Question 1

Which of the following does the mental status exam NOT assess?
A) muscle tone
B) appearance and actions
C) emotion
D) cognition

Accepted Answer

The mental status exam does not assess muscle tone, as it is focused on assessing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

Question 2

Which of the following is true about reports of child behavior?
A) Different sources tend to have highly correlating reports of behavior, so typically only one source is necessary.
B) Children tend to report lower levels of psychological problems and behavioral symptoms than parents and teachers, across all disorders.
C) Children tend to overreport anxiety and mood problems, compared to teachers and parents, but teachers and parents tend to overreport disruptive behavior problems, compared to children.
D) Teachers and parents tend to overreport anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to children, and children tend to overreport disruptive behavior problems, compared to teachers and parents.

Accepted Answer

Children, parents, and teachers often have different perspectives on a child's behavior, leading to discrepancies in reporting. Children may overreport internalizing problems like anxiety and mood issues, while external observers like parents and teachers might be more attuned to externalizing or disruptive behaviors.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT true of stigma of mental illness?
A) It can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies.
B) It can cause a sense of shame or degradation that decreases self-esteem and lowers self-worth.
C) It has been shown to increase the likelihood that families will seek psychological services so they can have excuses for their children's poor behavior.
D) It can be exacerbated by the way the media covers those with mental illness.

Accepted Answer

Stigma of mental illness does not increase the likelihood that families will seek psychological services so they can have excuses for their children's poor behavior. This statement is incorrect as stigma often discourages families from seeking help due to fear of judgment or discrimination.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT one of Jerome Sattler's four components of psychological assessment?
A) diagnostic interviews
B) projective tests
C) behavioral observations
D) informal data gathering

Accepted Answer

Jerome Sattler's four components of psychological assessment are diagnostic interviews, behavioral observations, informal data gathering, and standardized tests.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT true of clinically significant impairment?
A) It is required for diagnosis of almost every disorder in the DSM-5.
B) It is considered by some to be a vague term.
C) Clinically significant impairment is the kind of impairment that a clinician considers severe enough to need treatment.
D) It is synonymous with impairment in work functioning.

Accepted Answer

Clinically significant impairment is not necessarily synonymous with impairment in work functioning. It can refer to impairments in social or personal functioning as well.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of a clinical interview?
A) It always takes multiple sessions to complete.
B) It usually involves the child and his or her parents and sometimes other individuals knowledgeable about the child's functioning.
C) It always occurs during the first session.
D) If parents and children are both interviewed, they are always interviewed separately.

Accepted Answer

A clinical interview typically involves the child and their parents, as well as any other individuals with knowledge about the child's functioning, such as teachers or healthcare providers. It may take multiple sessions to complete, and it does not necessarily occur during the first session. Sometimes parents and children are interviewed separately, but this is not always the case.

Question 7

Which of the following examples displays insight but not judgment,with respect to the cognition portion of the mental status exam?
A) Billie agrees that her purging after meals is a problem but doesn't believe it's a very big problem.
B) Natasha doesn't agree with her parents that her cannabis use is a problem, though she does agree not to use it in their house.
C) Antonio's biggest wish is that he wouldn't feel compelled to wash his hands so frequently, and he'd do anything to stop but doesn't know how.
D) Martin wishes everyone would stop talking about him and let him be alone with his thoughts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following examples displays insight...

Question 8

Why is multimethod assessment important?
A) It helps the clinician obtain a more complete picture of children's functioning.
B) It compensates for invalid norm-referenced tests.
C) It allows clinicians to skip certain methods.
D) It allows clinicians to avoid conducting interviews.

Accepted Answer

Multimethod assessment is important because it helps the clinician obtain a more complete picture of children's functioning. Using multiple methods, such as observations, interviews, and norm-referenced tests, can provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of a child's strengths and weaknesses, as opposed to relying on just one method. This can aid in making more accurate diagnoses and creating effective intervention plans.

Question 9

Mikhail is deliberately lying about other children and tearing up their work in the classroom.He has been repeatedly sent to the principal and his teacher is concerned about the effects of the disruptive behavior on the other students in the class.Which of the following would be the primary reason for assessment in Mikhail's case?
A) to screen him for a disorder
B) to reach a diagnosis
C) to plan treatment
D) to remove him from the situation entirely and permanently

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mikhail is deliberately lying about other children...

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT one of the primary activities of mental health practitioners?
A) research
B) assessment
C) diagnosis
D) treatment

Accepted Answer

While research may be a component of a mental health practitioner's role, it is not considered one of the primary activities. The primary activities are assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders.

Question 11

A child who jumps from one idea to another,seemingly unconnected,idea when speaking would most likely be having challenges with thought ______,assessed in the ______ section of the mental status exam.
A) content; appearance and actions
B) process; appearance and actions
C) content; cognition
D) process; cognition

Accepted Answer

Thought process refers to the way in which a person's thoughts are connected and expressed, while cognition refers to the overall ability to think, learn and process information. Jumping from one idea to another without clear connections suggests a disturbance in thought process, which is assessed in the cognition section of the mental status exam. Therefore, the correct choice is D (process; cognition). Choice A (content; appearance and actions) is incorrect because content refers to the actual topics discussed, not the way they're connected. Choice B (process; appearance and actions) is partly correct but incomplete as appearance and actions refer to other aspects of the exam (e.g. grooming, posture) and not cognitive functioning. Choice C (content; cognition) is incorrect for the same reason as choice A.

Question 12

What is the goal of the Research Domain Criteria initiative?
A) to construct more accurate diagnostic criteria for the next edition of the DSM
B) to utilize psychotherapy (talking cures) to better address the treatment of the disorders in the DSM-5
C) to use genetic and biomedical research to identify the underlying causes of disorders in order to provide more effective treatments
D) to provide the most complete understanding of the prevalence of each disorder in the United States and abroad

Accepted Answer

The goal of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative is to use genetic and biomedical research to identify the underlying causes of mental disorders in order to provide more effective treatments. The initiative seeks to move away from the traditional symptom-based diagnosis in the DSM and towards a more thorough understanding of the biological and psychological factors that contribute to mental illness. The ultimate goal is to create a more personalized and precise approach to treatment.

Question 13

Which of the following is the best example of a multimethod assessment?
A) A psychologist asks a parent and a teacher to complete a rating scale about a child's behavior.
B) A psychologist observes a child at school and then asks a teacher to complete a rating scale about the child's behavior at home.
C) A psychologist gathers data from parents about the child's behavior at home, at school, and at home on the weekend.
D) A psychologist uses self-report questionnaires from parents, teachers, and the child to assess the child's mood.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the best...

Question 14

Billy has seen a psychologist,and during his mental status exam,he seems quite cheery.He even laughs repeatedly when talking about how he's been living in a shelter and sometimes doesn't have enough to eat.Which of the following is likely true of Billy?
A) A mental status exam would likely determine that Billy has no psychological disturbances.
B) Billy seems to be displaying inappropriate affect, which would be seen in the cognition aspect of the mental status exam.
C) Billy seems to be displaying inappropriate mood, which would be seen in the emotions aspect of the mental status exam.
D) Billy seems to be displaying inappropriate affect, which would be seen in the emotions aspect of the mental status exam.

Accepted Answer

Billy's behavior of laughing while discussing serious and distressing life circumstances suggests he is displaying inappropriate affect. Affect refers to the external display of feelings or emotions, which in Billy's case, does not match the context of his situation. This would be assessed in the emotions aspect of a mental status exam, not cognition.

Question 15

Wonje is suspected of having ADHD.Wonje's clinician wants to be sure to interview Wonje's parents,teachers,coaches,and Wonje himself to better understand Wonje's behavior in different situations.This is referred to as ______.
A) behavioral observation
B) multi-informant assessment
C) informal data gathering
D) multimethod assessment

Accepted Answer

Multi-informant assessment involves gathering information from multiple sources such as parents, teachers, and coaches in addition to the individual being assessed. This helps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the individual's behavior in different contexts and reduces the potential for bias or incomplete information. ADHD is often diagnosed using a multimethod approach, which may involve multiple informants and various assessment tools, such as rating scales and behavioral observations.

Question 16

Which is true of behavioral observation?
A) It is not necessary if there are parental reports of the child's behavior.
B) It can be fully assessed by informally observing the child's behavior in the clinic.
C) The clinician can observe analog tasks to mimic the situations in which children engage in daily life.
D) Naturalistic observations are most commonly used by clinicians who work in hospitals.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral observation can be done by observing the child during daily activities, but if those activities are not readily available, analog tasks, which mimic those activities or situations, can be used. Parental reports are also helpful, but they are not a substitute for direct observation. Informal observations in the clinic may not provide a complete picture of the child's behavior in different situations. Naturalistic observation can be used, but it is not limited to hospital settings.

Question 17

Malik is a linebacker on his high school football team.He just took a hard hit.Lying on the ground,when he opens his eyes,one of the first questions his coach asks him is,"Do you know where you are?" The coach is trying to assess Malik's ______.
A) appearance and actions
B) thought content
C) orientation
D) emotion

Accepted Answer

The coach is asking if Malik knows where he is, which is an assessment of his orientation, or awareness of his surroundings. Option A is not applicable as the coach is not assessing Malik's appearance but rather his knowledge. Option B is not applicable as the coach is not assessing Malik's thoughts, only his awareness. Option D is not applicable as the coach is not assessing Malik's emotions.

Question 18

Whereas DSM-5 diagnosis is based largely on ______,the proposed Research Domain Criteria classification system is to be based on ______.
A) antecedents; consequences
B) signs and symptoms; underlying causes
C) underlying causes; treatment outcomes
D) distress; impairment

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 diagnosis is based largely on signs and symptoms, while the proposed Research Domain Criteria classification system is to be based on underlying causes.

Question 19

A therapist asks a mother and child to work on a puzzle together in the clinic playroom and watches their interaction when they discover that there's a piece missing.This might be considered ______.
A) informal data gathering
B) a naturalistic observation
C) an analog task
D) mental status exam

Accepted Answer

The answer of A therapist asks a mother and child...

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a primary purpose of assessment?
A) to gather data for future studies of disorders
B) to screen children for possible problems
C) to reach a diagnosis
D) to plan treatment

Accepted Answer

Gathering data for future studies of disorders is a secondary purpose of assessment, as the primary purpose is to screen, diagnose, and plan treatment for children who may have developmental or behavioral problems.

Quiz 3: Assessment and Diagnosis

Which of the following does the mental status exam NOT assess?

Which of the following is true about reports of child behavior?

Which of the following is NOT true of stigma of mental illness?

Which of the following is NOT one of Jerome Sattler's four components of psychological assessment?

Which of the following is NOT true of clinically significant impairment?

Which of the following is true of a clinical interview?

Which of the following examples displays insight but not judgment,with respect to the cognition portion of the mental status exam?

Why is multimethod assessment important?

Which of the following is NOT one of the primary activities of mental health practitioners?

A child who jumps from one idea to another,seemingly unconnected,idea when speaking would most likely be having challenges with thought ,assessed in the section of the mental status exam.

What is the goal of the Research Domain Criteria initiative?

Which of the following is the best example of a multimethod assessment?

Billy has seen a psychologist,and during his mental status exam,he seems quite cheery.He even laughs repeatedly when talking about how he's been living in a shelter and sometimes doesn't have enough to eat.Which of the following is likely true of Billy?

Wonje is suspected of having ADHD.Wonje's clinician wants to be sure to interview Wonje's parents,teachers,coaches,and Wonje himself to better understand Wonje's behavior in different situations.This is referred to as ______.

Which is true of behavioral observation?

Malik is a linebacker on his high school football team.He just took a hard hit.Lying on the ground,when he opens his eyes,one of the first questions his coach asks him is,"Do you know where you are?" The coach is trying to assess Malik's ______.

Whereas DSM-5 diagnosis is based largely on ,the proposed Research Domain Criteria classification system is to be based on .

A therapist asks a mother and child to work on a puzzle together in the clinic playroom and watches their interaction when they discover that there's a piece missing.This might be considered ______.

Which of the following is NOT a primary purpose of assessment?