1|Page
AANP PMHNP EXAM AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST
2026/ 2027 TEST BANK| AANP PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
EXAM PREP WITH COMPLETE 300 REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
A patient with major depressive disorder reports taking sertraline daily
for 8 weeks. Depressive symptoms have improved, but the patient now
has decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, impulsive spending, and
increased goal-directed activity. What is the most appropriate
interpretation?
A. Antidepressant-induced hypomania
B. Treatment-resistant depression
C. Generalized anxiety disorder
D. Akathisia - Correct Answer - A
The new elevated/activated symptoms following antidepressant
exposure suggest antidepressant-induced hypomania and possible
underlying bipolar-spectrum illness.
A patient taking clozapine develops fever, sore throat, and marked
fatigue. Which laboratory test is the priority?
A. Serum sodium
B. Absolute neutrophil count
C. Liver enzymes
D. Thyroid-stimulating hormone - Correct Answer - B
pg. 1
,2|Page
Clozapine can cause severe neutropenia/agranulocytosis. Fever and sore
throat require prompt ANC evaluation.
A patient with panic disorder asks why cognitive behavioral therapy
includes deliberate exposure to feared situations. What is the primary
therapeutic purpose?
A. Catharsis
B. Dream interpretation
C. Habituation
D. Free association - Correct Answer - C
Exposure reduces fear through repeated contact with the feared stimulus
without the expected catastrophic outcome, promoting habituation and
inhibitory learning.
A patient taking lithium develops coarse tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and
confusion after several days of severe dehydration. What should the
PMHNP do first?
A. Increase lithium
B. Add sertraline
C. Stop lithium and obtain a lithium level
D. Administer benztropine - Correct Answer - C
Gastrointestinal symptoms, coarse tremor, and confusion suggest lithium
toxicity, which can be precipitated by dehydration.
During a medication follow-up, a person taking venlafaxine reports a
new severe headache, confusion, and generalized weakness. Laboratory
testing shows a serum sodium of 124 mEq/L. Which adverse effect is
most likely responsible?
pg. 2
,3|Page
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypoglycemia - Correct Answer - A
SSRIs and SNRIs can cause SIADH and clinically significant
hyponatremia, particularly in susceptible individuals.
After starting an antipsychotic, a person develops fever of 40°C, severe
muscular rigidity, altered consciousness, and markedly elevated creatine
kinase. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Serotonin syndrome
B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
C. Acute dystonia
D. Malignant catatonia - Correct Answer - B
Severe rigidity, hyperthermia, altered mental status, and elevated CK
following dopamine blockade are classic for neuroleptic malignant
syndrome.
A psychiatric evaluation reveals recurrent episodes of unexpected
intense fear accompanied by palpitations, dyspnea, chest discomfort, and
fear of dying. The episodes peak within minutes, and cardiac evaluation
is unremarkable. Which diagnosis best fits?
A. Social anxiety disorder
B. Illness anxiety disorder
C. Panic disorder
D. Somatic symptom disorder - Correct Answer - C
pg. 3
, 4|Page
Recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by concern or behavioral
changes are characteristic of panic disorder.
A patient with major depressive disorder reports depressed mood,
anhedonia, fatigue, insomnia, and poor concentration. There is no
history of mania or hypomania. Which additional finding would most
strongly support a diagnosis of melancholic features?
A. Mood reactivity
B. Increased appetite
C. Excessive sleeping
D. Loss of pleasure in nearly all activities - Correct Answer - D
Marked anhedonia or lack of mood reactivity is characteristic of
melancholic features.
During an intake assessment, a person describes excessive anxiety about
multiple areas of life occurring most days for more than 6 months. The
worry is difficult to control and is accompanied by muscle tension and
sleep disturbance. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Generalized anxiety disorder
B. Panic disorder
C. Adjustment disorder
D. Specific phobia - Correct Answer - A
Excessive, difficult-to-control worry across multiple domains for at least
6 months supports generalized anxiety disorder.
Following several weeks of severe depressive symptoms, a person
develops mutism, stupor, posturing, and marked negativism. Which
treatment is most appropriate for suspected catatonia?
pg. 4
AANP PMHNP EXAM AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST
2026/ 2027 TEST BANK| AANP PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
EXAM PREP WITH COMPLETE 300 REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
A patient with major depressive disorder reports taking sertraline daily
for 8 weeks. Depressive symptoms have improved, but the patient now
has decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, impulsive spending, and
increased goal-directed activity. What is the most appropriate
interpretation?
A. Antidepressant-induced hypomania
B. Treatment-resistant depression
C. Generalized anxiety disorder
D. Akathisia - Correct Answer - A
The new elevated/activated symptoms following antidepressant
exposure suggest antidepressant-induced hypomania and possible
underlying bipolar-spectrum illness.
A patient taking clozapine develops fever, sore throat, and marked
fatigue. Which laboratory test is the priority?
A. Serum sodium
B. Absolute neutrophil count
C. Liver enzymes
D. Thyroid-stimulating hormone - Correct Answer - B
pg. 1
,2|Page
Clozapine can cause severe neutropenia/agranulocytosis. Fever and sore
throat require prompt ANC evaluation.
A patient with panic disorder asks why cognitive behavioral therapy
includes deliberate exposure to feared situations. What is the primary
therapeutic purpose?
A. Catharsis
B. Dream interpretation
C. Habituation
D. Free association - Correct Answer - C
Exposure reduces fear through repeated contact with the feared stimulus
without the expected catastrophic outcome, promoting habituation and
inhibitory learning.
A patient taking lithium develops coarse tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and
confusion after several days of severe dehydration. What should the
PMHNP do first?
A. Increase lithium
B. Add sertraline
C. Stop lithium and obtain a lithium level
D. Administer benztropine - Correct Answer - C
Gastrointestinal symptoms, coarse tremor, and confusion suggest lithium
toxicity, which can be precipitated by dehydration.
During a medication follow-up, a person taking venlafaxine reports a
new severe headache, confusion, and generalized weakness. Laboratory
testing shows a serum sodium of 124 mEq/L. Which adverse effect is
most likely responsible?
pg. 2
,3|Page
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypoglycemia - Correct Answer - A
SSRIs and SNRIs can cause SIADH and clinically significant
hyponatremia, particularly in susceptible individuals.
After starting an antipsychotic, a person develops fever of 40°C, severe
muscular rigidity, altered consciousness, and markedly elevated creatine
kinase. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Serotonin syndrome
B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
C. Acute dystonia
D. Malignant catatonia - Correct Answer - B
Severe rigidity, hyperthermia, altered mental status, and elevated CK
following dopamine blockade are classic for neuroleptic malignant
syndrome.
A psychiatric evaluation reveals recurrent episodes of unexpected
intense fear accompanied by palpitations, dyspnea, chest discomfort, and
fear of dying. The episodes peak within minutes, and cardiac evaluation
is unremarkable. Which diagnosis best fits?
A. Social anxiety disorder
B. Illness anxiety disorder
C. Panic disorder
D. Somatic symptom disorder - Correct Answer - C
pg. 3
, 4|Page
Recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by concern or behavioral
changes are characteristic of panic disorder.
A patient with major depressive disorder reports depressed mood,
anhedonia, fatigue, insomnia, and poor concentration. There is no
history of mania or hypomania. Which additional finding would most
strongly support a diagnosis of melancholic features?
A. Mood reactivity
B. Increased appetite
C. Excessive sleeping
D. Loss of pleasure in nearly all activities - Correct Answer - D
Marked anhedonia or lack of mood reactivity is characteristic of
melancholic features.
During an intake assessment, a person describes excessive anxiety about
multiple areas of life occurring most days for more than 6 months. The
worry is difficult to control and is accompanied by muscle tension and
sleep disturbance. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Generalized anxiety disorder
B. Panic disorder
C. Adjustment disorder
D. Specific phobia - Correct Answer - A
Excessive, difficult-to-control worry across multiple domains for at least
6 months supports generalized anxiety disorder.
Following several weeks of severe depressive symptoms, a person
develops mutism, stupor, posturing, and marked negativism. Which
treatment is most appropriate for suspected catatonia?
pg. 4
