NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam – Walden
University – 2025-2026 Actual Questions & Verified Answers
(150+ Qs)
What |is |the |role |of |the |primary |care |provider |in |mental |health? |- |answers- |Screen |for |mental |health |
issues
- |Improve |outcomes |and |reduce |health |care |costs
- |Assess |and |give |care |to |mild-moderate |disorders |or |patients |with |stable |severe |mental |disorders
- |From |strong |links |with |mental |health |specialty |care |for |complex |cases
Sharing |patient |info |(ex: |meds |used)
about |PHQ2
- |what |does |it |screen |for, |what |are |the |questions, |scoring |- |answers- |Screens |for |MDD
- |It |is |the |first |two |questions |of |the |PHQ9
- |In |the |last |two |week, |have |you |been |feeling |these |(not |at |all, |several |days, |more |than |half |the |day, |
nearly |everyday):
- |Little |interest |or |pleasure |in |doing |things?
- |Feeling |down, |depressed, |or |hopeless?
Scoring:
A |single |yes |or |score |>3 |(out |of |0-6) |= |possible |clinical |depression |⇒ |due |the |PHQ9
If |the |pt |screens |(+) |⇒ |continue |to |eval |with |the |PHQ9
about |PHQ9
- |what |its |used |for, |questions, |scoring |- |answersUsed |for |screening, |diagnosing, |and |treating
- |It |asks |about |functioning |impairments |which |is |needed |for |the |DSM-based |diagnosis
Includes |asking |about |suicide |or |hurting |self
Scoring:
,0-27 |available
0-4: |Minimal/none
Monitor; |may |not |require |treatment
5-9: |Mild
Use |clinical |judgment; |follow-up |in |one |month
10-14: |Moderate
Use |clinical |judgment; |may |need |meds |if |functionally |impaired
15-19: |Moderately |Severe
Warrants |active |treatment |with |psychotherapy, |meds, |or |combo
20-27: |Severe
Warrants |active |treatment |with |psychotherapy, |meds, |or |combo
What |is |the |appropriate |initiation |dose |for |fluoxetine |for |adults |and |geriatric |adults? |- |answers20mg |
PO |once |daily |in |the |AM
- |May |↑ |daily |dose |after |several |weeks |if |inadequate |response
- |Full |therapeutic |effect |may |be |delayed |4 |weeks |or |longer
- |Max |dose: |80mg/day
What |labs |would |be |appropriate |to |draw |if |you |initiate |fluoxetine |in |a |geriatric |patient? |- |
answersSodium |levels
- |Baseline |screening |& |after |3-4 |weeks |in |high-risk |patients |(> |65yrs, |previous |hx |of |antidepressant-
induced |hyponatremia, |low |body |weight, |concomitant |use |of |thiazides |or |other |hyponatremia-
inducing |agents)
- |monitor |regularly |in |the |elderly
What |are |potential |side |effects |of |SSRI |medications?
- |what |are |the |common |SSRIs, |LEAP |of |them, |and |zoloft |AE |- |answersCommon |SSRIs:
Lexapro, |celexa, |paxil, |zoloft, |prozac
L |= |decreased |libido |and |sleep
E |= |Neutral |effect |on |energy
A |= |neural |effect |on |addiction
P |= |celexa |may |stop |working |after |awhile |(increase |or |switch)
, Zoloft |AE:
Insomnia, |somnolence, |fatigue, |abnormal |ejaculation, |suicidal |thoughts
What |are |characteristics |of |major |depressive |disorder |or |MDD? |9 |- |answersDiagnostics |need |5 |or |
more |of |the |following:
- |SS |occur |more |days |than |not |in |a |2 |week |period
- |SS |cause |significant |impairment |in |any |realm |of |functioning
- |Depressed |mood
- |Loss |of |interest
- |Significant |unintended |▲ |in |weight |or |appetite
- |Significant |▲ |sleep
- |▲ |psychomotor |activity |(restlessness)
- |Fatigue, |loss |of |energy
- |Worthlessness, |guilt
What |is |serotonin |syndrome? |- |answers- |Increased |serotonergic |activity |in |the |CNS
- |Can |be |due |to |therapeutic |med |use, |inadvertent |drug |interactions, |or |self-OD
Serotonin |in |the |Body:
CNS: |Modulates |attention, |behavior, |and |thermoregulation
PNS: |Regulates |GI |motility, |vasoconstriction, |uterine |contraction, |and |bronchoconstriction, |promotes |
PLT |aggregation
PE |of |serotonin |syndrome |11 |- |answers- |Hyperthermia, |flushed |skin, |diaphoresis
- |Agitation
- |Slow, |continuous, |horizontal |eye |movements |(ocular |clonus)
- |Dilated |pupils
- |Tremor, |akathisia
- |Deep |tendon |hyperreflexia |(common)
- |Inducible |or |spontaneous |muscle |clonus |(common)
- |Muscle |rigidity
University – 2025-2026 Actual Questions & Verified Answers
(150+ Qs)
What |is |the |role |of |the |primary |care |provider |in |mental |health? |- |answers- |Screen |for |mental |health |
issues
- |Improve |outcomes |and |reduce |health |care |costs
- |Assess |and |give |care |to |mild-moderate |disorders |or |patients |with |stable |severe |mental |disorders
- |From |strong |links |with |mental |health |specialty |care |for |complex |cases
Sharing |patient |info |(ex: |meds |used)
about |PHQ2
- |what |does |it |screen |for, |what |are |the |questions, |scoring |- |answers- |Screens |for |MDD
- |It |is |the |first |two |questions |of |the |PHQ9
- |In |the |last |two |week, |have |you |been |feeling |these |(not |at |all, |several |days, |more |than |half |the |day, |
nearly |everyday):
- |Little |interest |or |pleasure |in |doing |things?
- |Feeling |down, |depressed, |or |hopeless?
Scoring:
A |single |yes |or |score |>3 |(out |of |0-6) |= |possible |clinical |depression |⇒ |due |the |PHQ9
If |the |pt |screens |(+) |⇒ |continue |to |eval |with |the |PHQ9
about |PHQ9
- |what |its |used |for, |questions, |scoring |- |answersUsed |for |screening, |diagnosing, |and |treating
- |It |asks |about |functioning |impairments |which |is |needed |for |the |DSM-based |diagnosis
Includes |asking |about |suicide |or |hurting |self
Scoring:
,0-27 |available
0-4: |Minimal/none
Monitor; |may |not |require |treatment
5-9: |Mild
Use |clinical |judgment; |follow-up |in |one |month
10-14: |Moderate
Use |clinical |judgment; |may |need |meds |if |functionally |impaired
15-19: |Moderately |Severe
Warrants |active |treatment |with |psychotherapy, |meds, |or |combo
20-27: |Severe
Warrants |active |treatment |with |psychotherapy, |meds, |or |combo
What |is |the |appropriate |initiation |dose |for |fluoxetine |for |adults |and |geriatric |adults? |- |answers20mg |
PO |once |daily |in |the |AM
- |May |↑ |daily |dose |after |several |weeks |if |inadequate |response
- |Full |therapeutic |effect |may |be |delayed |4 |weeks |or |longer
- |Max |dose: |80mg/day
What |labs |would |be |appropriate |to |draw |if |you |initiate |fluoxetine |in |a |geriatric |patient? |- |
answersSodium |levels
- |Baseline |screening |& |after |3-4 |weeks |in |high-risk |patients |(> |65yrs, |previous |hx |of |antidepressant-
induced |hyponatremia, |low |body |weight, |concomitant |use |of |thiazides |or |other |hyponatremia-
inducing |agents)
- |monitor |regularly |in |the |elderly
What |are |potential |side |effects |of |SSRI |medications?
- |what |are |the |common |SSRIs, |LEAP |of |them, |and |zoloft |AE |- |answersCommon |SSRIs:
Lexapro, |celexa, |paxil, |zoloft, |prozac
L |= |decreased |libido |and |sleep
E |= |Neutral |effect |on |energy
A |= |neural |effect |on |addiction
P |= |celexa |may |stop |working |after |awhile |(increase |or |switch)
, Zoloft |AE:
Insomnia, |somnolence, |fatigue, |abnormal |ejaculation, |suicidal |thoughts
What |are |characteristics |of |major |depressive |disorder |or |MDD? |9 |- |answersDiagnostics |need |5 |or |
more |of |the |following:
- |SS |occur |more |days |than |not |in |a |2 |week |period
- |SS |cause |significant |impairment |in |any |realm |of |functioning
- |Depressed |mood
- |Loss |of |interest
- |Significant |unintended |▲ |in |weight |or |appetite
- |Significant |▲ |sleep
- |▲ |psychomotor |activity |(restlessness)
- |Fatigue, |loss |of |energy
- |Worthlessness, |guilt
What |is |serotonin |syndrome? |- |answers- |Increased |serotonergic |activity |in |the |CNS
- |Can |be |due |to |therapeutic |med |use, |inadvertent |drug |interactions, |or |self-OD
Serotonin |in |the |Body:
CNS: |Modulates |attention, |behavior, |and |thermoregulation
PNS: |Regulates |GI |motility, |vasoconstriction, |uterine |contraction, |and |bronchoconstriction, |promotes |
PLT |aggregation
PE |of |serotonin |syndrome |11 |- |answers- |Hyperthermia, |flushed |skin, |diaphoresis
- |Agitation
- |Slow, |continuous, |horizontal |eye |movements |(ocular |clonus)
- |Dilated |pupils
- |Tremor, |akathisia
- |Deep |tendon |hyperreflexia |(common)
- |Inducible |or |spontaneous |muscle |clonus |(common)
- |Muscle |rigidity
