PMHNP Certification
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Question 1.
CAGE
Correct Answer: items responses are scored either 1 or 0. A score 2 or higher
is considered clinically significant
Question 2.
OCD
Correct Answer: obsessive thoughts interfere with your daily life -are you
concern about things being contaminated, keeping things in perfect order -do
you feel driven to perform certain acts over and over again? -have unwanted
images or thought that you cant seem to get out of your head
Question 3.
layman's explanation of mental illness
Correct Answer: Abnormal functioning of neurotransmitters. Neuroanatomical
differences have been found in some cases. -can arise from multiple sources,
not a single or consistent cause has been established
Question 4.
biomedical psychiatry
Correct Answer: mental illness is conceptualized as a disorder of the brain
circuit caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factor
Question 5.
state-dependent learning
Correct Answer: when a memory is formed a new neural pathway is created. If
the memory was formed under specific chemical conditions (on a drug,
manic), then the pathway will be primed to work most effectively under these
circumstances. -state-dependent learning in bipolar. Bipolar individuals in a
depressed episode may not be able to recall details of manic episodes.
Corroboration is needed.
Question 6.
Assessment tools to screen for cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: -folstein mini-mental: perfect score is 30. <24 impairment. If
only 9th grade education <17
,Question 7.
Abnormal sodium levels
Correct Answer: -increased: dehydration, methyldopa, -decreased: SIADH,
heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic disease.
Question 8.
Abnormal Potassium levels
Correct Answer: Increased: amiloride, spirolactone, lithium, propranolol.
Decreased
Question 9.
alpha 1 antagonists
Correct Answer: -vasodilator and used for hypertension -raynauds -PTSD and
GAD -benign prostatic hyperplasia (tamsulosin) -agonism: vasoconstrictor
-trazadone and many antipsychotics
• ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate -✓✓high values indicate autoimmune,
malignancies, infections
Question 10.
absolute neurophil count calculations
Correct Answer: total WBC x percentage of neurophil in differential=ANC
Question 11.
Calcium
Correct Answer: -increased: >10.8 caused by hyperparathyroidism from tumor
of renal disease, lithium
Question 12.
PET vs. fMRI
Correct Answer: measures brain activity by associated changes in blood flow.
Relies on fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activity are coupled. -In
addition, PET has the advantage of being able to identify specific receptors
associated with neurotransmitter through its ability to image radioactive
ligands
Question 13.
ELISA testing
Correct Answer: -first screen with ELISA. ELISA tests for HIV antibodies. Vast
majority of HIV positive people have detectable antibodies by 3 months after
, exposure.
Question 14.
Splitting
Correct Answer: the individual segregates experiences in to all-good or
all-bad, with no room for ambiguity or ambivalence.
Question 15.
displacement
Correct Answer: separation of emotion from it object of discontent and
redirected to a less threatening and intimidating --example: displaced
aggression- If expressing or dismay to the source of the anger could lead to
negative consequences, we may rather than express our angry to a person or
object that pose no threat.
Question 16.
introjecion
Correct Answer: a process whereby an individual unconsciously incorporates
the qualities of another person into his or her ego structure
Question 17.
Gestalt Therapy
Correct Answer: emphasizes personal responsibility. Cultivate a greater self-
awareness and mindfulness. -greater self-awareness of mind and body -chair
technique: a role-playing exercise. The client is asked to adopt one role in one
chair, and another in the other chair (e.g. plays parent and then plays child)
Question 18.
Hyperprolactinemia and Risperidone
Correct Answer: -prolactin levels peak the first 6 to 8 weeks -returns to normal
range in 3 t0 5 months -hyperprolactinemia is dose-dependent -osteopenia,
amenorrhea, galactorrhea, gynecomastia -get baseline, repeat in two months.
ask about nipple discharge, menstruation, sexual dysfunction. If the patient
has elevated prolactin after 2 months but no symptoms, repeat test in two
months.
Question 19.
Antipsychotics that cause the most hypotension
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Question 1.
CAGE
Correct Answer: items responses are scored either 1 or 0. A score 2 or higher
is considered clinically significant
Question 2.
OCD
Correct Answer: obsessive thoughts interfere with your daily life -are you
concern about things being contaminated, keeping things in perfect order -do
you feel driven to perform certain acts over and over again? -have unwanted
images or thought that you cant seem to get out of your head
Question 3.
layman's explanation of mental illness
Correct Answer: Abnormal functioning of neurotransmitters. Neuroanatomical
differences have been found in some cases. -can arise from multiple sources,
not a single or consistent cause has been established
Question 4.
biomedical psychiatry
Correct Answer: mental illness is conceptualized as a disorder of the brain
circuit caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factor
Question 5.
state-dependent learning
Correct Answer: when a memory is formed a new neural pathway is created. If
the memory was formed under specific chemical conditions (on a drug,
manic), then the pathway will be primed to work most effectively under these
circumstances. -state-dependent learning in bipolar. Bipolar individuals in a
depressed episode may not be able to recall details of manic episodes.
Corroboration is needed.
Question 6.
Assessment tools to screen for cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: -folstein mini-mental: perfect score is 30. <24 impairment. If
only 9th grade education <17
,Question 7.
Abnormal sodium levels
Correct Answer: -increased: dehydration, methyldopa, -decreased: SIADH,
heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic disease.
Question 8.
Abnormal Potassium levels
Correct Answer: Increased: amiloride, spirolactone, lithium, propranolol.
Decreased
Question 9.
alpha 1 antagonists
Correct Answer: -vasodilator and used for hypertension -raynauds -PTSD and
GAD -benign prostatic hyperplasia (tamsulosin) -agonism: vasoconstrictor
-trazadone and many antipsychotics
• ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate -✓✓high values indicate autoimmune,
malignancies, infections
Question 10.
absolute neurophil count calculations
Correct Answer: total WBC x percentage of neurophil in differential=ANC
Question 11.
Calcium
Correct Answer: -increased: >10.8 caused by hyperparathyroidism from tumor
of renal disease, lithium
Question 12.
PET vs. fMRI
Correct Answer: measures brain activity by associated changes in blood flow.
Relies on fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activity are coupled. -In
addition, PET has the advantage of being able to identify specific receptors
associated with neurotransmitter through its ability to image radioactive
ligands
Question 13.
ELISA testing
Correct Answer: -first screen with ELISA. ELISA tests for HIV antibodies. Vast
majority of HIV positive people have detectable antibodies by 3 months after
, exposure.
Question 14.
Splitting
Correct Answer: the individual segregates experiences in to all-good or
all-bad, with no room for ambiguity or ambivalence.
Question 15.
displacement
Correct Answer: separation of emotion from it object of discontent and
redirected to a less threatening and intimidating --example: displaced
aggression- If expressing or dismay to the source of the anger could lead to
negative consequences, we may rather than express our angry to a person or
object that pose no threat.
Question 16.
introjecion
Correct Answer: a process whereby an individual unconsciously incorporates
the qualities of another person into his or her ego structure
Question 17.
Gestalt Therapy
Correct Answer: emphasizes personal responsibility. Cultivate a greater self-
awareness and mindfulness. -greater self-awareness of mind and body -chair
technique: a role-playing exercise. The client is asked to adopt one role in one
chair, and another in the other chair (e.g. plays parent and then plays child)
Question 18.
Hyperprolactinemia and Risperidone
Correct Answer: -prolactin levels peak the first 6 to 8 weeks -returns to normal
range in 3 t0 5 months -hyperprolactinemia is dose-dependent -osteopenia,
amenorrhea, galactorrhea, gynecomastia -get baseline, repeat in two months.
ask about nipple discharge, menstruation, sexual dysfunction. If the patient
has elevated prolactin after 2 months but no symptoms, repeat test in two
months.
Question 19.
Antipsychotics that cause the most hypotension
