ASWB Bachelor's Exam Questions And
Answers.
What is the time-frame for achieving steady state on a benzodiazepine? -
One day to 21 days; when benzodiazepine is taken daily, the anount of time it takes
to achieve "steady state" ranges from one day to about three weeks
A client reports that her elderly father has seemed rather confused lately. A
physician recently evaluated the man, all neuropsychiatric tests for a neurocognitive
disorder have been negative. The physician found no major medical problems. The
client says that she has decided to move her father (whose wife died 10 years ago)
to an independent living facility. What is the social worker's best course of action? -
Seek permission from the client to conduct an in-home assessment of her father; you
(the test taker) don't know where the father is living (does he live alone?), and the
question suggests that, so far, you have met with only the daughter; in other words,
you haven't had an opportunity to observe or evaluate the client's father.
A 40-year old man is referred for case management services. Six months ago, the
client was fired from a construction job he had held for many years due to poor
performance and frequent absences that started shortly after he was injured at work.
He has been unable to find new work and is in danger of losing his apartment. The
client appears distracted during the interview and answers many of the social
worker's questions by saying "I'm not sure," or "I don't remember." Given all of this
information, what should the social worker explore first? -
Whether the client has had access to medical care; as this client's case manager,
you will want to identify all of his unmet needs and what barriers he has encountered
in getting and using needed resources and services. However, the question
suggests the possibility that the client has an organically based problem, perhaps
due to the injury he suffered at work. You should find out immediately what medical
care the client received after the injury and arrange for him to undergo current
medical (including neurological) evaluations
The client is a 41-year old married man who reports feeling tired a lot of the time and
having tremendous difficulty concentrating at his job. He no longer enjoys his work
and finds that he is easily annoyed by his family and friends. He adds that he thinks
he's depressed but doesn't know what to do to "pick himself up." In an effort to
understand the client's needs, the social worker assessed him for suicidal risk;
gathers information about his health history, medication use, and health and lifestyle
behaviors; and performs a mental status exam to assess his psychological status.
What should the social worker do next? -
Gather information on the client's cultural background, social relations, and
environmental connections: the question describes two of the three components of a
comprehensive biopsychosocial-cultural assessment-"bio" and "psycho"
The MMPI-2 can be used to measure which of the following? -
,Characteristic behavior: the MMPI-2 is one of the most widely used self-report
inventories for the assessment of personality. Its clinical and validity scales provide
information about an examinee's characteristics traits and behaviors, including
symptoms, major needs, perceptions of the environment, reactions to stress, self-
concept, sexual identification, emotional control, interpersonal relationships, and
psychological resources
A client has been in therapy since the break up of his marriage several months ago.
He arrives for a session looking disheveled. After a few minutes, he tells the social
worker that he can't eat or sleep. as he speaks, his voice quivers and he appears to
be in significant emotional distress. In terms of assessing these changes in the
client's functioning, what should the social worker do first? -
Determine threat to life by asking direct questions: this client appears to be in acute
crisis. The first things you should do is conduct a suicide assessment, including
asking the client directly whether he has thought about harming himself.
If left untreated, diabetes mellitus can result in which of the following symptoms? -
Increased appetite with weight loss, apathy, confusion mental dullness: the pancreas
releases insulin, which is involved in the uptake and use of glucose and amino acids,
and hypoinsulinism produces diabetes mellitus (excessive blood glucose). Untreated
diabetes mellitus may result in increased appetite with weight loss, apathy,
confusion, mental dullness, polyuria, polydipsia, and increased susceptibility to
infection
A client reports experiencing fatigue and excessive nervousness. She says she has
a history of periodic depression but has never felt so nervous or anxious before. She
was treated for depression two years ago and says that her mood has improved
since then. Now, she's just a "nervous wreck" and feels like she can never calm
down. What should the social worker do FIRST in assessing this client? -
Collect a medical history, including a review of medications, and refer the client for a
physical exam
A 40-year old client has been unemployed since he started having seizures about a
year ago. His wife works and the family has been getting by on her income. When
asked by the social worker why he has come in, the client says he wants help
figuring out how to get a job. With which of the following should the social worker
consult FIRST? -
A medical specialist: a medical consultation would be the most important first
because the client's seizures are probably related to a medical condition. The
physician (probably a neurologist) would have the expertise needed to offer an
evaluation of any work-related problems that may result from the client's condition
and could help you and the client understand the client's work-related limitations and
how to best deal with these in the job search (including how to best advocate for the
client's rights if the seizures constitute a disability). The neurologist may also be able
to provide or recommend medical treatments to minimize the effects of seizures on
the client's ability to work
A client, age 79, has come in alone for treatment. He is exhibiting some signs of
depression. To clarify the nature of the problem in this case, the social worker should
FIRST: -
, Refer the client to a neurologist for testing
A 25-year old client who recently immigrated to the United States from Nicaragua
(and speaks English well) has been convinced by his mother to seek counseling for
frequent alcohol use. During the first interview, the client acknowledges that he
drinks almost daily but doesn't identify any other problems. What should the social
worker do FIRST? -
Take a substance use history: usually the first step when assessing a suspected
substance use disorder is taking an alcohol and drug history and this is true
regardless of the client's cultural background. Having this information will help you
determine suitable treatment recommendations, including the appropriate initial level
of care. And taking the substance use history in this case could also help you
determine whether or not the client's alcohol use is related in any way to
acculturation problems.
A client arrives for the first interview while in the midst of a manic episode. The client
says that she has decided to get a divorce and asks the social worker to assist her.
What should the social worker do FIRST? -
summarize the clients wishes and arrange for her to undergo a psychiatric
medication evaluation
The client is a 40-year old woman who has recently moved from a shelter for
battered women to her own apartment in a new city. The client left her husband of 10
years three months ago; he physically abused her for many years, and she is just
beginning the process of recovery. While assessing this client, the social worker
observes symptoms that are consistent with battered woman syndrome. The
features of battered woman syndrome are similar to the diagnostic criteria for which
of the following mental disorders? -
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; the features of battered woman syndrome are similar
to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Lenore Walker (1994) has stated that battered
woman syndrome is characterized by a constellation of abuse-related anxiety,
arousal, and avoidance symptoms that are similar to those caused by other
traumatic experiences
A social worker determines that a client, age 36, is in the midst of a major depressive
episode, and the client's history suggests that he has had other such episodes in the
past. The social worker refers the client to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation,
and the psychiatrist prescribes an SSRI for the client. In terms of side-effects from
this class of medication, the client is MOST likely to experience which of the
following? -
Gastrointestinal problems, insomnia, sexual dysfunction: side effects associated with
the SSRIs (Prozac, Floxyfral, Paxil, Zoloft) include gastrointestinal problems (e.g.,
appetite loss, nausea, constipation, diarrhea); frequent urination; insomnia; anxiety;
headache; dizziness; tremor; and sexual dysfunction. Compared to tricyclic
antidepressants (TCAs), SSRIs are safer in overdose; less cardiotoxic; less likely to
result in cognitive impairment; and have a more rapid onset
An individual undergoing cocaine withdrawal is MOST likely to experience which of
the following? -
Answers.
What is the time-frame for achieving steady state on a benzodiazepine? -
One day to 21 days; when benzodiazepine is taken daily, the anount of time it takes
to achieve "steady state" ranges from one day to about three weeks
A client reports that her elderly father has seemed rather confused lately. A
physician recently evaluated the man, all neuropsychiatric tests for a neurocognitive
disorder have been negative. The physician found no major medical problems. The
client says that she has decided to move her father (whose wife died 10 years ago)
to an independent living facility. What is the social worker's best course of action? -
Seek permission from the client to conduct an in-home assessment of her father; you
(the test taker) don't know where the father is living (does he live alone?), and the
question suggests that, so far, you have met with only the daughter; in other words,
you haven't had an opportunity to observe or evaluate the client's father.
A 40-year old man is referred for case management services. Six months ago, the
client was fired from a construction job he had held for many years due to poor
performance and frequent absences that started shortly after he was injured at work.
He has been unable to find new work and is in danger of losing his apartment. The
client appears distracted during the interview and answers many of the social
worker's questions by saying "I'm not sure," or "I don't remember." Given all of this
information, what should the social worker explore first? -
Whether the client has had access to medical care; as this client's case manager,
you will want to identify all of his unmet needs and what barriers he has encountered
in getting and using needed resources and services. However, the question
suggests the possibility that the client has an organically based problem, perhaps
due to the injury he suffered at work. You should find out immediately what medical
care the client received after the injury and arrange for him to undergo current
medical (including neurological) evaluations
The client is a 41-year old married man who reports feeling tired a lot of the time and
having tremendous difficulty concentrating at his job. He no longer enjoys his work
and finds that he is easily annoyed by his family and friends. He adds that he thinks
he's depressed but doesn't know what to do to "pick himself up." In an effort to
understand the client's needs, the social worker assessed him for suicidal risk;
gathers information about his health history, medication use, and health and lifestyle
behaviors; and performs a mental status exam to assess his psychological status.
What should the social worker do next? -
Gather information on the client's cultural background, social relations, and
environmental connections: the question describes two of the three components of a
comprehensive biopsychosocial-cultural assessment-"bio" and "psycho"
The MMPI-2 can be used to measure which of the following? -
,Characteristic behavior: the MMPI-2 is one of the most widely used self-report
inventories for the assessment of personality. Its clinical and validity scales provide
information about an examinee's characteristics traits and behaviors, including
symptoms, major needs, perceptions of the environment, reactions to stress, self-
concept, sexual identification, emotional control, interpersonal relationships, and
psychological resources
A client has been in therapy since the break up of his marriage several months ago.
He arrives for a session looking disheveled. After a few minutes, he tells the social
worker that he can't eat or sleep. as he speaks, his voice quivers and he appears to
be in significant emotional distress. In terms of assessing these changes in the
client's functioning, what should the social worker do first? -
Determine threat to life by asking direct questions: this client appears to be in acute
crisis. The first things you should do is conduct a suicide assessment, including
asking the client directly whether he has thought about harming himself.
If left untreated, diabetes mellitus can result in which of the following symptoms? -
Increased appetite with weight loss, apathy, confusion mental dullness: the pancreas
releases insulin, which is involved in the uptake and use of glucose and amino acids,
and hypoinsulinism produces diabetes mellitus (excessive blood glucose). Untreated
diabetes mellitus may result in increased appetite with weight loss, apathy,
confusion, mental dullness, polyuria, polydipsia, and increased susceptibility to
infection
A client reports experiencing fatigue and excessive nervousness. She says she has
a history of periodic depression but has never felt so nervous or anxious before. She
was treated for depression two years ago and says that her mood has improved
since then. Now, she's just a "nervous wreck" and feels like she can never calm
down. What should the social worker do FIRST in assessing this client? -
Collect a medical history, including a review of medications, and refer the client for a
physical exam
A 40-year old client has been unemployed since he started having seizures about a
year ago. His wife works and the family has been getting by on her income. When
asked by the social worker why he has come in, the client says he wants help
figuring out how to get a job. With which of the following should the social worker
consult FIRST? -
A medical specialist: a medical consultation would be the most important first
because the client's seizures are probably related to a medical condition. The
physician (probably a neurologist) would have the expertise needed to offer an
evaluation of any work-related problems that may result from the client's condition
and could help you and the client understand the client's work-related limitations and
how to best deal with these in the job search (including how to best advocate for the
client's rights if the seizures constitute a disability). The neurologist may also be able
to provide or recommend medical treatments to minimize the effects of seizures on
the client's ability to work
A client, age 79, has come in alone for treatment. He is exhibiting some signs of
depression. To clarify the nature of the problem in this case, the social worker should
FIRST: -
, Refer the client to a neurologist for testing
A 25-year old client who recently immigrated to the United States from Nicaragua
(and speaks English well) has been convinced by his mother to seek counseling for
frequent alcohol use. During the first interview, the client acknowledges that he
drinks almost daily but doesn't identify any other problems. What should the social
worker do FIRST? -
Take a substance use history: usually the first step when assessing a suspected
substance use disorder is taking an alcohol and drug history and this is true
regardless of the client's cultural background. Having this information will help you
determine suitable treatment recommendations, including the appropriate initial level
of care. And taking the substance use history in this case could also help you
determine whether or not the client's alcohol use is related in any way to
acculturation problems.
A client arrives for the first interview while in the midst of a manic episode. The client
says that she has decided to get a divorce and asks the social worker to assist her.
What should the social worker do FIRST? -
summarize the clients wishes and arrange for her to undergo a psychiatric
medication evaluation
The client is a 40-year old woman who has recently moved from a shelter for
battered women to her own apartment in a new city. The client left her husband of 10
years three months ago; he physically abused her for many years, and she is just
beginning the process of recovery. While assessing this client, the social worker
observes symptoms that are consistent with battered woman syndrome. The
features of battered woman syndrome are similar to the diagnostic criteria for which
of the following mental disorders? -
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; the features of battered woman syndrome are similar
to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Lenore Walker (1994) has stated that battered
woman syndrome is characterized by a constellation of abuse-related anxiety,
arousal, and avoidance symptoms that are similar to those caused by other
traumatic experiences
A social worker determines that a client, age 36, is in the midst of a major depressive
episode, and the client's history suggests that he has had other such episodes in the
past. The social worker refers the client to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation,
and the psychiatrist prescribes an SSRI for the client. In terms of side-effects from
this class of medication, the client is MOST likely to experience which of the
following? -
Gastrointestinal problems, insomnia, sexual dysfunction: side effects associated with
the SSRIs (Prozac, Floxyfral, Paxil, Zoloft) include gastrointestinal problems (e.g.,
appetite loss, nausea, constipation, diarrhea); frequent urination; insomnia; anxiety;
headache; dizziness; tremor; and sexual dysfunction. Compared to tricyclic
antidepressants (TCAs), SSRIs are safer in overdose; less cardiotoxic; less likely to
result in cognitive impairment; and have a more rapid onset
An individual undergoing cocaine withdrawal is MOST likely to experience which of
the following? -
