PMH-C Exam 2026/2027 UPDATED QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• What are typical emotional changes during pregnancy? -✓✓ Mood is labile,
teary, self-esteem unchanged, may tire easily, and experience joy and anticipation.
• What is the prevalence of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) in
women? -✓✓ 1 in 5 to 7 women.
• What is the prevalence of PMADs in men? -✓✓ 1 in 10 men.
• What is the prevalence of postpartum psychosis? -✓✓ 1 to 2 cases per 1,000
births.
• What percentage of women experience Baby Blues? -✓✓ 60-80% of new
mothers.
• How long do Baby Blues typically last? -✓✓ 2 days to 2 weeks after birth.
• What differentiates Baby Blues from Major Depression? -✓✓ Severity, timing of
onset, and duration.
• What are the diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)? -✓✓
Excessive worry and anxiety occurring more days than not for at least six months,
along with three or more associated symptoms.
,• What are common symptoms of Panic Disorder? -✓✓ Recurrent panic attacks,
persistent concern about additional attacks, and significant behavioral changes to
avoid them.
• What is a key symptom of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)? -✓✓ Depressed
mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities.
• What is the specifier for Peripartum Onset in MDD? -✓✓ The depressive episode
begins during pregnancy or within 4 weeks postpartum.
• What are the four subcategories of PTSD symptoms? -✓✓ Intrusion, avoidance,
negative cognitions and mood, and arousal.
• What is the prevalence of postpartum PTSD in community samples? -✓✓ 4% in
community samples and 18.5% in high-risk groups.
• What characterizes Acute Stress Disorder? -✓✓ Symptoms lasting from 2 days to
1 month following a traumatic experience.
• What are common themes in postpartum PTSD? -✓✓ Perception of lack of
caring, poor communication, feeling powerless.
• What is the prevalence of maternal mortality in 2020? -✓✓ 861 women suffered
fatal complications from childbirth.
• What is the prevalence of severe maternal morbidity annually? -✓✓ About
50,000 women suffer near-fatal complications.
,• What is the risk of OCD in perinatal women compared to the general population?
-✓✓ 1.5 to 2 times greater risk.
• What is a key characteristic of OCD thoughts in perinatal women? -✓✓ Thoughts
are obsessive and frightening, but parents do not want to harm the baby.
• What is the prevalence of infertility in couples? -✓✓ 1 in 8 couples.
• How many infants are born to depressed mothers annually? -✓✓ Approximately
400,000 infants.
• What are the symptoms of Baby Blues? -✓✓ Tearfulness, lability, reactivity,
exhaustion, but predominantly happy.
• What is the duration of symptoms for Baby Blues to be classified as such? -✓✓
Symptoms must resolve within 2 weeks.
• What is the primary concern of individuals with Panic Disorder? -✓✓ Fear of
dying, going crazy, or losing control.
• What is the difference between Acute and Chronic Trauma-related disorders? -
✓✓ Acute lasts 2 days to 1 month; Chronic involves a history of abuse or neglect.
• What is the DSM V criterion for trauma? -✓✓ Direct experience, witnessing, or
indirect exposure to a traumatic event causing significant distress.
• What percentage of women screened positive for bipolar disorder? -✓✓ 2.6%
, • What defines Bipolar I disorder? -✓✓ At least 1 lifetime episode of mania.
• List three symptoms of elevated mood in Bipolar I disorder. -✓✓ Euphoria or
agitation, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts.
• How long do hypomanic episodes last? -✓✓ 4 days in length.
• What characterizes mania episodes? -✓✓ Severe symptoms that impair
functioning, lasting at least 7 days or requiring hospitalization.
• What percentage of women with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed with unipolar
depression? -✓✓ Over 69%.
• What is the risk of recurrence of bipolar disorder in pregnancy for women who
stop mood stabilizers? -✓✓ 2x risk of recurrence, 4x more rapidly than those on
medication.
• What is Bipolar II disorder often referred to as? -✓✓ The PPD imposter.
• What percentage of women with bipolar disorder experience a relapse or
increased symptoms during pregnancy? -✓✓ 45%-52%.
• What is the incidence of perinatal psychosis? -✓✓ 1-2 per 1000 births.
• What are common symptoms of perinatal psychosis? -✓✓ Rambling speech,
hallucinations, paranoia.
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• What are typical emotional changes during pregnancy? -✓✓ Mood is labile,
teary, self-esteem unchanged, may tire easily, and experience joy and anticipation.
• What is the prevalence of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) in
women? -✓✓ 1 in 5 to 7 women.
• What is the prevalence of PMADs in men? -✓✓ 1 in 10 men.
• What is the prevalence of postpartum psychosis? -✓✓ 1 to 2 cases per 1,000
births.
• What percentage of women experience Baby Blues? -✓✓ 60-80% of new
mothers.
• How long do Baby Blues typically last? -✓✓ 2 days to 2 weeks after birth.
• What differentiates Baby Blues from Major Depression? -✓✓ Severity, timing of
onset, and duration.
• What are the diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)? -✓✓
Excessive worry and anxiety occurring more days than not for at least six months,
along with three or more associated symptoms.
,• What are common symptoms of Panic Disorder? -✓✓ Recurrent panic attacks,
persistent concern about additional attacks, and significant behavioral changes to
avoid them.
• What is a key symptom of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)? -✓✓ Depressed
mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities.
• What is the specifier for Peripartum Onset in MDD? -✓✓ The depressive episode
begins during pregnancy or within 4 weeks postpartum.
• What are the four subcategories of PTSD symptoms? -✓✓ Intrusion, avoidance,
negative cognitions and mood, and arousal.
• What is the prevalence of postpartum PTSD in community samples? -✓✓ 4% in
community samples and 18.5% in high-risk groups.
• What characterizes Acute Stress Disorder? -✓✓ Symptoms lasting from 2 days to
1 month following a traumatic experience.
• What are common themes in postpartum PTSD? -✓✓ Perception of lack of
caring, poor communication, feeling powerless.
• What is the prevalence of maternal mortality in 2020? -✓✓ 861 women suffered
fatal complications from childbirth.
• What is the prevalence of severe maternal morbidity annually? -✓✓ About
50,000 women suffer near-fatal complications.
,• What is the risk of OCD in perinatal women compared to the general population?
-✓✓ 1.5 to 2 times greater risk.
• What is a key characteristic of OCD thoughts in perinatal women? -✓✓ Thoughts
are obsessive and frightening, but parents do not want to harm the baby.
• What is the prevalence of infertility in couples? -✓✓ 1 in 8 couples.
• How many infants are born to depressed mothers annually? -✓✓ Approximately
400,000 infants.
• What are the symptoms of Baby Blues? -✓✓ Tearfulness, lability, reactivity,
exhaustion, but predominantly happy.
• What is the duration of symptoms for Baby Blues to be classified as such? -✓✓
Symptoms must resolve within 2 weeks.
• What is the primary concern of individuals with Panic Disorder? -✓✓ Fear of
dying, going crazy, or losing control.
• What is the difference between Acute and Chronic Trauma-related disorders? -
✓✓ Acute lasts 2 days to 1 month; Chronic involves a history of abuse or neglect.
• What is the DSM V criterion for trauma? -✓✓ Direct experience, witnessing, or
indirect exposure to a traumatic event causing significant distress.
• What percentage of women screened positive for bipolar disorder? -✓✓ 2.6%
, • What defines Bipolar I disorder? -✓✓ At least 1 lifetime episode of mania.
• List three symptoms of elevated mood in Bipolar I disorder. -✓✓ Euphoria or
agitation, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts.
• How long do hypomanic episodes last? -✓✓ 4 days in length.
• What characterizes mania episodes? -✓✓ Severe symptoms that impair
functioning, lasting at least 7 days or requiring hospitalization.
• What percentage of women with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed with unipolar
depression? -✓✓ Over 69%.
• What is the risk of recurrence of bipolar disorder in pregnancy for women who
stop mood stabilizers? -✓✓ 2x risk of recurrence, 4x more rapidly than those on
medication.
• What is Bipolar II disorder often referred to as? -✓✓ The PPD imposter.
• What percentage of women with bipolar disorder experience a relapse or
increased symptoms during pregnancy? -✓✓ 45%-52%.
• What is the incidence of perinatal psychosis? -✓✓ 1-2 per 1000 births.
• What are common symptoms of perinatal psychosis? -✓✓ Rambling speech,
hallucinations, paranoia.
