PMHNP EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ Greatest patient at risk for Violence Answer: Substance abuse
◉ EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) Answer:
eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
◉ What is dissemination? Answer: Getting the research information
out to those who need to know it!
Publication - highest level
Presenting at National Conference
Presenting at Local Conference
Journal Club where one person reviews an article
◉ What does a 17 on MMSE mean? Answer: Moderate cognitive
impairment
◉ What is Tegretol in the CYP450 system? Answer: Inducer -->will
lower dose of Lamictal and BCP's
,◉ What do BCP's do to Lamictal? Answer: Inducer - will lower dose
of Lamictal
◉ What is a Type I research error? Answer: There IS a difference but
you say there isn't a difference.
◉ What is a Type II research error? Answer: There is NO difference
but you say there is a difference.
◉ What is pseudo-dementia? Answer: Cognitive impairment
secondary to depression that clears when treated in the elderly.
Dementia won't improve.
◉ Is it normal for a 1 month old to have a palmar grasp? Answer:
Yes.
◉ What is a drug 1/2 life? Answer: The time it takes for 50% of a
drug to be eliminated from the body.
◉ What 3 atypicals can be used with teens? Answer: Zyprexa, Abilify,
Seroquel - low doses
◉ What is a risk of using Tramadol? Answer: Serotonin Syndrome as
it is very serotonergic.
,◉ What is the allele seen in Asians that increase the risk of SJS?
Answer: HLAB-1502
◉ When might you see toxic epidermal necrolysis? Answer: With
worsening of SJS
◉ How many generations do you include for a genogram? Answer:
1st degree - mother, father, siblings
2nd degree - grandparents & cousins
3rd degree -
◉ What does messenger RNA code for? Answer: Amino Acids
◉ What is epigenetics? Answer: Factors that affect genes -
environmental, smoking, stress, etc...
◉ What part of the brain is involved with OCD? Answer: Basal
Ganglia
Occipito-Frontal
◉ What happens to the brain during adolescence? Answer: Dendritic
pruning
, Emotions are controlled by amygdala
By adulthood, PFC involved as well
◉ When do males typically present with schizophrenia? Answer: 10-
25 yo
◉ When do females typically present with schizophrenia? Answer:
25-35 yo
◉ What does Erythromycin to trileptal? Answer: You will need to
decreases the level because Trileptal(inducer) and erythromycin is a
inhibitor
◉ ACE Inhibitors are the drug of choice for what? Answer: Heart
Failure
HTN
◉ What are some psychiatric side effects seen with some asthma
drugs Answer: Leukotriene receptor agonists - singulair, accolade,
zyflo = agitation, aggression, anxiety, hallucinations, depression,
insomnia, SI, tremor
◉ What should you watch for with Tegretol? Answer:
Agranulocytosis and Hyponatremia
DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ Greatest patient at risk for Violence Answer: Substance abuse
◉ EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) Answer:
eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
◉ What is dissemination? Answer: Getting the research information
out to those who need to know it!
Publication - highest level
Presenting at National Conference
Presenting at Local Conference
Journal Club where one person reviews an article
◉ What does a 17 on MMSE mean? Answer: Moderate cognitive
impairment
◉ What is Tegretol in the CYP450 system? Answer: Inducer -->will
lower dose of Lamictal and BCP's
,◉ What do BCP's do to Lamictal? Answer: Inducer - will lower dose
of Lamictal
◉ What is a Type I research error? Answer: There IS a difference but
you say there isn't a difference.
◉ What is a Type II research error? Answer: There is NO difference
but you say there is a difference.
◉ What is pseudo-dementia? Answer: Cognitive impairment
secondary to depression that clears when treated in the elderly.
Dementia won't improve.
◉ Is it normal for a 1 month old to have a palmar grasp? Answer:
Yes.
◉ What is a drug 1/2 life? Answer: The time it takes for 50% of a
drug to be eliminated from the body.
◉ What 3 atypicals can be used with teens? Answer: Zyprexa, Abilify,
Seroquel - low doses
◉ What is a risk of using Tramadol? Answer: Serotonin Syndrome as
it is very serotonergic.
,◉ What is the allele seen in Asians that increase the risk of SJS?
Answer: HLAB-1502
◉ When might you see toxic epidermal necrolysis? Answer: With
worsening of SJS
◉ How many generations do you include for a genogram? Answer:
1st degree - mother, father, siblings
2nd degree - grandparents & cousins
3rd degree -
◉ What does messenger RNA code for? Answer: Amino Acids
◉ What is epigenetics? Answer: Factors that affect genes -
environmental, smoking, stress, etc...
◉ What part of the brain is involved with OCD? Answer: Basal
Ganglia
Occipito-Frontal
◉ What happens to the brain during adolescence? Answer: Dendritic
pruning
, Emotions are controlled by amygdala
By adulthood, PFC involved as well
◉ When do males typically present with schizophrenia? Answer: 10-
25 yo
◉ When do females typically present with schizophrenia? Answer:
25-35 yo
◉ What does Erythromycin to trileptal? Answer: You will need to
decreases the level because Trileptal(inducer) and erythromycin is a
inhibitor
◉ ACE Inhibitors are the drug of choice for what? Answer: Heart
Failure
HTN
◉ What are some psychiatric side effects seen with some asthma
drugs Answer: Leukotriene receptor agonists - singulair, accolade,
zyflo = agitation, aggression, anxiety, hallucinations, depression,
insomnia, SI, tremor
◉ What should you watch for with Tegretol? Answer:
Agranulocytosis and Hyponatremia
