NR 547 Final Study Guide - PMHNP Week 5 Questions with
Verified Answers (Correct Update)
Question 1: When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression
Answer: Unipolar major depression (major depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of one or
more major depressive episodes (table 3) and no history of mania (table 1) or hypomania
Question 2: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Answer: Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded answer. A score of 5 or more suggests
depression. Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
Question 3: Geriatric Depression Scale
Answer: The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a selfreport measure of depression in older adults.
Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was originally developed as a 30-item instrument. Since
this version proved both time-consuming and difficult for some patients to complete, a 15-item version
was developed. The shortened form (GDS- S) is comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric
Depression Scale-Long Form (GDS-L). These 15 items were chosen because of their high correlation
with depressive symptoms in previous validation studies
Question 4: Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population
Answer: he GDS may be used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired
older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute care, and long-term care settings.
Question 5: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score
Answer: Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated of the 15 items, 10
indicated the presence of depression when answered positively, while the rest (question numbers 1, 5, 7,
11, 13) indicated depression when answered negatively. Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending
on age, education, and complaints; (No Treatment) 5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or
psychotherapeutic treatment may be indicated Base treatment on duration of symptoms and functional
impairment 9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated) 12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or
combination treatment indicated
Question 6: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention
Answer: The presence of depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may be used
to monitor depression over time in all clinical settings. Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short
Form should prompt an in-depth psychological assessment and evaluation for suicidality.
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, Question 7: Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ- 9]
Answer: A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a screening tool to assess severity of
depression; widely used by health care providers, in validity is well established, particularly for
identifying severe depression.
Question 8: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Answer: Widely used to screen for depression and to measure behavioral manifestations and severity of
depression. The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items which
individuals complete using multiple choice response formats. The BDI takes approximately 10 minutes
to complete. Validity and reliability of the BDI has been tested across populations, worldwide.
Question 9: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Answer: Designed for use in the general population and is now used as a screener for depression in
primary care settings. It includes 20 self-report items, scored on a 4-point scale, which measure major
dimensions of depression experienced in the past week. The CES-D can be used for children as young as
6 and through older adulthood. It has been tested across gender and cultural populations and maintains
consistent validity and reliability. The scale takes about 20 minutes to administer, including scoring.
Question 10: EQ-5D Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Answer: The EQ-5D is a standardized, non-disease specific instrument for describing and evaluating
healthrelated quality of life. The instrument measures quality of life in five dimensions: mobility,
self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
Question 11: Mood Disorders: Depression
Answer: Sadness, lethargy, inactivity and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness Genetic link
Behavioral changes: slower motor reactions Cognitive changes: cognitive distortions Physical changes:
alters immune functioning
Question 12: PQ9 Scores
Answer: Depression Severity 5 - 9Mild 10 - 14Moderate 15 - 19Moderately Severe 20 - 27Severe scores
current depression severity and to follow up treatment response.
Question 13: Depression: Anxious distress Modifier
Answer: Depression with unusual restlessness or worry about possible events or loss of control
Question 14: Depression: Mixed features
Answer: Simultaneous depression and mania, which includes elevated self-esteem, talking too much and
increased energy
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Verified Answers (Correct Update)
Question 1: When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression
Answer: Unipolar major depression (major depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of one or
more major depressive episodes (table 3) and no history of mania (table 1) or hypomania
Question 2: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Answer: Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded answer. A score of 5 or more suggests
depression. Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
Question 3: Geriatric Depression Scale
Answer: The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a selfreport measure of depression in older adults.
Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was originally developed as a 30-item instrument. Since
this version proved both time-consuming and difficult for some patients to complete, a 15-item version
was developed. The shortened form (GDS- S) is comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric
Depression Scale-Long Form (GDS-L). These 15 items were chosen because of their high correlation
with depressive symptoms in previous validation studies
Question 4: Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population
Answer: he GDS may be used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired
older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute care, and long-term care settings.
Question 5: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score
Answer: Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated of the 15 items, 10
indicated the presence of depression when answered positively, while the rest (question numbers 1, 5, 7,
11, 13) indicated depression when answered negatively. Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending
on age, education, and complaints; (No Treatment) 5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or
psychotherapeutic treatment may be indicated Base treatment on duration of symptoms and functional
impairment 9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated) 12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or
combination treatment indicated
Question 6: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention
Answer: The presence of depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may be used
to monitor depression over time in all clinical settings. Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short
Form should prompt an in-depth psychological assessment and evaluation for suicidality.
Page 1
, Question 7: Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ- 9]
Answer: A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a screening tool to assess severity of
depression; widely used by health care providers, in validity is well established, particularly for
identifying severe depression.
Question 8: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Answer: Widely used to screen for depression and to measure behavioral manifestations and severity of
depression. The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items which
individuals complete using multiple choice response formats. The BDI takes approximately 10 minutes
to complete. Validity and reliability of the BDI has been tested across populations, worldwide.
Question 9: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Answer: Designed for use in the general population and is now used as a screener for depression in
primary care settings. It includes 20 self-report items, scored on a 4-point scale, which measure major
dimensions of depression experienced in the past week. The CES-D can be used for children as young as
6 and through older adulthood. It has been tested across gender and cultural populations and maintains
consistent validity and reliability. The scale takes about 20 minutes to administer, including scoring.
Question 10: EQ-5D Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Answer: The EQ-5D is a standardized, non-disease specific instrument for describing and evaluating
healthrelated quality of life. The instrument measures quality of life in five dimensions: mobility,
self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
Question 11: Mood Disorders: Depression
Answer: Sadness, lethargy, inactivity and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness Genetic link
Behavioral changes: slower motor reactions Cognitive changes: cognitive distortions Physical changes:
alters immune functioning
Question 12: PQ9 Scores
Answer: Depression Severity 5 - 9Mild 10 - 14Moderate 15 - 19Moderately Severe 20 - 27Severe scores
current depression severity and to follow up treatment response.
Question 13: Depression: Anxious distress Modifier
Answer: Depression with unusual restlessness or worry about possible events or loss of control
Question 14: Depression: Mixed features
Answer: Simultaneous depression and mania, which includes elevated self-esteem, talking too much and
increased energy
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