PDF EXAM
NRNP 6635 Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning Midterm Exam
(Walden University, 2025/2026
Edition) – verified questions and
answers
Question 1
Select the serum assessment required when prescribing psychiatric drugs for
psychosomatic patients.
A. Complete blood count
B. Thyroid function tests
C. Serum creatinine
D. Liver function tests
Rationale:
A. Complete blood count - Incorrect. Useful for monitoring hematologic side
effects (e.g., clozapine), but not the primary requirement for psychosomatic
patients.
B. Thyroid function tests - Incorrect. Critical for mood stabilizers like lithium,
but not universally required.
C. Serum creatinine - Correct. Many psychiatric medications (e.g., lithium) are
renally cleared, requiring serum creatinine to assess kidney function and prevent
toxicity in psychosomatic patients with comorbidities.
D. Liver function tests - Incorrect. Important for hepatically metabolized drugs,
but not the primary assessment.
Question 2
Select the theorist who developed the eight stages of psychosocial development.
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
A. Freud
B. Erikson
C. Piaget
D. Maslow
Rationale:
A. Freud - Incorrect. Freud developed psychosexual stages, focusing on libido.
B. Erikson - Correct. Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development
(e.g., trust vs. mistrust) are foundational for lifespan psychopathology.
C. Piaget - Incorrect. Piaget focused on cognitive development stages.
D. Maslow - Incorrect. Maslow developed the hierarchy of needs.
Question 3
Select the evaluation scale used to differentiate delirium from other cognitive
impairments.
A. MMSE
B. SLUMS
C. CAM
D. MOCA
Rationale:
A. MMSE - Incorrect. Mini-Mental State Examination screens for general
cognitive impairment.
B. SLUMS - Incorrect. Saint Louis University Mental Status exam is for mild
cognitive impairment and dementia.
C. CAM - Correct. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) identifies delirium
based on acute onset and inattention.
D. MOCA - Incorrect. Montreal Cognitive Assessment screens for mild cognitive
impairment.
Question 4
Select the primary neurotransmitter implicated in schizophrenia’s pathophysiology.
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
A. Serotonin
B. Norepinephrine
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Rationale:
A. Serotonin - Incorrect. Implicated in mood disorders.
B. Norepinephrine - Incorrect. Involved in arousal, not primary in schizophrenia.
C. Dopamine - Correct. The dopamine hypothesis links excess mesolimbic
dopamine to positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
D. GABA - Incorrect. Inhibitory neurotransmitter, not primary.
Question 5
Select the antidepressant class most likely to cause sexual dysfunction.
A. TCAs
B. MAOIs
C. SSRIs
D. SNRIs
Rationale:
A. TCAs - Incorrect. Tricyclic antidepressants may cause sexual side effects, but
less frequently than SSRIs.
B. MAOIs - Incorrect. Associated with hypertensive crises.
C. SSRIs - Correct. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g., fluoxetine)
commonly cause delayed orgasm and decreased libido.
D. SNRIs - Incorrect. Less frequent sexual side effects than SSRIs.
Question 6
Select the most common age of onset for bipolar disorder.
A. Childhood
B. Adolescence
C. Early adulthood
D. Late adulthood
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
Rationale:
A. Childhood - Incorrect. Rare and often misdiagnosed as ADHD.
B. Adolescence - Incorrect. Can occur, but peak is later.
C. Early adulthood - Correct. Bipolar disorder typically onsets between 18-25
years.
D. Late adulthood - Incorrect. Less common, often secondary to medical
conditions.
Question 7
Select the diagnostic criterion for major depressive disorder requiring at least 5
symptoms for 2 weeks.
A. Sleep disturbance only
B. Fatigue only
C. Depressed mood or loss of interest
D. Weight changes only
Rationale:
A. Sleep disturbance only - Incorrect. Supportive symptom, not sufficient.
B. Fatigue only - Incorrect. Not a core criterion.
C. Depressed mood or loss of interest - Correct. DSM-5 requires depressed
mood or anhedonia plus four other symptoms for 2 weeks.
D. Weight changes only - Incorrect. Supportive, not core.
Question 8
Select the rating scale used to assess ADHD symptom severity.
A. HAM-D
B. YMRS
C. Vanderbilt
D. GAD-7
Rationale:
A. HAM-D - Incorrect. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is for depression.
B. YMRS - Incorrect. Young Mania Rating Scale is for mania.
GRADED A+
NRNP 6635 Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning Midterm Exam
(Walden University, 2025/2026
Edition) – verified questions and
answers
Question 1
Select the serum assessment required when prescribing psychiatric drugs for
psychosomatic patients.
A. Complete blood count
B. Thyroid function tests
C. Serum creatinine
D. Liver function tests
Rationale:
A. Complete blood count - Incorrect. Useful for monitoring hematologic side
effects (e.g., clozapine), but not the primary requirement for psychosomatic
patients.
B. Thyroid function tests - Incorrect. Critical for mood stabilizers like lithium,
but not universally required.
C. Serum creatinine - Correct. Many psychiatric medications (e.g., lithium) are
renally cleared, requiring serum creatinine to assess kidney function and prevent
toxicity in psychosomatic patients with comorbidities.
D. Liver function tests - Incorrect. Important for hepatically metabolized drugs,
but not the primary assessment.
Question 2
Select the theorist who developed the eight stages of psychosocial development.
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
A. Freud
B. Erikson
C. Piaget
D. Maslow
Rationale:
A. Freud - Incorrect. Freud developed psychosexual stages, focusing on libido.
B. Erikson - Correct. Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development
(e.g., trust vs. mistrust) are foundational for lifespan psychopathology.
C. Piaget - Incorrect. Piaget focused on cognitive development stages.
D. Maslow - Incorrect. Maslow developed the hierarchy of needs.
Question 3
Select the evaluation scale used to differentiate delirium from other cognitive
impairments.
A. MMSE
B. SLUMS
C. CAM
D. MOCA
Rationale:
A. MMSE - Incorrect. Mini-Mental State Examination screens for general
cognitive impairment.
B. SLUMS - Incorrect. Saint Louis University Mental Status exam is for mild
cognitive impairment and dementia.
C. CAM - Correct. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) identifies delirium
based on acute onset and inattention.
D. MOCA - Incorrect. Montreal Cognitive Assessment screens for mild cognitive
impairment.
Question 4
Select the primary neurotransmitter implicated in schizophrenia’s pathophysiology.
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
A. Serotonin
B. Norepinephrine
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Rationale:
A. Serotonin - Incorrect. Implicated in mood disorders.
B. Norepinephrine - Incorrect. Involved in arousal, not primary in schizophrenia.
C. Dopamine - Correct. The dopamine hypothesis links excess mesolimbic
dopamine to positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
D. GABA - Incorrect. Inhibitory neurotransmitter, not primary.
Question 5
Select the antidepressant class most likely to cause sexual dysfunction.
A. TCAs
B. MAOIs
C. SSRIs
D. SNRIs
Rationale:
A. TCAs - Incorrect. Tricyclic antidepressants may cause sexual side effects, but
less frequently than SSRIs.
B. MAOIs - Incorrect. Associated with hypertensive crises.
C. SSRIs - Correct. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g., fluoxetine)
commonly cause delayed orgasm and decreased libido.
D. SNRIs - Incorrect. Less frequent sexual side effects than SSRIs.
Question 6
Select the most common age of onset for bipolar disorder.
A. Childhood
B. Adolescence
C. Early adulthood
D. Late adulthood
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
Rationale:
A. Childhood - Incorrect. Rare and often misdiagnosed as ADHD.
B. Adolescence - Incorrect. Can occur, but peak is later.
C. Early adulthood - Correct. Bipolar disorder typically onsets between 18-25
years.
D. Late adulthood - Incorrect. Less common, often secondary to medical
conditions.
Question 7
Select the diagnostic criterion for major depressive disorder requiring at least 5
symptoms for 2 weeks.
A. Sleep disturbance only
B. Fatigue only
C. Depressed mood or loss of interest
D. Weight changes only
Rationale:
A. Sleep disturbance only - Incorrect. Supportive symptom, not sufficient.
B. Fatigue only - Incorrect. Not a core criterion.
C. Depressed mood or loss of interest - Correct. DSM-5 requires depressed
mood or anhedonia plus four other symptoms for 2 weeks.
D. Weight changes only - Incorrect. Supportive, not core.
Question 8
Select the rating scale used to assess ADHD symptom severity.
A. HAM-D
B. YMRS
C. Vanderbilt
D. GAD-7
Rationale:
A. HAM-D - Incorrect. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is for depression.
B. YMRS - Incorrect. Young Mania Rating Scale is for mania.
GRADED A+
