NRNP6665 | NRNP 6665 Week 11 Final Exam Psychiatric-
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum Question
Practice Exam with Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
| Latest 2026 Updates | Graded A+
1. An illness of symptoms or deficits that affect voluntary motor or sensory
functions, which suggest another medical condition that is judged to be caused
by psychological factors because the illness is preceded by conflicts or other
stressors is known as which of the following?
A) Conversion Disorder
B) Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
C) Somatic Symptom Disorder
D) Factitious Disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (formerly known as
Conversion Disorder) involves neurological symptoms such as weakness,
movement disorders, or sensory symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical
condition. These symptoms are believed to be associated with psychological
factors, such as conflicts or stressors. The DSM-5-TR renamed this disorder to
emphasize the neurological nature of the symptoms while acknowledging the role
of psychological factors.
2. A patient presents with multiple physical complaints including pain,
gastrointestinal issues, and fatigue. Extensive medical workup has revealed no
physiological cause. The patient is preoccupied with these symptoms and
experiences significant distress and impairment. Which diagnosis is most
appropriate?
A) Conversion Disorder
B) Illness Anxiety Disorder
C) Somatic Symptom Disorder
D) Factitious Disorder
Answer: C
,Rationale: Somatic Symptom Disorder is characterized by one or more somatic
symptoms that are distressing or result in significant disruption of daily life. The
patient has excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to the somatic
symptoms, including disproportionate and persistent concerns about the
seriousness of symptoms. Unlike Illness Anxiety Disorder, the patient actually has
physical symptoms rather than just fear of having a serious illness.
3. A patient is convinced they have a serious illness despite repeated medical
evaluations showing no evidence of disease. They spend excessive time
researching symptoms and visiting multiple healthcare providers. This
presentation is most consistent with:
A) Somatic Symptom Disorder
B) Illness Anxiety Disorder
C) Conversion Disorder
D) Factitious Disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly hypochondriasis) is characterized
by preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness. The patient has high
health anxiety, is easily alarmed about health status, and performs excessive
health-related behaviors (checking for signs of illness, researching symptoms) or
maladaptive avoidance. Unlike Somatic Symptom Disorder, the patient may have
no or only mild somatic symptoms.
4. A patient presents with sudden onset of blindness in both eyes. Neurological
examination reveals no organic cause. The patient appears unconcerned about
the symptom, which is known as:
A) Anosognosia
B) La belle indifférence
C) Alexithymia
D) Anhedonia
Answer: B
,Rationale: "La belle indifférence" refers to a lack of concern or indifference about
a symptom that would typically cause significant distress. It has historically been
associated with conversion disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder).
However, it's important to note that this feature is not required for diagnosis and
may be present in other conditions.
5. Which of the following would NOT be included in the treatment plan for a
patient with Illness Anxiety Disorder?
A) Behavioral therapy
B) Exploratory invasive procedures to obtain diagnostic information
C) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
D) SSRIs
Answer: B
Rationale: In treating illness anxiety disorder, psychological interventions such as
CBT, pharmacotherapy with SSRIs, and mindfulness techniques are appropriate.
Invasive diagnostic procedures are generally avoided unless there is a strong
clinical indication, as they can exacerbate anxiety and reinforce the patient's belief
that something is seriously wrong. The focus should be on reassurance and
reducing health-related anxiety.
6. The principal theoretician to bring psyche and soma together was which of
the following?
A) Sigmund Freud
B) Anna Freud
C) Karl Abraham
D) Georg Groddeck
Answer: A
Rationale: Sigmund Freud is renowned for his work in psychoanalysis, which
integrates the psychological (psychic) and the physical (somatic). He pioneered
theories exploring how unconscious processes influence physical symptoms.
Groddeck also contributed to psychosomatic medicine, but Freud is the principal
theoretician credited with bringing psyche and soma together.
, 7. A patient presents with symptoms of a neurological condition including
seizures. Extensive testing reveals no neurological cause. The seizures are
suspected to be psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). The PMHNP
recognizes that PNES are classified under which disorder?
A) Somatic Symptom Disorder
B) Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
C) Factitious Disorder
D) Malingering
Answer: B
Rationale: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are classified under
Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (Conversion Disorder). These seizures
resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with abnormal electrical activity
in the brain. They are believed to be a psychological response to stress or trauma.
8. The PMHNP is evaluating a patient who has been in a motor vehicle
accident and now reports paralysis of the left arm. Medical evaluation reveals
no organic cause for the paralysis. The patient appears indifferent to the
symptom. The PMHNP recognizes this as:
A) Malingering
B) Factitious Disorder
C) Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
D) Somatic Symptom Disorder
Answer: C
Rationale: Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder involves symptoms of
altered voluntary motor or sensory function that are incompatible with recognized
neurological or medical conditions. The paralysis in this case, with no organic
cause and the presence of psychological factors, is consistent with this diagnosis.
The indifference (la belle indifférence) is a commonly associated feature but is not
required for diagnosis.
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum Question
Practice Exam with Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
| Latest 2026 Updates | Graded A+
1. An illness of symptoms or deficits that affect voluntary motor or sensory
functions, which suggest another medical condition that is judged to be caused
by psychological factors because the illness is preceded by conflicts or other
stressors is known as which of the following?
A) Conversion Disorder
B) Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
C) Somatic Symptom Disorder
D) Factitious Disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (formerly known as
Conversion Disorder) involves neurological symptoms such as weakness,
movement disorders, or sensory symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical
condition. These symptoms are believed to be associated with psychological
factors, such as conflicts or stressors. The DSM-5-TR renamed this disorder to
emphasize the neurological nature of the symptoms while acknowledging the role
of psychological factors.
2. A patient presents with multiple physical complaints including pain,
gastrointestinal issues, and fatigue. Extensive medical workup has revealed no
physiological cause. The patient is preoccupied with these symptoms and
experiences significant distress and impairment. Which diagnosis is most
appropriate?
A) Conversion Disorder
B) Illness Anxiety Disorder
C) Somatic Symptom Disorder
D) Factitious Disorder
Answer: C
,Rationale: Somatic Symptom Disorder is characterized by one or more somatic
symptoms that are distressing or result in significant disruption of daily life. The
patient has excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to the somatic
symptoms, including disproportionate and persistent concerns about the
seriousness of symptoms. Unlike Illness Anxiety Disorder, the patient actually has
physical symptoms rather than just fear of having a serious illness.
3. A patient is convinced they have a serious illness despite repeated medical
evaluations showing no evidence of disease. They spend excessive time
researching symptoms and visiting multiple healthcare providers. This
presentation is most consistent with:
A) Somatic Symptom Disorder
B) Illness Anxiety Disorder
C) Conversion Disorder
D) Factitious Disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly hypochondriasis) is characterized
by preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness. The patient has high
health anxiety, is easily alarmed about health status, and performs excessive
health-related behaviors (checking for signs of illness, researching symptoms) or
maladaptive avoidance. Unlike Somatic Symptom Disorder, the patient may have
no or only mild somatic symptoms.
4. A patient presents with sudden onset of blindness in both eyes. Neurological
examination reveals no organic cause. The patient appears unconcerned about
the symptom, which is known as:
A) Anosognosia
B) La belle indifférence
C) Alexithymia
D) Anhedonia
Answer: B
,Rationale: "La belle indifférence" refers to a lack of concern or indifference about
a symptom that would typically cause significant distress. It has historically been
associated with conversion disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder).
However, it's important to note that this feature is not required for diagnosis and
may be present in other conditions.
5. Which of the following would NOT be included in the treatment plan for a
patient with Illness Anxiety Disorder?
A) Behavioral therapy
B) Exploratory invasive procedures to obtain diagnostic information
C) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
D) SSRIs
Answer: B
Rationale: In treating illness anxiety disorder, psychological interventions such as
CBT, pharmacotherapy with SSRIs, and mindfulness techniques are appropriate.
Invasive diagnostic procedures are generally avoided unless there is a strong
clinical indication, as they can exacerbate anxiety and reinforce the patient's belief
that something is seriously wrong. The focus should be on reassurance and
reducing health-related anxiety.
6. The principal theoretician to bring psyche and soma together was which of
the following?
A) Sigmund Freud
B) Anna Freud
C) Karl Abraham
D) Georg Groddeck
Answer: A
Rationale: Sigmund Freud is renowned for his work in psychoanalysis, which
integrates the psychological (psychic) and the physical (somatic). He pioneered
theories exploring how unconscious processes influence physical symptoms.
Groddeck also contributed to psychosomatic medicine, but Freud is the principal
theoretician credited with bringing psyche and soma together.
, 7. A patient presents with symptoms of a neurological condition including
seizures. Extensive testing reveals no neurological cause. The seizures are
suspected to be psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). The PMHNP
recognizes that PNES are classified under which disorder?
A) Somatic Symptom Disorder
B) Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
C) Factitious Disorder
D) Malingering
Answer: B
Rationale: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are classified under
Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (Conversion Disorder). These seizures
resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with abnormal electrical activity
in the brain. They are believed to be a psychological response to stress or trauma.
8. The PMHNP is evaluating a patient who has been in a motor vehicle
accident and now reports paralysis of the left arm. Medical evaluation reveals
no organic cause for the paralysis. The patient appears indifferent to the
symptom. The PMHNP recognizes this as:
A) Malingering
B) Factitious Disorder
C) Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
D) Somatic Symptom Disorder
Answer: C
Rationale: Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder involves symptoms of
altered voluntary motor or sensory function that are incompatible with recognized
neurological or medical conditions. The paralysis in this case, with no organic
cause and the presence of psychological factors, is consistent with this diagnosis.
The indifference (la belle indifférence) is a commonly associated feature but is not
required for diagnosis.
