,PTSD Diagnosis and Bipolar Disorder
Practice Exam questions and correct
answers– Updated 2026 (Graded A+) instant
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Subject: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Subtopic: Anxiety and Trauma Disorders
Question 1:
A 28-year-old combat veteran presents with intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and
avoidance behaviors that have persisted for 8 weeks following military deployment. Which
diagnosis is most appropriate?
A) Acute stress disorder
B) Generalized anxiety disorder
C) Post-traumatic stress disorder
D) Panic disorder
Correct Answer: C - Post-traumatic stress disorder
Rationale: PTSD requires exposure to trauma with symptoms including intrusion, avoidance,
negative mood alterations, and hyperarousal lasting longer than one month. Acute stress
disorder occurs within the first month after trauma. Generalized anxiety disorder involves
excessive worry without a traumatic trigger, and panic disorder is characterized by recurrent
panic attacks.
Question 2:
A patient develops intrusive memories, dissociation, and sleep disturbances 10 days after
witnessing a fatal accident. Which diagnosis is most consistent with these findings?
A) Major depressive disorder
B) Acute stress disorder
C) Bipolar disorder
D) Schizophrenia
Correct Answer: B - Acute stress disorder
,Rationale: Acute stress disorder occurs within one month of a traumatic event and includes
intrusion, dissociation, avoidance, and arousal symptoms. Symptoms persisting beyond one
month may indicate PTSD.
Question 3:
A psychiatric nurse practitioner recommends prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. The primary
therapeutic mechanism of this treatment is:
A) Suppression of traumatic memories
B) Systematic confrontation of trauma-related stimuli
C) Elimination of anxiety medications
D) Development of psychosis insight
Correct Answer: B - Systematic confrontation of trauma-related stimuli
Rationale: Exposure therapy gradually exposes patients to trauma-related memories and cues to
reduce avoidance behaviors and extinguish fear responses. It is considered an evidence-based
treatment for PTSD.
Question 4:
Which medication class is considered first-line pharmacotherapy for PTSD?
A) Antipsychotics
B) Mood stabilizers
C) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
D) Benzodiazepines
Correct Answer: C - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Rationale: SSRIs are first-line medications for PTSD because they reduce anxiety, intrusive
symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Benzodiazepines are generally avoided because they may
interfere with trauma recovery.
Question 5:
A patient with PTSD avoids crowded shopping centers because they remind him of a traumatic
assault. This symptom represents:
, A) Dissociation
B) Avoidance behavior
C) Delusion formation
D) Thought blocking
Correct Answer: B - Avoidance behavior
Rationale: Avoidance of trauma-related situations, thoughts, or reminders is a core PTSD
symptom cluster.
Subtopic: Mood Disorders
Question 6:
A patient experiences elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and impaired
functioning lasting 10 days. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A) Bipolar II disorder
B) Cyclothymic disorder
C) Bipolar I disorder
D) Persistent depressive disorder
Correct Answer: C - Bipolar I disorder
Rationale: Bipolar I disorder requires at least one manic episode causing significant
impairment. Bipolar II involves hypomania without full mania.
Question 7:
Which finding best differentiates hypomania from mania?
A) Presence of depression
B) Duration of symptoms
C) Degree of functional impairment
D) Presence of anxiety
Correct Answer: C - Degree of functional impairment
Rationale: Mania causes marked functional impairment, hospitalization, or psychosis, whereas
hypomania does not significantly impair functioning.
Practice Exam questions and correct
answers– Updated 2026 (Graded A+) instant
download pdf
Subject: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Subtopic: Anxiety and Trauma Disorders
Question 1:
A 28-year-old combat veteran presents with intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and
avoidance behaviors that have persisted for 8 weeks following military deployment. Which
diagnosis is most appropriate?
A) Acute stress disorder
B) Generalized anxiety disorder
C) Post-traumatic stress disorder
D) Panic disorder
Correct Answer: C - Post-traumatic stress disorder
Rationale: PTSD requires exposure to trauma with symptoms including intrusion, avoidance,
negative mood alterations, and hyperarousal lasting longer than one month. Acute stress
disorder occurs within the first month after trauma. Generalized anxiety disorder involves
excessive worry without a traumatic trigger, and panic disorder is characterized by recurrent
panic attacks.
Question 2:
A patient develops intrusive memories, dissociation, and sleep disturbances 10 days after
witnessing a fatal accident. Which diagnosis is most consistent with these findings?
A) Major depressive disorder
B) Acute stress disorder
C) Bipolar disorder
D) Schizophrenia
Correct Answer: B - Acute stress disorder
,Rationale: Acute stress disorder occurs within one month of a traumatic event and includes
intrusion, dissociation, avoidance, and arousal symptoms. Symptoms persisting beyond one
month may indicate PTSD.
Question 3:
A psychiatric nurse practitioner recommends prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. The primary
therapeutic mechanism of this treatment is:
A) Suppression of traumatic memories
B) Systematic confrontation of trauma-related stimuli
C) Elimination of anxiety medications
D) Development of psychosis insight
Correct Answer: B - Systematic confrontation of trauma-related stimuli
Rationale: Exposure therapy gradually exposes patients to trauma-related memories and cues to
reduce avoidance behaviors and extinguish fear responses. It is considered an evidence-based
treatment for PTSD.
Question 4:
Which medication class is considered first-line pharmacotherapy for PTSD?
A) Antipsychotics
B) Mood stabilizers
C) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
D) Benzodiazepines
Correct Answer: C - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Rationale: SSRIs are first-line medications for PTSD because they reduce anxiety, intrusive
symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Benzodiazepines are generally avoided because they may
interfere with trauma recovery.
Question 5:
A patient with PTSD avoids crowded shopping centers because they remind him of a traumatic
assault. This symptom represents:
, A) Dissociation
B) Avoidance behavior
C) Delusion formation
D) Thought blocking
Correct Answer: B - Avoidance behavior
Rationale: Avoidance of trauma-related situations, thoughts, or reminders is a core PTSD
symptom cluster.
Subtopic: Mood Disorders
Question 6:
A patient experiences elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and impaired
functioning lasting 10 days. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A) Bipolar II disorder
B) Cyclothymic disorder
C) Bipolar I disorder
D) Persistent depressive disorder
Correct Answer: C - Bipolar I disorder
Rationale: Bipolar I disorder requires at least one manic episode causing significant
impairment. Bipolar II involves hypomania without full mania.
Question 7:
Which finding best differentiates hypomania from mania?
A) Presence of depression
B) Duration of symptoms
C) Degree of functional impairment
D) Presence of anxiety
Correct Answer: C - Degree of functional impairment
Rationale: Mania causes marked functional impairment, hospitalization, or psychosis, whereas
hypomania does not significantly impair functioning.
