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"How I Passed the ASWB Exam"

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ASWB Exam Audio: The Social Work Podcast

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If you've found your way here, you've likely already discovered Jonathan Singer's long-running podcast, The Social Work Podcast.  But have you put the site to use in your ASWB exam prep?  If not, there's lots awaiting you. 

A handful of episodes cover, theory-by-theory, the very material that you need to know for the exam.  This is especially true of some earlier episodes.  More recent posts feature interviews with social workers focused on various topics that may be out of the scope of the exam, but listening to them is a good way to soak up what it means to be a social worker.  The exam is testing for that.  So have at 'em!

Exam DSM: Schizophrenia

Exam DSM: Schizophrenia

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To save you some poking around following the Schizoaffective Disorder post, here's the criteria for Schizophrenia, also via Behavenet:

Diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia:

A. Characteristic symptoms: Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated):

(1) delusions

(2) hallucinations

(3) disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence)

(4) grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior

(5) negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition

Note: Only one Criterion A symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other.

B. Social/occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset (or when the onset is in childhood or adolescence, failure to achieve expected level of interpersonal, academic, or occupational achievement).

C. Duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A (i.e., active-phase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or two or more symptoms listed in Criterion A present in an attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).

D. Schizoaffective and Mood Disorder exclusion: Schizoaffective Disorder and Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features have been ruled out because either (1) no Major Depressive, Manic, or Mixed Episodes have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms; or (2) if mood episodes have occurred during active-phase symptoms, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the active and residual periods.

E. Substance/general medical condition exclusion: The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

F. Relationship to a Pervasive Developmental Disorder: If there is a history of Autistic Disorder or another Pervasive Developmental Disorder, the additional diagnosis of Schizophrenia is made only if prominent delusions or hallucinations are also present for at least a month (or less if successfully treated).
Exam DSM: Schizoaffective Disorder

Exam DSM: Schizoaffective Disorder

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The DSM is too thick and too detailed for you to memorize everything in it.  Happily, the ASWB exam tends to focus on the disorders that you might be expected to encounter in front-line social work:  Things like Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Personality Disorders...and, highlighted here via Behavenet, Schizoaffective Disorder.  Can be tricky.  Learn it!

Diagnostic criteria for 295.70 Schizoaffective Disorder:


A. An uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is either a Major Depressive Episode, a Manic Episode, or a Mixed Episode concurrent with symptoms that meet Criterion A for Schizophrenia.

B. During the same period of illness, there have been delusions or hallucinations for at least 2 weeks in the absence of prominent moodsymptoms. 
 
C. Symptoms that meet criteria for a mood episode are present for a substantial portion of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness. 
 
D. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition. 

What's the most important part of the Code of Ethics to learn for the ASWB exam?

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Is there a most important part of the NASW Code of Ethics to know for the ASWB exam?  Probably not.  It's all there for a reason and any part of it may show up on the licensing exam.

But if you were in a huge rush and could only review parts of the Code, some highlights:

1.03 Informed Consent
(a) Social workers should provide services to clients only in the context of a professional relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent. Social workers should use clear and understandable language to inform clients of the purpose of the services, risks related to the services, limits to services because of the requirements of a third-party payer, relevant costs, reasonable alternatives, clients' right to refuse or withdraw consent, and the time frame covered by the consent. Social workers should provide clients with an opportunity to ask questions.
(b) In instances when clients are not literate or have difficulty understanding the primary language used in the practice setting, social workers should take steps to ensure clients' comprehension. This may include providing clients with a detailed verbal explanation or arranging for a qualified interpreter or translator whenever possible.

It goes on from there...

1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality
(a) Social workers should respect clients' right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to providing service or conducting social work evaluation or research. Once private information is shared, standards of confidentiality apply.
(b) Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with a valid consent from a client, or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client.

Plenty more where that came from...

2.04 Disputes Involving Colleagues
(a) Social workers should not take advantage of a dispute between a colleague and employer to obtain a position or otherwise advance the social workers own interests.
(b) Social workers should not exploit clients in disputes with colleagues or engage clients in any inappropriate discussion of conflicts between social workers and their colleagues.

But really, learn the whole thing. It's not all that much information and yes, you will be tested on it!

 
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