PMHNP ANCC EXAM ACTUAL EXAM
SCRIPT 2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
## Domain I: Scientific Foundation & Neurobiology
**Q1.** What is true of interprofessionality?
A) All health professionals share identical competencies
B) All health professionals have individual professional competencies
C) Only physicians have independent competencies
D) Competencies are irrelevant to collaboration
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Interprofessionality recognizes that each profession brings unique, individual
competencies to the collaborative team. Overlapping (“common”) competencies exist, but each
discipline maintains distinct skills.
---
**Q2.** What is the significance of an experimental p-value of 0.05?
A) There is a 95% chance the result is incorrect
B) There is a 5% chance of a similar result occurring by chance alone
C) The result is definitely clinically significant
D) The sample size was too small
,**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A p-value of 0.05 indicates a 5% probability that the observed result could occur
by random chance if the null hypothesis is true, establishing statistical significance.
---
**Q3.** What percentage of children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) will develop
Conduct Disorder?
A) 10%
B) 30%
C) 50%
D) 70%
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Approximately 30% of children diagnosed with ODD will progress to meet criteria
for Conduct Disorder, representing a more severe externalizing trajectory.
---
**Q4.** In the DSM-5, Selective Mutism is now classified as what type of disorder?
A) Communication disorder
B) Anxiety disorder
C) Trauma-related disorder
D) Neurodevelopmental disorder
,**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** In DSM-5, Selective Mutism was reclassified from “Other Disorders of Infancy,
Childhood, or Adolescence” to the Anxiety Disorders category, recognizing its strong association
with social anxiety.
---
**Q5.** Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with depression?
A) Dopamine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Serotonin
D) Acetylcholine
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Serotonin deficiency is strongly linked to depressive symptoms; many
antidepressants (SSRIs) target serotonin reuptake.
---
**Q6.** A patient with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) secondary to military combat
presents with prominent hypervigilance, startle response, and nightmares. They have not
responded to two adequate trials of SSRIs. Which evidence-based psychotherapy approach
should be considered next?
A) Prolonged exposure therapy
, B) Cognitive processing therapy
C) Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
D) Present-centered therapy
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Prolonged exposure (PE) is a first-line, evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD,
particularly effective for hyperarousal and re-experiencing symptoms. It involves imaginal and in
vivo exposure to trauma reminders. Cognitive processing therapy (B) is also effective but focuses
more on cognitive distortions. EMDR (C) has evidence but is not superior to PE. Present-centered
therapy (D) is a non-trauma-focused control condition and not a recommended next step after
SSRI failure.
---
**Q7.** What is the primary mechanism of action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs)?
A) Blocking serotonin receptors
B) Inhibiting serotonin reuptake at the synaptic cleft
C) Increasing serotonin degradation
D) Stimulating serotonin release
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** SSRIs work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin at the presynaptic membrane,
increasing serotonin availability in the synaptic cleft.
---
SCRIPT 2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
## Domain I: Scientific Foundation & Neurobiology
**Q1.** What is true of interprofessionality?
A) All health professionals share identical competencies
B) All health professionals have individual professional competencies
C) Only physicians have independent competencies
D) Competencies are irrelevant to collaboration
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Interprofessionality recognizes that each profession brings unique, individual
competencies to the collaborative team. Overlapping (“common”) competencies exist, but each
discipline maintains distinct skills.
---
**Q2.** What is the significance of an experimental p-value of 0.05?
A) There is a 95% chance the result is incorrect
B) There is a 5% chance of a similar result occurring by chance alone
C) The result is definitely clinically significant
D) The sample size was too small
,**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A p-value of 0.05 indicates a 5% probability that the observed result could occur
by random chance if the null hypothesis is true, establishing statistical significance.
---
**Q3.** What percentage of children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) will develop
Conduct Disorder?
A) 10%
B) 30%
C) 50%
D) 70%
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Approximately 30% of children diagnosed with ODD will progress to meet criteria
for Conduct Disorder, representing a more severe externalizing trajectory.
---
**Q4.** In the DSM-5, Selective Mutism is now classified as what type of disorder?
A) Communication disorder
B) Anxiety disorder
C) Trauma-related disorder
D) Neurodevelopmental disorder
,**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** In DSM-5, Selective Mutism was reclassified from “Other Disorders of Infancy,
Childhood, or Adolescence” to the Anxiety Disorders category, recognizing its strong association
with social anxiety.
---
**Q5.** Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with depression?
A) Dopamine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Serotonin
D) Acetylcholine
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Serotonin deficiency is strongly linked to depressive symptoms; many
antidepressants (SSRIs) target serotonin reuptake.
---
**Q6.** A patient with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) secondary to military combat
presents with prominent hypervigilance, startle response, and nightmares. They have not
responded to two adequate trials of SSRIs. Which evidence-based psychotherapy approach
should be considered next?
A) Prolonged exposure therapy
, B) Cognitive processing therapy
C) Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
D) Present-centered therapy
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Prolonged exposure (PE) is a first-line, evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD,
particularly effective for hyperarousal and re-experiencing symptoms. It involves imaginal and in
vivo exposure to trauma reminders. Cognitive processing therapy (B) is also effective but focuses
more on cognitive distortions. EMDR (C) has evidence but is not superior to PE. Present-centered
therapy (D) is a non-trauma-focused control condition and not a recommended next step after
SSRI failure.
---
**Q7.** What is the primary mechanism of action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs)?
A) Blocking serotonin receptors
B) Inhibiting serotonin reuptake at the synaptic cleft
C) Increasing serotonin degradation
D) Stimulating serotonin release
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** SSRIs work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin at the presynaptic membrane,
increasing serotonin availability in the synaptic cleft.
---
