WGU Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Assessment ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
,SECTION 1: Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis (Questions 1–15)
1. A PMHNP is conducting a mental status exam. Which finding would be documented under "thought process"?
A) "Patient reports feeling sad"
B) "Patient exhibits flight of ideas"
C) "Patient is oriented to person, place, and time"
D) "Patient's mood is euthymic"
Answer: B
Rationale: Thought process refers to the flow and form of thinking (e.g., flight of ideas, tangentiality, looseness of
associations). Mood and affect describe emotional state, while orientation is part of cognition.
2. Which standardized tool is most appropriate for screening depression in an adult outpatient setting?
A) CAGE
B) PHQ-9
C) AUDIT
D) MMSE
,Answer: B
Rationale: The PHQ-9 is a validated, self-administered tool specifically for depression screening and severity. CAGE and
AUDIT screen for alcohol use; MMSE assesses cognition.
3. A patient presents with depressed mood, anhedonia, insomnia, and fatigue for 3 weeks. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder
B) Persistent depressive disorder
C) Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
D) Bipolar II disorder
Answer: A
Rationale: MDD requires ≥2 weeks of depressed mood or anhedonia plus ≥4 additional symptoms. Persistent depressive
disorder requires 2 years in adults. Adjustment disorder follows an identifiable stressor within 3 months.
4. Which of the following is a required criterion for diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
, A) Panic attacks
B) Excessive worry for at least 6 months
C) Avoidance of social situations
D) Compulsive rituals
Answer: B
Rationale: GAD requires excessive anxiety/worry more days than not for at least 6 months, difficult to control, with ≥3 of 6
symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance).
5. A patient reports hearing voices commenting on their behavior. This is best described as:
A) Illusion
B) Hallucination
C) Delusion
D) Obsession
Answer: B
Rationale: A hallucination is a sensory perception without external stimulus. Third-person auditory hallucinations
commenting on behavior are classically associated with schizophrenia.
Practitioner Assessment ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
,SECTION 1: Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis (Questions 1–15)
1. A PMHNP is conducting a mental status exam. Which finding would be documented under "thought process"?
A) "Patient reports feeling sad"
B) "Patient exhibits flight of ideas"
C) "Patient is oriented to person, place, and time"
D) "Patient's mood is euthymic"
Answer: B
Rationale: Thought process refers to the flow and form of thinking (e.g., flight of ideas, tangentiality, looseness of
associations). Mood and affect describe emotional state, while orientation is part of cognition.
2. Which standardized tool is most appropriate for screening depression in an adult outpatient setting?
A) CAGE
B) PHQ-9
C) AUDIT
D) MMSE
,Answer: B
Rationale: The PHQ-9 is a validated, self-administered tool specifically for depression screening and severity. CAGE and
AUDIT screen for alcohol use; MMSE assesses cognition.
3. A patient presents with depressed mood, anhedonia, insomnia, and fatigue for 3 weeks. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder
B) Persistent depressive disorder
C) Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
D) Bipolar II disorder
Answer: A
Rationale: MDD requires ≥2 weeks of depressed mood or anhedonia plus ≥4 additional symptoms. Persistent depressive
disorder requires 2 years in adults. Adjustment disorder follows an identifiable stressor within 3 months.
4. Which of the following is a required criterion for diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
, A) Panic attacks
B) Excessive worry for at least 6 months
C) Avoidance of social situations
D) Compulsive rituals
Answer: B
Rationale: GAD requires excessive anxiety/worry more days than not for at least 6 months, difficult to control, with ≥3 of 6
symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance).
5. A patient reports hearing voices commenting on their behavior. This is best described as:
A) Illusion
B) Hallucination
C) Delusion
D) Obsession
Answer: B
Rationale: A hallucination is a sensory perception without external stimulus. Third-person auditory hallucinations
commenting on behavior are classically associated with schizophrenia.
