DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN
PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN PRACTICUM
EXAM REVIEW
1. When distinguishing between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder, which clinical feature is
exclusively required for a Bipolar I diagnosis?
A. The presence of a major depressive episode.
B. Hypomanic episodes lasting at least four days.
C. At least one manic episode lasting at least one week.
D. Cyclical mood changes over a two-year period.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Bipolar I requires at least one manic episode, which typically
lasts at least one week and involves significant impairment. Bipolar II requires hypomania
and depression but never a full manic episode.
2. In the Mental Status Examination (MSE), how is ‘affect’ best differentiated from ‘mood’?
A. Mood is the clinician’s observation, while affect is the patient’s report.
,B. Affect is the sustained internal emotional state, whereas mood is the external expression.
C. Affect and mood are synonymous and used interchangeably in psychiatric
documentation.
D. Mood is the patient’s internal emotional state, whereas affect is the clinician’s
observation of the patient’s emotional expression.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Mood is what the patient reports (subjective), while affect is the
visible, outward expression of emotion observed by the clinician (objective).
3. A patient presents with a ‘waxy flexibility’ and a significant decrease in engagement with
their environment. These symptoms are characteristic of which specifier?
A. Melancholic features
B. Catatonia
C. Atypical features
D. Mixed features
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Catatonia involves psychomotor disturbances that may include
decreased motor activity, waxy flexibility, mutism, or excessive motor activity.
, 4. According to the DSM-5-TR, what is the minimum duration of symptoms required to
diagnose Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
A. 1 month
B. 3 months
C. 12 months
D. 6 months
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: GAD requires excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days
than not for at least 6 months about a number of events or activities.
5. Which laboratory value is most critical to monitor for a patient prescribed Clozapine
(Clozaril)?
A. Liver function tests (LFTs)
B. Serum creatinine
C. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
D. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis; therefore, strict
monitoring of the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is mandatory to ensure patient safety.
PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN PRACTICUM
EXAM REVIEW
1. When distinguishing between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder, which clinical feature is
exclusively required for a Bipolar I diagnosis?
A. The presence of a major depressive episode.
B. Hypomanic episodes lasting at least four days.
C. At least one manic episode lasting at least one week.
D. Cyclical mood changes over a two-year period.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Bipolar I requires at least one manic episode, which typically
lasts at least one week and involves significant impairment. Bipolar II requires hypomania
and depression but never a full manic episode.
2. In the Mental Status Examination (MSE), how is ‘affect’ best differentiated from ‘mood’?
A. Mood is the clinician’s observation, while affect is the patient’s report.
,B. Affect is the sustained internal emotional state, whereas mood is the external expression.
C. Affect and mood are synonymous and used interchangeably in psychiatric
documentation.
D. Mood is the patient’s internal emotional state, whereas affect is the clinician’s
observation of the patient’s emotional expression.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Mood is what the patient reports (subjective), while affect is the
visible, outward expression of emotion observed by the clinician (objective).
3. A patient presents with a ‘waxy flexibility’ and a significant decrease in engagement with
their environment. These symptoms are characteristic of which specifier?
A. Melancholic features
B. Catatonia
C. Atypical features
D. Mixed features
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Catatonia involves psychomotor disturbances that may include
decreased motor activity, waxy flexibility, mutism, or excessive motor activity.
, 4. According to the DSM-5-TR, what is the minimum duration of symptoms required to
diagnose Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
A. 1 month
B. 3 months
C. 12 months
D. 6 months
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: GAD requires excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days
than not for at least 6 months about a number of events or activities.
5. Which laboratory value is most critical to monitor for a patient prescribed Clozapine
(Clozaril)?
A. Liver function tests (LFTs)
B. Serum creatinine
C. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
D. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis; therefore, strict
monitoring of the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is mandatory to ensure patient safety.
