QUESTIONS AND DETAILED ANSWERS | Graded A+
**1.** Which component is most important when beginning a comprehensive
psychiatric assessment?
A. Establishing rapport and therapeutic communication
B. Ordering laboratory tests
C. Selecting a medication
D. Completing a risk assessment before speaking with the patient
**Answer: A**
**Solution:** A trusting therapeutic relationship improves the accuracy and
completeness of the assessment.
**2.** Which finding most strongly suggests a manic episode?
A. Fatigue and hypersomnia
B. Decreased need for sleep with increased energy
C. Social withdrawal
D. Slowed speech
**Answer: B**
**Solution:** Mania commonly involves elevated or irritable mood, increased
energy, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, and increased goal-directed
activity.
,**3.** A patient reports hearing voices when no one is present. This is classified as:
A. Illusion
B. Delusion
C. Hallucination
D. Obsession
**Answer: C**
**Solution:** A hallucination is a perception occurring without an external sensory
stimulus.
**4.** Which question best assesses suicidal ideation?
A. “You aren't thinking about suicide, are you?”
B. “Do you ever feel sad?”
C. “Have you been sleeping well?”
D. “Have you had thoughts of killing yourself?”
**Answer: D**
**Solution:** Direct, clear questioning about suicide is appropriate and does not
increase suicidal behavior.
**5.** Which neurotransmitter is strongly associated with the pathophysiology of
schizophrenia?
A. Dopamine
,B. Melatonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. Histamine
**Answer: A**
**Solution:** Dysregulation of dopamine pathways is an important component of
schizophrenia.
**6.** Which symptom is considered a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Delusions
C. Avolition
D. Disorganized speech
**Answer: C**
**Solution:** Negative symptoms include reduced motivation, diminished emotional
expression, social withdrawal, and reduced speech.
**7.** A patient with generalized anxiety disorder is most likely to report:
A. Persistent excessive worry across multiple areas of life
B. Recurrent episodes of elevated mood
C. Fixed false beliefs
D. Periods of complete memory loss
, **Answer: A**
**Solution:** Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive, difficult-to-control
worry occurring across multiple domains.
**8.** Which intervention is most appropriate during an acute panic attack?
A. Provide lengthy explanations about the disorder
B. Encourage the patient to make major decisions
C. Remain calm and use short, simple statements
D. Leave the patient alone to regain control
**Answer: C**
**Solution:** During acute panic, reduced stimulation and simple, calm
communication are most therapeutic.
**9.** Which medication class is commonly used as a first-line pharmacologic
treatment for major depressive disorder?
A. Stimulants
B. SSRIs
C. Antipsychotics only
D. Benzodiazepines only
**Answer: B**
**Solution:** Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly used first-line