PSI Perinatal Mental Health Certification Exam
SCRIPT 2026/2027 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
RATED A+
• How to determine is it blues or depression -✓✓ severity, intensity, duration of
symptoms
• Prevalence of postpartum anxiety -✓✓ 8-20%
• Prevalence of prenatal anxiety -✓✓ 15%
• Prevalence of postpartum depression -✓✓ 21%
• Prevalence of postpartum panic disorder -✓✓ 11%
• Prevalence of postpartum OCD -✓✓ 11%
• Prevalence of postpartum PTSD -✓✓ 9%
• Percentage of bipolar symptoms that relapse w/o meds -✓✓ 70%
• Prevalence of postpartum psychosis -✓✓ 1-2 out of 1,000
• Prevalence of PPD in fathers -✓✓ 10%
• Prevalence psychosis in women with known bipolar disorder -✓✓ 20-30%
• Traits of OCD -✓✓ recognizes that thoughts are unhealthy, extreme anxiety related to
thoughts/images, concerned about "snapping". parent does not want to harm the baby,
thoughts are frightening.
• Traits of psychosis -✓✓ does not recognize actions/thoughts are unhealthy, may seem
to have less anxiety when indulging in thoughts/behaviors, no insight about distortion of
thoughts, parent has delusional beliefs about the baby, thoughts of harming the baby
are ego-syntonic
• Traits of PTSD -✓✓ intrusive thoughts (flashbacks), avoidance, negative cognitions
and mood, arousal (sleep disturbance, poor concentration, aggression, hyper vigilance)
• maternal mortality-all women -✓✓ 1,200 a year or 14.4 per 100,000
• maternal mortality-black women -✓✓ 43.5 per 100,000
, • Bipolar 1 Disorder -✓✓ a type of bipolar disorder marked by at least one lifetime full
manic and major depressive episodes
• Hypomania -✓✓ A mild manic state in which the individual seems infectiously merry,
extremely talkative, charming, and tireless. up to 4 days in length
• mania -✓✓ a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state-function is
impaired. can last 7 days
• prevalence of first diagnosis of bipolar disorder postpartum -✓✓ 50%
• Risk factors for postpartum psychosis -✓✓ History of bipolar or psychotic disorder, first
pregnancy, family history, recent discontinuation of psychotropic medication
• Postpartum psychosis symptoms -✓✓ onset-2 weeks postpartum, poor concentration,
disorientation, agitation, aloof, lack of self care, elated/labile mood, rambling speech,
thought broadcasting/delusion of grandiosity, disorganized thoughts, flight of ideas,
hallucinations
• reducing risk of postpartum psychosis -✓✓ stay on bipolar medication, treat
immediately in women with history of psychosis and bipolar, good sleep is essential
• Evidence based risk factors for PMADS -✓✓ previous PMADS (family history, personal
history, symptoms during pregnancy), history of mood/anxiety disorders (personal or
family history of depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, bipolar disorders),
significant mood reactions of hormonal changes (puberty, PMS, hormonal birth control)
• More evidence based risk factors for PMADS -✓✓ endocrine dysfunction (diabetes,
thyroid imbalance, fertility challenges), social factors (IPV, low support, financial stress,
racism), high stress parenting (military families, adolescent parents, parents of
multiples, single parents)
• Exacerbating factors of postpartum depression -✓✓ pain, lack of sleep, abrupt
discontinuing of breast feeding, childcare stress, relationship stress, losses, history of
childhood sexual abuse, complicated pregnancy, health changes in baby or parents,
temperament of baby, climate stressors: seasonal depression or mania,
perfectionism/high expectations, unresolved grief or attachment with mother, returning
to work
• Substance Use in Pregnancy -✓✓ 5.4% all women use illicit drugs during pregnancy,
14.6% of adolescent moms
• Alcohol use in pregnancy -✓✓ 8.5% of women drank within last month, most during
first trimester (17.9%)
SCRIPT 2026/2027 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
RATED A+
• How to determine is it blues or depression -✓✓ severity, intensity, duration of
symptoms
• Prevalence of postpartum anxiety -✓✓ 8-20%
• Prevalence of prenatal anxiety -✓✓ 15%
• Prevalence of postpartum depression -✓✓ 21%
• Prevalence of postpartum panic disorder -✓✓ 11%
• Prevalence of postpartum OCD -✓✓ 11%
• Prevalence of postpartum PTSD -✓✓ 9%
• Percentage of bipolar symptoms that relapse w/o meds -✓✓ 70%
• Prevalence of postpartum psychosis -✓✓ 1-2 out of 1,000
• Prevalence of PPD in fathers -✓✓ 10%
• Prevalence psychosis in women with known bipolar disorder -✓✓ 20-30%
• Traits of OCD -✓✓ recognizes that thoughts are unhealthy, extreme anxiety related to
thoughts/images, concerned about "snapping". parent does not want to harm the baby,
thoughts are frightening.
• Traits of psychosis -✓✓ does not recognize actions/thoughts are unhealthy, may seem
to have less anxiety when indulging in thoughts/behaviors, no insight about distortion of
thoughts, parent has delusional beliefs about the baby, thoughts of harming the baby
are ego-syntonic
• Traits of PTSD -✓✓ intrusive thoughts (flashbacks), avoidance, negative cognitions
and mood, arousal (sleep disturbance, poor concentration, aggression, hyper vigilance)
• maternal mortality-all women -✓✓ 1,200 a year or 14.4 per 100,000
• maternal mortality-black women -✓✓ 43.5 per 100,000
, • Bipolar 1 Disorder -✓✓ a type of bipolar disorder marked by at least one lifetime full
manic and major depressive episodes
• Hypomania -✓✓ A mild manic state in which the individual seems infectiously merry,
extremely talkative, charming, and tireless. up to 4 days in length
• mania -✓✓ a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state-function is
impaired. can last 7 days
• prevalence of first diagnosis of bipolar disorder postpartum -✓✓ 50%
• Risk factors for postpartum psychosis -✓✓ History of bipolar or psychotic disorder, first
pregnancy, family history, recent discontinuation of psychotropic medication
• Postpartum psychosis symptoms -✓✓ onset-2 weeks postpartum, poor concentration,
disorientation, agitation, aloof, lack of self care, elated/labile mood, rambling speech,
thought broadcasting/delusion of grandiosity, disorganized thoughts, flight of ideas,
hallucinations
• reducing risk of postpartum psychosis -✓✓ stay on bipolar medication, treat
immediately in women with history of psychosis and bipolar, good sleep is essential
• Evidence based risk factors for PMADS -✓✓ previous PMADS (family history, personal
history, symptoms during pregnancy), history of mood/anxiety disorders (personal or
family history of depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, bipolar disorders),
significant mood reactions of hormonal changes (puberty, PMS, hormonal birth control)
• More evidence based risk factors for PMADS -✓✓ endocrine dysfunction (diabetes,
thyroid imbalance, fertility challenges), social factors (IPV, low support, financial stress,
racism), high stress parenting (military families, adolescent parents, parents of
multiples, single parents)
• Exacerbating factors of postpartum depression -✓✓ pain, lack of sleep, abrupt
discontinuing of breast feeding, childcare stress, relationship stress, losses, history of
childhood sexual abuse, complicated pregnancy, health changes in baby or parents,
temperament of baby, climate stressors: seasonal depression or mania,
perfectionism/high expectations, unresolved grief or attachment with mother, returning
to work
• Substance Use in Pregnancy -✓✓ 5.4% all women use illicit drugs during pregnancy,
14.6% of adolescent moms
• Alcohol use in pregnancy -✓✓ 8.5% of women drank within last month, most during
first trimester (17.9%)
