ANCC PMHNP Exam Questions and
Answers Updated 2026
3-year-oldMmasturbates,MplayMwithMself,MsaysMnaughtyMthingsM-
MAnswerMFREUD'sMPSYCHOSOCIALMSTAGESMOFMDEVELOPMENTM-MPHALLICMSTAGEM-M3-
6MyearsMold
-MThisMisMNORMALMforMchildrenMthisMage.
FreudMstagesMofMpsychosexualMdevelopmentM-MAnswerMPNEUMOICM-
MOldMAgeMParentsMLoveMGrandchildren
OralM(0-18Mmonths)
AnalM(18MmonthsM-M3Myears)
PhallicM(3MyearsMtoM6Myears)M
LatentM(6MtoM12)
GenitalM(12M+)
ACUTEMSTRESSMDISORDERM-
MAnswerMDepression,Mdissociation,MrecurringMnightmares,MsleepMdisturbances,MproblemsMi
nMconcentrations,MrelivingMtheMevent,Mdreams,MflashbacksM-M
UPMtoMONEMMONTHM-MLessMthanM1Mmonth.
ifMLONGERMthanM1Mmonth=PTSD
5-year-oldMtellsMyouMhisMbrotherMsodomizedMhimM-
MAnswerMTellMmomMdon'tMleaveMhimMaloneMwithMpatientMandMcallMCPSMimplementMc
risis
ChildMisMplayingMwithMdollMinMaMsexualMwayM-MYouMSUSPECTMsexualMabuseM-
MAnswerMPerformMFURTHERMASSESSMENTMandMGATHERMENOUGHMINFOMBEFOREMCalling
MCPSMtoMreport
suspectedMSexualMAbuseM-MYouMHAVEMtoMreportMbutMyouMhaveMtoMhaveMsomething
(assessmentMdata)MtoMreportM-MAssessM=MFIRST
13-year-oldMwantMtoMsmokeM-MAnswerMaskMhimMofMhisMplanMtoMstopMsmoking
MMSE/MFOLSTEINM-MAnswerMMMSE/FOLSTEIN
,Mr.MFolsteinMhadMBenjaminMButton'sMdiseaseMwhereMheMwasMnormalMfromM30-
25MyrsMold,MthenMdeterioratedMmildlyMfromM24-
21MyrsMold,MbecameMmoderatelyMdementedMfromM20-
13MyrsMold,MuntilMheMreachedMageM11MwhereMitMwasMtooMsevereMtoMstayMatMhome.
BeckMDepressionMInventoryM-
MAnswerMBeckMwasM20MyrsMoldMwhenMheMstartedMmedicationM&Mtherapy.MUnfortunat
ely,MatMageM31MitMbecameMtooMSEVEREMandMwasMhospitalized.
HAM-AM-
MAnswerMHamiltonMAMstartedMmedicationM&MtherapyMatM24MyrsMoldMforMmoderateMa
nxiety.MSadly,MwhenMheMturnedM27MyrsMoldMheMwasMhospitalizedMforMSEVEREManxiety.
HAM-DM-
MAnswerMHamiltonMDMbeganMmedicationM&MtherapyMatM14MyrsMold.MHeMlaterMhadMa
MdoseMincreaseMatMageM17MforMMODERATE/SEVEREMdepression.MButMsoonMafter,MitMbe
cameMSEVEREMatMageM23M&MheMwasMhospitalized.
PHQ-9M(PatientMHealthMQuestionnaire)M-
MAnswerMPenelopeMQMwasMjustM10MyrsMoldMwhenMsheMstartedMantidepressantsM&Mth
erapy.MAtMageM15,MsheMrequiredMaMdoseMincreaseMdueMtoMmoderate/severeMdepressio
n.MItMhelpedMherMuntilMsheMturnedM20MwhenMitMbecameMSEVERE,MandMsheMhadMtoM
beMhospitalized.
GAD-7MscaleM-
MAnswerMGaryMwasMjustM10MyrsMoldMwhenMheMwasMtreatedMwithMmedsM&MtherapyM
forManxiety.MYetMhisMsymptomsMstillMworsenedMandMatM15MyrsMoldMheMwasMhospitaliz
edMforMSEVEREManxiety.
HAM-DMscoreMofM19?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMforMSI,MtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy.
BeckMscoreMofM20M-
MAnswerMModerate.MConfirmMdiagnosisMandMtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy.
PHQ-9MscoreMofM15?M-
MAnswerMModerate.MConfirmMdiagnosisM&MstartMtherapyM&Mmeds
PHQ-9MscoreMofM21?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMforMSI,MstartMtherapyM&Mmeds.
,HAM-DMscoreMofM23?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMSI,MtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy.
ZUNGMScoreMofM70?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMSI,MtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy
SLUMM>MScoreM-MAnswerM0M-M20MindicateMdementia;M21M-
M26M=MmildMneurocognitiveMdisorder;M27M-M30M=
normal.
WhatMisMtheMWHODASMscale?M-
MAnswerM(WorldMHealthMOrganizationMDisabilityMAssessmentMScale)?MItMisMusedMinstead
MofMGAF.M
MeasuresMmultipleMdisabilitiesMinMmultipleMareasM(cognition,Mwork,MsocialMandMinterpers
onalMrelations).M
TheMLOWERMtheMnumber,MtheMMOREMSEVEREMtheMimpairment.
ForMexample,MaMscoreMofM50MthroughM30MindicatesMSIMwithMintent;MaMscoreMofM30M
andMunderMindicatesMtheMneedMfor
hospitalization.
CIWA-ArM-MAnswerMStartMsymptom-
treatmentMmedicationMPRNMatM8,MstandingMmedMatM15M(1stMchoiceMDiazepamMlastsMlo
nger,MUNLESSMliverMcompromisedMthenMgiveMAtivan).
COWSMScore/treatment?M-
MAnswerMStartMPRNMmedsM(Clonidine)MatM7,MgiveMsuboxoneMorMbuprenorphineMatM13.
MydriasisM(ofMpupil)M-MAnswerMDilatedMpupilsM(withdrawalMsign,MgiveMClonidine)
Miosis?M-MAnswerMPinpointMpupilsM(intoxication/overdose,MgiveMNaloxone)
CAGEMquestionnaireM-MAnswerM-cutMdown,Mannoyed,Mguilty,MeyeMopener
HaveMyouMeverMfeltMyouMshouldMCutMdownMonMyourMdrinking?
HaveMpeopleMAnnoyedMyouMbyMcriticizingMyourMdrinking?
, HaveMyouMeverMfeltMbadMorMGuiltyMaboutMyourMdrinking?
HaveMyouMeverMhadMaMdrinkMfirstMthingMinMtheMmorningMtoMsteadyMyourMnervesM(Ey
e-opener)?
HowMlongMtoMwaitMtoMtakeMDisulfiramMafterMalcoholMuse?M-MAnswerM12Mhours
MedsMapprovedMforMopioidMwithdrawal?M-MAnswerMClonidine,Mbuprenephrone,Msuboxone
OpioidMToxicity/OverdoseMtreatment?M-MAnswerMNaloxone
MnemonicMforMAlcoholMDependenceMTreatmentM(DAN):M-MAnswerMD=Disulfiram,M
A=Acamprosate,M
N=Naltrexone
WhatMdoMyouMdoMasMpmhnpMifM21MyrMoldMfemaleMcomesMinMforMeval/assessmentMfo
rMmedsMandMyouMseeMshe'sMtakingMAccutane?M-MAnswerMCheckMhcgMforMpregnancy.
PregnantMfemaleMpatientMpresentsMandMsheMisMtakingMAccutaneMandM4MotherMmedicati
ons.MWhatMisMprimaryMintervention?M-MAnswerMD/CMAccutaneMandMcheckMhcg.
WhatMs/eMcanMhappenMwithMAccutaneM&Mantidepressants?M-
MAnswerMWorsenMDepression
WhatMareMtheMteratogenicMrisksMforMDepakote,Mlithium,Mcarbamazepine?M-
MAnswerMDepakote=spinaMbifida,
Lithium=MEbsteinManomaly,M
Carbamazepine=neuralMtubeMdefects.
WhatMcanMbenzosMcauseMifMtakingMwhileMpregnant?M-
MAnswerMFloppyMbabyMsyndrome,McleftMpalate.
WhenMdeterminingMriskMfactorsMforMsuicideMinMtestMquestions,M-
MAnswerMCountMtheMriskMfactorsMifMgivenMoptionsMtoMchooseMfrom;MtheMmostMriskMf
actorsMareMtheMhighestMriskMforMsuicide.MNoMriskMfactorMisMbiggerMthanManother.
Answers Updated 2026
3-year-oldMmasturbates,MplayMwithMself,MsaysMnaughtyMthingsM-
MAnswerMFREUD'sMPSYCHOSOCIALMSTAGESMOFMDEVELOPMENTM-MPHALLICMSTAGEM-M3-
6MyearsMold
-MThisMisMNORMALMforMchildrenMthisMage.
FreudMstagesMofMpsychosexualMdevelopmentM-MAnswerMPNEUMOICM-
MOldMAgeMParentsMLoveMGrandchildren
OralM(0-18Mmonths)
AnalM(18MmonthsM-M3Myears)
PhallicM(3MyearsMtoM6Myears)M
LatentM(6MtoM12)
GenitalM(12M+)
ACUTEMSTRESSMDISORDERM-
MAnswerMDepression,Mdissociation,MrecurringMnightmares,MsleepMdisturbances,MproblemsMi
nMconcentrations,MrelivingMtheMevent,Mdreams,MflashbacksM-M
UPMtoMONEMMONTHM-MLessMthanM1Mmonth.
ifMLONGERMthanM1Mmonth=PTSD
5-year-oldMtellsMyouMhisMbrotherMsodomizedMhimM-
MAnswerMTellMmomMdon'tMleaveMhimMaloneMwithMpatientMandMcallMCPSMimplementMc
risis
ChildMisMplayingMwithMdollMinMaMsexualMwayM-MYouMSUSPECTMsexualMabuseM-
MAnswerMPerformMFURTHERMASSESSMENTMandMGATHERMENOUGHMINFOMBEFOREMCalling
MCPSMtoMreport
suspectedMSexualMAbuseM-MYouMHAVEMtoMreportMbutMyouMhaveMtoMhaveMsomething
(assessmentMdata)MtoMreportM-MAssessM=MFIRST
13-year-oldMwantMtoMsmokeM-MAnswerMaskMhimMofMhisMplanMtoMstopMsmoking
MMSE/MFOLSTEINM-MAnswerMMMSE/FOLSTEIN
,Mr.MFolsteinMhadMBenjaminMButton'sMdiseaseMwhereMheMwasMnormalMfromM30-
25MyrsMold,MthenMdeterioratedMmildlyMfromM24-
21MyrsMold,MbecameMmoderatelyMdementedMfromM20-
13MyrsMold,MuntilMheMreachedMageM11MwhereMitMwasMtooMsevereMtoMstayMatMhome.
BeckMDepressionMInventoryM-
MAnswerMBeckMwasM20MyrsMoldMwhenMheMstartedMmedicationM&Mtherapy.MUnfortunat
ely,MatMageM31MitMbecameMtooMSEVEREMandMwasMhospitalized.
HAM-AM-
MAnswerMHamiltonMAMstartedMmedicationM&MtherapyMatM24MyrsMoldMforMmoderateMa
nxiety.MSadly,MwhenMheMturnedM27MyrsMoldMheMwasMhospitalizedMforMSEVEREManxiety.
HAM-DM-
MAnswerMHamiltonMDMbeganMmedicationM&MtherapyMatM14MyrsMold.MHeMlaterMhadMa
MdoseMincreaseMatMageM17MforMMODERATE/SEVEREMdepression.MButMsoonMafter,MitMbe
cameMSEVEREMatMageM23M&MheMwasMhospitalized.
PHQ-9M(PatientMHealthMQuestionnaire)M-
MAnswerMPenelopeMQMwasMjustM10MyrsMoldMwhenMsheMstartedMantidepressantsM&Mth
erapy.MAtMageM15,MsheMrequiredMaMdoseMincreaseMdueMtoMmoderate/severeMdepressio
n.MItMhelpedMherMuntilMsheMturnedM20MwhenMitMbecameMSEVERE,MandMsheMhadMtoM
beMhospitalized.
GAD-7MscaleM-
MAnswerMGaryMwasMjustM10MyrsMoldMwhenMheMwasMtreatedMwithMmedsM&MtherapyM
forManxiety.MYetMhisMsymptomsMstillMworsenedMandMatM15MyrsMoldMheMwasMhospitaliz
edMforMSEVEREManxiety.
HAM-DMscoreMofM19?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMforMSI,MtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy.
BeckMscoreMofM20M-
MAnswerMModerate.MConfirmMdiagnosisMandMtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy.
PHQ-9MscoreMofM15?M-
MAnswerMModerate.MConfirmMdiagnosisM&MstartMtherapyM&Mmeds
PHQ-9MscoreMofM21?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMforMSI,MstartMtherapyM&Mmeds.
,HAM-DMscoreMofM23?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMSI,MtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy.
ZUNGMScoreMofM70?M-MAnswerMSevere.MAssessMSI,MtreatMwithMmedsM&Mtherapy
SLUMM>MScoreM-MAnswerM0M-M20MindicateMdementia;M21M-
M26M=MmildMneurocognitiveMdisorder;M27M-M30M=
normal.
WhatMisMtheMWHODASMscale?M-
MAnswerM(WorldMHealthMOrganizationMDisabilityMAssessmentMScale)?MItMisMusedMinstead
MofMGAF.M
MeasuresMmultipleMdisabilitiesMinMmultipleMareasM(cognition,Mwork,MsocialMandMinterpers
onalMrelations).M
TheMLOWERMtheMnumber,MtheMMOREMSEVEREMtheMimpairment.
ForMexample,MaMscoreMofM50MthroughM30MindicatesMSIMwithMintent;MaMscoreMofM30M
andMunderMindicatesMtheMneedMfor
hospitalization.
CIWA-ArM-MAnswerMStartMsymptom-
treatmentMmedicationMPRNMatM8,MstandingMmedMatM15M(1stMchoiceMDiazepamMlastsMlo
nger,MUNLESSMliverMcompromisedMthenMgiveMAtivan).
COWSMScore/treatment?M-
MAnswerMStartMPRNMmedsM(Clonidine)MatM7,MgiveMsuboxoneMorMbuprenorphineMatM13.
MydriasisM(ofMpupil)M-MAnswerMDilatedMpupilsM(withdrawalMsign,MgiveMClonidine)
Miosis?M-MAnswerMPinpointMpupilsM(intoxication/overdose,MgiveMNaloxone)
CAGEMquestionnaireM-MAnswerM-cutMdown,Mannoyed,Mguilty,MeyeMopener
HaveMyouMeverMfeltMyouMshouldMCutMdownMonMyourMdrinking?
HaveMpeopleMAnnoyedMyouMbyMcriticizingMyourMdrinking?
, HaveMyouMeverMfeltMbadMorMGuiltyMaboutMyourMdrinking?
HaveMyouMeverMhadMaMdrinkMfirstMthingMinMtheMmorningMtoMsteadyMyourMnervesM(Ey
e-opener)?
HowMlongMtoMwaitMtoMtakeMDisulfiramMafterMalcoholMuse?M-MAnswerM12Mhours
MedsMapprovedMforMopioidMwithdrawal?M-MAnswerMClonidine,Mbuprenephrone,Msuboxone
OpioidMToxicity/OverdoseMtreatment?M-MAnswerMNaloxone
MnemonicMforMAlcoholMDependenceMTreatmentM(DAN):M-MAnswerMD=Disulfiram,M
A=Acamprosate,M
N=Naltrexone
WhatMdoMyouMdoMasMpmhnpMifM21MyrMoldMfemaleMcomesMinMforMeval/assessmentMfo
rMmedsMandMyouMseeMshe'sMtakingMAccutane?M-MAnswerMCheckMhcgMforMpregnancy.
PregnantMfemaleMpatientMpresentsMandMsheMisMtakingMAccutaneMandM4MotherMmedicati
ons.MWhatMisMprimaryMintervention?M-MAnswerMD/CMAccutaneMandMcheckMhcg.
WhatMs/eMcanMhappenMwithMAccutaneM&Mantidepressants?M-
MAnswerMWorsenMDepression
WhatMareMtheMteratogenicMrisksMforMDepakote,Mlithium,Mcarbamazepine?M-
MAnswerMDepakote=spinaMbifida,
Lithium=MEbsteinManomaly,M
Carbamazepine=neuralMtubeMdefects.
WhatMcanMbenzosMcauseMifMtakingMwhileMpregnant?M-
MAnswerMFloppyMbabyMsyndrome,McleftMpalate.
WhenMdeterminingMriskMfactorsMforMsuicideMinMtestMquestions,M-
MAnswerMCountMtheMriskMfactorsMifMgivenMoptionsMtoMchooseMfrom;MtheMmostMriskMf
actorsMareMtheMhighestMriskMforMsuicide.MNoMriskMfactorMisMbiggerMthanManother.
