Fitzgerald PMHNP Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Final Exam 2025 Prep Questions and Answers
1. The concomitant use of MAOIs and St. John's wort can lead to what dangerous condition?
Serotonin syndrome.
2. What is the first-line, gold-standard treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
3. Which antipsychotic medication is considered the first-line treatment for treatment-resistant
depression when used as an adjunct?
Aripiprazole.
4. A patient taking lithium presents with coarse tremors, nausea, vomiting, and ataxia. What is
the most likely diagnosis?
Lithium toxicity.
5. What is the most common extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) of first-generation antipsychotics?
Acute dystonia.
6. Which laboratory test is essential to monitor before and during treatment with
carbamazepine due to the risk of blood dyscrasias?
Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential.
7. What is the mechanism of action of Benzodiazepines?
They potentiate the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA by binding to the GABA-A receptor.
,8. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia exhibits a lack of motivation, flat affect, and social
withdrawal. These are classified as what type of symptoms?
Negative symptoms.
9. What is the primary neurotransmitter system implicated in the pathophysiology of ADHD?
The dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems.
10. Which medication requires dietary restrictions of tyramine-rich foods to prevent a
hypertensive crisis?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs).
11. What is the most common side effect of SSRIs that often leads to discontinuation?
Sexual dysfunction.
12. A patient taking an antipsychotic develops muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, autonomic
instability, and altered mental status. This is a medical emergency known as what?
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS).
13. What is the first-line pharmacological treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
SSRIs or SNRIs.
14. Which anticonvulsant mood stabilizer is also used for neuropathic pain and requires
monitoring of serum levels?
Carbamazepine.
15. What is the primary diagnostic tool for mental health conditions, as defined by the
American Psychiatric Association?
, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-
TR).
16. Tardive Dyskinesia is characterized by what type of involuntary movements?
Involuntary, repetitive, purposeless movements, often of the face, tongue, and limbs.
17. Which antidepressant is considered the safest in overdose?
SSRIs (e.g., Sertraline, Citalopram) are generally safer compared to TCAs and MAOIs.
18. What is the therapeutic serum level range for lithium in the maintenance treatment of
bipolar disorder?
0.6 to 1.0 mEq/L.
19. Which eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by
inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain?
Bulimia Nervosa.
20. What is the initial pharmacological treatment for panic disorder?
SSRIs.
21. A patient experiences a sudden, transient episode of intense fear and discomfort peaking
within minutes. This is the definition of what?
A panic attack.
22. Which antipsychotic medication has a high risk for agranulocytosis and requires weekly, then
monthly, CBC monitoring?
Clozapine.
Practitioner Final Exam 2025 Prep Questions and Answers
1. The concomitant use of MAOIs and St. John's wort can lead to what dangerous condition?
Serotonin syndrome.
2. What is the first-line, gold-standard treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
3. Which antipsychotic medication is considered the first-line treatment for treatment-resistant
depression when used as an adjunct?
Aripiprazole.
4. A patient taking lithium presents with coarse tremors, nausea, vomiting, and ataxia. What is
the most likely diagnosis?
Lithium toxicity.
5. What is the most common extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) of first-generation antipsychotics?
Acute dystonia.
6. Which laboratory test is essential to monitor before and during treatment with
carbamazepine due to the risk of blood dyscrasias?
Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential.
7. What is the mechanism of action of Benzodiazepines?
They potentiate the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA by binding to the GABA-A receptor.
,8. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia exhibits a lack of motivation, flat affect, and social
withdrawal. These are classified as what type of symptoms?
Negative symptoms.
9. What is the primary neurotransmitter system implicated in the pathophysiology of ADHD?
The dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems.
10. Which medication requires dietary restrictions of tyramine-rich foods to prevent a
hypertensive crisis?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs).
11. What is the most common side effect of SSRIs that often leads to discontinuation?
Sexual dysfunction.
12. A patient taking an antipsychotic develops muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, autonomic
instability, and altered mental status. This is a medical emergency known as what?
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS).
13. What is the first-line pharmacological treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
SSRIs or SNRIs.
14. Which anticonvulsant mood stabilizer is also used for neuropathic pain and requires
monitoring of serum levels?
Carbamazepine.
15. What is the primary diagnostic tool for mental health conditions, as defined by the
American Psychiatric Association?
, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-
TR).
16. Tardive Dyskinesia is characterized by what type of involuntary movements?
Involuntary, repetitive, purposeless movements, often of the face, tongue, and limbs.
17. Which antidepressant is considered the safest in overdose?
SSRIs (e.g., Sertraline, Citalopram) are generally safer compared to TCAs and MAOIs.
18. What is the therapeutic serum level range for lithium in the maintenance treatment of
bipolar disorder?
0.6 to 1.0 mEq/L.
19. Which eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by
inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain?
Bulimia Nervosa.
20. What is the initial pharmacological treatment for panic disorder?
SSRIs.
21. A patient experiences a sudden, transient episode of intense fear and discomfort peaking
within minutes. This is the definition of what?
A panic attack.
22. Which antipsychotic medication has a high risk for agranulocytosis and requires weekly, then
monthly, CBC monitoring?
Clozapine.
