CMN 554 Module 1 Study Guide Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions
with Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
SECTION 1: Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Questions 1–22)
Q1: A 4-year-old child demonstrates significant delays in gross motor, fine motor,
language, and social skills. Formal IQ testing cannot be reliably completed due to the
child's limited cooperation. Which is the most appropriate DSM-5-TR diagnosis?
A. Intellectual Disability
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Global Developmental Delay
D. Specific Learning Disorder
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Global Developmental Delay is diagnosed in children under
age 5 when there are delays in multiple developmental domains and formal IQ testing
cannot be reliably completed. This matches CMN 554 curriculum on
neurodevelopmental disorders in young children.
Q2: A 16-year-old patient has been diagnosed with ADHD since childhood. The PMHNP
reviews the patient's history and notes that symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity
began at age 10. According to DSM-5-TR criteria, is this age of onset consistent with the
diagnosis?
A. No, because DSM-5-TR requires symptom onset before age 7
,B. No, because symptoms must be present before age 5
C. Yes, because DSM-5-TR requires several symptoms present before age 12
D. Yes, because there is no age of onset requirement in DSM-5-TR
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because DSM-5-TR criteria for ADHD require several symptoms to be
present before age 12 years, representing a change from DSM-IV's age 7 criterion. This
is a key diagnostic feature emphasized in CMN 554.
Q3: A child previously diagnosed with "Asperger's Disorder" under DSM-IV now presents
for re-evaluation. What is the appropriate DSM-5-TR diagnosis?
A. Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder with severity specifiers
C. Intellectual Disability
D. Specific Learning Disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the DSM-5-TR subsumed Asperger's Disorder into Autism
Spectrum Disorder, which now uses severity specifiers (Levels 1–3) to describe support
needs. The key diagnostic feature is that ASD requires both social communication
deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
Q4: A 7-year-old boy displays significant deficits in social communication and
interaction. However, he does not demonstrate any restricted, repetitive patterns of
behavior, interests, or activities. Which diagnosis should the PMHNP consider?
A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
B. Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
C. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
D. Intellectual Disability
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the critical differential between ASD and Social (Pragmatic)
Communication Disorder is the presence of Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior
(RRBs). Without RRBs, ASD cannot be diagnosed, and Social Communication Disorder
becomes the appropriate diagnosis.
Q5: Which neurotransmitter dysregulation is most strongly implicated in the
pathophysiology of ADHD, explaining the efficacy of stimulant medications as first-line
treatment?
A. Serotonin
B. Norepinephrine
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because dopamine dysregulation in the mesocortical and
nigrostriatal pathways is most strongly implicated in ADHD, which explains why
stimulant medications that increase dopamine availability are first-line treatment. This
matches CMN 554 neurobiological foundations.
Q6: A 14-year-old patient is being evaluated for Tourette Disorder. Which symptom
pattern is required for this diagnosis according to DSM-5-TR criteria?
A. At least one motor tic and multiple vocal tics
B. Multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic
C. Either multiple motor tics or multiple vocal tics
D. Multiple motor tics and multiple vocal tics with coprolalia
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because DSM-5-TR criteria for Tourette Disorder require multiple
motor tics and at least one vocal tic with onset before age 18. Coprolalia is not required
for diagnosis.
Q7: A 10-year-old student has average intelligence and has received adequate
educational instruction but continues to demonstrate significant impairment in reading
accuracy and fluency. There are no deficits in social communication. Which diagnosis is
most appropriate?
A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
B. Intellectual Disability
C. Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in reading
D. Global Developmental Delay
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in reading
occurs despite normal intelligence and adequate educational instruction, without social
communication deficits. The key diagnostic feature is the specific academic skill deficit
in the presence of otherwise normal development.
Q8: For a diagnosis of Intellectual Disability, which criteria must be met according to
DSM-5-TR?
A. Deficits in intellectual functioning only
B. Deficits in adaptive functioning only
C. Deficits in intellectual functioning AND adaptive functioning with onset during the
developmental period
D. Deficits in intellectual functioning OR adaptive functioning with onset before age 18
Correct Answer: C
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions
with Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
SECTION 1: Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Questions 1–22)
Q1: A 4-year-old child demonstrates significant delays in gross motor, fine motor,
language, and social skills. Formal IQ testing cannot be reliably completed due to the
child's limited cooperation. Which is the most appropriate DSM-5-TR diagnosis?
A. Intellectual Disability
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Global Developmental Delay
D. Specific Learning Disorder
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Global Developmental Delay is diagnosed in children under
age 5 when there are delays in multiple developmental domains and formal IQ testing
cannot be reliably completed. This matches CMN 554 curriculum on
neurodevelopmental disorders in young children.
Q2: A 16-year-old patient has been diagnosed with ADHD since childhood. The PMHNP
reviews the patient's history and notes that symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity
began at age 10. According to DSM-5-TR criteria, is this age of onset consistent with the
diagnosis?
A. No, because DSM-5-TR requires symptom onset before age 7
,B. No, because symptoms must be present before age 5
C. Yes, because DSM-5-TR requires several symptoms present before age 12
D. Yes, because there is no age of onset requirement in DSM-5-TR
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because DSM-5-TR criteria for ADHD require several symptoms to be
present before age 12 years, representing a change from DSM-IV's age 7 criterion. This
is a key diagnostic feature emphasized in CMN 554.
Q3: A child previously diagnosed with "Asperger's Disorder" under DSM-IV now presents
for re-evaluation. What is the appropriate DSM-5-TR diagnosis?
A. Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder with severity specifiers
C. Intellectual Disability
D. Specific Learning Disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the DSM-5-TR subsumed Asperger's Disorder into Autism
Spectrum Disorder, which now uses severity specifiers (Levels 1–3) to describe support
needs. The key diagnostic feature is that ASD requires both social communication
deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
Q4: A 7-year-old boy displays significant deficits in social communication and
interaction. However, he does not demonstrate any restricted, repetitive patterns of
behavior, interests, or activities. Which diagnosis should the PMHNP consider?
A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
B. Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
C. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
D. Intellectual Disability
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the critical differential between ASD and Social (Pragmatic)
Communication Disorder is the presence of Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior
(RRBs). Without RRBs, ASD cannot be diagnosed, and Social Communication Disorder
becomes the appropriate diagnosis.
Q5: Which neurotransmitter dysregulation is most strongly implicated in the
pathophysiology of ADHD, explaining the efficacy of stimulant medications as first-line
treatment?
A. Serotonin
B. Norepinephrine
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because dopamine dysregulation in the mesocortical and
nigrostriatal pathways is most strongly implicated in ADHD, which explains why
stimulant medications that increase dopamine availability are first-line treatment. This
matches CMN 554 neurobiological foundations.
Q6: A 14-year-old patient is being evaluated for Tourette Disorder. Which symptom
pattern is required for this diagnosis according to DSM-5-TR criteria?
A. At least one motor tic and multiple vocal tics
B. Multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic
C. Either multiple motor tics or multiple vocal tics
D. Multiple motor tics and multiple vocal tics with coprolalia
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because DSM-5-TR criteria for Tourette Disorder require multiple
motor tics and at least one vocal tic with onset before age 18. Coprolalia is not required
for diagnosis.
Q7: A 10-year-old student has average intelligence and has received adequate
educational instruction but continues to demonstrate significant impairment in reading
accuracy and fluency. There are no deficits in social communication. Which diagnosis is
most appropriate?
A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
B. Intellectual Disability
C. Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in reading
D. Global Developmental Delay
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in reading
occurs despite normal intelligence and adequate educational instruction, without social
communication deficits. The key diagnostic feature is the specific academic skill deficit
in the presence of otherwise normal development.
Q8: For a diagnosis of Intellectual Disability, which criteria must be met according to
DSM-5-TR?
A. Deficits in intellectual functioning only
B. Deficits in adaptive functioning only
C. Deficits in intellectual functioning AND adaptive functioning with onset during the
developmental period
D. Deficits in intellectual functioning OR adaptive functioning with onset before age 18
Correct Answer: C
