Perinatal Mental Health Certification Exam –
2026/2027 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
RATED A+
• Does the PSI Helpline offer phone or text support? -✓✓ Both! At 1-800-944-
4773. Remember it is not a crisis hotline.
• What is the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline? -✓✓ A national hotline for
the perinatal population that offers support 24hr/365d. 1-833-TLC-MAMA
• What is the definition of "perinatal"? -✓✓ Anytime during pregnancy through the
first year postpartum
• What percentage of new mothers experience the "baby blues" in the first few
weeks after the baby arrives? -✓✓ 80%
• When do the baby blues typically peak? -✓✓ Day 3-5 after delivery
• How long do the baby blues typically last? -✓✓ 2 days to 2 weeks after delivery
• What are the symptoms of baby blues? -✓✓ - tearfulness
- lability
- reactivity
- exhaustion
- unrelated to stress or prior psychiatric hx
,• When making a determination between baby blues and PPD, what should be
considered? -✓✓ severity, onset, and duration
• What is the DSM code for PPD? -✓✓ Major Unipolar Depression (with
peripartum onset)
• What is the DSM criteria for MDD? -✓✓ SIGECAPS
Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same two-
week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the
symptoms is either
0. Depressed mood
1. Sleep issues
2. Interest decreased
3. Guilt/worthlessness/hopelessness
4. Energy decreased
5. Concentration decreased
6. Appetite issues
7. Psychomotor agitation or retardation
8. Suicidality or thoughts of death
• What is the prevalence of serious depression or anxiety developed during the
perinatal period (beyond just "baby blues")? -✓✓ At least 1 in 7 mothers
• What is the prevalence of postpartum psychosis? -✓✓ 1-2 in 1,000 mothers
• What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in fathers? -✓✓ 10% of
new fathers
,• What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers? -✓✓ 21% of
new mothers, 19.3% of whom also experienced suicidal thoughts
• Suicide is the ____ leading causes of maternal deaths -✓✓ One of the top 3
• What are some obstacles to care for the perinatal population? -✓✓ - shame and
fear
- provider misinformation
- cultural taboos
- provider accessibility
• What is the PSI motto? -✓✓ You are not alone, you are not to blame, and with
help you will be well.
• What is the term for mental health disorders that develop during pregnancy or
postpartum? -✓✓ Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs)
• According to the formal definition of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs),
when can their onset begin? -✓✓ Anytime during or after pregnancy, up to 1 year
postpartum, including losses.
• Do PMHDs have onset during the "baby blues?" -✓✓ They can, or they can arise
later.
• What are some triggers for later onset of PMHDs? -✓✓ - hormonal triggers
- rapid weaning from breastfeeding
, - hormonal birth control
- return to work
- illness or hospitalization
- loss and grief
• What are risk factors for PMHDs? -✓✓ - financial stress or poverty
- lack of social support
- marital stress
- IPV/history of abuse
- substance dependency in family
- poor relationship with own family
- history of depression, anxiety, OCD
- thyroid imbalance, diabetes, endocrine disorders
- PMS or PMDD
- pregnancy or delivery complications
- infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss
- mothers whose baby is in the NICU
- recent major life stressor/event
- rapid weaning of breastfeeding
- unwanted or unplanned pregnancy
- ambivalence about parental role
- mothers of multiples
• What is the physical factors that affect the etiology of PMHDs? -✓✓ - genetic
predisposition
- sensitivity to hormonal changes
2026/2027 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
RATED A+
• Does the PSI Helpline offer phone or text support? -✓✓ Both! At 1-800-944-
4773. Remember it is not a crisis hotline.
• What is the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline? -✓✓ A national hotline for
the perinatal population that offers support 24hr/365d. 1-833-TLC-MAMA
• What is the definition of "perinatal"? -✓✓ Anytime during pregnancy through the
first year postpartum
• What percentage of new mothers experience the "baby blues" in the first few
weeks after the baby arrives? -✓✓ 80%
• When do the baby blues typically peak? -✓✓ Day 3-5 after delivery
• How long do the baby blues typically last? -✓✓ 2 days to 2 weeks after delivery
• What are the symptoms of baby blues? -✓✓ - tearfulness
- lability
- reactivity
- exhaustion
- unrelated to stress or prior psychiatric hx
,• When making a determination between baby blues and PPD, what should be
considered? -✓✓ severity, onset, and duration
• What is the DSM code for PPD? -✓✓ Major Unipolar Depression (with
peripartum onset)
• What is the DSM criteria for MDD? -✓✓ SIGECAPS
Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same two-
week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the
symptoms is either
0. Depressed mood
1. Sleep issues
2. Interest decreased
3. Guilt/worthlessness/hopelessness
4. Energy decreased
5. Concentration decreased
6. Appetite issues
7. Psychomotor agitation or retardation
8. Suicidality or thoughts of death
• What is the prevalence of serious depression or anxiety developed during the
perinatal period (beyond just "baby blues")? -✓✓ At least 1 in 7 mothers
• What is the prevalence of postpartum psychosis? -✓✓ 1-2 in 1,000 mothers
• What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in fathers? -✓✓ 10% of
new fathers
,• What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers? -✓✓ 21% of
new mothers, 19.3% of whom also experienced suicidal thoughts
• Suicide is the ____ leading causes of maternal deaths -✓✓ One of the top 3
• What are some obstacles to care for the perinatal population? -✓✓ - shame and
fear
- provider misinformation
- cultural taboos
- provider accessibility
• What is the PSI motto? -✓✓ You are not alone, you are not to blame, and with
help you will be well.
• What is the term for mental health disorders that develop during pregnancy or
postpartum? -✓✓ Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs)
• According to the formal definition of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs),
when can their onset begin? -✓✓ Anytime during or after pregnancy, up to 1 year
postpartum, including losses.
• Do PMHDs have onset during the "baby blues?" -✓✓ They can, or they can arise
later.
• What are some triggers for later onset of PMHDs? -✓✓ - hormonal triggers
- rapid weaning from breastfeeding
, - hormonal birth control
- return to work
- illness or hospitalization
- loss and grief
• What are risk factors for PMHDs? -✓✓ - financial stress or poverty
- lack of social support
- marital stress
- IPV/history of abuse
- substance dependency in family
- poor relationship with own family
- history of depression, anxiety, OCD
- thyroid imbalance, diabetes, endocrine disorders
- PMS or PMDD
- pregnancy or delivery complications
- infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss
- mothers whose baby is in the NICU
- recent major life stressor/event
- rapid weaning of breastfeeding
- unwanted or unplanned pregnancy
- ambivalence about parental role
- mothers of multiples
• What is the physical factors that affect the etiology of PMHDs? -✓✓ - genetic
predisposition
- sensitivity to hormonal changes
