ANCC CERTIFICATION PMHNP ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
●● Primary characteristic is persistent disturbance in mood
Answer: Major Depressive Disorder
●● Often occurs without precipitating event
Answer: MDD
●● Object loss theory
Answer: Fairbairn, Winnicott & guntrip
●● Aggression turned inward theory of MDD
Answer: Freud
●● Cognitive Theory
Answer: Beck
●● Learned Helplessness-Hopelessness Theory
Answer: Seligman
,●● Genetic predisposition
Answer: Strong genetic load for depression for child of depressed parent
-having 3 fold increase in lifetime risk of MDD & 40% chance of
depressive episode before age 18.
●● Endocrine dysfunction Theory
Answer: Probably related to etiology of MDD
●● Sleep disturbances, appetite disturbances, libido disturbances,
lethargy, anhedonia are neurovegitative symptoms that are related to
functions of the
Answer: Hypothalamus and pituitary gland secretions
●● Endocrine dysfunction and pregnancy
Answer: A high incidence of postpartum mood disturbances is suggested
with this
●● Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)
Answer: A theory of MDD, may be a result of an abnormal stress
response related to dysregulation of this system
●● HPA axis
, Answer: Controls the physiological response to stress and is composed
of interconnective feedback pathways between the hypothalamus,
pituitary gland, and adrenal gland.
●● Hypothalamus releases
Answer: corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
●● Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)
Answer: Released by pituitary in response to CRH by hypothalamus
●● Cortisol
Answer: Released by adrenal glands in response to ACTH by pituitary
gland
●● Hyperactivity of the HPA axis
Answer: Demonstrated to be present in individuals with MDD. May also
have elevated cortisol levels
●● Elevated cortisol levels
Answer: Over time damages the CNS by altering neurotransmission and
electrical signal conduction. Cortisol over time can cause changes in size
and function of brain tissue
●● Dexamethasone suppression test (DST)
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
●● Primary characteristic is persistent disturbance in mood
Answer: Major Depressive Disorder
●● Often occurs without precipitating event
Answer: MDD
●● Object loss theory
Answer: Fairbairn, Winnicott & guntrip
●● Aggression turned inward theory of MDD
Answer: Freud
●● Cognitive Theory
Answer: Beck
●● Learned Helplessness-Hopelessness Theory
Answer: Seligman
,●● Genetic predisposition
Answer: Strong genetic load for depression for child of depressed parent
-having 3 fold increase in lifetime risk of MDD & 40% chance of
depressive episode before age 18.
●● Endocrine dysfunction Theory
Answer: Probably related to etiology of MDD
●● Sleep disturbances, appetite disturbances, libido disturbances,
lethargy, anhedonia are neurovegitative symptoms that are related to
functions of the
Answer: Hypothalamus and pituitary gland secretions
●● Endocrine dysfunction and pregnancy
Answer: A high incidence of postpartum mood disturbances is suggested
with this
●● Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)
Answer: A theory of MDD, may be a result of an abnormal stress
response related to dysregulation of this system
●● HPA axis
, Answer: Controls the physiological response to stress and is composed
of interconnective feedback pathways between the hypothalamus,
pituitary gland, and adrenal gland.
●● Hypothalamus releases
Answer: corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
●● Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)
Answer: Released by pituitary in response to CRH by hypothalamus
●● Cortisol
Answer: Released by adrenal glands in response to ACTH by pituitary
gland
●● Hyperactivity of the HPA axis
Answer: Demonstrated to be present in individuals with MDD. May also
have elevated cortisol levels
●● Elevated cortisol levels
Answer: Over time damages the CNS by altering neurotransmission and
electrical signal conduction. Cortisol over time can cause changes in size
and function of brain tissue
●● Dexamethasone suppression test (DST)
