Ch. 7 Initial Assessment

Question 1

intake interview

Answer 1

used to collect information about a client’s history and current symptoms

Question 2

screening inventory

Answer 2

used to collect a snapshot of client’s general mental health symptoms

Question 3

mental status exam

Answer 3

used to collect information on mood, affect, and thought processes

Question 4

T or F: Being female is a risk factor for suicide.

Answer 4

F

Question 5

anchoring

Answer 5

placing too much emphasis on information obtained early in the interview

Question 6

Although interviews can serve as a rich source of information, observations based on interviews are frequently …

Answer 6

biased or subject to misinterpretation

Question 7

four errors of judgment in interviewing:

Answer 7

• anchoring
• availability
• diagnostic overshadowing
• attribution

Question 8

Availability:

Answer 8

relying too much on one’s favorite theory or on popular diagnoses such as
borderline personality disorder or adult child of dysfunctional family;

Question 9

Diagnostic overshadowing:

Answer 9

ignoring or minimizing problems because they are less noticeable or are of less interest to the counselor

Question 10

Attribution:

Answer 10

attributing the problem primarily to the client without giving sufficient
consideration to the environment.

Question 11

six major categories of the Mental Status Exam:

Answer 11

1: appearance, attitude, and activity
2: mood and affect
3: speech and language
4: thought process, thought content, and perception
5: cognition
6: insight and judgment

Question 12

Clients should be asked directly about their suicidal thoughts if there is any hint of …

Answer 12

suicidal

thinking

Question 13

Counselors should be _______ when assessing for suicidal ideation

Answer 13

calm and direct

Question 14

The best indicators of suicidal risk are …

Answer 14

ideation, plan, intent, and means

Question 15

What suicide risk assessment tool provides a convenient acronym for 10 factors that we should
keep in mind when assessing for suicidal risk?

Answer 15

SAD PERSONS
sex 
age
depression 
previous attempt
ethanol abuse 
rational thinking loss
social support loss 
organized plan 
no spouse 
sickness

Question 16

Suicide Assessment Checklist

Answer 16

12 item suicide screening inventory

Question 17

 Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage

Answer 17

SAMHSA tool for evaluating suicide risk:

1: identify risk factors
2: identify protective factors.
3: assess thoughts, plan, behavior, and intent.
4: determine level of risk and intervention.
5: document

Question 18

5 components of a safety plan

Answer 18

1: identify warning signs
2: identify internal coping strategies.
3: identify social/situational coping strategies.
4: identify social sources of support.
5: identify professional sources of support (crisis resources)