2025/2026 ASWB LSW Practice Set: Mental Health
Disorders, Personality Disorders, Community
Engagement & Ethical Scenarios
A client is diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. It is likely that :
A. His personal life will not be affected
B. He will be excessively studious
C. He will experience performance problems at school and work due to his
inability to finish tasks on time
D. He will not have low self esteem - correct answer c. He will experience
performance problems at school and work due to his inability to finish tasks on
time
While many variables affect suicidality among teenagers, which item below
has been a particularly powerful predictor:
A. A recent parental divorce
B. A transfer to a new school
C. A history of occasional drug use
D. A change in family economic status - correct answer a. A recent parental
divorce
A patient experiencing dysthymic disorder will:
A. Vividly describe hallucinations that began at least three months ago
B. Have associated eating disorders that began at least six months ago
C. Experience chronic depression on most days for two years or longer
,D. Probably be drug dependent - correct answer c. Experience chronic
depression on most days for two years or longer
Clients in a mental health agency group are encouraged by the group leader
to socialize even when not participating in the group sessions. The group is
probably:
A. An analytically oriented group
B. A behavioral group
C. A supportive group
D. A transactional group - correct answer c. A supportive group
Jane is a client at a mental health clinic who has been attacked by her
boyfriend on several occasions. She appears one day with her face badly
bruised. Though she has previously been to court and her boyfriend has been
ordered by a judge to stay away, he continues to harass and threaten her. In
advising the client, the social worker should be aware that:
A. Court orders are rarely violated because offenders are afraid of arrest
B. The police will react swiftly and will vigorously enforce orders of protection
C. Women often will not accuse their attackers for fear of retribution
D. Battered women sometimes do not protect themselves and will permit
violent men to reenter their lives even when a court order prohibits contact -
correct answer d. Battered women sometimes do not protect themselves
and will permit violent men to reenter their lives even when a court order
prohibits contact
A client is interviewed by a social worker, but has reservations about
discussing sensitive issues at the intake interview. In explaining
confidentiality, the worker would:
,A. Provide information about the limits of confidentiality as the need arises
B. Provide a thorough explanation of the limits of confidentiality
C. Do nothing until specific questions are raised by the client
D. Provide information initially regarding the limits of confidentiality only as it
relates to the worker-client relationship - correct answer b. Provide a
thorough explanation of the limits of confidentiality
A social worker who imposes his judgments on clients is most likely to elicit:
A. Acquiescence
B. Cooperation
C. Appreciation
D. Resistance - correct answer d. Resistance
A patient with dysthymic disorder is likely to benefit from:
A. Environmental change
B. Insight oriented therapy
C. A drug treatment group
D. A change of diet - correct answer b. Insight oriented therapy
A client diagnosed with schizophrenia has been released from an inpatient
unit and is being followed at a community mental health agency. The client is
stable enough to participate in a group. What type of group is the social
worker likely to recommend?
A. Short term crisis oriented group
, B. Activity group
C. Behavioral group
D. Supportive group - correct answer d. Supportive group
Mrs. W has a long history of alcohol abuse. Though she has made several
failed attempts to quite, she is now convinced that alcohol is affecting her
heart and liver and she decides to stop drinking. She refuses medical
supervision. Several days after deciding to quit, she arrives at the clinic
without making an appointment and demands to see her social worker. She is
loud and demanding and seems disheveled and uncoordinated. She then
abruptly leaves the clinic. The social worker might conclude that Mrs. W :
A. Is going through alcohol withdrawal and needs medical attention
B. Wants the social worker's help in managing her discomfort
C. Is intoxicated
D. May be experiencing delusions - correct answer c. Is intoxicated
A woman brings her husband to a busy emergency room because he is not
feeling well. He dies while there. What should the social worker do?
A. Counsel the wife on grief and loss
B. Tell the wife that dying is part of life
C. Explain to the wife the stages of grief and loss
D. Find a room so that the wife can have privacy to deal with her feelings -
correct answer d. Find a room so that the wife can have privacy to deal with
her feelings
Empathy has been described as an attitude that engages a client in treatment.
Which of the following best describes empathy?
Disorders, Personality Disorders, Community
Engagement & Ethical Scenarios
A client is diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. It is likely that :
A. His personal life will not be affected
B. He will be excessively studious
C. He will experience performance problems at school and work due to his
inability to finish tasks on time
D. He will not have low self esteem - correct answer c. He will experience
performance problems at school and work due to his inability to finish tasks on
time
While many variables affect suicidality among teenagers, which item below
has been a particularly powerful predictor:
A. A recent parental divorce
B. A transfer to a new school
C. A history of occasional drug use
D. A change in family economic status - correct answer a. A recent parental
divorce
A patient experiencing dysthymic disorder will:
A. Vividly describe hallucinations that began at least three months ago
B. Have associated eating disorders that began at least six months ago
C. Experience chronic depression on most days for two years or longer
,D. Probably be drug dependent - correct answer c. Experience chronic
depression on most days for two years or longer
Clients in a mental health agency group are encouraged by the group leader
to socialize even when not participating in the group sessions. The group is
probably:
A. An analytically oriented group
B. A behavioral group
C. A supportive group
D. A transactional group - correct answer c. A supportive group
Jane is a client at a mental health clinic who has been attacked by her
boyfriend on several occasions. She appears one day with her face badly
bruised. Though she has previously been to court and her boyfriend has been
ordered by a judge to stay away, he continues to harass and threaten her. In
advising the client, the social worker should be aware that:
A. Court orders are rarely violated because offenders are afraid of arrest
B. The police will react swiftly and will vigorously enforce orders of protection
C. Women often will not accuse their attackers for fear of retribution
D. Battered women sometimes do not protect themselves and will permit
violent men to reenter their lives even when a court order prohibits contact -
correct answer d. Battered women sometimes do not protect themselves
and will permit violent men to reenter their lives even when a court order
prohibits contact
A client is interviewed by a social worker, but has reservations about
discussing sensitive issues at the intake interview. In explaining
confidentiality, the worker would:
,A. Provide information about the limits of confidentiality as the need arises
B. Provide a thorough explanation of the limits of confidentiality
C. Do nothing until specific questions are raised by the client
D. Provide information initially regarding the limits of confidentiality only as it
relates to the worker-client relationship - correct answer b. Provide a
thorough explanation of the limits of confidentiality
A social worker who imposes his judgments on clients is most likely to elicit:
A. Acquiescence
B. Cooperation
C. Appreciation
D. Resistance - correct answer d. Resistance
A patient with dysthymic disorder is likely to benefit from:
A. Environmental change
B. Insight oriented therapy
C. A drug treatment group
D. A change of diet - correct answer b. Insight oriented therapy
A client diagnosed with schizophrenia has been released from an inpatient
unit and is being followed at a community mental health agency. The client is
stable enough to participate in a group. What type of group is the social
worker likely to recommend?
A. Short term crisis oriented group
, B. Activity group
C. Behavioral group
D. Supportive group - correct answer d. Supportive group
Mrs. W has a long history of alcohol abuse. Though she has made several
failed attempts to quite, she is now convinced that alcohol is affecting her
heart and liver and she decides to stop drinking. She refuses medical
supervision. Several days after deciding to quit, she arrives at the clinic
without making an appointment and demands to see her social worker. She is
loud and demanding and seems disheveled and uncoordinated. She then
abruptly leaves the clinic. The social worker might conclude that Mrs. W :
A. Is going through alcohol withdrawal and needs medical attention
B. Wants the social worker's help in managing her discomfort
C. Is intoxicated
D. May be experiencing delusions - correct answer c. Is intoxicated
A woman brings her husband to a busy emergency room because he is not
feeling well. He dies while there. What should the social worker do?
A. Counsel the wife on grief and loss
B. Tell the wife that dying is part of life
C. Explain to the wife the stages of grief and loss
D. Find a room so that the wife can have privacy to deal with her feelings -
correct answer d. Find a room so that the wife can have privacy to deal with
her feelings
Empathy has been described as an attitude that engages a client in treatment.
Which of the following best describes empathy?
