NURS 5363 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE:
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. How are mental disorders determined in the DSM-5-TR?
Answer:
Mental disorders are defined as significant disturbances in cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior that reflect
dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes, causing clinically significant distress or impairment in
functioning. Diagnosis is made when symptoms meet the criteria specified in the DSM-5-TR for a particular disorder, ruling
out other causes.
Question:
2. What components are assessed in the Mental Status Exam (MSE)?
Answer:
Memory (immediate recall, short-term, long-term), Abstract reasoning (using proverbs or similarities),
Concentration/Attention (tasks like serial 7s), Judgment (hypothetical questions), Mood (self-reported feelings),
Speech/Thought patterns (observing rate, tone, coherence).
Question:
3. What should be included in the assessment of children?
Answer:
Developmental history and milestones, family and school functioning, observation of play behavior, use of age-appropriate
language and tools, interviews with both child and caregiver, and standardized tools like the Child Behavior Checklist
(CBCL).
Question:
4. What is included in the Psychiatric Interview?
Answer:
Chief complaint, history of present illness, psychiatric history, medical and surgical history, substance use history, family
psychiatric history, social history, mental status exam, and risk assessment.
Question:
5. What diagnostics/imaging studies are used for initial assessment of cognitive concerns and dementia?
Answer:
Cognitive screening tools (MMSE, MoCA), labs (CBC, TSH, B12, folate, CMP, RPR, HIV), imaging (MRI or CT), and
functional imaging (e.g., PET) for differential diagnosis.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. How are mental disorders determined in the DSM-5-TR?
Answer:
Mental disorders are defined as significant disturbances in cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior that reflect
dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes, causing clinically significant distress or impairment in
functioning. Diagnosis is made when symptoms meet the criteria specified in the DSM-5-TR for a particular disorder, ruling
out other causes.
Question:
2. What components are assessed in the Mental Status Exam (MSE)?
Answer:
Memory (immediate recall, short-term, long-term), Abstract reasoning (using proverbs or similarities),
Concentration/Attention (tasks like serial 7s), Judgment (hypothetical questions), Mood (self-reported feelings),
Speech/Thought patterns (observing rate, tone, coherence).
Question:
3. What should be included in the assessment of children?
Answer:
Developmental history and milestones, family and school functioning, observation of play behavior, use of age-appropriate
language and tools, interviews with both child and caregiver, and standardized tools like the Child Behavior Checklist
(CBCL).
Question:
4. What is included in the Psychiatric Interview?
Answer:
Chief complaint, history of present illness, psychiatric history, medical and surgical history, substance use history, family
psychiatric history, social history, mental status exam, and risk assessment.
Question:
5. What diagnostics/imaging studies are used for initial assessment of cognitive concerns and dementia?
Answer:
Cognitive screening tools (MMSE, MoCA), labs (CBC, TSH, B12, folate, CMP, RPR, HIV), imaging (MRI or CT), and
functional imaging (e.g., PET) for differential diagnosis.
