Walden University NRNP 6645 Midterm Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Psychotherapy Q&A | Psychiatric Nursing
**1. A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is seeing a
patient for the first time. The patient states, "I don't know if talking will help."
Which response best demonstrates a therapeutic frame?**
A) "Talking always helps, trust me."
B) "Medication might be a better option for you."
C) "Some people feel that way. What concerns you about talking?"
D) "Let's just try it for 15 minutes."
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Validating the patient's concern while inviting exploration
respects autonomy and builds alliance. Option A is dismissive, B changes the
subject prematurely, and D imposes without addressing resistance.
---
**2. A PMHNP notices a patient consistently arrives 10 minutes late to
sessions. Which psychodynamic concept best explains this behavior?**
A) Transference
B) Resistance
C) Countertransference
D) Free association
**Correct Answer: B**
,**Rationale:** Resistance refers to behaviors that block the therapeutic
process, such as lateness, silence, or avoiding topics. Transference involves
displacement of feelings from past figures onto the therapist.
Countertransference is the therapist's emotional response to the patient.
---
**3. During a session, a patient says, "I feel nothing about my father's
death." The PMHNP responds, "And yet your fists are clenched." Which
technique is being used?**
A) Confrontation
B) Interpretation
C) Clarification
D) Containment
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Confrontation gently points out a discrepancy between affect
and verbal content. Interpretation explains unconscious meaning;
clarification seeks more detail; containment holds emotional material.
---
**4. A patient with social anxiety reports, "If I stutter during my presentation,
everyone will think I'm incompetent." The PMHNP asks the patient to
examine the evidence for and against this thought. This is an example of
which intervention?**
A) Behavioral activation
,B) Cognitive restructuring
C) Exposure therapy
D) Relaxation training
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Cognitive restructuring involves identifying and challenging
distorted thoughts. Behavioral activation targets depression; exposure
reduces avoidance; relaxation training addresses physiological arousal.
---
**5. A patient with panic disorder is being treated with CBT. Which
intervention is most consistent with CBT for panic?**
A) Exploring early childhood attachment patterns
B) Interpreting dreams about losing control
C) Exposing the patient to feared bodily sensations (interoceptive exposure)
D) Analyzing transference reactions
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Interoceptive exposure is a core CBT intervention for panic
disorder, helping patients habituate to feared physical sensations. Options A,
B, and D are psychodynamic interventions.
---
, **6. Recognizing that many factors may have contributed to a patient's
current situation is an example of which of the following?**
A) Biomedical model
B) Psychosocial framework
C) Overdeterminism
D) Resiliency
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A psychosocial framework recognizes the interplay of
biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors in shaping a patient's
mental health. The biomedical model focuses primarily on biological factors.
---
**7. A patient being treated with supportive psychodynamic psychotherapy
has been missing sessions and coming late when coming to sessions. The
advanced practice psychiatric nurse recognizes this behavior as which of the
following?**
A) Avoidance
B) A sign the patient has met goals
C) The patient is ready to talk about termination of therapy
D) The patient is bored because the sessions have not been very interesting
**Correct Answer: A**
Psychotherapy Q&A | Psychiatric Nursing
**1. A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is seeing a
patient for the first time. The patient states, "I don't know if talking will help."
Which response best demonstrates a therapeutic frame?**
A) "Talking always helps, trust me."
B) "Medication might be a better option for you."
C) "Some people feel that way. What concerns you about talking?"
D) "Let's just try it for 15 minutes."
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Validating the patient's concern while inviting exploration
respects autonomy and builds alliance. Option A is dismissive, B changes the
subject prematurely, and D imposes without addressing resistance.
---
**2. A PMHNP notices a patient consistently arrives 10 minutes late to
sessions. Which psychodynamic concept best explains this behavior?**
A) Transference
B) Resistance
C) Countertransference
D) Free association
**Correct Answer: B**
,**Rationale:** Resistance refers to behaviors that block the therapeutic
process, such as lateness, silence, or avoiding topics. Transference involves
displacement of feelings from past figures onto the therapist.
Countertransference is the therapist's emotional response to the patient.
---
**3. During a session, a patient says, "I feel nothing about my father's
death." The PMHNP responds, "And yet your fists are clenched." Which
technique is being used?**
A) Confrontation
B) Interpretation
C) Clarification
D) Containment
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Confrontation gently points out a discrepancy between affect
and verbal content. Interpretation explains unconscious meaning;
clarification seeks more detail; containment holds emotional material.
---
**4. A patient with social anxiety reports, "If I stutter during my presentation,
everyone will think I'm incompetent." The PMHNP asks the patient to
examine the evidence for and against this thought. This is an example of
which intervention?**
A) Behavioral activation
,B) Cognitive restructuring
C) Exposure therapy
D) Relaxation training
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Cognitive restructuring involves identifying and challenging
distorted thoughts. Behavioral activation targets depression; exposure
reduces avoidance; relaxation training addresses physiological arousal.
---
**5. A patient with panic disorder is being treated with CBT. Which
intervention is most consistent with CBT for panic?**
A) Exploring early childhood attachment patterns
B) Interpreting dreams about losing control
C) Exposing the patient to feared bodily sensations (interoceptive exposure)
D) Analyzing transference reactions
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Interoceptive exposure is a core CBT intervention for panic
disorder, helping patients habituate to feared physical sensations. Options A,
B, and D are psychodynamic interventions.
---
, **6. Recognizing that many factors may have contributed to a patient's
current situation is an example of which of the following?**
A) Biomedical model
B) Psychosocial framework
C) Overdeterminism
D) Resiliency
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A psychosocial framework recognizes the interplay of
biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors in shaping a patient's
mental health. The biomedical model focuses primarily on biological factors.
---
**7. A patient being treated with supportive psychodynamic psychotherapy
has been missing sessions and coming late when coming to sessions. The
advanced practice psychiatric nurse recognizes this behavior as which of the
following?**
A) Avoidance
B) A sign the patient has met goals
C) The patient is ready to talk about termination of therapy
D) The patient is bored because the sessions have not been very interesting
**Correct Answer: A**
