Wilkes University NSG 526 – Clinical
Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Practice|
Questions and Answers with Rationale
2026-2027 Update
Question 1
A PMHNP is using Motivational Interviewing (MI) with a patient who has
alcohol use disorder. The patient says, "I know drinking is causing problems, but
I'm not sure I'm ready to quit." Which response best reflects the spirit of MI?
A. "You need to stop drinking before your health gets worse."
B. "What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of continuing to drink?"
C. "Your family is right—you have to quit."
D. "Let's make a commitment today that you'll never drink again."
� Correct Answer: B. "What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages
of continuing to drink?"
� Rationale:
Motivational Interviewing is collaborative and nonjudgmental. Exploring
ambivalence helps patients identify their own reasons for change rather than
imposing external pressure.
� Question 2
,Which of the following is one of the four core communication skills remembered
by the acronym OARS?
A. Observation
B. Open-ended questions
C. Organization
D. Orientation
� Correct Answer: B. Open-ended questions
� Rationale:
The OARS skills are:
O – Open-ended questions
A – Affirmations
R – Reflective listening
S – Summaries
These skills promote collaboration and patient-centered communication.
� Question 3
A patient in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) reports difficulty controlling
intense anger during disagreements. Which DBT module is most appropriate?
A. Emotion regulation
B. Dream analysis
C. Free association
D. Interpretation
,� Correct Answer: A. Emotion regulation
� Rationale:
Emotion regulation skills help patients recognize, understand, and manage intense
emotions without acting impulsively.
� Question 4
Which patient would most likely benefit from Interpersonal Psychotherapy
(IPT)?
A. A patient experiencing depression after the death of a spouse
B. A patient with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder requiring ERP
C. A patient with schizophrenia experiencing command hallucinations
D. A patient with delirium
� Correct Answer: A. A patient experiencing depression after the death of a
spouse
� Rationale:
IPT is particularly effective for depression associated with grief, interpersonal
conflicts, role transitions, and interpersonal deficits.
� Question 5
A PMHNP notices that a patient's symptoms improve whenever family
communication improves. Which therapeutic model best explains this observation?
A. Family Systems Theory
B. Psychoanalysis
, C. Behavioral Therapy
D. Biomedical Model
� Correct Answer: A. Family Systems Theory
� Rationale:
Family Systems Theory views the family as an interconnected system. Changes in
communication or roles can influence the functioning of all family members.
� Question 6
A patient says, "If I don't clean my house for six hours every day, something
terrible will happen to my children." Which evidence-based psychotherapy is
considered first-line?
A. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
B. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
C. Supportive therapy
D. Interpersonal therapy
� Correct Answer: B. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
� Rationale:
ERP is the gold-standard psychotherapy for OCD. It reduces anxiety by exposing
patients to feared situations while preventing compulsive rituals.
� Question 7
Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Practice|
Questions and Answers with Rationale
2026-2027 Update
Question 1
A PMHNP is using Motivational Interviewing (MI) with a patient who has
alcohol use disorder. The patient says, "I know drinking is causing problems, but
I'm not sure I'm ready to quit." Which response best reflects the spirit of MI?
A. "You need to stop drinking before your health gets worse."
B. "What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of continuing to drink?"
C. "Your family is right—you have to quit."
D. "Let's make a commitment today that you'll never drink again."
� Correct Answer: B. "What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages
of continuing to drink?"
� Rationale:
Motivational Interviewing is collaborative and nonjudgmental. Exploring
ambivalence helps patients identify their own reasons for change rather than
imposing external pressure.
� Question 2
,Which of the following is one of the four core communication skills remembered
by the acronym OARS?
A. Observation
B. Open-ended questions
C. Organization
D. Orientation
� Correct Answer: B. Open-ended questions
� Rationale:
The OARS skills are:
O – Open-ended questions
A – Affirmations
R – Reflective listening
S – Summaries
These skills promote collaboration and patient-centered communication.
� Question 3
A patient in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) reports difficulty controlling
intense anger during disagreements. Which DBT module is most appropriate?
A. Emotion regulation
B. Dream analysis
C. Free association
D. Interpretation
,� Correct Answer: A. Emotion regulation
� Rationale:
Emotion regulation skills help patients recognize, understand, and manage intense
emotions without acting impulsively.
� Question 4
Which patient would most likely benefit from Interpersonal Psychotherapy
(IPT)?
A. A patient experiencing depression after the death of a spouse
B. A patient with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder requiring ERP
C. A patient with schizophrenia experiencing command hallucinations
D. A patient with delirium
� Correct Answer: A. A patient experiencing depression after the death of a
spouse
� Rationale:
IPT is particularly effective for depression associated with grief, interpersonal
conflicts, role transitions, and interpersonal deficits.
� Question 5
A PMHNP notices that a patient's symptoms improve whenever family
communication improves. Which therapeutic model best explains this observation?
A. Family Systems Theory
B. Psychoanalysis
, C. Behavioral Therapy
D. Biomedical Model
� Correct Answer: A. Family Systems Theory
� Rationale:
Family Systems Theory views the family as an interconnected system. Changes in
communication or roles can influence the functioning of all family members.
� Question 6
A patient says, "If I don't clean my house for six hours every day, something
terrible will happen to my children." Which evidence-based psychotherapy is
considered first-line?
A. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
B. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
C. Supportive therapy
D. Interpersonal therapy
� Correct Answer: B. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
� Rationale:
ERP is the gold-standard psychotherapy for OCD. It reduces anxiety by exposing
patients to feared situations while preventing compulsive rituals.
� Question 7
