NR547 Midterm Exam Questions &
Correct Answers Latest Update Graded
A+
1.
A patient reports two weeks of depressed mood, loss of interest, fatigue, poor concentration,
and insomnia. Which diagnosis is most consistent with these findings?
A. Generalized anxiety disorder
B. Major depressive disorder
C. Bipolar I disorder
D. Schizophrenia
Answer: B. Major depressive disorder
Rationale: A major depressive episode involves at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of
interest plus associated symptoms causing clinically significant impairment.
2.
Which symptom is most characteristic of mania?
A. Decreased need for sleep without fatigue
B. Social withdrawal
C. Hypersomnia
D. Psychomotor retardation
Answer: A. Decreased need for sleep without fatigue
Rationale: A decreased need for sleep, increased energy, pressured speech, grandiosity, and
increased goal-directed activity are characteristic manic symptoms.
3.
A patient has experienced at least one manic episode. Which diagnosis should the clinician
consider first?
,A. Bipolar I disorder
B. Persistent depressive disorder
C. Cyclothymic disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Answer: A. Bipolar I disorder
Rationale: A manic episode is the defining feature required for a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder.
4.
Which finding best distinguishes mania from hypomania?
A. Mania causes more severe functional impairment
B. Hypomania always includes psychosis
C. Mania lasts only a few hours
D. Hypomania requires hospitalization
Answer: A. Mania causes more severe functional impairment
Rationale: Mania is more severe and may cause marked impairment, hospitalization, or
psychosis. Hypomania is less severe and does not cause marked functional impairment or
require hospitalization.
5.
A patient reports excessive worry about multiple areas of life occurring most days for more than
six months. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Panic disorder
B. Generalized anxiety disorder
C. Specific phobia
D. Acute stress disorder
Answer: B. Generalized anxiety disorder
Rationale: GAD involves excessive anxiety and worry about multiple domains occurring more
days than not for at least six months.
6.
,Which symptom is characteristic of panic attacks?
A. Sudden intense fear with autonomic symptoms
B. Persistent elevated mood for months
C. Chronic hallucinations without anxiety
D. Progressive memory loss
Answer: A. Sudden intense fear with autonomic symptoms
Rationale: Panic attacks have an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by
physical and cognitive symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, and fear of dying.
7.
A patient avoids elevators because of intense fear of becoming trapped. Which diagnosis is most
appropriate?
A. Specific phobia
B. OCD
C. PTSD
D. Bipolar disorder
Answer: A. Specific phobia
Rationale: Specific phobia involves marked fear or anxiety about a particular object or situation,
with avoidance or significant distress.
8.
Which feature is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
A. Intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors
B. Persistent elevated mood
C. Auditory hallucinations only
D. Progressive cognitive decline
Answer: A. Intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors
Rationale: OCD involves obsessions, compulsions, or both that are time-consuming or cause
clinically significant distress or impairment.
, 9.
A patient repeatedly checks that the door is locked because of intrusive fears that someone will
break in. The checking behavior is best described as:
A. Delusion
B. Compulsion
C. Hallucination
D. Flight of ideas
Answer: B. Compulsion
Rationale: A compulsion is a repetitive behavior performed in response to an obsession or
according to rigid rules.
10.
Which symptom is most characteristic of PTSD?
A. Re-experiencing a traumatic event
B. Elevated mood
C. Increased appetite only
D. Grandiosity
Answer: A. Re-experiencing a traumatic event
Rationale: PTSD can involve intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, negative
mood/cognition changes, and hyperarousal following trauma.
11.
A patient experiences intrusive memories, avoidance, and hypervigilance for three weeks after a
traumatic event. Which diagnosis should be considered?
A. Acute stress disorder
B. Persistent depressive disorder
C. Bipolar II disorder
D. Delusional disorder
Answer: A. Acute stress disorder
Rationale: Acute stress disorder occurs after trauma and lasts from three days to one month.
Correct Answers Latest Update Graded
A+
1.
A patient reports two weeks of depressed mood, loss of interest, fatigue, poor concentration,
and insomnia. Which diagnosis is most consistent with these findings?
A. Generalized anxiety disorder
B. Major depressive disorder
C. Bipolar I disorder
D. Schizophrenia
Answer: B. Major depressive disorder
Rationale: A major depressive episode involves at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of
interest plus associated symptoms causing clinically significant impairment.
2.
Which symptom is most characteristic of mania?
A. Decreased need for sleep without fatigue
B. Social withdrawal
C. Hypersomnia
D. Psychomotor retardation
Answer: A. Decreased need for sleep without fatigue
Rationale: A decreased need for sleep, increased energy, pressured speech, grandiosity, and
increased goal-directed activity are characteristic manic symptoms.
3.
A patient has experienced at least one manic episode. Which diagnosis should the clinician
consider first?
,A. Bipolar I disorder
B. Persistent depressive disorder
C. Cyclothymic disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Answer: A. Bipolar I disorder
Rationale: A manic episode is the defining feature required for a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder.
4.
Which finding best distinguishes mania from hypomania?
A. Mania causes more severe functional impairment
B. Hypomania always includes psychosis
C. Mania lasts only a few hours
D. Hypomania requires hospitalization
Answer: A. Mania causes more severe functional impairment
Rationale: Mania is more severe and may cause marked impairment, hospitalization, or
psychosis. Hypomania is less severe and does not cause marked functional impairment or
require hospitalization.
5.
A patient reports excessive worry about multiple areas of life occurring most days for more than
six months. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Panic disorder
B. Generalized anxiety disorder
C. Specific phobia
D. Acute stress disorder
Answer: B. Generalized anxiety disorder
Rationale: GAD involves excessive anxiety and worry about multiple domains occurring more
days than not for at least six months.
6.
,Which symptom is characteristic of panic attacks?
A. Sudden intense fear with autonomic symptoms
B. Persistent elevated mood for months
C. Chronic hallucinations without anxiety
D. Progressive memory loss
Answer: A. Sudden intense fear with autonomic symptoms
Rationale: Panic attacks have an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by
physical and cognitive symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, and fear of dying.
7.
A patient avoids elevators because of intense fear of becoming trapped. Which diagnosis is most
appropriate?
A. Specific phobia
B. OCD
C. PTSD
D. Bipolar disorder
Answer: A. Specific phobia
Rationale: Specific phobia involves marked fear or anxiety about a particular object or situation,
with avoidance or significant distress.
8.
Which feature is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
A. Intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors
B. Persistent elevated mood
C. Auditory hallucinations only
D. Progressive cognitive decline
Answer: A. Intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors
Rationale: OCD involves obsessions, compulsions, or both that are time-consuming or cause
clinically significant distress or impairment.
, 9.
A patient repeatedly checks that the door is locked because of intrusive fears that someone will
break in. The checking behavior is best described as:
A. Delusion
B. Compulsion
C. Hallucination
D. Flight of ideas
Answer: B. Compulsion
Rationale: A compulsion is a repetitive behavior performed in response to an obsession or
according to rigid rules.
10.
Which symptom is most characteristic of PTSD?
A. Re-experiencing a traumatic event
B. Elevated mood
C. Increased appetite only
D. Grandiosity
Answer: A. Re-experiencing a traumatic event
Rationale: PTSD can involve intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, negative
mood/cognition changes, and hyperarousal following trauma.
11.
A patient experiences intrusive memories, avoidance, and hypervigilance for three weeks after a
traumatic event. Which diagnosis should be considered?
A. Acute stress disorder
B. Persistent depressive disorder
C. Bipolar II disorder
D. Delusional disorder
Answer: A. Acute stress disorder
Rationale: Acute stress disorder occurs after trauma and lasts from three days to one month.
