CLINICAL DSM 5 EXAM LATEST 2025 REVISED EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED COMPLETE SOLUTION) ALREADY PASSED
SCORE A+
/. A school therapist receives a referral for a 13-year-old boy for inattention and poor
grades. During observations and interactions with the student, the therapist experiences
the boy as intelligent and highly verbal but notes that he has difficulty following
instructions and reports that he avoids reading and writing activities. The initial
diagnosis is MOST likely: -A. Conduct Disorder
B. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Type
C. Autism Spectrum Disorder
D. Learning Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 2 is D: Rationale: - Answer-Conduct disorder is
incorrect because no where in the stem does it indicate aggressive, destructive,
deceitful behavior or a violation of rules which are common symptoms of conduct
disorder. ADHD is incorrect because according to the DSM-5, symptoms of ADHD must
be present before age 12 and in this case the boy is older than that and it does not
specify that his symptoms began before age 12. Autism Spectrum Disorder is incorrect
because the child does not exhibit difficulties in language, both verbal and nonverbal, or
with social interactions. Therefore, a learning disorder would be the most likely initial
diagnoses because the boy is exhibiting symptoms such as difficulty following
instructions and avoiding reading and writing.
/.A therapist evaluates a 6-year-old girl with moderately severe cerebral palsy. Among
other symptoms, the parents report that their daughter is often observed attempting to
chew and eat non-food items, including sand and houseplants. Sometimes they are
able to intervene while she is chewing on the item, but she has been hospitalized on
one occasion for ingesting leaves from a potentially harmful plant. What is the MOST
likely diagnosis in this case? - Answer-A. Encopresis
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Rumination Disorder
D. Pica
/.(Correct) The answer to question 3 is D: Rationale: - Answer-Encopresis incorrect
because this occurs when an individual has bowel movements unexpectedly which is
not indicated in the stem. Autism Spectrum Disorder would be incorrect because
language or social interaction problems are not indicated in the stem. Rumination
disorder is incorrect because this occurs when an individual involuntarily regurgitates
food. In this case Pica is the best answer because symptoms of this include having an
,appetite for and eating foods that are non-nutritious or non-edible, in this case, sand
and houseplants.
/.A therapist begins treatment with a child diagnosed with ADHD and intends to use
cognitive behavioral treatment to help improve the child's concentration. The therapist
will MOST likely need to help the child in which additional area? - Answer-A. Expressive
language
B. Social skills
C. Basic hygiene
D. Bladder control
/.(Wrong) The answer to question 4 is B: Rationale: - Answer-Social skills is a common
difficulty for children with ADHD because of impulsivity and difficulty focusing on one
task. Therefore the child may have difficulty doing things with peers such as focusing on
games, or interrupting conversation. A, C, and D are not issues with ADHD.
/.A couple enters treatment with a therapist due to increasing conflicts and distance
after 2 years of marriage. The man reports feeling as if his wife needs his approval for
everything and he's exhausted with her constant worries and questions about what she
should do. The woman endorses frequent worries about her husband leaving her or
dying young and states that she only asks his opinion because she "trusts him more
than I trust myself." The man says that he feels more like a parent than a husband and
that this can't continue. The woman's diagnosis is MOST likely: - Answer-A. Avoidant
Personality Disorder
B. Histrionic Personality Disorder
C. Dependent Personality Disorder
D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 5 is C: Rationale: - Answer-A key factor in
Dependent Personality Disorder is a need for constant approval regarding everything
that someone does. The individual may also need others to take responsibility, lack self-
confidence, and have difficulty doing things independently which are all indicated in the
stem. Avoidant Personality Disorder is incorrect because symptoms include a
preoccupation with being criticized or rejected in social situations, and a reluctance to
take personal risks which is not stated in the stem. B is incorrect because symptoms of
Histrionic Personality Disorder include sexual seductiveness, a constant need for
approval/praise, and a use of physical appearance to draw attention. While
approval/praise is indicated in the stem, the other symptoms are not. Lastly,
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is incorrect because while the stem mentions worries, the
constant dependency on her husband better fits the symptoms of Dependent
Personality Disorder.
/.A therapist is asked to evaluate a 5-year-old boy whose parents are concerned about
his inability to sit still periodically at school. During the interview, the boy makes multiple
barking noises, blinks almost constantly, and jerks his right arm back and forth. His
parents report that these symptoms started in preschool and are getting in the way of
, their son learning and making friends. What is the MOST likely diagnosis at this time? -
Answer-A. Tourette's Disorder
B. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
C. Stereotypic Movement Disorder
D. Autism Spectrum Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 6 is A: Rationale: - Answer-Tourette's syndrome is a
disorder that involves repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics
which are seen in the stem through the barking noises, blinking, and jerking of arm. B is
incorrect because involuntary movements such as these are not seen in ADHD. C is
similar to Tourette's, however, the main difference is that in Stereotypic Movement
Disorder the repetitive movements generally start at a younger age and the movements
last longer than tics would. D is incorrect because while the children has difficulty
making friends and learning this is not due to difficulties with communication or
language.
/.A diagnosis of Enuresis is appropriate when: - Answer-A. The patient voids feces
intentionally or unintentionally at last twice weekly.
B. Medications may be causing the problem.
C. Urine is unintentionally voided at least twice weekly and the patient is at least five
years old.
D. Urine is unintentionally voided at least twice weekly and the patient is at least six
years old.
/.(Correct) The answer to question 7 is C: Rationale: - Answer-C is the best answer
because Enuresis can be diagnosed when an individual is at least five years old and is
unintentionally urinating twice a week, generally for about 3 months. A and B are not
symptoms of Enuresis and D is incorrect because the correct age for diagnosis is at
least 5 years old, not 6.
/.A school therapist is asked to evaluate an 8-year-old girl who has been crying
frequently in class and complaining of stomach aches. When the therapist interviews
the student, the student begs the therapist to let her go home and be with her mother
and also expresses fears that something bad might happen to her mom. What is the
MOST likely diagnosis in this case? - Answer-A. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
B. Separation Anxiety Disorder
C. School Phobia
D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 8 is B: Rationale: - Answer-A is incorrect because
there are no life threatening traumatic events described in the stem that would allow for
a PTSD diagnosis to occur. C and D are incorrect because while the child is having
difficulty staying in school and anxiety, her fears are more related to being away from
her mother and having fear that something bad may happen to her mom. Therefore, B
is the correct answer because common symptoms include worry that something may
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED COMPLETE SOLUTION) ALREADY PASSED
SCORE A+
/. A school therapist receives a referral for a 13-year-old boy for inattention and poor
grades. During observations and interactions with the student, the therapist experiences
the boy as intelligent and highly verbal but notes that he has difficulty following
instructions and reports that he avoids reading and writing activities. The initial
diagnosis is MOST likely: -A. Conduct Disorder
B. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Type
C. Autism Spectrum Disorder
D. Learning Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 2 is D: Rationale: - Answer-Conduct disorder is
incorrect because no where in the stem does it indicate aggressive, destructive,
deceitful behavior or a violation of rules which are common symptoms of conduct
disorder. ADHD is incorrect because according to the DSM-5, symptoms of ADHD must
be present before age 12 and in this case the boy is older than that and it does not
specify that his symptoms began before age 12. Autism Spectrum Disorder is incorrect
because the child does not exhibit difficulties in language, both verbal and nonverbal, or
with social interactions. Therefore, a learning disorder would be the most likely initial
diagnoses because the boy is exhibiting symptoms such as difficulty following
instructions and avoiding reading and writing.
/.A therapist evaluates a 6-year-old girl with moderately severe cerebral palsy. Among
other symptoms, the parents report that their daughter is often observed attempting to
chew and eat non-food items, including sand and houseplants. Sometimes they are
able to intervene while she is chewing on the item, but she has been hospitalized on
one occasion for ingesting leaves from a potentially harmful plant. What is the MOST
likely diagnosis in this case? - Answer-A. Encopresis
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Rumination Disorder
D. Pica
/.(Correct) The answer to question 3 is D: Rationale: - Answer-Encopresis incorrect
because this occurs when an individual has bowel movements unexpectedly which is
not indicated in the stem. Autism Spectrum Disorder would be incorrect because
language or social interaction problems are not indicated in the stem. Rumination
disorder is incorrect because this occurs when an individual involuntarily regurgitates
food. In this case Pica is the best answer because symptoms of this include having an
,appetite for and eating foods that are non-nutritious or non-edible, in this case, sand
and houseplants.
/.A therapist begins treatment with a child diagnosed with ADHD and intends to use
cognitive behavioral treatment to help improve the child's concentration. The therapist
will MOST likely need to help the child in which additional area? - Answer-A. Expressive
language
B. Social skills
C. Basic hygiene
D. Bladder control
/.(Wrong) The answer to question 4 is B: Rationale: - Answer-Social skills is a common
difficulty for children with ADHD because of impulsivity and difficulty focusing on one
task. Therefore the child may have difficulty doing things with peers such as focusing on
games, or interrupting conversation. A, C, and D are not issues with ADHD.
/.A couple enters treatment with a therapist due to increasing conflicts and distance
after 2 years of marriage. The man reports feeling as if his wife needs his approval for
everything and he's exhausted with her constant worries and questions about what she
should do. The woman endorses frequent worries about her husband leaving her or
dying young and states that she only asks his opinion because she "trusts him more
than I trust myself." The man says that he feels more like a parent than a husband and
that this can't continue. The woman's diagnosis is MOST likely: - Answer-A. Avoidant
Personality Disorder
B. Histrionic Personality Disorder
C. Dependent Personality Disorder
D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 5 is C: Rationale: - Answer-A key factor in
Dependent Personality Disorder is a need for constant approval regarding everything
that someone does. The individual may also need others to take responsibility, lack self-
confidence, and have difficulty doing things independently which are all indicated in the
stem. Avoidant Personality Disorder is incorrect because symptoms include a
preoccupation with being criticized or rejected in social situations, and a reluctance to
take personal risks which is not stated in the stem. B is incorrect because symptoms of
Histrionic Personality Disorder include sexual seductiveness, a constant need for
approval/praise, and a use of physical appearance to draw attention. While
approval/praise is indicated in the stem, the other symptoms are not. Lastly,
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is incorrect because while the stem mentions worries, the
constant dependency on her husband better fits the symptoms of Dependent
Personality Disorder.
/.A therapist is asked to evaluate a 5-year-old boy whose parents are concerned about
his inability to sit still periodically at school. During the interview, the boy makes multiple
barking noises, blinks almost constantly, and jerks his right arm back and forth. His
parents report that these symptoms started in preschool and are getting in the way of
, their son learning and making friends. What is the MOST likely diagnosis at this time? -
Answer-A. Tourette's Disorder
B. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
C. Stereotypic Movement Disorder
D. Autism Spectrum Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 6 is A: Rationale: - Answer-Tourette's syndrome is a
disorder that involves repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics
which are seen in the stem through the barking noises, blinking, and jerking of arm. B is
incorrect because involuntary movements such as these are not seen in ADHD. C is
similar to Tourette's, however, the main difference is that in Stereotypic Movement
Disorder the repetitive movements generally start at a younger age and the movements
last longer than tics would. D is incorrect because while the children has difficulty
making friends and learning this is not due to difficulties with communication or
language.
/.A diagnosis of Enuresis is appropriate when: - Answer-A. The patient voids feces
intentionally or unintentionally at last twice weekly.
B. Medications may be causing the problem.
C. Urine is unintentionally voided at least twice weekly and the patient is at least five
years old.
D. Urine is unintentionally voided at least twice weekly and the patient is at least six
years old.
/.(Correct) The answer to question 7 is C: Rationale: - Answer-C is the best answer
because Enuresis can be diagnosed when an individual is at least five years old and is
unintentionally urinating twice a week, generally for about 3 months. A and B are not
symptoms of Enuresis and D is incorrect because the correct age for diagnosis is at
least 5 years old, not 6.
/.A school therapist is asked to evaluate an 8-year-old girl who has been crying
frequently in class and complaining of stomach aches. When the therapist interviews
the student, the student begs the therapist to let her go home and be with her mother
and also expresses fears that something bad might happen to her mom. What is the
MOST likely diagnosis in this case? - Answer-A. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
B. Separation Anxiety Disorder
C. School Phobia
D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
/.(Correct) The answer to question 8 is B: Rationale: - Answer-A is incorrect because
there are no life threatening traumatic events described in the stem that would allow for
a PTSD diagnosis to occur. C and D are incorrect because while the child is having
difficulty staying in school and anxiety, her fears are more related to being away from
her mother and having fear that something bad may happen to her mom. Therefore, B
is the correct answer because common symptoms include worry that something may
