NR 547 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN
PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS
THE LIFESPAN PRACTICUM |MIDTERM
EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
(CHAMBERLAIN)
1. A 9-year-old presents with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty sustaining attention.
Which diagnosis is most consistent?
• A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
• B. ADHD ✅
• C. Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• D. Conduct Disorder
2. Which symptom best differentiates schizophrenia from schizoaffective disorder?
• A. Hallucinations
• B. Delusions
• C. Mood episodes ✅
• D. Disorganized speech
3. A 45-year-old reports persistent sadness, anhedonia, and fatigue for 2 years without remission.
Diagnosis?
• A. Major Depressive Disorder
• B. Persistent Depressive Disorder ✅
• C. Bipolar II Disorder
• D. Cyclothymic Disorder
4. Which feature distinguishes delirium from dementia?
, • A. Memory impairment
• B. Acute onset ✅
• C. Disorientation
• D. Language disturbance
5. A patient presents with recurrent intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal after
trauma. Diagnosis?
• A. Acute Stress Disorder
• B. PTSD ✅
• C. Adjustment Disorder
• D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
6. Which disorder is most associated with grandiosity and decreased need for sleep?
• A. Schizophrenia
• B. Bipolar I Disorder ✅
• C. Borderline Personality Disorder
• D. Cyclothymic Disorder
7. A 70-year-old presents with memory loss, apathy, and impaired executive function. Which
diagnosis is most likely?
• A. Alzheimer’s Disease ✅
• B. Vascular Dementia
• C. Delirium
• D. Depression
8. Which symptom best differentiates panic disorder from generalized anxiety disorder?
• A. Muscle tension
• B. Sudden intense fear ✅
• C. Restlessness
• D. Sleep disturbance
9. A 30-year-old reports alternating periods of hypomania and depression, but no mania.
Diagnosis?
• A. Bipolar I Disorder
• B. Bipolar II Disorder ✅
• C. Cyclothymic Disorder
• D. Major Depressive Disorder
10. Which disorder is characterized by instability in relationships, self-image, and affect?
, • A. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• B. Borderline Personality Disorder ✅
• C. Antisocial Personality Disorder
• D. Histrionic Personality Disorder
11. A child presents with repetitive hand-washing and intrusive fears of contamination.
Diagnosis?
• A. OCD ✅
• B. GAD
• C. Specific Phobia
• D. PTSD
12. Which feature distinguishes anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa?
• A. Binge eating
• B. Compensatory behaviors
• C. Low body weight ✅
• D. Fear of gaining weight
13. A patient presents with excessive worry for 6 months, difficulty controlling worry, and
somatic symptoms. Diagnosis?
• A. Panic Disorder
• B. GAD ✅
• C. OCD
• D. PTSD
14. Which disorder is most associated with flashbacks and nightmares?
• A. PTSD ✅
• B. GAD
• C. OCD
• D. Panic Disorder
15. A 25-year-old reports fear of social situations, sweating, and avoidance of public speaking.
Diagnosis?
• A. Social Anxiety Disorder ✅
• B. Panic Disorder
• C. Specific Phobia
• D. GAD
16. Which disorder is characterized by alternating periods of hypomanic symptoms and mild
depression for 2+ years?
, • A. Bipolar I Disorder
• B. Bipolar II Disorder
• C. Cyclothymic Disorder ✅
• D. Persistent Depressive Disorder
17. A patient presents with auditory hallucinations, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms
for 8 months. Diagnosis?
• A. Schizophrenia ✅
• B. Schizoaffective Disorder
• C. Brief Psychotic Disorder
• D. Delusional Disorder
18. Which disorder is most associated with fear of having a serious illness despite medical
reassurance?
• A. Somatic Symptom Disorder
• B. Illness Anxiety Disorder ✅
• C. Conversion Disorder
• D. Factitious Disorder
19. A patient presents with sudden paralysis after psychological stress, with no medical
explanation. Diagnosis?
• A. Conversion Disorder ✅
• B. Factitious Disorder
• C. Somatic Symptom Disorder
• D. Illness Anxiety Disorder
20. Which disorder is characterized by intentional production of symptoms for external gain?
• A. Factitious Disorder
• B. Malingering ✅
• C. Conversion Disorder
• D. Somatic Symptom Disorder
21. A patient presents with alternating identities, memory gaps, and trauma history. Diagnosis?
• A. Dissociative Amnesia
• B. Dissociative Identity Disorder ✅
• C. Depersonalization Disorder
• D. PTSD
22. Which disorder is most associated with fear of specific objects or situations?
PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS
THE LIFESPAN PRACTICUM |MIDTERM
EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
(CHAMBERLAIN)
1. A 9-year-old presents with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty sustaining attention.
Which diagnosis is most consistent?
• A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
• B. ADHD ✅
• C. Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• D. Conduct Disorder
2. Which symptom best differentiates schizophrenia from schizoaffective disorder?
• A. Hallucinations
• B. Delusions
• C. Mood episodes ✅
• D. Disorganized speech
3. A 45-year-old reports persistent sadness, anhedonia, and fatigue for 2 years without remission.
Diagnosis?
• A. Major Depressive Disorder
• B. Persistent Depressive Disorder ✅
• C. Bipolar II Disorder
• D. Cyclothymic Disorder
4. Which feature distinguishes delirium from dementia?
, • A. Memory impairment
• B. Acute onset ✅
• C. Disorientation
• D. Language disturbance
5. A patient presents with recurrent intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal after
trauma. Diagnosis?
• A. Acute Stress Disorder
• B. PTSD ✅
• C. Adjustment Disorder
• D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
6. Which disorder is most associated with grandiosity and decreased need for sleep?
• A. Schizophrenia
• B. Bipolar I Disorder ✅
• C. Borderline Personality Disorder
• D. Cyclothymic Disorder
7. A 70-year-old presents with memory loss, apathy, and impaired executive function. Which
diagnosis is most likely?
• A. Alzheimer’s Disease ✅
• B. Vascular Dementia
• C. Delirium
• D. Depression
8. Which symptom best differentiates panic disorder from generalized anxiety disorder?
• A. Muscle tension
• B. Sudden intense fear ✅
• C. Restlessness
• D. Sleep disturbance
9. A 30-year-old reports alternating periods of hypomania and depression, but no mania.
Diagnosis?
• A. Bipolar I Disorder
• B. Bipolar II Disorder ✅
• C. Cyclothymic Disorder
• D. Major Depressive Disorder
10. Which disorder is characterized by instability in relationships, self-image, and affect?
, • A. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• B. Borderline Personality Disorder ✅
• C. Antisocial Personality Disorder
• D. Histrionic Personality Disorder
11. A child presents with repetitive hand-washing and intrusive fears of contamination.
Diagnosis?
• A. OCD ✅
• B. GAD
• C. Specific Phobia
• D. PTSD
12. Which feature distinguishes anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa?
• A. Binge eating
• B. Compensatory behaviors
• C. Low body weight ✅
• D. Fear of gaining weight
13. A patient presents with excessive worry for 6 months, difficulty controlling worry, and
somatic symptoms. Diagnosis?
• A. Panic Disorder
• B. GAD ✅
• C. OCD
• D. PTSD
14. Which disorder is most associated with flashbacks and nightmares?
• A. PTSD ✅
• B. GAD
• C. OCD
• D. Panic Disorder
15. A 25-year-old reports fear of social situations, sweating, and avoidance of public speaking.
Diagnosis?
• A. Social Anxiety Disorder ✅
• B. Panic Disorder
• C. Specific Phobia
• D. GAD
16. Which disorder is characterized by alternating periods of hypomanic symptoms and mild
depression for 2+ years?
, • A. Bipolar I Disorder
• B. Bipolar II Disorder
• C. Cyclothymic Disorder ✅
• D. Persistent Depressive Disorder
17. A patient presents with auditory hallucinations, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms
for 8 months. Diagnosis?
• A. Schizophrenia ✅
• B. Schizoaffective Disorder
• C. Brief Psychotic Disorder
• D. Delusional Disorder
18. Which disorder is most associated with fear of having a serious illness despite medical
reassurance?
• A. Somatic Symptom Disorder
• B. Illness Anxiety Disorder ✅
• C. Conversion Disorder
• D. Factitious Disorder
19. A patient presents with sudden paralysis after psychological stress, with no medical
explanation. Diagnosis?
• A. Conversion Disorder ✅
• B. Factitious Disorder
• C. Somatic Symptom Disorder
• D. Illness Anxiety Disorder
20. Which disorder is characterized by intentional production of symptoms for external gain?
• A. Factitious Disorder
• B. Malingering ✅
• C. Conversion Disorder
• D. Somatic Symptom Disorder
21. A patient presents with alternating identities, memory gaps, and trauma history. Diagnosis?
• A. Dissociative Amnesia
• B. Dissociative Identity Disorder ✅
• C. Depersonalization Disorder
• D. PTSD
22. Which disorder is most associated with fear of specific objects or situations?
