PMH-C (PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
1. What are some services that Postpartum Support International (PSI) offers?
- ANSWER: - English & Spanish support
- Connecting to local support volunteers and resources
- "Chat with an Expert" phone forums
- Educational DVDs
- Online support groups
- Professional trainings and conferences
2. Does the PSI Helpline offer phone or text support? - ANSWER: Both! At 1-800-
944-4773. Remember it is not a crisis hotline.
3. What is the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline? - ANSWER: A national
hotline for the perinatal population that offers support 24hr/365d. 1-833-TLC-
MAMA
4. What is the definition of "perinatal"? - ANSWER: Anytime during pregnancy
through the first year postpartum
5. What percentage of new mothers experience the "baby blues" in the first few
weeks after the baby arrives? - ANSWER: 80%
6. When do the baby blues typically peak? - ANSWER: Day 3-5 after delivery
7. How long do the baby blues typically last? - ANSWER: 2 days to 2 weeks after
delivery
8. What are the symptoms of baby blues?
- ANSWER: - tearfulness
- lability
- reactivity
- exhaustion
#$%^&*&
- unrelated to stress or prior psychiatric hx
^%$#$%^
9. When making a determination between baby blues and PPD, what should be &*&^%$#
considered? - ANSWER: severity, onset, and duration $%^&**(&
^%$#$%^
10. What is the DSM code for PPD? - ANSWER: Major Unipolar Depression (with &**&^%$
peripartum onset)
#$^&*(*&
11. What is the DSM criteria for MDD? ^%$*&^%
- ANSWER: SIGECAPS $#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
,PMH-C (PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present
during the same two-week period and represent a change from
previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either
0. Depressed mood
1. Sleep issues
2. Interest decreased
3. Guilt/worthlessness/hopelessness
4. Energy decreased
5. Concentration decreased
6. Appetite issues
7. Psychomotor agitation or retardation
8. Suicidality or thoughts of death
12. What is the prevalence of serious depression or anxiety developed during the
perinatal period (beyond just "baby blues")? - ANSWER: At least 1 in 7
mothers
13. What is the prevalence of postpartum psychosis? - ANSWER: 1-2 in 1,000
mothers
14. What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in fathers? -
ANSWER: 10% of new fathers
15. What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers? -
ANSWER: 21% of new mothers, 19.3% of whom also experienced suicidal
thoughts
16. Suicide is the ____ leading causes of maternal deaths - ANSWER: One of the
top 3
17. What are some obstacles to care for the perinatal population?
#$%^&*&
- ANSWER: - shame and fear
- provider misinformation ^%$#$%^
- cultural taboos &*&^%$#
- provider accessibility $%^&**(&
^%$#$%^
18. What is the PSI motto? - ANSWER: You are not alone, you are not to blame,
&**&^%$
and with help you will be well.
#$^&*(*&
19. What is the term for mental health disorders that develop during pregnancy or ^%$*&^%
postpartum? - ANSWER: Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs) $#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
,PMH-C (PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
20. According to the formal definition of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs),
when can their onset begin? - ANSWER: Anytime during or after pregnancy,
up to 1 year postpartum, including losses.
21. Do PMHDs have onset during the "baby blues?" - ANSWER: They can, or they
can arise later.
22. What are some triggers for later onset of PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - hormonal triggers
- rapid weaning from breastfeeding
- hormonal birth control
- return to work
- illness or hospitalization
- loss and grief
23. What are risk factors for PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - financial stress or poverty
- lack of social support
- marital stress
- IPV/history of abuse
- substance dependency in family
- poor relationship with own family
- history of depression, anxiety, OCD
- thyroid imbalance, diabetes, endocrine disorders
- PMS or PMDD
- pregnancy or delivery complications
- infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss
- mothers whose baby is in the NICU
- recent major life stressor/event
- rapid weaning of breastfeeding
- unwanted or unplanned pregnancy
- ambivalence about parental role #$%^&*&
- mothers of multiples ^%$#$%^
24. What is the physical factors that affect the etiology of PMHDs? &*&^%$#
- ANSWER: - genetic predisposition $%^&**(&
- sensitivity to hormonal changes ^%$#$%^
&**&^%$
25. What are some psychosocial factors that affect the etiology of PMHDs? - #$^&*(*&
ANSWER: - inadequate support ^%$*&^%
- perfectionism, superwoman mentality
$#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
, PMH-C (PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
26. What are some concurrent stressors that affect the etiology of PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - sleep disruption
- poor nutrition
- health challenges
- interpersonal stress
- cultural stress/barriers
27. What are some other causes of PMHDs that should be ruled out?
- ANSWER: - thyroid/pituitary imbalances
- anemia
- trauma
- vitamin D imbalance
- medication side effects
- alcohol or drug use
28. What are the different types of PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - prenatal depression or anxiety
- Major Postpartum Depression
- Postpartum Anxiety or Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Perinatal OCD
- Bipolar Disorders
- Postpartum Psychosis
29. What are some unexpected/atypical PPD symptoms?
- ANSWER: - agitation
- anxiety
- anger, rage
- insomnia
- mania
- non-psychotic intrusive thoughts and images
- protectiveness and hypervigilance #$%^&*&
- substance dependence ^%$#$%^
30. What are the stages of recovery from PMHDs? &*&^%$#
- ANSWER: - acute symptoms, initial recovery, resolution of the acute stage $%^&**(&
- first slump, transient ups and downs, resolving ^%$#$%^
- recovering confidence, grieving, and finding meaning &**&^%$
#$^&*(*&
31. What is the difference in prevalence of PMHDs between the pregnancy and
^%$*&^%
postpartum periods? - ANSWER: They are just as high in each period
$#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
1. What are some services that Postpartum Support International (PSI) offers?
- ANSWER: - English & Spanish support
- Connecting to local support volunteers and resources
- "Chat with an Expert" phone forums
- Educational DVDs
- Online support groups
- Professional trainings and conferences
2. Does the PSI Helpline offer phone or text support? - ANSWER: Both! At 1-800-
944-4773. Remember it is not a crisis hotline.
3. What is the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline? - ANSWER: A national
hotline for the perinatal population that offers support 24hr/365d. 1-833-TLC-
MAMA
4. What is the definition of "perinatal"? - ANSWER: Anytime during pregnancy
through the first year postpartum
5. What percentage of new mothers experience the "baby blues" in the first few
weeks after the baby arrives? - ANSWER: 80%
6. When do the baby blues typically peak? - ANSWER: Day 3-5 after delivery
7. How long do the baby blues typically last? - ANSWER: 2 days to 2 weeks after
delivery
8. What are the symptoms of baby blues?
- ANSWER: - tearfulness
- lability
- reactivity
- exhaustion
#$%^&*&
- unrelated to stress or prior psychiatric hx
^%$#$%^
9. When making a determination between baby blues and PPD, what should be &*&^%$#
considered? - ANSWER: severity, onset, and duration $%^&**(&
^%$#$%^
10. What is the DSM code for PPD? - ANSWER: Major Unipolar Depression (with &**&^%$
peripartum onset)
#$^&*(*&
11. What is the DSM criteria for MDD? ^%$*&^%
- ANSWER: SIGECAPS $#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
,PMH-C (PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present
during the same two-week period and represent a change from
previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either
0. Depressed mood
1. Sleep issues
2. Interest decreased
3. Guilt/worthlessness/hopelessness
4. Energy decreased
5. Concentration decreased
6. Appetite issues
7. Psychomotor agitation or retardation
8. Suicidality or thoughts of death
12. What is the prevalence of serious depression or anxiety developed during the
perinatal period (beyond just "baby blues")? - ANSWER: At least 1 in 7
mothers
13. What is the prevalence of postpartum psychosis? - ANSWER: 1-2 in 1,000
mothers
14. What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in fathers? -
ANSWER: 10% of new fathers
15. What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers? -
ANSWER: 21% of new mothers, 19.3% of whom also experienced suicidal
thoughts
16. Suicide is the ____ leading causes of maternal deaths - ANSWER: One of the
top 3
17. What are some obstacles to care for the perinatal population?
#$%^&*&
- ANSWER: - shame and fear
- provider misinformation ^%$#$%^
- cultural taboos &*&^%$#
- provider accessibility $%^&**(&
^%$#$%^
18. What is the PSI motto? - ANSWER: You are not alone, you are not to blame,
&**&^%$
and with help you will be well.
#$^&*(*&
19. What is the term for mental health disorders that develop during pregnancy or ^%$*&^%
postpartum? - ANSWER: Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs) $#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
,PMH-C (PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
20. According to the formal definition of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs),
when can their onset begin? - ANSWER: Anytime during or after pregnancy,
up to 1 year postpartum, including losses.
21. Do PMHDs have onset during the "baby blues?" - ANSWER: They can, or they
can arise later.
22. What are some triggers for later onset of PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - hormonal triggers
- rapid weaning from breastfeeding
- hormonal birth control
- return to work
- illness or hospitalization
- loss and grief
23. What are risk factors for PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - financial stress or poverty
- lack of social support
- marital stress
- IPV/history of abuse
- substance dependency in family
- poor relationship with own family
- history of depression, anxiety, OCD
- thyroid imbalance, diabetes, endocrine disorders
- PMS or PMDD
- pregnancy or delivery complications
- infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss
- mothers whose baby is in the NICU
- recent major life stressor/event
- rapid weaning of breastfeeding
- unwanted or unplanned pregnancy
- ambivalence about parental role #$%^&*&
- mothers of multiples ^%$#$%^
24. What is the physical factors that affect the etiology of PMHDs? &*&^%$#
- ANSWER: - genetic predisposition $%^&**(&
- sensitivity to hormonal changes ^%$#$%^
&**&^%$
25. What are some psychosocial factors that affect the etiology of PMHDs? - #$^&*(*&
ANSWER: - inadequate support ^%$*&^%
- perfectionism, superwoman mentality
$#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
, PMH-C (PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION) EXAM (QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS)
26. What are some concurrent stressors that affect the etiology of PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - sleep disruption
- poor nutrition
- health challenges
- interpersonal stress
- cultural stress/barriers
27. What are some other causes of PMHDs that should be ruled out?
- ANSWER: - thyroid/pituitary imbalances
- anemia
- trauma
- vitamin D imbalance
- medication side effects
- alcohol or drug use
28. What are the different types of PMHDs?
- ANSWER: - prenatal depression or anxiety
- Major Postpartum Depression
- Postpartum Anxiety or Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Perinatal OCD
- Bipolar Disorders
- Postpartum Psychosis
29. What are some unexpected/atypical PPD symptoms?
- ANSWER: - agitation
- anxiety
- anger, rage
- insomnia
- mania
- non-psychotic intrusive thoughts and images
- protectiveness and hypervigilance #$%^&*&
- substance dependence ^%$#$%^
30. What are the stages of recovery from PMHDs? &*&^%$#
- ANSWER: - acute symptoms, initial recovery, resolution of the acute stage $%^&**(&
- first slump, transient ups and downs, resolving ^%$#$%^
- recovering confidence, grieving, and finding meaning &**&^%$
#$^&*(*&
31. What is the difference in prevalence of PMHDs between the pregnancy and
^%$*&^%
postpartum periods? - ANSWER: They are just as high in each period
$#(*&^%$
(*&^%$#(
*&^%$(*&
^%$(*&^%
(*&^%$*&
^%$
