PMHNP COMPLETE PAST QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS – EXAM SUCCESS 2025/2026
1. What is the allele seen in Asians that increase the risk of SJS?
HLAB-1502
2. When might you see toxic epidermal necrolysis?
With worsening of SJS
3. What does messenger RNA code for?
Amino Acids
4. What is epigenetics?
Factors that affect genes - environmental, smoking, stress, etc...
5. What part of the brain is involved with OCD?
Basal Ganglia
Occipito-Frontal
6. What happens to the brain during adolescence?
Dendritic pruning
Emotions are controlled by amygdala
By adulthood, PFC involved as well
7. When do males typically present with schizophrenia?
10-25 yo
8. When do females typically present with schizophrenia?
25-35 yo
9. What does Erythromycin to trileptal?
You will need to decreases the level because Trileptal(inducer) and erythromycin
is a inhibitor
10. ACE Inhibitors are the drug of choice for what?
Heart Failure
HTN
,11. What is dissemination?
Getting the research information out to those who need to know it!
Publication - highest level
Presenting at National Conference
Presenting at Local Conference
Journal Club where one person reviews an article
12. What does a 17 on MMSE mean?
Moderate cognitive impairment
13. What is Tegretol in the CYP450 system?
Inducer -->will lower dose of Lamictal and BCP's
14. What do BCP's do to Lamictal?
Inducer - will lower dose of Lamictal
15. What is pseudo-dementia?
Cognitive impairment secondary to depression that clears when treated in the
elderly. Dementia won't improve.
16. What is a normal CKMB?
0.3 mcg/L
17. Is it normal for a 1 month old to have a palmar grasp?
Yes.
18. What is a drug 1/2 life?
The time it takes for 50% of a drug to be eliminated from the body.
19. What 3 atypicals can be used with teens?
Zyprexa, Abilify, Seroquel - low doses
20. What is a risk of using Tramadol?
Serotonin Syndrome as it is very serotonergic.
21. What are some psychiatric side effects seen with some asthma drugs
Leukotriene receptor agonists - singulair, accolade, zyflo = agitation, aggression,
anxiety, hallucinations, depression, insomnia, SI, tremor
22. What should you watch for with Tegretol?
, Agranulocytosis and Hyponatremia
23. What are the 3 CK muscle enzyme tests?
CKBB, CKMM, CKMB
24. Which one of the 3 muscle enzymes are related to cardiac muscle damage?
CKMB
25. What is a Type I research error?
There IS a difference but you say there isn't a difference.
26. What is a Type II research error?
There is NO difference but you say there is a difference.
27. What is the risk of a seriously elevated CKMB?
Polymyositis
Rhabdo
28. What psychoactives does Detrol interact with?
Topamax
KCL
Zonegran
29. What CN are you assessing when you have the patient shrug their shoulders?
CN XI - Spinal Accessory
30. What do you see in labs with HIV & Dementia?
CD4 <200
Viral Load is high
<20% get it with antiretroviral treatment
31. What is the scoring with the Beck Depression Inventory?
Self-Report - 0-63
0-13 - minimal
14-19 - mild
20-28 - moderate
29-63 - severe
32. What is sensitivity?
, Helps rule-out disease = True Positive = Snout
33. What is specificity?
Helps rule-in disease = True Negative = Spin
34. What does a sed rate measure?
Inflammation (ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) = distance in mm RBC's
have descended in 1 hour.
35. What is a normal sed rate or ESR?
0-22 males
0-29 females
36. What is a retic count?
Measures % of reticulocytes in blood (immature RBC's) Indicates whether enough
RBC's are being produced by bone marrow.
37. What does a decreased retic count indicate?
Anemia - acute or chronic bleeding
38. What does an increased retic count indicate?
Bone marrow disorder or Vitamin Deficiency
39. What does an abnormal retic ount indicate in general?
Doesn't diagnose anything. First step is ID source of the issue.
40. What happens when you mix tegretol and macrolides?
Increase tegretol levels.
41. What happens if a pregnant women takes Accutane?
Birth defects.
42. What labs do you get with RA?
Sed rate, RF, ANA, C reactive protein, CBC, CMP, CRP - helps confirm diagnosis.
CRP and ESR are both increased in RA but NOT in osteoarthritis.
43. How many generations do you include for a genogram?
1st degree - mother, father, siblings
2nd degree - grandparents & cousins
ANSWERS – EXAM SUCCESS 2025/2026
1. What is the allele seen in Asians that increase the risk of SJS?
HLAB-1502
2. When might you see toxic epidermal necrolysis?
With worsening of SJS
3. What does messenger RNA code for?
Amino Acids
4. What is epigenetics?
Factors that affect genes - environmental, smoking, stress, etc...
5. What part of the brain is involved with OCD?
Basal Ganglia
Occipito-Frontal
6. What happens to the brain during adolescence?
Dendritic pruning
Emotions are controlled by amygdala
By adulthood, PFC involved as well
7. When do males typically present with schizophrenia?
10-25 yo
8. When do females typically present with schizophrenia?
25-35 yo
9. What does Erythromycin to trileptal?
You will need to decreases the level because Trileptal(inducer) and erythromycin
is a inhibitor
10. ACE Inhibitors are the drug of choice for what?
Heart Failure
HTN
,11. What is dissemination?
Getting the research information out to those who need to know it!
Publication - highest level
Presenting at National Conference
Presenting at Local Conference
Journal Club where one person reviews an article
12. What does a 17 on MMSE mean?
Moderate cognitive impairment
13. What is Tegretol in the CYP450 system?
Inducer -->will lower dose of Lamictal and BCP's
14. What do BCP's do to Lamictal?
Inducer - will lower dose of Lamictal
15. What is pseudo-dementia?
Cognitive impairment secondary to depression that clears when treated in the
elderly. Dementia won't improve.
16. What is a normal CKMB?
0.3 mcg/L
17. Is it normal for a 1 month old to have a palmar grasp?
Yes.
18. What is a drug 1/2 life?
The time it takes for 50% of a drug to be eliminated from the body.
19. What 3 atypicals can be used with teens?
Zyprexa, Abilify, Seroquel - low doses
20. What is a risk of using Tramadol?
Serotonin Syndrome as it is very serotonergic.
21. What are some psychiatric side effects seen with some asthma drugs
Leukotriene receptor agonists - singulair, accolade, zyflo = agitation, aggression,
anxiety, hallucinations, depression, insomnia, SI, tremor
22. What should you watch for with Tegretol?
, Agranulocytosis and Hyponatremia
23. What are the 3 CK muscle enzyme tests?
CKBB, CKMM, CKMB
24. Which one of the 3 muscle enzymes are related to cardiac muscle damage?
CKMB
25. What is a Type I research error?
There IS a difference but you say there isn't a difference.
26. What is a Type II research error?
There is NO difference but you say there is a difference.
27. What is the risk of a seriously elevated CKMB?
Polymyositis
Rhabdo
28. What psychoactives does Detrol interact with?
Topamax
KCL
Zonegran
29. What CN are you assessing when you have the patient shrug their shoulders?
CN XI - Spinal Accessory
30. What do you see in labs with HIV & Dementia?
CD4 <200
Viral Load is high
<20% get it with antiretroviral treatment
31. What is the scoring with the Beck Depression Inventory?
Self-Report - 0-63
0-13 - minimal
14-19 - mild
20-28 - moderate
29-63 - severe
32. What is sensitivity?
, Helps rule-out disease = True Positive = Snout
33. What is specificity?
Helps rule-in disease = True Negative = Spin
34. What does a sed rate measure?
Inflammation (ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) = distance in mm RBC's
have descended in 1 hour.
35. What is a normal sed rate or ESR?
0-22 males
0-29 females
36. What is a retic count?
Measures % of reticulocytes in blood (immature RBC's) Indicates whether enough
RBC's are being produced by bone marrow.
37. What does a decreased retic count indicate?
Anemia - acute or chronic bleeding
38. What does an increased retic count indicate?
Bone marrow disorder or Vitamin Deficiency
39. What does an abnormal retic ount indicate in general?
Doesn't diagnose anything. First step is ID source of the issue.
40. What happens when you mix tegretol and macrolides?
Increase tegretol levels.
41. What happens if a pregnant women takes Accutane?
Birth defects.
42. What labs do you get with RA?
Sed rate, RF, ANA, C reactive protein, CBC, CMP, CRP - helps confirm diagnosis.
CRP and ESR are both increased in RA but NOT in osteoarthritis.
43. How many generations do you include for a genogram?
1st degree - mother, father, siblings
2nd degree - grandparents & cousins
