BRAINSCAPE1
Fitzgerald PMHNP Psychiatric-Mental
Health Nurse Practitioner Final Exam 2026
Prep Questions and Answers
�PMHNP FINAL EXAM PREP
50 High-Yield Questions with Answers & Rationales
MOOD DISORDERS
1. A patient presents with 5 days of elevated mood, decreased need for sleep,
grandiosity, and pressured speech. No hospitalization required. Diagnosis?
A. Cyclothymia
B. Bipolar I
C. Bipolar II
D. Hypomania
Answer: D. Hypomania
Rationale: ≥4 days, no marked impairment = hypomania. Bipolar II requires hypomania + major
depression.
2. First-line treatment for acute bipolar mania:
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
A. Sertraline
B. Lithium
C. Bupropion
D. Buspirone
Answer: B. Lithium
Rationale: Lithium is first-line for acute mania and suicide reduction.
3. A depressed patient develops mania after starting fluoxetine. This indicates:
A. Substance-induced mood disorder
B. Bipolar disorder
C. Cyclothymia
D. Borderline personality
Answer: B. Bipolar disorder
Rationale: Antidepressant-induced mania suggests underlying bipolar disorder.
ANXIETY DISORDERS
4. First-line treatment for GAD:
A. Alprazolam
B. Sertraline
C. Propranolol
D. Hydroxyzine
Answer: B. Sertraline
Rationale: SSRIs/SNRIs are first-line.
5. Panic disorder with agoraphobia treatment:
A. CBT + SSRI
B. Benzodiazepine only
C. Antipsychotic
D. Mood stabilizer
Answer: A. CBT + SSRI
Rationale: Combination therapy is most effective.
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
6. Duration of symptoms required for schizophrenia:
A. 1 week
B. 1 month
C. 6 months
D. 12 months
Answer: C. 6 months
7. First-line for acute psychosis:
A. SSRI
B. Atypical antipsychotic
C. Lithium
D. Buspirone
Answer: B. Atypical antipsychotic
8. Clozapine is indicated for:
A. First episode psychosis
B. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia
C. Depression
D. Anxiety
Answer: B
Rationale: After failure of 2 antipsychotics.
CHILD & ADOLESCENT
9. First-line ADHD medication:
A. Atomoxetine
B. Methylphenidate
BRAINSCAPE1
Fitzgerald PMHNP Psychiatric-Mental
Health Nurse Practitioner Final Exam 2026
Prep Questions and Answers
�PMHNP FINAL EXAM PREP
50 High-Yield Questions with Answers & Rationales
MOOD DISORDERS
1. A patient presents with 5 days of elevated mood, decreased need for sleep,
grandiosity, and pressured speech. No hospitalization required. Diagnosis?
A. Cyclothymia
B. Bipolar I
C. Bipolar II
D. Hypomania
Answer: D. Hypomania
Rationale: ≥4 days, no marked impairment = hypomania. Bipolar II requires hypomania + major
depression.
2. First-line treatment for acute bipolar mania:
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
A. Sertraline
B. Lithium
C. Bupropion
D. Buspirone
Answer: B. Lithium
Rationale: Lithium is first-line for acute mania and suicide reduction.
3. A depressed patient develops mania after starting fluoxetine. This indicates:
A. Substance-induced mood disorder
B. Bipolar disorder
C. Cyclothymia
D. Borderline personality
Answer: B. Bipolar disorder
Rationale: Antidepressant-induced mania suggests underlying bipolar disorder.
ANXIETY DISORDERS
4. First-line treatment for GAD:
A. Alprazolam
B. Sertraline
C. Propranolol
D. Hydroxyzine
Answer: B. Sertraline
Rationale: SSRIs/SNRIs are first-line.
5. Panic disorder with agoraphobia treatment:
A. CBT + SSRI
B. Benzodiazepine only
C. Antipsychotic
D. Mood stabilizer
Answer: A. CBT + SSRI
Rationale: Combination therapy is most effective.
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
6. Duration of symptoms required for schizophrenia:
A. 1 week
B. 1 month
C. 6 months
D. 12 months
Answer: C. 6 months
7. First-line for acute psychosis:
A. SSRI
B. Atypical antipsychotic
C. Lithium
D. Buspirone
Answer: B. Atypical antipsychotic
8. Clozapine is indicated for:
A. First episode psychosis
B. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia
C. Depression
D. Anxiety
Answer: B
Rationale: After failure of 2 antipsychotics.
CHILD & ADOLESCENT
9. First-line ADHD medication:
A. Atomoxetine
B. Methylphenidate
BRAINSCAPE1
