BARKLEY PMHNP AND HIGH
YIELD BOARDS 2026 350 QCM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS & RATIONALES
High-Yield QCM Exam 1–50 – Complete Answers & Rationales
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily decreased in
Parkinson’s disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Norepinephrine
C. Dopamine
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is caused by loss of dopaminergic
neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to dopamine deficiency.
2. First-line treatment for generalized anxiety disorder in
adults is:
A. Haloperidol
B. SSRIs (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram)
C. Benzodiazepines only
D. Lithium
Answer: B
Rationale: SSRIs are considered first-line due to efficacy and safety;
benzodiazepines are second-line or adjunct.
3. Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to
thrombolytic therapy?
,A. Hypertension controlled with meds
B. Minor trauma
C. Intracranial hemorrhage
D. Atrial fibrillation
Answer: C
Rationale: Active or recent intracranial hemorrhage is an absolute
contraindication due to high bleeding risk.
4. The normal adult resting heart rate is:
A. 40–50 bpm
B. 50–60 bpm
C. 60–100 bpm
D. 100–120 bpm
Answer: C
Rationale: A normal adult resting heart rate ranges from 60–100 beats
per minute.
5. Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin D
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin K
Answer: C
Rationale: Vitamin C deficiency leads to impaired collagen synthesis,
causing scurvy.
6. Which condition is characterized by hyperglycemia due to
insulin resistance?
A. Type 1 diabetes
B. Type 2 diabetes
C. Addison’s disease
D. Hypothyroidism
,Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is due to insulin resistance and relative
insulin deficiency.
7. The most common cause of community-acquired
pneumonia is:
A. Influenza virus
B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Mycoplasma hominis
Answer: B
Rationale: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent bacterial
pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia.
8. Which lab finding is most indicative of iron-deficiency
anemia?
A. High ferritin
B. High MCV
C. Low ferritin
D. Elevated B12
Answer: C
Rationale: Ferritin reflects iron stores; low ferritin is diagnostic for
iron-deficiency anemia.
9. A patient on warfarin presents with elevated INR and minor
bleeding. Management is:
A. Immediate surgery
B. Vitamin K administration
C. Aspirin
D. Observation only
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin K reverses warfarin’s anticoagulant effect and
reduces bleeding risk.
, 10. Which drug class is first-line for treating hypertension in a
diabetic patient?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Calcium channel blockers
C. ACE inhibitors
D. Thiazide diuretics
Answer: C
Rationale: ACE inhibitors protect renal function and control blood
pressure in diabetes.
11. The primary neurotransmitter implicated in depression is:
A. GABA
B. Acetylcholine
C. Serotonin
D. Dopamine
Answer: C
Rationale: Depression is associated with decreased serotonin,
norepinephrine, and dopamine activity.
12. Which of the following vaccines is contraindicated in
pregnancy?
A. Influenza (inactivated)
B. Tdap
C. MMR (live attenuated)
D. Hepatitis B
Answer: C
Rationale: Live attenuated vaccines can potentially harm the fetus.
13. Preferred initial imaging for suspected stroke in an adult
is:
A. MRI
B. Non-contrast CT scan
C. PET scan
D. X-ray
YIELD BOARDS 2026 350 QCM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS & RATIONALES
High-Yield QCM Exam 1–50 – Complete Answers & Rationales
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily decreased in
Parkinson’s disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Norepinephrine
C. Dopamine
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is caused by loss of dopaminergic
neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to dopamine deficiency.
2. First-line treatment for generalized anxiety disorder in
adults is:
A. Haloperidol
B. SSRIs (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram)
C. Benzodiazepines only
D. Lithium
Answer: B
Rationale: SSRIs are considered first-line due to efficacy and safety;
benzodiazepines are second-line or adjunct.
3. Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to
thrombolytic therapy?
,A. Hypertension controlled with meds
B. Minor trauma
C. Intracranial hemorrhage
D. Atrial fibrillation
Answer: C
Rationale: Active or recent intracranial hemorrhage is an absolute
contraindication due to high bleeding risk.
4. The normal adult resting heart rate is:
A. 40–50 bpm
B. 50–60 bpm
C. 60–100 bpm
D. 100–120 bpm
Answer: C
Rationale: A normal adult resting heart rate ranges from 60–100 beats
per minute.
5. Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin D
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin K
Answer: C
Rationale: Vitamin C deficiency leads to impaired collagen synthesis,
causing scurvy.
6. Which condition is characterized by hyperglycemia due to
insulin resistance?
A. Type 1 diabetes
B. Type 2 diabetes
C. Addison’s disease
D. Hypothyroidism
,Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is due to insulin resistance and relative
insulin deficiency.
7. The most common cause of community-acquired
pneumonia is:
A. Influenza virus
B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Mycoplasma hominis
Answer: B
Rationale: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent bacterial
pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia.
8. Which lab finding is most indicative of iron-deficiency
anemia?
A. High ferritin
B. High MCV
C. Low ferritin
D. Elevated B12
Answer: C
Rationale: Ferritin reflects iron stores; low ferritin is diagnostic for
iron-deficiency anemia.
9. A patient on warfarin presents with elevated INR and minor
bleeding. Management is:
A. Immediate surgery
B. Vitamin K administration
C. Aspirin
D. Observation only
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin K reverses warfarin’s anticoagulant effect and
reduces bleeding risk.
, 10. Which drug class is first-line for treating hypertension in a
diabetic patient?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Calcium channel blockers
C. ACE inhibitors
D. Thiazide diuretics
Answer: C
Rationale: ACE inhibitors protect renal function and control blood
pressure in diabetes.
11. The primary neurotransmitter implicated in depression is:
A. GABA
B. Acetylcholine
C. Serotonin
D. Dopamine
Answer: C
Rationale: Depression is associated with decreased serotonin,
norepinephrine, and dopamine activity.
12. Which of the following vaccines is contraindicated in
pregnancy?
A. Influenza (inactivated)
B. Tdap
C. MMR (live attenuated)
D. Hepatitis B
Answer: C
Rationale: Live attenuated vaccines can potentially harm the fetus.
13. Preferred initial imaging for suspected stroke in an adult
is:
A. MRI
B. Non-contrast CT scan
C. PET scan
D. X-ray
