Barkley PMHNP PRACTICE
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM
PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1.
A 32-year-old patient reports depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue,
insomnia, poor concentration, and feelings of worthlessness for 3
weeks. Symptoms cause significant occupational impairment. There
is no history of mania or hypomania. Which diagnosis is most
appropriate?
A. Persistent depressive disorder
B. Adjustment disorder
C. Major depressive disorder
D. Cyclothymic disorder
Answer: C. Major depressive disorder
Rationale: Major depressive disorder requires at least 2 weeks of
depressed mood or anhedonia plus associated symptoms causing
clinically significant distress or impairment.
,2.
Which symptom is most characteristic of mania?
A. Hypersomnia
B. Increased need for sleep
C. Decreased need for sleep
D. Social withdrawal
Answer: C. Decreased need for sleep
Rationale: A decreased need for sleep, rather than simply insomnia, is
a classic symptom of mania or hypomania.
3.
A patient reports hearing a voice speaking when nobody is present.
This is best described as:
A. Illusion
B. Delusion
C. Hallucination
D. Obsession
Answer: C. Hallucination
Rationale: A hallucination is a perception occurring without an
external sensory stimulus.
4.
A patient believes the FBI has implanted a tracking device inside their
tooth despite repeated evidence to the contrary. This represents:
A. Obsession
B. Delusion
,C. Confabulation
D. Illusion
Answer: B. Delusion
Rationale: A delusion is a fixed false belief that persists despite
contradictory evidence.
5.
Which finding is most suggestive of delirium rather than dementia?
A. Gradual cognitive decline
B. Stable impairment over several years
C. Acute onset with fluctuating attention
D. Preserved attention with memory loss
Answer: C. Acute onset with fluctuating attention
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute and fluctuating
disturbance in attention and awareness.
6.
Which cognitive domain is primarily assessed by asking a patient to
subtract serial 7s?
A. Memory
B. Attention and concentration
C. Language
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: B. Attention and concentration
Rationale: Serial calculations primarily assess sustained attention and
concentration.
, 7.
A patient knows the date and location but cannot remember three
objects after 5 minutes. Which domain is impaired?
A. Immediate recall
B. Delayed recall
C. Orientation
D. Language
Answer: B. Delayed recall
Rationale: Delayed recall assesses the ability to retain and retrieve
recently presented information after a delay.
8.
Which finding most strongly suggests psychosis?
A. Anxiety
B. Racing thoughts
C. Auditory hallucinations
D. Insomnia
Answer: C. Auditory hallucinations
Rationale: Hallucinations are psychotic symptoms, although they can
also occur in some neurologic, substance-induced, and medical
conditions.
9.
A patient reports intrusive thoughts about contamination and
repeatedly washes their hands to reduce anxiety. Which diagnosis is
most likely?
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM
PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1.
A 32-year-old patient reports depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue,
insomnia, poor concentration, and feelings of worthlessness for 3
weeks. Symptoms cause significant occupational impairment. There
is no history of mania or hypomania. Which diagnosis is most
appropriate?
A. Persistent depressive disorder
B. Adjustment disorder
C. Major depressive disorder
D. Cyclothymic disorder
Answer: C. Major depressive disorder
Rationale: Major depressive disorder requires at least 2 weeks of
depressed mood or anhedonia plus associated symptoms causing
clinically significant distress or impairment.
,2.
Which symptom is most characteristic of mania?
A. Hypersomnia
B. Increased need for sleep
C. Decreased need for sleep
D. Social withdrawal
Answer: C. Decreased need for sleep
Rationale: A decreased need for sleep, rather than simply insomnia, is
a classic symptom of mania or hypomania.
3.
A patient reports hearing a voice speaking when nobody is present.
This is best described as:
A. Illusion
B. Delusion
C. Hallucination
D. Obsession
Answer: C. Hallucination
Rationale: A hallucination is a perception occurring without an
external sensory stimulus.
4.
A patient believes the FBI has implanted a tracking device inside their
tooth despite repeated evidence to the contrary. This represents:
A. Obsession
B. Delusion
,C. Confabulation
D. Illusion
Answer: B. Delusion
Rationale: A delusion is a fixed false belief that persists despite
contradictory evidence.
5.
Which finding is most suggestive of delirium rather than dementia?
A. Gradual cognitive decline
B. Stable impairment over several years
C. Acute onset with fluctuating attention
D. Preserved attention with memory loss
Answer: C. Acute onset with fluctuating attention
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute and fluctuating
disturbance in attention and awareness.
6.
Which cognitive domain is primarily assessed by asking a patient to
subtract serial 7s?
A. Memory
B. Attention and concentration
C. Language
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: B. Attention and concentration
Rationale: Serial calculations primarily assess sustained attention and
concentration.
, 7.
A patient knows the date and location but cannot remember three
objects after 5 minutes. Which domain is impaired?
A. Immediate recall
B. Delayed recall
C. Orientation
D. Language
Answer: B. Delayed recall
Rationale: Delayed recall assesses the ability to retain and retrieve
recently presented information after a delay.
8.
Which finding most strongly suggests psychosis?
A. Anxiety
B. Racing thoughts
C. Auditory hallucinations
D. Insomnia
Answer: C. Auditory hallucinations
Rationale: Hallucinations are psychotic symptoms, although they can
also occur in some neurologic, substance-induced, and medical
conditions.
9.
A patient reports intrusive thoughts about contamination and
repeatedly washes their hands to reduce anxiety. Which diagnosis is
most likely?
