NR547 / NR 547 FINAL STUDY GUIDE – PMHNP EXAM
(UPDATED 2026) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | LATEST
ALREADY GRADED A+ UPDATE 2025|2026
When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression
Unipolar major depression (major depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of
one or more major depressive episodes (table 3) and no history of mania (table 1) or
hypomania
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded answer. A score of 5 or more
suggests depression.
Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
Geriatric Depression Scale
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a self-report measure of depression in older
adults. Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was originally developed as a 30-
item instrument. Since this version proved both time-consuming and difficult for some
patients to complete, a 15-item version was developed. The shortened form (GDS-S) is
comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric Depression Scale-Long Form (GDS-L).
These 15 items were chosen because of their high correlation with depressive
symptoms in previous validation studies
,Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population
he GDS may be used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively
impaired older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute care, and long-
term care settings.
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score
Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated of the 15 items,
10 indicated the presence of depression when answered positively, while the rest
(question numbers 1, 5, 7, 11, 13) indicated depression when answered negatively.
Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints;
(No Treatment)
5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment may be
indicated
Base treatment on duration of symptoms and functional impairment
9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated)
12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention
The presence of depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may
be used to monitor depression over time in all clinical settings.
,Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should prompt an in-depth
psychological assessment and evaluation for suicidality.
Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]
A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a screening tool to assess severity of
depression; widely used by health care providers, in validity is well established,
particularly for identifying severe depression.
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Widely used to screen for depression and to measure behavioral manifestations and
severity of depression.
The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items
which individuals complete using multiple choice response formats.
The BDI takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Validity and reliability of the BDI
has been tested across populations, worldwide.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Designed for use in the general population and is now used as a screener for
depression in primary care settings.
It includes 20 self-report items, scored on a 4-point scale, which measure major
dimensions of depression experienced in the past week.
, The CES-D can be used for children as young as 6 and through older adulthood. It has
been tested across gender and cultural populations and maintains consistent validity
and reliability. The scale takes about 20 minutes to administer, including scoring.
EQ-5D
The EQ-5D is a standardized, non-disease specific instrument for describing and
evaluating health-related quality of life. The instrument measures quality of life in five
dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Mood Disorders: Depression
Sadness, lethargy, inactivity and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
Genetic link
Behavioral changes: slower motor reactions
Cognitive changes: cognitive distortions
Physical changes: alters immune functioning
PQ9 Scores
Depression Severity
5 - 9Mild
10 - 14Moderate
15 - 19Moderately Severe
20 - 27Severe
(UPDATED 2026) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | LATEST
ALREADY GRADED A+ UPDATE 2025|2026
When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression
Unipolar major depression (major depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of
one or more major depressive episodes (table 3) and no history of mania (table 1) or
hypomania
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded answer. A score of 5 or more
suggests depression.
Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
Geriatric Depression Scale
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a self-report measure of depression in older
adults. Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was originally developed as a 30-
item instrument. Since this version proved both time-consuming and difficult for some
patients to complete, a 15-item version was developed. The shortened form (GDS-S) is
comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric Depression Scale-Long Form (GDS-L).
These 15 items were chosen because of their high correlation with depressive
symptoms in previous validation studies
,Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population
he GDS may be used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively
impaired older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute care, and long-
term care settings.
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score
Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated of the 15 items,
10 indicated the presence of depression when answered positively, while the rest
(question numbers 1, 5, 7, 11, 13) indicated depression when answered negatively.
Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints;
(No Treatment)
5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment may be
indicated
Base treatment on duration of symptoms and functional impairment
9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated)
12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention
The presence of depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may
be used to monitor depression over time in all clinical settings.
,Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should prompt an in-depth
psychological assessment and evaluation for suicidality.
Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]
A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a screening tool to assess severity of
depression; widely used by health care providers, in validity is well established,
particularly for identifying severe depression.
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Widely used to screen for depression and to measure behavioral manifestations and
severity of depression.
The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items
which individuals complete using multiple choice response formats.
The BDI takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Validity and reliability of the BDI
has been tested across populations, worldwide.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Designed for use in the general population and is now used as a screener for
depression in primary care settings.
It includes 20 self-report items, scored on a 4-point scale, which measure major
dimensions of depression experienced in the past week.
, The CES-D can be used for children as young as 6 and through older adulthood. It has
been tested across gender and cultural populations and maintains consistent validity
and reliability. The scale takes about 20 minutes to administer, including scoring.
EQ-5D
The EQ-5D is a standardized, non-disease specific instrument for describing and
evaluating health-related quality of life. The instrument measures quality of life in five
dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Mood Disorders: Depression
Sadness, lethargy, inactivity and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
Genetic link
Behavioral changes: slower motor reactions
Cognitive changes: cognitive distortions
Physical changes: alters immune functioning
PQ9 Scores
Depression Severity
5 - 9Mild
10 - 14Moderate
15 - 19Moderately Severe
20 - 27Severe
