NR 547 CEA Differential Diagnosis
Practicum - Chamberlain Midterm
Exam Prep | 2026/2027 Edition |
Verified Questions - 197 Questions
with Answers
1. According to the six-step differential diagnosis process taught in NR
547, what is the first step in formulating a differential diagnosis?
A) Determine the specific primary disorder using DSM-5-TR criteria
B) Rule out malingering or factitious disorder
C) Rule out substance/medication etiology
D) Rule out disorder due to a medical condition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first step is to rule out malingering or factitious disorder,
as these involve intentional production or feigning of symptoms. Step 2
rules out substance etiology, Step 3 rules out medical conditions, Step 4
determines the primary disorder, Step 5 differentiates adjustment
disorders, and Step 6 establishes boundaries with no mental disorder .
, 2. What is the second step in the differential diagnosis process?
A) Rule out malingering or factitious disorder
B) Rule out substance/medication etiology
C) Determine the specific primary disorder
D) Differentiate adjustment disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step 2 involves ruling out a substance or medication as the
cause of symptoms. For a substance-induced presentation, symptoms
should resolve within one month of stopping the substance .
3. A patient presents with symptoms that began after a medical
condition diagnosis and fluctuate with the severity of the medical
condition. According to the differential diagnosis process, what is the
most appropriate next step?
A) Diagnose the primary psychiatric disorder
,
B) Rule out disorder due to a medical condition
C) Rule out malingering
D) Diagnose adjustment disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This scenario describes the third step in the differential
diagnosis process—ruling out a disorder due to a medical condition.
Symptoms that begin after a medical condition onset, vary with its
severity, and disappear when the condition resolves suggest a medical
etiology .
4. Which of the following best describes the DSM-5-TR diagnostic
framework used in psychiatric differential diagnosis?
A) A purely biological model of mental illness
B) A categorical system with specific diagnostic criteria for each disorder
C) A dimensional model focused on symptom severity
,
D) A psychodynamic framework for understanding mental disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The DSM-5-TR uses a categorical diagnostic framework with
specific, operationalized criteria for each disorder, including symptom
count, duration, and functional impairment requirements .
5. When differentiating adjustment disorders from "other specified" or
"unspecified" categories, what is the key distinguishing factor?
A) Presence of psychotic symptoms
B) Temporal relationship to an identifiable stressor
C) Age of onset
D) Family history of mental illness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The key distinguishing factor is the temporal relationship to
an identifiable stressor. Adjustment disorders are characterized by
emotional or behavioral symptoms that develop within 3 months of an
Practicum - Chamberlain Midterm
Exam Prep | 2026/2027 Edition |
Verified Questions - 197 Questions
with Answers
1. According to the six-step differential diagnosis process taught in NR
547, what is the first step in formulating a differential diagnosis?
A) Determine the specific primary disorder using DSM-5-TR criteria
B) Rule out malingering or factitious disorder
C) Rule out substance/medication etiology
D) Rule out disorder due to a medical condition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first step is to rule out malingering or factitious disorder,
as these involve intentional production or feigning of symptoms. Step 2
rules out substance etiology, Step 3 rules out medical conditions, Step 4
determines the primary disorder, Step 5 differentiates adjustment
disorders, and Step 6 establishes boundaries with no mental disorder .
, 2. What is the second step in the differential diagnosis process?
A) Rule out malingering or factitious disorder
B) Rule out substance/medication etiology
C) Determine the specific primary disorder
D) Differentiate adjustment disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step 2 involves ruling out a substance or medication as the
cause of symptoms. For a substance-induced presentation, symptoms
should resolve within one month of stopping the substance .
3. A patient presents with symptoms that began after a medical
condition diagnosis and fluctuate with the severity of the medical
condition. According to the differential diagnosis process, what is the
most appropriate next step?
A) Diagnose the primary psychiatric disorder
,
B) Rule out disorder due to a medical condition
C) Rule out malingering
D) Diagnose adjustment disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This scenario describes the third step in the differential
diagnosis process—ruling out a disorder due to a medical condition.
Symptoms that begin after a medical condition onset, vary with its
severity, and disappear when the condition resolves suggest a medical
etiology .
4. Which of the following best describes the DSM-5-TR diagnostic
framework used in psychiatric differential diagnosis?
A) A purely biological model of mental illness
B) A categorical system with specific diagnostic criteria for each disorder
C) A dimensional model focused on symptom severity
,
D) A psychodynamic framework for understanding mental disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The DSM-5-TR uses a categorical diagnostic framework with
specific, operationalized criteria for each disorder, including symptom
count, duration, and functional impairment requirements .
5. When differentiating adjustment disorders from "other specified" or
"unspecified" categories, what is the key distinguishing factor?
A) Presence of psychotic symptoms
B) Temporal relationship to an identifiable stressor
C) Age of onset
D) Family history of mental illness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The key distinguishing factor is the temporal relationship to
an identifiable stressor. Adjustment disorders are characterized by
emotional or behavioral symptoms that develop within 3 months of an
