CMN 552 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Module 4 Exam University of South Alabama
Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
**SECTION 1: Schizophrenia Spectrum & Other Psychotic Disorders (Q1–Q25)**
**Q1:** A patient presents with persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations present for 3
weeks with no mood symptoms and no substance use. Before schizophrenia can be diagnosed
rather than schizophreniform disorder, which additional requirement must be met?
A. Presence of at least one manic episode
B. Continuous signs of disturbance persisting at least 6 months [CORRECT]
C. Prominent negative symptoms at onset
D. Onset before age 18
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Schizophrenia requires Criterion C — continuous signs of the disturbance persisting
for at least 6 months, including at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms; symptoms lasting
1–6 months indicate schizophreniform disorder.
**Q2:** According to DSM-5-TR Criterion A for schizophrenia, at least one of the two required
symptoms must be which of the following?
A. Alogia
B. Avolition
C. Delusions [CORRECT]
D. Affective flattening
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: At least one of the two Criterion A symptoms must be delusions, hallucinations, or
disorganized speech; negative symptoms or grossly disorganized behavior alone do not satisfy
this requirement.
**Q3:** Which of the following is classified as a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
A. Persecutory delusions
B. Auditory hallucinations
C. Disorganized speech
D. Avolition [CORRECT]
Rationale: Avolition — decreased motivation and difficulty initiating goal-directed activity — is a
negative symptom reflecting diminution or loss of normal function.
,**Q4:** A patient sits with minimal facial expression, speaks few words, and shows no interest in
previously enjoyed activities. These findings best represent:
A. Positive symptoms
B. Negative symptoms [CORRECT]
C. Catatonic features
D. Disorganized symptoms
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Affective flattening and alogia represent negative symptoms, which are diminution or
loss of normal functions and are associated with poorer functional outcomes.
**Q5:** The most common type of hallucination experienced by patients with schizophrenia is:
A. Visual
B. Olfactory
C. Auditory [CORRECT]
D. Tactile
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations — typically voices distinct from the individual's own thoughts
— are the most common hallucination in schizophrenia.
**Q6:** The most common type of delusion in schizophrenia is:
A. Grandiose
B. Persecutory [CORRECT]
C. Erotomanic
D. Nihilistic
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Persecutory delusions — the belief that one is being harmed, harassed, or conspired
against — are the most common delusional theme across the schizophrenia spectrum.
**Q7:** The essential feature distinguishing schizophreniform disorder from schizophrenia is:
A. Presence of mood symptoms
B. Absence of hallucinations
C. Episode duration of at least 1 month but less than 6 months [CORRECT]
D. Full return to premorbid functioning
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Schizophreniform disorder requires the same Criterion A symptoms as schizophrenia
but lasts 1 to less than 6 months; duration beyond 6 months supports schizophrenia.
**Q8:** A patient develops disorganized speech and auditory hallucinations following severe
psychosocial stress. Symptoms last 12 days, then resolve completely with full return to prior
functioning. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Schizophrenia
B. Schizoaffective disorder
C. Brief psychotic disorder [CORRECT]
D. Delusional disorder
, **Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Brief psychotic disorder involves at least one positive psychotic symptom lasting at
least 1 day but less than 1 month with full return to premorbid functioning.
**Q9:** Which feature is required for a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder rather than
schizophrenia?
A. Mood symptoms never present
B. Mood episode present only in the residual phase
C. Mood symptoms present for the majority of the total duration of illness [CORRECT]
D. Psychotic symptoms resolve with mood episodes
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Schizoaffective disorder requires a major mood episode concurrent with Criterion A
symptoms, with mood symptoms present for the majority of the total illness duration.
**Q10:** A patient has a fixed belief of being surveilled by police for 8 months. Functioning is not
impaired, behavior is not bizarre, and no other psychotic symptoms are present. The most likely
diagnosis is:
A. Schizophrenia
B. Delusional disorder [CORRECT]
C. Schizophreniform disorder
D. Schizoaffective disorder
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Delusional disorder requires one or more delusions for at least 1 month with
functioning not markedly impaired and behavior not obviously bizarre.
**Q11:** Which of the following describes a bizarre delusion?
A. Belief that one is being followed by police
B. Belief that an outside force has removed one's internal organs [CORRECT]
C. Belief that a spouse is unfaithful without evidence
D. Belief that coworkers are talking about oneself
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Bizarre delusions are clearly implausible and not understandable to same-culture
peers, such as beliefs that external forces have removed or replaced internal organs.
**Q12:** A patient states, "The government is placing thoughts into my head that are not mine."
This symptom is best described as:
A. Thought broadcasting
B. Referential delusion
C. Thought insertion [CORRECT]
D. Grandiose delusion
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Thought insertion is the delusion that one's thoughts are not one's own but have
been implanted by an external force — a loss-of-control-of-mind delusion considered bizarre.
Module 4 Exam University of South Alabama
Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
**SECTION 1: Schizophrenia Spectrum & Other Psychotic Disorders (Q1–Q25)**
**Q1:** A patient presents with persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations present for 3
weeks with no mood symptoms and no substance use. Before schizophrenia can be diagnosed
rather than schizophreniform disorder, which additional requirement must be met?
A. Presence of at least one manic episode
B. Continuous signs of disturbance persisting at least 6 months [CORRECT]
C. Prominent negative symptoms at onset
D. Onset before age 18
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Schizophrenia requires Criterion C — continuous signs of the disturbance persisting
for at least 6 months, including at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms; symptoms lasting
1–6 months indicate schizophreniform disorder.
**Q2:** According to DSM-5-TR Criterion A for schizophrenia, at least one of the two required
symptoms must be which of the following?
A. Alogia
B. Avolition
C. Delusions [CORRECT]
D. Affective flattening
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: At least one of the two Criterion A symptoms must be delusions, hallucinations, or
disorganized speech; negative symptoms or grossly disorganized behavior alone do not satisfy
this requirement.
**Q3:** Which of the following is classified as a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
A. Persecutory delusions
B. Auditory hallucinations
C. Disorganized speech
D. Avolition [CORRECT]
Rationale: Avolition — decreased motivation and difficulty initiating goal-directed activity — is a
negative symptom reflecting diminution or loss of normal function.
,**Q4:** A patient sits with minimal facial expression, speaks few words, and shows no interest in
previously enjoyed activities. These findings best represent:
A. Positive symptoms
B. Negative symptoms [CORRECT]
C. Catatonic features
D. Disorganized symptoms
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Affective flattening and alogia represent negative symptoms, which are diminution or
loss of normal functions and are associated with poorer functional outcomes.
**Q5:** The most common type of hallucination experienced by patients with schizophrenia is:
A. Visual
B. Olfactory
C. Auditory [CORRECT]
D. Tactile
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations — typically voices distinct from the individual's own thoughts
— are the most common hallucination in schizophrenia.
**Q6:** The most common type of delusion in schizophrenia is:
A. Grandiose
B. Persecutory [CORRECT]
C. Erotomanic
D. Nihilistic
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Persecutory delusions — the belief that one is being harmed, harassed, or conspired
against — are the most common delusional theme across the schizophrenia spectrum.
**Q7:** The essential feature distinguishing schizophreniform disorder from schizophrenia is:
A. Presence of mood symptoms
B. Absence of hallucinations
C. Episode duration of at least 1 month but less than 6 months [CORRECT]
D. Full return to premorbid functioning
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Schizophreniform disorder requires the same Criterion A symptoms as schizophrenia
but lasts 1 to less than 6 months; duration beyond 6 months supports schizophrenia.
**Q8:** A patient develops disorganized speech and auditory hallucinations following severe
psychosocial stress. Symptoms last 12 days, then resolve completely with full return to prior
functioning. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Schizophrenia
B. Schizoaffective disorder
C. Brief psychotic disorder [CORRECT]
D. Delusional disorder
, **Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Brief psychotic disorder involves at least one positive psychotic symptom lasting at
least 1 day but less than 1 month with full return to premorbid functioning.
**Q9:** Which feature is required for a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder rather than
schizophrenia?
A. Mood symptoms never present
B. Mood episode present only in the residual phase
C. Mood symptoms present for the majority of the total duration of illness [CORRECT]
D. Psychotic symptoms resolve with mood episodes
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Schizoaffective disorder requires a major mood episode concurrent with Criterion A
symptoms, with mood symptoms present for the majority of the total illness duration.
**Q10:** A patient has a fixed belief of being surveilled by police for 8 months. Functioning is not
impaired, behavior is not bizarre, and no other psychotic symptoms are present. The most likely
diagnosis is:
A. Schizophrenia
B. Delusional disorder [CORRECT]
C. Schizophreniform disorder
D. Schizoaffective disorder
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Delusional disorder requires one or more delusions for at least 1 month with
functioning not markedly impaired and behavior not obviously bizarre.
**Q11:** Which of the following describes a bizarre delusion?
A. Belief that one is being followed by police
B. Belief that an outside force has removed one's internal organs [CORRECT]
C. Belief that a spouse is unfaithful without evidence
D. Belief that coworkers are talking about oneself
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Bizarre delusions are clearly implausible and not understandable to same-culture
peers, such as beliefs that external forces have removed or replaced internal organs.
**Q12:** A patient states, "The government is placing thoughts into my head that are not mine."
This symptom is best described as:
A. Thought broadcasting
B. Referential delusion
C. Thought insertion [CORRECT]
D. Grandiose delusion
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Thought insertion is the delusion that one's thoughts are not one's own but have
been implanted by an external force — a loss-of-control-of-mind delusion considered bizarre.
