Common Mental Health Diagnoses on the LMSW Exam
Review major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and other diagnoses frequently tested on the LMSW exam.
Mental Health Diagnoses on the LMSW Exam
The LMSW exam tests your ability to recognize common mental health conditions and understand their diagnostic criteria. While social workers may not always be the primary diagnostician, you must understand the DSM 5 and how diagnoses influence treatment planning. This guide covers the disorders most frequently tested.
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most commonly encountered conditions in social work practice. DSM 5 criteria require at least five symptoms present during the same two week period, with at least one being depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure:
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in activities
- Significant weight loss or gain, or change in appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive worry about a variety of topics occurring more days than not for at least six months. The worry is difficult to control and is associated with symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD develops following exposure to a traumatic event and is characterized by four symptom clusters:
- Intrusion symptoms: Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive memories
- Avoidance: Efforts to avoid reminders of the trauma
- Negative alterations in cognition and mood: Distorted beliefs, persistent negative emotions, and feelings of detachment
- Arousal and reactivity changes: Hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, irritability, and sleep disturbance
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania or hypomania alternating with depressive episodes. Bipolar I disorder includes at least one manic episode, while Bipolar II disorder involves hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes. The LMSW exam may test your ability to distinguish between mania and hypomania based on severity and duration.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders represent enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate from cultural expectations. The LMSW exam most commonly tests knowledge of borderline personality disorder, characterized by instability in relationships, self image, and emotions, and antisocial personality disorder, marked by persistent disregard for the rights of others.
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Schizophrenia is characterized by positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, negative symptoms such as flat affect and social withdrawal, and cognitive symptoms such as impaired executive functioning. Understanding the difference between positive and negative symptoms is important for the LMSW exam.
Differential Diagnosis on the Exam
The LMSW exam may present vignettes where you need to distinguish between similar conditions. For example, differentiating between grief and major depressive disorder, distinguishing PTSD from acute stress disorder, or identifying whether a presentation is better explained by a medical condition. Pay close attention to the duration, severity, and specific symptoms described in each vignette to select the most accurate diagnosis.
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