1
NRNP 6635 Final Exam 2025
– Actual Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning |
Verified A+ Answers | Walden
University
1. What is the most affected mental function in mild cognitive impairment?
A. Long-term memory
B. Executive functioning
C. Language skills
D. Recent memory
Correct Answer: D (Recent memory)
Rationale: Mild cognitive impairment primarily affects recent memory, such as recalling
recent events or new information, while long-term memory typically remains intact.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
2. What is the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability in infants and
children?
A. Fragile X syndrome
B. Autism spectrum disorder
C. Down syndrome
D. Rett syndrome
Correct Answer: C (Down syndrome)
Rationale: Down syndrome, caused by trisomy 21, is the most common genetic cause of
intellectual disability in children. DSM-5.
3. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
D. Acetylcholine
Correct Answer: B (Dopamine)
Rationale: Dopamine dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex and striatum is strongly
linked to ADHD symptoms, including inattention and impulsivity. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
4. What is the drug of choice to treat psychosis in delirious patients?
A. Risperidone
, 2
B. Olanzapine
C. Quetiapine
D. Haloperidol
Correct Answer: D (Haloperidol)
Rationale: Haloperidol is preferred for managing psychosis in delirium due to its
efficacy and lower sedative effects in acute settings. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
5. Which characteristic is more pronounced in childhood-onset schizophrenia
compared to adult-onset?
A. Hallucinations
B. Social withdrawal
C. Delusions
D. Disorganized speech
Correct Answer: B (Social withdrawal)
Rationale: Childhood-onset schizophrenia often presents with more pronounced social
withdrawal due to developmental impacts on social functioning. DSM-5.
6. Which personality disorder is characterized by patients continually in crisis with
unpredictable behavior?
A. Narcissistic personality disorder
B. Borderline personality disorder
C. Avoidant personality disorder
D. Dependent personality disorder
Correct Answer: B (Borderline personality disorder)
Rationale: Borderline personality disorder is marked by emotional instability,
impulsivity, and frequent crises. DSM-5.
7. What is the psychiatric emergency indicated by mothers expressing inadequate
distress over their children’s medical symptoms?
A. Conversion disorder
B. Factitious disorder
C. Somatic symptom disorder
D. Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy
Correct Answer: D (Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy)
Rationale: Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy involves caregivers fabricating or inducing
illness in others, often with inappropriate emotional responses. DSM-5.
8. Which rating scale is used to assess medication-induced movement disorders?
A. PANSS
B. MMSE
C. AIMS
D. HAM-D
Correct Answer: C (AIMS)
Rationale: The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is specifically designed
to evaluate movement disorders caused by antipsychotics. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
9. What substance decreases blood concentrations of antipsychotics while improving
cognitive impairments and parkinsonism in schizophrenia?
A. Caffeine
, 3
B. Alcohol
C. Cannabis
D. Nicotine
Correct Answer: D (Nicotine)
Rationale: Nicotine can reduce antipsychotic levels by inducing liver enzymes but may
improve cognitive function and parkinsonism in schizophrenia. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
10. Which drug is most likely to inhibit female orgasm?
A. Bupropion
B. Paroxetine
C. Venlafaxine
D. Mirtazapine
Correct Answer: B (Paroxetine)
Rationale: Paroxetine, an SSRI, is commonly associated with sexual dysfunction,
including inhibited orgasm, due to serotonin reuptake inhibition. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
11. What is a diagnostic criterion for catatonia resulting from a medical condition?
A. Echolalia
B. Mutism
C. Waxy flexibility
D. Stereotypy
Correct Answer: C (Waxy flexibility)
Rationale: Waxy flexibility, where a patient maintains a posed position, is a hallmark of
catatonia. DSM-5.
12. What is the age before which the majority of paraphilic disorders typically occur?
A. 12
B. 18
C. 25
D. 30
Correct Answer: B (18)
Rationale: Paraphilic disorders often manifest before or during adolescence, typically by
age 18. DSM-5.
13. Which brain region shows the greatest anatomical abnormalities in schizophrenic
patients?
A. Cerebellum
B. Hippocampus
C. Amygdala
D. Basal ganglia
Correct Answer: D (Basal ganglia)
Rationale: The basal ganglia show significant structural and functional abnormalities in
schizophrenia, linked to motor and cognitive symptoms. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
14. Which characteristic is most associated with masturbation?
A. Causes physical harm
B. Is culturally prohibited
C. Is most universally practiced
NRNP 6635 Final Exam 2025
– Actual Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning |
Verified A+ Answers | Walden
University
1. What is the most affected mental function in mild cognitive impairment?
A. Long-term memory
B. Executive functioning
C. Language skills
D. Recent memory
Correct Answer: D (Recent memory)
Rationale: Mild cognitive impairment primarily affects recent memory, such as recalling
recent events or new information, while long-term memory typically remains intact.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
2. What is the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability in infants and
children?
A. Fragile X syndrome
B. Autism spectrum disorder
C. Down syndrome
D. Rett syndrome
Correct Answer: C (Down syndrome)
Rationale: Down syndrome, caused by trisomy 21, is the most common genetic cause of
intellectual disability in children. DSM-5.
3. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
D. Acetylcholine
Correct Answer: B (Dopamine)
Rationale: Dopamine dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex and striatum is strongly
linked to ADHD symptoms, including inattention and impulsivity. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
4. What is the drug of choice to treat psychosis in delirious patients?
A. Risperidone
, 2
B. Olanzapine
C. Quetiapine
D. Haloperidol
Correct Answer: D (Haloperidol)
Rationale: Haloperidol is preferred for managing psychosis in delirium due to its
efficacy and lower sedative effects in acute settings. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
5. Which characteristic is more pronounced in childhood-onset schizophrenia
compared to adult-onset?
A. Hallucinations
B. Social withdrawal
C. Delusions
D. Disorganized speech
Correct Answer: B (Social withdrawal)
Rationale: Childhood-onset schizophrenia often presents with more pronounced social
withdrawal due to developmental impacts on social functioning. DSM-5.
6. Which personality disorder is characterized by patients continually in crisis with
unpredictable behavior?
A. Narcissistic personality disorder
B. Borderline personality disorder
C. Avoidant personality disorder
D. Dependent personality disorder
Correct Answer: B (Borderline personality disorder)
Rationale: Borderline personality disorder is marked by emotional instability,
impulsivity, and frequent crises. DSM-5.
7. What is the psychiatric emergency indicated by mothers expressing inadequate
distress over their children’s medical symptoms?
A. Conversion disorder
B. Factitious disorder
C. Somatic symptom disorder
D. Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy
Correct Answer: D (Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy)
Rationale: Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy involves caregivers fabricating or inducing
illness in others, often with inappropriate emotional responses. DSM-5.
8. Which rating scale is used to assess medication-induced movement disorders?
A. PANSS
B. MMSE
C. AIMS
D. HAM-D
Correct Answer: C (AIMS)
Rationale: The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is specifically designed
to evaluate movement disorders caused by antipsychotics. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
9. What substance decreases blood concentrations of antipsychotics while improving
cognitive impairments and parkinsonism in schizophrenia?
A. Caffeine
, 3
B. Alcohol
C. Cannabis
D. Nicotine
Correct Answer: D (Nicotine)
Rationale: Nicotine can reduce antipsychotic levels by inducing liver enzymes but may
improve cognitive function and parkinsonism in schizophrenia. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
10. Which drug is most likely to inhibit female orgasm?
A. Bupropion
B. Paroxetine
C. Venlafaxine
D. Mirtazapine
Correct Answer: B (Paroxetine)
Rationale: Paroxetine, an SSRI, is commonly associated with sexual dysfunction,
including inhibited orgasm, due to serotonin reuptake inhibition. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
11. What is a diagnostic criterion for catatonia resulting from a medical condition?
A. Echolalia
B. Mutism
C. Waxy flexibility
D. Stereotypy
Correct Answer: C (Waxy flexibility)
Rationale: Waxy flexibility, where a patient maintains a posed position, is a hallmark of
catatonia. DSM-5.
12. What is the age before which the majority of paraphilic disorders typically occur?
A. 12
B. 18
C. 25
D. 30
Correct Answer: B (18)
Rationale: Paraphilic disorders often manifest before or during adolescence, typically by
age 18. DSM-5.
13. Which brain region shows the greatest anatomical abnormalities in schizophrenic
patients?
A. Cerebellum
B. Hippocampus
C. Amygdala
D. Basal ganglia
Correct Answer: D (Basal ganglia)
Rationale: The basal ganglia show significant structural and functional abnormalities in
schizophrenia, linked to motor and cognitive symptoms. Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology.
14. Which characteristic is most associated with masturbation?
A. Causes physical harm
B. Is culturally prohibited
C. Is most universally practiced
