PMHNP CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS |
LATEST UPDATE | CORRECT MARKING
SCHEME |
/. Pain and bloating after eating is caused by... - Answer-✅delayed gastric emptying
/.Medications that cause delayed gastric emptying? - Answer-✅PPIs; ranitidine,
famotidine, omeprazole
/.What instructions should you give your patient if they are prescribed antacids/PPIs and
psychotropics? - Answer-✅Give medications at least 2 hours apart b/c antacids/PPIs
decrease absorption of psychotropics
/.Normal BMI range - Answer-✅18.5-25
/.Criteria for admission for ED bx: - Answer-✅BMI <15; 25% total body weight loss in 3
months; severe dehydration, infection, bradycardia, hypothermia, hematemesis,
hypokalemia
/.What neurotransmitters are implicated in ADHD? - Answer-✅DA, NE, 5HT - DNS
/.What brain structures are involved in ADHD? - Answer-✅Reticular activating system,
basal ganglia, frontal cortex - RBF
/.Abnormalities in this part of the brain cause inattentive ADHD: - Answer-✅Prefrontal
cortex
/.Amphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - Answer-✅3
/.Methamphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - Answer-
✅6
/.Alpha agonists clonidine and guanfacine are FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients
ages ___ - Answer-✅6-17
,/.Strattera is FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients ages ___ - Answer-✅6 and up
(including adults)
/.Adults diagnosed with both ADHD and depression would benefit from being
prescribed: - Answer-✅Wellbutrin
/.Conduct disorder can be diagnosed in: - Answer-✅Both children and adults
/.Conduct disorder diagnostic criteria: - Answer-✅Violating rights of others or societal
norms; aggression towards people/animals; destruction of property; no remorse
/.Treatment for conduct disorder: - Answer-✅Targets aggression and mood; SGA,
mood stabilizer, SSRI, alpha agonists
/.ODD diagnostic criteria: - Answer-✅Argumentative, defiant for at least 6 months and
with 4 sx
/.Treatment of ODD: - Answer-✅Focused on family therapy, child management skills,
teaching parents reinforcement/boundaries/problem solving
/.DMDD diagnostic criteria: - Answer-✅Childhood depressive d/o between ages 6-17;
chronic dysregulated mood, frequent tantrums, severe irritability; typically DMDD rather
than bipolar d/o in children
/.Neurotransmitters implicated in ASD: - Answer-✅Glutamate, GABA, 5HT - GGS
/.Echolalia - Answer-✅Meaningless repetition of words; often seen in ASD
/.Broken mirror theory - Answer-✅Dysfunction of the mirror neuron system results in
poor social interaction and cognition in ASD patients
/.Parallel play is developmentally appropriate at which ages? - Answer-✅1-3 years old
/.Parallel play continuing beyond the age of 3 years old may be indicative of... - Answer-
✅ASD dx d/t social deficits
/.M-CHAT - Answer-✅Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers; ASD scale
/.ADOS-G - Answer-✅Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Generic; ASD scale
/.ASQ - Answer-✅Ages and Stages Questionnaire; development and social/emotional
screening
,/.Pharmacological treatment of ASD: - Answer-✅Stimulants (increase DA to help with
impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention; Antipsychotics (target aggressive bx, tantrums,
self-injury, stereotyped bx)
/.Nightmares in children can be the result of: - Answer-✅Genetic factors; assess family
patterns of nightmares
/.Features of children diagnosed with Fragile X - Answer-✅LARGE features: large
head, elongated face, hyperextensible joints, abnormally large testes, short stature
/.Features of children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome - Answer-✅small features:
small head, small eye opening, low nasal bridge, flat midface, smooth philtrum, thin
upper lip
/.Clock drawing test assesses function of which brain lobe? - Answer-✅Parietal
/.What does the clock drawing test assess for? - Answer-✅Executive/cognitive fx,
impairments associated w/ damage to right parietal lobe, constructional apraxia (inability
to draw or assemble objects)
/.Important labs to draw for patients presenting with dementia? - Answer-✅B12, folic
acid
/.Dementia presents with mental decline that is ___ - Answer-✅Chronic; if acute sx,
consider other dx
/.Symptoms of subcortical dementia: - Answer-✅Motor sx, lack of coordination, tremors,
depression, irritability, apathy
/.Example of subcortical dementia diagnosis - Answer-✅Huntington's disease
/.Symptoms of cortical dementia: - Answer-✅Language and memory impairments
(aphasia and amnesia)
/.Example of cortical dementia diagnosis: - Answer-✅Alzheimer's
/.Presentation of dementia d/t HIV disease - Answer-✅Subcortical effects; motor
abnormalities, bx abnormalities, cognitive decline
/.Presentation of dementia with Lewy bodies - Answer-✅Visual hallucinations,
Parkinsonian sx
/.Presentation of frontal lobe dementia (e.g. Pick's disease) - Answer-✅Personality/bx
changes, language changes, inappropriate social bx, aggression
, /.Presentation of Huntington's disease - Answer-✅Subcortical dementia; motor
abnormalities, psychomotor slowing; high incidence of depression, psychosis; begins
ages 30-45; affects males and females equally
/.What is the most effective test to determine if someone will develop Huntington's
disease? - Answer-✅Direct genetic test (no risk)
/.What is the likelihood a child of a parent with Huntington's will develop it? - Answer-
✅50% chance
/.Dementia etiology - Answer-✅Cerebral atrophy, enlarged ventricles; decreased Ach
and NE; genetic loading
/.What neurotransmitters are implicated in dementia, and how? - Answer-✅Decreased
Ach and NE
/.What is the first line treatment for psychosis and agitation in dementia? - Answer-
✅SGAs - but try nonpharmacological therapies first
/.What is delirium? - Answer-✅ACUTE disturbance of LOC, cognition, attention
/.What pharmacological treatment do you use for delirium-induced agitation or
psychosis? - Answer-✅Low dose haldol
/.What pharmacological treatment do you use for alcohol-induced delirium? - Answer-
✅BNZ
/.Anytime a patient presents with delirium, what labs should you order? - Answer-✅UA
with culture and specificity d/t infx being a potential cause for delirium, esp in older
adults
/.What is pseudodementia? - Answer-✅Cognitive sx r/t depression in older adults
/.Dementia vs. pseudodementia - Answer-✅Dementia: premorbid hx of slowly declining
cognition
Pseudodementia: acute onset of significant cognitive changes
/.How would someone with dementia vs. pseudodementia answer a question? -
Answer-✅Dementia: confabulates, lacks answer
Pseudodementia: "I don't know"
/.How can depression present in older adults? - Answer-✅Cognitive deficits - irritability,
agitation, hallucinations, delusions
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS |
LATEST UPDATE | CORRECT MARKING
SCHEME |
/. Pain and bloating after eating is caused by... - Answer-✅delayed gastric emptying
/.Medications that cause delayed gastric emptying? - Answer-✅PPIs; ranitidine,
famotidine, omeprazole
/.What instructions should you give your patient if they are prescribed antacids/PPIs and
psychotropics? - Answer-✅Give medications at least 2 hours apart b/c antacids/PPIs
decrease absorption of psychotropics
/.Normal BMI range - Answer-✅18.5-25
/.Criteria for admission for ED bx: - Answer-✅BMI <15; 25% total body weight loss in 3
months; severe dehydration, infection, bradycardia, hypothermia, hematemesis,
hypokalemia
/.What neurotransmitters are implicated in ADHD? - Answer-✅DA, NE, 5HT - DNS
/.What brain structures are involved in ADHD? - Answer-✅Reticular activating system,
basal ganglia, frontal cortex - RBF
/.Abnormalities in this part of the brain cause inattentive ADHD: - Answer-✅Prefrontal
cortex
/.Amphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - Answer-✅3
/.Methamphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - Answer-
✅6
/.Alpha agonists clonidine and guanfacine are FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients
ages ___ - Answer-✅6-17
,/.Strattera is FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients ages ___ - Answer-✅6 and up
(including adults)
/.Adults diagnosed with both ADHD and depression would benefit from being
prescribed: - Answer-✅Wellbutrin
/.Conduct disorder can be diagnosed in: - Answer-✅Both children and adults
/.Conduct disorder diagnostic criteria: - Answer-✅Violating rights of others or societal
norms; aggression towards people/animals; destruction of property; no remorse
/.Treatment for conduct disorder: - Answer-✅Targets aggression and mood; SGA,
mood stabilizer, SSRI, alpha agonists
/.ODD diagnostic criteria: - Answer-✅Argumentative, defiant for at least 6 months and
with 4 sx
/.Treatment of ODD: - Answer-✅Focused on family therapy, child management skills,
teaching parents reinforcement/boundaries/problem solving
/.DMDD diagnostic criteria: - Answer-✅Childhood depressive d/o between ages 6-17;
chronic dysregulated mood, frequent tantrums, severe irritability; typically DMDD rather
than bipolar d/o in children
/.Neurotransmitters implicated in ASD: - Answer-✅Glutamate, GABA, 5HT - GGS
/.Echolalia - Answer-✅Meaningless repetition of words; often seen in ASD
/.Broken mirror theory - Answer-✅Dysfunction of the mirror neuron system results in
poor social interaction and cognition in ASD patients
/.Parallel play is developmentally appropriate at which ages? - Answer-✅1-3 years old
/.Parallel play continuing beyond the age of 3 years old may be indicative of... - Answer-
✅ASD dx d/t social deficits
/.M-CHAT - Answer-✅Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers; ASD scale
/.ADOS-G - Answer-✅Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Generic; ASD scale
/.ASQ - Answer-✅Ages and Stages Questionnaire; development and social/emotional
screening
,/.Pharmacological treatment of ASD: - Answer-✅Stimulants (increase DA to help with
impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention; Antipsychotics (target aggressive bx, tantrums,
self-injury, stereotyped bx)
/.Nightmares in children can be the result of: - Answer-✅Genetic factors; assess family
patterns of nightmares
/.Features of children diagnosed with Fragile X - Answer-✅LARGE features: large
head, elongated face, hyperextensible joints, abnormally large testes, short stature
/.Features of children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome - Answer-✅small features:
small head, small eye opening, low nasal bridge, flat midface, smooth philtrum, thin
upper lip
/.Clock drawing test assesses function of which brain lobe? - Answer-✅Parietal
/.What does the clock drawing test assess for? - Answer-✅Executive/cognitive fx,
impairments associated w/ damage to right parietal lobe, constructional apraxia (inability
to draw or assemble objects)
/.Important labs to draw for patients presenting with dementia? - Answer-✅B12, folic
acid
/.Dementia presents with mental decline that is ___ - Answer-✅Chronic; if acute sx,
consider other dx
/.Symptoms of subcortical dementia: - Answer-✅Motor sx, lack of coordination, tremors,
depression, irritability, apathy
/.Example of subcortical dementia diagnosis - Answer-✅Huntington's disease
/.Symptoms of cortical dementia: - Answer-✅Language and memory impairments
(aphasia and amnesia)
/.Example of cortical dementia diagnosis: - Answer-✅Alzheimer's
/.Presentation of dementia d/t HIV disease - Answer-✅Subcortical effects; motor
abnormalities, bx abnormalities, cognitive decline
/.Presentation of dementia with Lewy bodies - Answer-✅Visual hallucinations,
Parkinsonian sx
/.Presentation of frontal lobe dementia (e.g. Pick's disease) - Answer-✅Personality/bx
changes, language changes, inappropriate social bx, aggression
, /.Presentation of Huntington's disease - Answer-✅Subcortical dementia; motor
abnormalities, psychomotor slowing; high incidence of depression, psychosis; begins
ages 30-45; affects males and females equally
/.What is the most effective test to determine if someone will develop Huntington's
disease? - Answer-✅Direct genetic test (no risk)
/.What is the likelihood a child of a parent with Huntington's will develop it? - Answer-
✅50% chance
/.Dementia etiology - Answer-✅Cerebral atrophy, enlarged ventricles; decreased Ach
and NE; genetic loading
/.What neurotransmitters are implicated in dementia, and how? - Answer-✅Decreased
Ach and NE
/.What is the first line treatment for psychosis and agitation in dementia? - Answer-
✅SGAs - but try nonpharmacological therapies first
/.What is delirium? - Answer-✅ACUTE disturbance of LOC, cognition, attention
/.What pharmacological treatment do you use for delirium-induced agitation or
psychosis? - Answer-✅Low dose haldol
/.What pharmacological treatment do you use for alcohol-induced delirium? - Answer-
✅BNZ
/.Anytime a patient presents with delirium, what labs should you order? - Answer-✅UA
with culture and specificity d/t infx being a potential cause for delirium, esp in older
adults
/.What is pseudodementia? - Answer-✅Cognitive sx r/t depression in older adults
/.Dementia vs. pseudodementia - Answer-✅Dementia: premorbid hx of slowly declining
cognition
Pseudodementia: acute onset of significant cognitive changes
/.How would someone with dementia vs. pseudodementia answer a question? -
Answer-✅Dementia: confabulates, lacks answer
Pseudodementia: "I don't know"
/.How can depression present in older adults? - Answer-✅Cognitive deficits - irritability,
agitation, hallucinations, delusions
