PMHNP NR 547 Final Study Guide Exam
2025 Questions and Answers
When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression - ANS Unipolar major depression
(major depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of one or more major depressive
episodes (table 3) and no history of mania (table 1) or hypomania
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - ANS Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded
answer. A score of 5 or more suggests depression.
Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
Geriatric Depression Scale - ANS The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a self-report
measure of depression in older adults. Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was
originally developed as a 30-item instrument. Since this version proved both time-consuming
and difficult for some patients to complete, a 15-item version was developed. The shortened
form (GDS-S) is comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric Depression Scale-Long Form
(GDS-L). These 15 items were chosen because of their high correlation with depressive
symptoms in previous validation studies
Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population - ANS he GDS may be used with healthy,
medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired older adults. It has been extensively
used in community, acute care, and long-term care settings.
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score - ANS Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or
combination treatment indicated of the 15 items, 10 indicated the presence of depression
Pg. 1 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
, when answered positively, while the rest (question numbers 1, 5, 7, 11, 13) indicated
depression when answered negatively.
Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints; (No
Treatment)
5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment may be indicated
Base treatment on duration of symptoms and functional impairment
9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated)
12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention - ANS The presence of
depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may be used to monitor
depression over time in all clinical settings.
Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should prompt an in-depth psychological
assessment and evaluation for suicidality.
Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] - ANS A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as
a screening tool to assess severity of depression; widely used by health care providers, in
validity is well established, particularly for identifying severe depression.
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) - ANS Widely used to screen for depression and to
measure behavioral manifestations and severity of depression.
The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items which
individuals complete using multiple choice response formats.
Pg. 2 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
2025 Questions and Answers
When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression - ANS Unipolar major depression
(major depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of one or more major depressive
episodes (table 3) and no history of mania (table 1) or hypomania
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - ANS Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded
answer. A score of 5 or more suggests depression.
Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
Geriatric Depression Scale - ANS The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a self-report
measure of depression in older adults. Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was
originally developed as a 30-item instrument. Since this version proved both time-consuming
and difficult for some patients to complete, a 15-item version was developed. The shortened
form (GDS-S) is comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric Depression Scale-Long Form
(GDS-L). These 15 items were chosen because of their high correlation with depressive
symptoms in previous validation studies
Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population - ANS he GDS may be used with healthy,
medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired older adults. It has been extensively
used in community, acute care, and long-term care settings.
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score - ANS Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or
combination treatment indicated of the 15 items, 10 indicated the presence of depression
Pg. 1 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
, when answered positively, while the rest (question numbers 1, 5, 7, 11, 13) indicated
depression when answered negatively.
Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints; (No
Treatment)
5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment may be indicated
Base treatment on duration of symptoms and functional impairment
9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated)
12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention - ANS The presence of
depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may be used to monitor
depression over time in all clinical settings.
Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should prompt an in-depth psychological
assessment and evaluation for suicidality.
Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] - ANS A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as
a screening tool to assess severity of depression; widely used by health care providers, in
validity is well established, particularly for identifying severe depression.
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) - ANS Widely used to screen for depression and to
measure behavioral manifestations and severity of depression.
The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items which
individuals complete using multiple choice response formats.
Pg. 2 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
