NSG 527 Final Exam: 2026/2027 Edition- Psychopathology, Theories &
Advanced Clinical Modalities Questions & Answers
Introduction:
NSG527 Practice Final Overview: 80-question practice covering neurobiology, psych theories,
depression, bipolar, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, personality disorders, substance use,
neurocognitive disorders, psychopharmacology, and therapies including CBT, DBT, and
motivational interviewing, with ethics and legal concepts for advanced PMHNP practice Correct
answers in bold Green
Topics covered:
• Neurobiology - Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine functions
• Psychopharmacology - Antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics
• Theories - Freud, Erikson, Peplau, Beck CBT, etc.
• Disorders - Depression, bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia, personality
disorders, substance use, neurocognitive
• Assessment - Mental status exam, DSM-5-TR criteria, differential
• Modalities - CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention
• Ethics & legal in PMHNP practice
1. Acetylcholine primary functions:
A. Voluntary movement, learning, memory, parasympathetic activity
B. Only mood regulation
C. Only pain inhibition
D. Only sleep
Rationale: Low ACh in Alzheimer, high in Parkinson treatment. Involved in
neuromuscular junction.
Topic: Neurobiology
2. Freud's structural model: Id is:
A. Moral conscience
B. Pleasure principle, unconscious, present at birth
C. Reality principle
D. Mediator
Rationale: Id = instincts, pleasure. Ego = reality, superego = morality.
Topic: Theories
3. Major Depressive Disorder DSM-5-TR requires:
A. 2 symptoms for 1 week
B. 5+ symptoms for 2+ weeks including depressed mood or anhedonia, with
distress/impairment
C. Only sadness
, D. 1 symptom
Rationale: Includes sleep, appetite, guilt, energy, concentration, psychomotor, suicidal
ideation.
Topic: Depressive Disorders
4. Bipolar I vs Bipolar II:
A. Same mania severity
B. Hypomania only in I
C. No depression in II
D. Bipolar I requires full manic episode 7+ days; Bipolar II requires hypomania 4+
days + major depressive episode, no mania
Rationale: Mania causes marked impairment/hospitalization/psychosis.
Topic: Bipolar
5. Beck's Cognitive Triad for depression is:
A. Negative view of self, world, and future
B. Positive view of all
C. Only past
D. Only future
Rationale: Foundation of CBT - cognitive distortions lead to depression.
Topic: Theories/CBT
6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder criteria:
A. Worry for 1 month
B. Excessive worry 6+ months, difficult to control, 3+ somatic symptoms -
restlessness, fatigue, concentration issues, irritability, muscle tension, sleep
disturbance
C. Only panic attacks
D. Only phobia
Rationale: Worry about multiple domains.
Topic: Anxiety
7. PTSD DSM-5-TR symptom clusters:
A. Intrusion, avoidance, negative mood/cognition, hyperarousal after trauma >1
month
B. Only avoidance
C. Only hyperarousal
D. Symptoms <1 week
Rationale: Need 1 intrusion, 1 avoidance, 2 negative mood, 2 arousal. If <1 month =
Acute Stress Disorder.
Topic: Trauma
8. OCD vs OCPD:
A. Same disorder
B. OCD is personality only
C. OCPD has true obsessions/compulsions
D. OCD = ego-dystonic intrusive obsessions + compulsions to reduce anxiety;
OCPD = ego-syntonic perfectionism, orderliness, control, no true
obsessions/compulsions
Rationale: OCD distressed by symptoms, OCPD sees traits as correct.
Topic: OCD/Personality
Advanced Clinical Modalities Questions & Answers
Introduction:
NSG527 Practice Final Overview: 80-question practice covering neurobiology, psych theories,
depression, bipolar, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, personality disorders, substance use,
neurocognitive disorders, psychopharmacology, and therapies including CBT, DBT, and
motivational interviewing, with ethics and legal concepts for advanced PMHNP practice Correct
answers in bold Green
Topics covered:
• Neurobiology - Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine functions
• Psychopharmacology - Antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics
• Theories - Freud, Erikson, Peplau, Beck CBT, etc.
• Disorders - Depression, bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia, personality
disorders, substance use, neurocognitive
• Assessment - Mental status exam, DSM-5-TR criteria, differential
• Modalities - CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention
• Ethics & legal in PMHNP practice
1. Acetylcholine primary functions:
A. Voluntary movement, learning, memory, parasympathetic activity
B. Only mood regulation
C. Only pain inhibition
D. Only sleep
Rationale: Low ACh in Alzheimer, high in Parkinson treatment. Involved in
neuromuscular junction.
Topic: Neurobiology
2. Freud's structural model: Id is:
A. Moral conscience
B. Pleasure principle, unconscious, present at birth
C. Reality principle
D. Mediator
Rationale: Id = instincts, pleasure. Ego = reality, superego = morality.
Topic: Theories
3. Major Depressive Disorder DSM-5-TR requires:
A. 2 symptoms for 1 week
B. 5+ symptoms for 2+ weeks including depressed mood or anhedonia, with
distress/impairment
C. Only sadness
, D. 1 symptom
Rationale: Includes sleep, appetite, guilt, energy, concentration, psychomotor, suicidal
ideation.
Topic: Depressive Disorders
4. Bipolar I vs Bipolar II:
A. Same mania severity
B. Hypomania only in I
C. No depression in II
D. Bipolar I requires full manic episode 7+ days; Bipolar II requires hypomania 4+
days + major depressive episode, no mania
Rationale: Mania causes marked impairment/hospitalization/psychosis.
Topic: Bipolar
5. Beck's Cognitive Triad for depression is:
A. Negative view of self, world, and future
B. Positive view of all
C. Only past
D. Only future
Rationale: Foundation of CBT - cognitive distortions lead to depression.
Topic: Theories/CBT
6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder criteria:
A. Worry for 1 month
B. Excessive worry 6+ months, difficult to control, 3+ somatic symptoms -
restlessness, fatigue, concentration issues, irritability, muscle tension, sleep
disturbance
C. Only panic attacks
D. Only phobia
Rationale: Worry about multiple domains.
Topic: Anxiety
7. PTSD DSM-5-TR symptom clusters:
A. Intrusion, avoidance, negative mood/cognition, hyperarousal after trauma >1
month
B. Only avoidance
C. Only hyperarousal
D. Symptoms <1 week
Rationale: Need 1 intrusion, 1 avoidance, 2 negative mood, 2 arousal. If <1 month =
Acute Stress Disorder.
Topic: Trauma
8. OCD vs OCPD:
A. Same disorder
B. OCD is personality only
C. OCPD has true obsessions/compulsions
D. OCD = ego-dystonic intrusive obsessions + compulsions to reduce anxiety;
OCPD = ego-syntonic perfectionism, orderliness, control, no true
obsessions/compulsions
Rationale: OCD distressed by symptoms, OCPD sees traits as correct.
Topic: OCD/Personality
