NU671-Psychotherapy Questions with
Correct Answers.
What is required for a DSM-5-TR diagnosis? - Answer A specific number of symptoms present
for a defined duration, causing clinically significant distress or impairment, and not better
explained by substances or medical conditions.
What is the key difference between MDD and Adjustment Disorder? - Answer MDD meets
full symptom criteria and duration; adjustment disorder is a maladaptive response to a stressor
that does not meet criteria for another disorder.
What are the core symptom clusters of Major Depressive Disorder? - Answer Mood
(depressed mood, anhedonia), cognitive (guilt, concentration), neurovegetative (sleep,
appetite), psychomotor, suicidality.
What differentiates GAD from normal worry? - Answer Excessive, uncontrollable worry
occurring most days for ≥6 months with physical symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, muscle
tension).
What is the difference between panic disorder and panic attack? - Answer Panic attacks are
episodes; Panic Disorder requires recurrent unexpected attacks + fear of future attacks or
behavior change.
What is the foundation of the psychiatric interview? - Answer The therapeutic alliance.
What interviewing style improves diagnostic accuracy? - Answer Open-ended questions
followed by focused clarification.
What is 'directional, not directive' interviewing? - Answer Guiding the patient without
controlling the narrative.
Why is silence clinically useful? - Answer Encourages elaboration and emotional processing.
What is the difference between CC and HPI? - Answer CC = patient's stated reason; HPI =
clinician's structured narrative of the current episode.
Why is baseline functioning critical in HPI? - Answer It allows comparison to current
impairment and supports diagnosis.
, Why must bipolar disorder be ruled out in depression? - Answer Antidepressants can
precipitate mania or rapid cycling.
What depressive symptom is most predictive of MDD? - Answer Anhedonia.
What differentiates PTSD from acute stress disorder? - Answer PTSD lasts >1 month; ASD is 3
days-1 month after trauma.
What symptom cluster is required for PTSD? - Answer Intrusion, avoidance, negative
mood/cognition, arousal.
What is the difference between CNS and PNS? - Answer CNS = brain/spinal cord; PNS =
somatic + autonomic systems.
What is the difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems? - Answer
Sympathetic = fight/flight; Parasympathetic = rest/digest.
What is the function of the frontal lobe? - Answer Executive function, impulse control, mood
regulation.
What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter? - Answer GABA.
What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter? - Answer Glutamate.
Which dopamine pathway is linked to psychosis? - Answer Mesolimbic.
What causes extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)? - Answer Dopamine blockade in the
nigrostriatal pathway.
Where is most serotonin produced? - Answer GI tract (~90%).
What is the PMHNP role in psychotherapy? - Answer Integrates biological, psychological, and
social models.
What is the 'frame' in therapy? - Answer Consistent boundaries that create safety and
predictability.
Correct Answers.
What is required for a DSM-5-TR diagnosis? - Answer A specific number of symptoms present
for a defined duration, causing clinically significant distress or impairment, and not better
explained by substances or medical conditions.
What is the key difference between MDD and Adjustment Disorder? - Answer MDD meets
full symptom criteria and duration; adjustment disorder is a maladaptive response to a stressor
that does not meet criteria for another disorder.
What are the core symptom clusters of Major Depressive Disorder? - Answer Mood
(depressed mood, anhedonia), cognitive (guilt, concentration), neurovegetative (sleep,
appetite), psychomotor, suicidality.
What differentiates GAD from normal worry? - Answer Excessive, uncontrollable worry
occurring most days for ≥6 months with physical symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, muscle
tension).
What is the difference between panic disorder and panic attack? - Answer Panic attacks are
episodes; Panic Disorder requires recurrent unexpected attacks + fear of future attacks or
behavior change.
What is the foundation of the psychiatric interview? - Answer The therapeutic alliance.
What interviewing style improves diagnostic accuracy? - Answer Open-ended questions
followed by focused clarification.
What is 'directional, not directive' interviewing? - Answer Guiding the patient without
controlling the narrative.
Why is silence clinically useful? - Answer Encourages elaboration and emotional processing.
What is the difference between CC and HPI? - Answer CC = patient's stated reason; HPI =
clinician's structured narrative of the current episode.
Why is baseline functioning critical in HPI? - Answer It allows comparison to current
impairment and supports diagnosis.
, Why must bipolar disorder be ruled out in depression? - Answer Antidepressants can
precipitate mania or rapid cycling.
What depressive symptom is most predictive of MDD? - Answer Anhedonia.
What differentiates PTSD from acute stress disorder? - Answer PTSD lasts >1 month; ASD is 3
days-1 month after trauma.
What symptom cluster is required for PTSD? - Answer Intrusion, avoidance, negative
mood/cognition, arousal.
What is the difference between CNS and PNS? - Answer CNS = brain/spinal cord; PNS =
somatic + autonomic systems.
What is the difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems? - Answer
Sympathetic = fight/flight; Parasympathetic = rest/digest.
What is the function of the frontal lobe? - Answer Executive function, impulse control, mood
regulation.
What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter? - Answer GABA.
What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter? - Answer Glutamate.
Which dopamine pathway is linked to psychosis? - Answer Mesolimbic.
What causes extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)? - Answer Dopamine blockade in the
nigrostriatal pathway.
Where is most serotonin produced? - Answer GI tract (~90%).
What is the PMHNP role in psychotherapy? - Answer Integrates biological, psychological, and
social models.
What is the 'frame' in therapy? - Answer Consistent boundaries that create safety and
predictability.
