NR 605 FINAL EXAM – DIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT IN
PMH ACROSS LIFESPAN I COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST STUDY
GUIDE (2026) CHAMBERLAIN
1. Which medication class is first-line for mild to moderate major
depressive disorder?
A) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
B) Tricyclic antidepressants
C) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
D) Benzodiazepines
Correct Answer: A) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Rationale: SSRIs are first-line for major depressive disorder because of
efficacy and a favorable side-effect profile. TCAs and MAOIs have more
adverse effects and are not first-line. Benzodiazepines treat anxiety and
do not treat depression. Examples include sertraline, fluoxetine, and
escitalopram.
2. Before starting an antidepressant, which screening tool is most
appropriate to assess for bipolar disorder?
A) PHQ-9
B) Mood Disorder Questionnaire
C) GAD-7
D) HAM-A
Correct Answer: B) Mood Disorder Questionnaire
,Rationale: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire screens for bipolar disorder
before initiating antidepressants to reduce antidepressant-induced mania
risk. PHQ-9 screens depression, GAD-7 screens anxiety, and HAM-A
measures anxiety severity. This screening is essential for safe prescribing.
3. Which symptom is considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?
A) Avolition
B) Flat affect
C) Hallucinations
D) Anhedonia
Correct Answer: C) Hallucinations
Rationale: Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations,
delusions, and disorganized thought, representing excess or distortion of
normal functions. Avolition, flat affect, and anhedonia are negative
symptoms, which reflect loss of normal function. This distinction guides
treatment selection.
4. An adult is suspected of having ADHD. According to DSM-5-TR,
symptoms must have which characteristic?
A) Occur only at work
B) Begin before age 12
C) Be caused by depression
D) Appear only during stressful events
Correct Answer: D) Begin before age 12
,Rationale: ADHD requires symptom onset before age 12 and symptoms in
two or more settings. Symptoms cannot be due to another disorder or
situational stress. This criterion helps differentiate ADHD from later-onset
attention problems caused by mood or anxiety disorders.
5. A 28-year-old client starting sertraline asks what to expect initially.
Which response is correct?
A) The medication may cause transient nausea that often improves
B) Full benefit occurs within two days
C) The medication can be stopped abruptly once mood improves
D) Caffeine must be completely avoided
Correct Answer: A) The medication may cause transient nausea that often
improves
Rationale: SSRIs can initially cause nausea, headache, or sleep changes,
which usually improve over time. Full antidepressant effects take four to
six weeks and should not be stopped abruptly. Caffeine has no direct
contraindication with SSRIs.
6. Which laboratory parameter is most important to monitor in a client
taking lithium?
A) Liver function
B) Renal function
C) Platelet count
D) Hemoglobin A1C
, Correct Answer: B) Renal function
Rationale: Lithium is renally excreted and can cause nephrotoxicity, so
renal function including BUN, creatinine, and GFR must be monitored.
Liver function is monitored for valproate, not lithium. Platelets and A1C
are not primary lithium monitoring tests.
7. Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by all of the following except
which finding?
A) Abdominal pain
B) Diarrhea
C) Bloody stool
D) Constipation
Correct Answer: C) Bloody stool
Rationale: Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by abdominal pain,
diarrhea, and constipation. Bloody stool is not characteristic of IBS and
suggests other pathology such as inflammatory bowel disease or
malignancy. Bloody stool requires further evaluation.
8. Which psychotherapy is considered first-line for post-traumatic
stress disorder?
A) Psychoanalytic therapy
B) Dialectical behavior therapy
C) Interpersonal therapy
PMH ACROSS LIFESPAN I COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST STUDY
GUIDE (2026) CHAMBERLAIN
1. Which medication class is first-line for mild to moderate major
depressive disorder?
A) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
B) Tricyclic antidepressants
C) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
D) Benzodiazepines
Correct Answer: A) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Rationale: SSRIs are first-line for major depressive disorder because of
efficacy and a favorable side-effect profile. TCAs and MAOIs have more
adverse effects and are not first-line. Benzodiazepines treat anxiety and
do not treat depression. Examples include sertraline, fluoxetine, and
escitalopram.
2. Before starting an antidepressant, which screening tool is most
appropriate to assess for bipolar disorder?
A) PHQ-9
B) Mood Disorder Questionnaire
C) GAD-7
D) HAM-A
Correct Answer: B) Mood Disorder Questionnaire
,Rationale: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire screens for bipolar disorder
before initiating antidepressants to reduce antidepressant-induced mania
risk. PHQ-9 screens depression, GAD-7 screens anxiety, and HAM-A
measures anxiety severity. This screening is essential for safe prescribing.
3. Which symptom is considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?
A) Avolition
B) Flat affect
C) Hallucinations
D) Anhedonia
Correct Answer: C) Hallucinations
Rationale: Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations,
delusions, and disorganized thought, representing excess or distortion of
normal functions. Avolition, flat affect, and anhedonia are negative
symptoms, which reflect loss of normal function. This distinction guides
treatment selection.
4. An adult is suspected of having ADHD. According to DSM-5-TR,
symptoms must have which characteristic?
A) Occur only at work
B) Begin before age 12
C) Be caused by depression
D) Appear only during stressful events
Correct Answer: D) Begin before age 12
,Rationale: ADHD requires symptom onset before age 12 and symptoms in
two or more settings. Symptoms cannot be due to another disorder or
situational stress. This criterion helps differentiate ADHD from later-onset
attention problems caused by mood or anxiety disorders.
5. A 28-year-old client starting sertraline asks what to expect initially.
Which response is correct?
A) The medication may cause transient nausea that often improves
B) Full benefit occurs within two days
C) The medication can be stopped abruptly once mood improves
D) Caffeine must be completely avoided
Correct Answer: A) The medication may cause transient nausea that often
improves
Rationale: SSRIs can initially cause nausea, headache, or sleep changes,
which usually improve over time. Full antidepressant effects take four to
six weeks and should not be stopped abruptly. Caffeine has no direct
contraindication with SSRIs.
6. Which laboratory parameter is most important to monitor in a client
taking lithium?
A) Liver function
B) Renal function
C) Platelet count
D) Hemoglobin A1C
, Correct Answer: B) Renal function
Rationale: Lithium is renally excreted and can cause nephrotoxicity, so
renal function including BUN, creatinine, and GFR must be monitored.
Liver function is monitored for valproate, not lithium. Platelets and A1C
are not primary lithium monitoring tests.
7. Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by all of the following except
which finding?
A) Abdominal pain
B) Diarrhea
C) Bloody stool
D) Constipation
Correct Answer: C) Bloody stool
Rationale: Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by abdominal pain,
diarrhea, and constipation. Bloody stool is not characteristic of IBS and
suggests other pathology such as inflammatory bowel disease or
malignancy. Bloody stool requires further evaluation.
8. Which psychotherapy is considered first-line for post-traumatic
stress disorder?
A) Psychoanalytic therapy
B) Dialectical behavior therapy
C) Interpersonal therapy
