptoms include:
1. Feelings of emptiness and boredom
2. Frequent displays of inappropriate anger
3. Impulsiveness with money, substance abuse, sexual relationships, binge eating, or
shoplifting
4. Intolerance of being alone
5. Recurrent acts of crisis such as wrist cutting, overdosing, or self-injury (such as
cutting)
6. Manipulates Boundaries
Narcissistic Personality Disorder –
Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition in which there is an inflated sense of self-
importance and an extreme preoccupation with one's self.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder –
A person with narcissistic personality disorder:
1. Reacts to criticism with rage, shame, or humiliation
2. Takes advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals
3. Has feelings of self-importance
4. Exaggerates achievements and talents
5. Is preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence, or ideal love
6. Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
7. Requires constant attention and admiration
8. Disregards the feelings of others, lacks empathy
9. Has obsessive self-interest
10. Pursues mainly selfish goals
Antisocial Personality Disorder –
Types of Mood Disorders –
Dysthymic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and
Bipolar Disorder
Dysthymic Disorder –
1. Dysthymia is a type of low-grade depression,
2. Dysthymia is a chronic long-lasting form of depression sharing many characteristic
symptoms of major depressive disorder.
3. These symptoms tend to be less severe but do fluctuate in intensity and
4. To be diagnosed, an adult must experience 2 or more of the symptoms of Major
Depressive Disorder for at least two years.
*Children - symptoms must be present for at least one year.
Major Depressive Disorder –
1. Presence of one (or more) major depressive episodes (experiencing at least 4 of the
symptoms listed below everyday) lasting at least 2 straight weeks within a 6 month
period.
2. Symptoms include: trouble sleeping, sleeping too much, irritability, isolation, loss of
appetite, weight gain, tearfulness, loss of interest in activities, headaches, body aches,
suicidal ideations, lack of ability to concentrate, feelings of hopelessness and despair.
3. The person's symptoms are a cause distress or difficulty in functioning at home, work,
or other important areas (social, occupational, recreational).
4. The person's symptoms are not caused by substance use (e.g., alcohol, drugs,
medication) or a medical disorder.
Bipolar Disorder –
1. Formerly referred to as "Manic Depression",
2. Bipolar is similar to depression but is characterized by the presence of manic
episodes in addition to depression.
,3. Manic episodes include: euphoria, racing thoughts, excessive talking, less need for
sleep, impulsiveness, and hallucinations (bipolar with psychotic features). Clients may
"cycle".
Types of Psychotic Disorders –
1. Schizophrenia
2. Schizoaffective Disorder
3. Schizophreniform
Schizophrenia –
1. Schizophrenia is described as a psychiatric diagnosis
2. Describes a mental illness characterized by impairments in a person's perceptions or
expression of reality.
Schizophrenia - Symptoms include:
Bizarre speech & appearance
Delusions
Hallucinations (auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile)
Disorganized speech
Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
Flat affect
Paranoia
Loss of Interest in personal hygiene
Schizophrenia: Positive Symptoms –
Thought Broadcasting
Delusions
Ideas of reference
Ideas of persecution
Delusions of grandeur
Hallucinations
Schizophrenia: Negative Symptoms –
Alogia - Delayed responses to questions comments
Anhedonia - inability to experience pleasure
Flat affect - monotone voice, absence of facial expressions
Social Withdrawal
Declining ability to care for self
Catatonia
Schizophreniform –
,The main symptoms of schizophreniform include:
delusions
hallucinations
disorganized speech
disorganized or catatonic behavior
an inability to show emotion - flat affect
an inability to experience pleasure
impaired or decreased speech
a lack of desire to form relationships, and
a lack of motivation
Symptoms are present for more than 1 month but no longer than 6 months
Schizoaffective Disorder –
The following are the criteria for a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder from the DSM-
IV-TR: Two (or more) of the symptoms listed on the schizophrenia slide are present for
the majority of a one-month period (or a shorter period of time if symptoms got better
with treatment):
Types of Personality Disorders –
1. Histrionic Personality Disorder
2. Borderline Personality Disorder
3. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
4. Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
5. Antisocial Personality Disorder
6. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
7. Schizoid Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder –
People with this disorder are usually able to function at a high level and can be
successful socially and at work.
Symptoms include:
1. Acting or looking overly seductive
2. Being easily influenced by other people
3. Being overly concerned with their looks
4. Being overly dramatic and emotional
5. Being overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval
6. Believing that relationships are more intimate than they actually are
7. Blaming failure or disappointment on others
8. Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
9. Having a low tolerance for frustration or delayed gratification
10. Needing to be the center of attention
, 11. Quickly changing emotions, which may seem shallow to others
Borderline Personality Disorder –
1. Relationships with others are intense and unstable. They swing wildly from love to
hate and back again. People with BPD will frantically try to avoid real or imagined
abandonment.
2. BPD patients may also be uncertain about their identity or self-image. They tend to
see things in terms of extremes, either all good or all bad. They also typically view
themselves as victims of circumstance and take little responsibility for themselves or
their problems.
Borderline Personality Disorder –
Other symptoms include:
1. Feelings of emptiness and boredom
2. Frequent displays of inappropriate anger
3. Impulsiveness with money, substance abuse, sexual relationships, binge eating, or
shoplifting
4. Intolerance of being alone
5. Recurrent acts of crisis such as wrist cutting, overdosing, or self-injury (such as
cutting)
6. Manipulates Boundaries
Narcissistic Personality Disorder –
Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition in which there is an inflated sense of self-
importance and an extreme preoccupation with one's self.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder –
A person with narcissistic personality disorder:
1. Reacts to criticism with rage, shame, or humiliation
2. Takes advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals
3. Has feelings of self-importance
4. Exaggerates achievements and talents
5. Is preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence, or ideal love
6. Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
7. Requires constant attention and admiration
8. Disregards the feelings of others, lacks empathy
9. Has obsessive self-interest
10. Pursues mainly selfish goals
Antisocial Personality Disorder –
