NRNP 6552 Review 200 real exam
Questions and correct answers
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concepts — Straight Answers
This document is covering standard PMHNP course subject areas (diagnostic criteria, psychopharmacology, therapy
modalities, legal/ethical issues, and risk assessment). Correct answers are bolded and highlighted.
1. Mood Disorders — Diagnostic Criteria
1. Minimum duration of depressed mood/anhedonia required for a Major Depressive Episode diagnosis:
A) 1 week
B) 2 weeks
C) 1 month
D) 6 months
Answer: B) 2 weeks
2. Minimum duration of elevated/irritable mood for a Manic Episode diagnosis:
A) 1 day
B) 4 days
C) 1 week
D) 2 weeks
Answer: C) 1 week
3. Minimum duration of hypomanic symptoms required for Hypomanic Episode:
A) 1 day
B) 4 days
C) 1 week
D) 1 month
Answer: B) 4 days
4. Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia) requires depressed mood for how long in adults?
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 2 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C) 2 years
5. Which specifier applies to depression with marked psychomotor retardation, early morning awakening, and
anhedonia?
A) Atypical features
B) Melancholic features
C) Catatonic features
D) Peripartum onset
Answer: B) Melancholic features
,6. Bipolar I disorder requires at least one lifetime episode of:
A) Hypomania only
B) Mania
C) Major depression only
D) Cyclothymia
Answer: B) Mania
7. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by:
A) Manic + depressive episodes
B) Hypomanic + major depressive episodes, no full mania
C) Hypomania only
D) Mania only
Answer: B) Hypomanic + major depressive episodes, no full mania
8. Cyclothymic disorder requires numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms for at least:
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 2 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C) 2 years
9. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms must be present in the majority of cycles over how many
months for diagnosis?
A) 1
B) 6
C) 12
D) 24
Answer: C) 12
10. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder diagnosis cannot be made before age:
A) 2
B) 6
C) 10
D) 18
Answer: B) 6
,2. Anxiety Disorders
11. Generalized Anxiety Disorder requires excessive worry occurring more days than not for at least:
A) 1 month
B) 3 months
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: C) 6 months
12. Panic Disorder is diagnosed after recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus at least 1 month of:
A) Persistent concern about additional attacks
B) Substance use
C) Psychotic symptoms
D) Manic symptoms
Answer: A) Persistent concern about additional attacks
13. Agoraphobia involves marked fear/anxiety about at least how many situations (e.g., public transport,
open spaces)?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
Answer: B) 2
14. Specific phobia symptoms must persist for at least:
A) 1 week
B) 1 month
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: C) 6 months
15. Social Anxiety Disorder fear is out of proportion to actual threat and lasts at least:
A) 2 weeks
B) 1 month
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: C) 6 months
16. Selective mutism is typically diagnosed in which population?
A) Adults only
B) Children, onset before age 5 typical
C) Only in psychotic disorders
D) Only with intellectual disability
Answer: B) Children, onset before age 5 typical
17. First-line pharmacologic treatment class for GAD:
, A) Benzodiazepines
B) SSRIs/SNRIs
C) Antipsychotics
D) Beta-blockers alone
Answer: B) SSRIs/SNRIs
18. Buspirone's mechanism of action primarily involves:
A) GABA-A receptor agonism
B) Serotonin 5-HT1A partial agonism
C) Dopamine antagonism
D) Norepinephrine reuptake inhibition
Answer: B) Serotonin 5-HT1A partial agonism
19. A key risk of long-term benzodiazepine use in anxiety treatment is:
A) Weight gain only
B) Tolerance, dependence, withdrawal risk
C) Hypertension
D) Hyperglycemia
Answer: B) Tolerance, dependence, withdrawal risk
20. Which therapy modality has the strongest evidence base for anxiety disorders?
A) Psychoanalysis
B) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
C) Supportive therapy alone
D) Play therapy
Answer: B) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Questions and correct answers
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concepts — Straight Answers
This document is covering standard PMHNP course subject areas (diagnostic criteria, psychopharmacology, therapy
modalities, legal/ethical issues, and risk assessment). Correct answers are bolded and highlighted.
1. Mood Disorders — Diagnostic Criteria
1. Minimum duration of depressed mood/anhedonia required for a Major Depressive Episode diagnosis:
A) 1 week
B) 2 weeks
C) 1 month
D) 6 months
Answer: B) 2 weeks
2. Minimum duration of elevated/irritable mood for a Manic Episode diagnosis:
A) 1 day
B) 4 days
C) 1 week
D) 2 weeks
Answer: C) 1 week
3. Minimum duration of hypomanic symptoms required for Hypomanic Episode:
A) 1 day
B) 4 days
C) 1 week
D) 1 month
Answer: B) 4 days
4. Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia) requires depressed mood for how long in adults?
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 2 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C) 2 years
5. Which specifier applies to depression with marked psychomotor retardation, early morning awakening, and
anhedonia?
A) Atypical features
B) Melancholic features
C) Catatonic features
D) Peripartum onset
Answer: B) Melancholic features
,6. Bipolar I disorder requires at least one lifetime episode of:
A) Hypomania only
B) Mania
C) Major depression only
D) Cyclothymia
Answer: B) Mania
7. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by:
A) Manic + depressive episodes
B) Hypomanic + major depressive episodes, no full mania
C) Hypomania only
D) Mania only
Answer: B) Hypomanic + major depressive episodes, no full mania
8. Cyclothymic disorder requires numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms for at least:
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 2 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C) 2 years
9. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms must be present in the majority of cycles over how many
months for diagnosis?
A) 1
B) 6
C) 12
D) 24
Answer: C) 12
10. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder diagnosis cannot be made before age:
A) 2
B) 6
C) 10
D) 18
Answer: B) 6
,2. Anxiety Disorders
11. Generalized Anxiety Disorder requires excessive worry occurring more days than not for at least:
A) 1 month
B) 3 months
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: C) 6 months
12. Panic Disorder is diagnosed after recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus at least 1 month of:
A) Persistent concern about additional attacks
B) Substance use
C) Psychotic symptoms
D) Manic symptoms
Answer: A) Persistent concern about additional attacks
13. Agoraphobia involves marked fear/anxiety about at least how many situations (e.g., public transport,
open spaces)?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
Answer: B) 2
14. Specific phobia symptoms must persist for at least:
A) 1 week
B) 1 month
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: C) 6 months
15. Social Anxiety Disorder fear is out of proportion to actual threat and lasts at least:
A) 2 weeks
B) 1 month
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: C) 6 months
16. Selective mutism is typically diagnosed in which population?
A) Adults only
B) Children, onset before age 5 typical
C) Only in psychotic disorders
D) Only with intellectual disability
Answer: B) Children, onset before age 5 typical
17. First-line pharmacologic treatment class for GAD:
, A) Benzodiazepines
B) SSRIs/SNRIs
C) Antipsychotics
D) Beta-blockers alone
Answer: B) SSRIs/SNRIs
18. Buspirone's mechanism of action primarily involves:
A) GABA-A receptor agonism
B) Serotonin 5-HT1A partial agonism
C) Dopamine antagonism
D) Norepinephrine reuptake inhibition
Answer: B) Serotonin 5-HT1A partial agonism
19. A key risk of long-term benzodiazepine use in anxiety treatment is:
A) Weight gain only
B) Tolerance, dependence, withdrawal risk
C) Hypertension
D) Hyperglycemia
Answer: B) Tolerance, dependence, withdrawal risk
20. Which therapy modality has the strongest evidence base for anxiety disorders?
A) Psychoanalysis
B) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
C) Supportive therapy alone
D) Play therapy
Answer: B) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
