HIGH YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM REAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
(RELIABLE SOLUTIONS) CURRENTLY UPDATED VERSION 2026
EDITION |GUARANTEED PASS A+ |JUST RELEASED NR 547
MIDTERM APPROVED EXAM |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 34-year-old patient presents with a chief complaint of “feeling on edge and
unable to sleep for the past month.” The PMHNP begins formulating a working
list of potential conditions that could explain these symptoms. This initial
hypothesis is BEST described as:
A. Final diagnosis
B. Prognostic indicator
C. Treatment algorithm
D. Differential diagnosis
Correct Answer: D. Differential diagnosis
Rationale: Differential diagnosis is the provider’s initial working list of
potential conditions that could explain the patient’s presenting symptoms. The
DSM-5-TR helps guide psychiatric diagnostic reasoning, with the clinician
considering multiple possible conditions before narrowing the possibilities to a
final diagnosis.
2. A 28-year-old female presents with symptoms of anxiety, palpitations, and
difficulty sleeping. Prior to diagnosing an anxiety disorder, which medical
condition should the PMHNP prioritize ruling out?
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Hyperthyroidism
,C. Adrenal insufficiency
D. Diabetes mellitus
Correct Answer: B. Hyperthyroidism
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism can present with anxiety, palpitations, insomnia,
and irritability—symptoms that can mimic anxiety disorders. The PMHNP
should assess thyroid function to rule out medical causes before diagnosing a
primary anxiety disorder.
3. Which information is most important when determining the onset of a
psychiatric symptom?
A. Duration and pattern of the symptom
B. The patient's favorite activity
C. The patient's educational level
D. The patient's insurance status
Correct Answer: A. Duration and pattern of the symptom
Rationale: Onset, duration, course, and fluctuations help distinguish among
psychiatric and medical conditions. Understanding the temporal pattern is
essential for accurate differential diagnosis.
4. During an initial psychiatric interview, which question is most appropriate?
A. “You aren't depressed, are you?”
B. “Why haven't you fixed this problem?”
,C. “Can you tell me what brought you here today?”
D. “You should take medication, correct?”
Correct Answer: C. “Can you tell me what brought you here today?”
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe their
concerns in their own words, facilitating a comprehensive and patient-centered
psychiatric assessment.
5. Which is part of the history of present illness?
A. Current symptoms and their progression
B. Childhood vaccination history only
C. Family income only
D. Preferred pharmacy only
Correct Answer: A. Current symptoms and their progression
Rationale: The HPI describes the current problem, including onset, duration,
severity, associated symptoms, and progression. It is the core of the psychiatric
assessment.
6. Which question best assesses a patient's psychiatric history?
A. "What is your favorite food?"
B. "How many siblings do you have?"
C. "Have you previously received counseling or psychiatric treatment?"
D. "What television programs do you watch?"
Correct Answer: C. "Have you previously received counseling or
psychiatric treatment?"
Rationale: Assessing prior psychiatric treatment, hospitalizations, and
medication trials is essential for understanding the patient's longitudinal course
and guiding current treatment decisions.
, 7. The PHQ-9 is primarily designed to assess:
A. Depressive symptoms
B. Psychosis
C. Dementia
D. Mania
Correct Answer: A. Depressive symptoms
Rationale: The PHQ-9 is widely used to assess depressive symptoms and their
severity. It is a validated screening and monitoring tool for major depressive
disorder.
8. The GAD-7 is primarily designed to assess:
A. Generalized anxiety symptoms
B. Psychosis
C. Dementia
D. Mania
Correct Answer: A. Generalized anxiety symptoms
Rationale: The GAD-7 is a screening and severity-assessment tool for
generalized anxiety symptoms. It is widely used in both clinical and research
settings.
9. Which tool is associated with screening for alcohol misuse?
A. PHQ-9
B. MMSE