NU 671 Psychiatric Nursing Practice
Question Bank
300 Questions with Clearly Marked Answer s
Mental Status Examination
1. What is the purpose of the psychiatric
interview?
ANSWER: To gather information for assessment
and diagnosis, establish rapport, identify
problems, and develop a treatment plan.
2. What is the mental status examination (MSE)?
ANSWER: A structured assessment of a patient's
current psychological and cognitive functioning.
3. What are the main components of the MSE?
ANSWER: Appearance, behavior, speech, mood,
affect, thought process, thought content,
perception, cognition, insight, and judgment.
4. What does mood refer to in the MSE?
ANSWER: The patient's sustained internal
emotional state.
5. What does affect refer to?
ANSWER: The observable expression of emotion.
6. What is thought process?
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 1
, ANSWER: The organization, form, and flow of a
person's thoughts.
7. What is thought content?
ANSWER: The themes and ideas present in a
person's thinking, including delusions,
obsessions, and suicidal thoughts.
8. What is insight?
ANSWER: The patient's awareness and
understanding of their condition and its effects.
9. What is judgment?
ANSWER: The ability to make appropriate
decisions and act safely.
10.Why is rapport important during psychiatric
assessment?
ANSWER: It promotes trust and encourages the
patient to communicate accurate and sensitive
information.
Mood Disorders
11. What is bipolar disorder?
ANSWER: A mood disorder involving episodes of
mania or hypomania and episodes of depression.
12.What is mania?
ANSWER: A distinct period of abnormally
elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 2
, increased energy and activity that causes
significant impairment or requires
hospitalization.
13.What is hypomania?
ANSWER: A less severe elevated mood state that
does not cause marked functional impairment or
require hospitalization.
14.What is a major depressive episode?
ANSWER: A period of depressed mood or loss of
interest accompanied by other symptoms that
cause clinically significant distress or
impairment.
15.What is anhedonia?
ANSWER: A markedly reduced ability to
experience pleasure or interest in activities.
16.What is a common cognitive symptom of
depression?
ANSWER: Difficulty concentrating,
indecisiveness, or recurrent thoughts of
worthlessness or death.
17. Why must suicide risk be assessed in
depression?
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 3
, ANSWER: Because suicidal thoughts and
behavior can occur and require immediate safety
assessment and intervention.
18.What is a key feature of bipolar I disorder?
ANSWER: At least one manic episode;
depressive episodes commonly occur but are not
required for the diagnosis.
19.What is a key feature of bipolar II disorder?
ANSWER: At least one hypomanic episode and at
least one major depressive episode, without a
history of a full manic episode.
20.What is a nursing priority for a severely manic
patient?
ANSWER: Promoting safety while reducing
stimulation and monitoring behavior, nutrition,
hydration, and sleep.
Anxiety and Trauma-Related Disorders
21. What is generalized anxiety disorder?
ANSWER: Excessive anxiety and worry occurring
more days than not for at least six months about
multiple areas of life.
22. What is panic disorder?
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 4
Question Bank
300 Questions with Clearly Marked Answer s
Mental Status Examination
1. What is the purpose of the psychiatric
interview?
ANSWER: To gather information for assessment
and diagnosis, establish rapport, identify
problems, and develop a treatment plan.
2. What is the mental status examination (MSE)?
ANSWER: A structured assessment of a patient's
current psychological and cognitive functioning.
3. What are the main components of the MSE?
ANSWER: Appearance, behavior, speech, mood,
affect, thought process, thought content,
perception, cognition, insight, and judgment.
4. What does mood refer to in the MSE?
ANSWER: The patient's sustained internal
emotional state.
5. What does affect refer to?
ANSWER: The observable expression of emotion.
6. What is thought process?
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 1
, ANSWER: The organization, form, and flow of a
person's thoughts.
7. What is thought content?
ANSWER: The themes and ideas present in a
person's thinking, including delusions,
obsessions, and suicidal thoughts.
8. What is insight?
ANSWER: The patient's awareness and
understanding of their condition and its effects.
9. What is judgment?
ANSWER: The ability to make appropriate
decisions and act safely.
10.Why is rapport important during psychiatric
assessment?
ANSWER: It promotes trust and encourages the
patient to communicate accurate and sensitive
information.
Mood Disorders
11. What is bipolar disorder?
ANSWER: A mood disorder involving episodes of
mania or hypomania and episodes of depression.
12.What is mania?
ANSWER: A distinct period of abnormally
elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 2
, increased energy and activity that causes
significant impairment or requires
hospitalization.
13.What is hypomania?
ANSWER: A less severe elevated mood state that
does not cause marked functional impairment or
require hospitalization.
14.What is a major depressive episode?
ANSWER: A period of depressed mood or loss of
interest accompanied by other symptoms that
cause clinically significant distress or
impairment.
15.What is anhedonia?
ANSWER: A markedly reduced ability to
experience pleasure or interest in activities.
16.What is a common cognitive symptom of
depression?
ANSWER: Difficulty concentrating,
indecisiveness, or recurrent thoughts of
worthlessness or death.
17. Why must suicide risk be assessed in
depression?
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 3
, ANSWER: Because suicidal thoughts and
behavior can occur and require immediate safety
assessment and intervention.
18.What is a key feature of bipolar I disorder?
ANSWER: At least one manic episode;
depressive episodes commonly occur but are not
required for the diagnosis.
19.What is a key feature of bipolar II disorder?
ANSWER: At least one hypomanic episode and at
least one major depressive episode, without a
history of a full manic episode.
20.What is a nursing priority for a severely manic
patient?
ANSWER: Promoting safety while reducing
stimulation and monitoring behavior, nutrition,
hydration, and sleep.
Anxiety and Trauma-Related Disorders
21. What is generalized anxiety disorder?
ANSWER: Excessive anxiety and worry occurring
more days than not for at least six months about
multiple areas of life.
22. What is panic disorder?
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Question Bank • 300 Questions Page 4
