NR548 PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT FOR
THE PMHNP REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. During a Mental Status Examination (MSE), a patient explains their thoughts by providing
excessive, unnecessary detail but eventually returns to the original point. This is best
described as:
A. Tangentiality
B. Circumstantiality
C. Flight of ideas
D. Loose associations
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Circumstantiality involves providing excessive detail and
drifting from the point, but eventually returning to answer the question. Tangentiality
never returns to the point.
,2. When assessing a patient for Bipolar Disorder, which screening tool is most appropriate for
identifying a history of hypomanic or manic episodes?
A. PHQ-9
B. GAD-7
C. MDQ
D. HAM-D
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a validated
screening tool specifically designed to identify symptoms associated with Bipolar Spectrum
Disorders.
3. A PMHNP is assessing a 72-year-old patient with suspected cognitive decline. Which tool is
most sensitive for detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?
A. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
B. PHQ-9
C. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
D. CAGE questionnaire
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The MoCA is more sensitive than the MMSE for detecting Mild
Cognitive Impairment, as it tests higher-level executive functions.
, 4. Which part of the psychiatric history includes information about the patient’s birth, early
development, and childhood environment?
A. Personal/Developmental History
B. Family History
C. Social History
D. Review of Systems
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The personal and developmental history explores the patient’s
life from gestation through childhood and adolescence to identify developmental
milestones or early trauma.
5. A patient presents with a flat affect, poverty of speech, and lack of motivation. These are
categorized as which type of symptoms in Schizophrenia?
A. Positive symptoms
B. Negative symptoms
C. Cognitive symptoms
D. Prodromal symptoms
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Negative symptoms refer to the absence of normal behaviors,
including flat affect, alogia (poverty of speech), and avolition (lack of motivation).
THE PMHNP REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. During a Mental Status Examination (MSE), a patient explains their thoughts by providing
excessive, unnecessary detail but eventually returns to the original point. This is best
described as:
A. Tangentiality
B. Circumstantiality
C. Flight of ideas
D. Loose associations
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Circumstantiality involves providing excessive detail and
drifting from the point, but eventually returning to answer the question. Tangentiality
never returns to the point.
,2. When assessing a patient for Bipolar Disorder, which screening tool is most appropriate for
identifying a history of hypomanic or manic episodes?
A. PHQ-9
B. GAD-7
C. MDQ
D. HAM-D
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a validated
screening tool specifically designed to identify symptoms associated with Bipolar Spectrum
Disorders.
3. A PMHNP is assessing a 72-year-old patient with suspected cognitive decline. Which tool is
most sensitive for detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?
A. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
B. PHQ-9
C. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
D. CAGE questionnaire
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The MoCA is more sensitive than the MMSE for detecting Mild
Cognitive Impairment, as it tests higher-level executive functions.
, 4. Which part of the psychiatric history includes information about the patient’s birth, early
development, and childhood environment?
A. Personal/Developmental History
B. Family History
C. Social History
D. Review of Systems
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The personal and developmental history explores the patient’s
life from gestation through childhood and adolescence to identify developmental
milestones or early trauma.
5. A patient presents with a flat affect, poverty of speech, and lack of motivation. These are
categorized as which type of symptoms in Schizophrenia?
A. Positive symptoms
B. Negative symptoms
C. Cognitive symptoms
D. Prodromal symptoms
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Negative symptoms refer to the absence of normal behaviors,
including flat affect, alogia (poverty of speech), and avolition (lack of motivation).
