Page 1 of 33
NSG 524 – MENTAL HEALTH NURSING – EXAM 1 2026/2027
COMPLETE CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURSING
Prepare for NSG 524 Exam 1 with this focused Mental Health Nursing study resource
from Herzing University. It is designed to reinforce essential concepts in psychiatric
nursing, mental health assessment, therapeutic communication, patient care, and
clinical decision-making. Use it to review key material, strengthen your
understanding, and identify topics that may require additional study. This resource
provides a structured supplement to your coursework and can help build confidence
before the exam.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: Foundations of Mental Health Nursing (Q1–Q25)
1. Which neurotransmitter is most commonly associated with the
pathophysiology of depression?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Answer: B
Rationale: Serotonin is significantly linked with depression; lower levels
are associated with mood disorders, and many antidepressants target
serotonin reuptake.
2. The therapeutic approach that focuses on a person's ability to choose,
take responsibility, and manage their own mental health is known as:
A. Psychoanalytic therapy
B. Person-centered therapy
C. Behavioral therapy
D. Cognitive therapy
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Answer: B
Rationale: Person-centered therapy empowers the individual,
emphasizing personal growth and self-improvement.
3. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered a first-line treatment for
schizophrenia.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Rationale: ECT is not first-line for schizophrenia; it is reserved for severe
depression, catatonia, or treatment-resistant cases.
4. Which of the following is NOT a typical feature of Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD)?
A. Flashbacks
B. Avoidance behaviors
C. Increased appetite
D. Hypervigilance
Answer: C
Rationale: Increased appetite is not commonly associated with PTSD.
Typical symptoms include flashbacks, avoidance, and hypervigilance.
5. Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are primarily related to memory
impairment alone.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Rationale: Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are broad and include
problems with memory, attention, executive function, and social
cognition.
6. Which of the following is a mood stabilizer commonly used to treat
bipolar disorder?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Lithium
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C. Haloperidol
D. Lorazepam
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithium is a well-established mood stabilizer that reduces the
frequency and severity of manic episodes.
7. The definition of mental health includes:
A. Absence of mental illness
B. A person's ability to function effectively in daily life
C. Complete freedom from stress
D. Genetic predisposition only
Answer: B
Rationale: Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual
realizes their abilities, can cope with normal stresses, and can work
productively.
8. Which historical figure is credited with reforming mental health care in
the 19th century?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Dorothea Dix
C. Hildegard Peplau
D. B.F. Skinner
Answer: B
Rationale: Dorothea Dix was a key reformer who advocated for humane
treatment of the mentally ill and established mental hospitals.
9. Which brain imaging technique is used to measure brain activity by
detecting changes in blood flow?
A. CT scan
B. MRI
C. PET scan
D. EEG
Answer: C
Rationale: PET scans measure metabolic activity and blood flow, useful in
studying brain function in psychiatric disorders.
, Page 4 of 33
10. The psychoanalytic theory was developed by:
A. Carl Rogers
B. Sigmund Freud
C. Erik Erikson
D. B.F. Skinner
Answer: B
Rationale: Freud developed psychoanalytic theory, emphasizing
unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.
11. Which developmental theory focuses on stages of psychosocial
development across the lifespan?
A. Freud's psychosexual stages
B. Erikson's psychosocial stages
C. Piaget's cognitive stages
D. Kohlberg's moral stages
Answer: B
Rationale: Erikson's theory outlines eight stages of psychosocial
development from infancy to old age.
12. The Humanistic theory emphasizes:
A. Unconscious drives
B. Free will and self-actualization
C. Observable behavior
D. Genetic determinism
Answer: B
Rationale: Humanistic theories, like those of Maslow and Rogers, focus
on free will, self-actualization, and personal growth.
13. Which neurotransmitter is associated with schizophrenia and the
mechanism of antipsychotic medications?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
D. Acetylcholine
NSG 524 – MENTAL HEALTH NURSING – EXAM 1 2026/2027
COMPLETE CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURSING
Prepare for NSG 524 Exam 1 with this focused Mental Health Nursing study resource
from Herzing University. It is designed to reinforce essential concepts in psychiatric
nursing, mental health assessment, therapeutic communication, patient care, and
clinical decision-making. Use it to review key material, strengthen your
understanding, and identify topics that may require additional study. This resource
provides a structured supplement to your coursework and can help build confidence
before the exam.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: Foundations of Mental Health Nursing (Q1–Q25)
1. Which neurotransmitter is most commonly associated with the
pathophysiology of depression?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Answer: B
Rationale: Serotonin is significantly linked with depression; lower levels
are associated with mood disorders, and many antidepressants target
serotonin reuptake.
2. The therapeutic approach that focuses on a person's ability to choose,
take responsibility, and manage their own mental health is known as:
A. Psychoanalytic therapy
B. Person-centered therapy
C. Behavioral therapy
D. Cognitive therapy
, Page 2 of 33
Answer: B
Rationale: Person-centered therapy empowers the individual,
emphasizing personal growth and self-improvement.
3. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered a first-line treatment for
schizophrenia.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Rationale: ECT is not first-line for schizophrenia; it is reserved for severe
depression, catatonia, or treatment-resistant cases.
4. Which of the following is NOT a typical feature of Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD)?
A. Flashbacks
B. Avoidance behaviors
C. Increased appetite
D. Hypervigilance
Answer: C
Rationale: Increased appetite is not commonly associated with PTSD.
Typical symptoms include flashbacks, avoidance, and hypervigilance.
5. Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are primarily related to memory
impairment alone.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Rationale: Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are broad and include
problems with memory, attention, executive function, and social
cognition.
6. Which of the following is a mood stabilizer commonly used to treat
bipolar disorder?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Lithium
, Page 3 of 33
C. Haloperidol
D. Lorazepam
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithium is a well-established mood stabilizer that reduces the
frequency and severity of manic episodes.
7. The definition of mental health includes:
A. Absence of mental illness
B. A person's ability to function effectively in daily life
C. Complete freedom from stress
D. Genetic predisposition only
Answer: B
Rationale: Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual
realizes their abilities, can cope with normal stresses, and can work
productively.
8. Which historical figure is credited with reforming mental health care in
the 19th century?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Dorothea Dix
C. Hildegard Peplau
D. B.F. Skinner
Answer: B
Rationale: Dorothea Dix was a key reformer who advocated for humane
treatment of the mentally ill and established mental hospitals.
9. Which brain imaging technique is used to measure brain activity by
detecting changes in blood flow?
A. CT scan
B. MRI
C. PET scan
D. EEG
Answer: C
Rationale: PET scans measure metabolic activity and blood flow, useful in
studying brain function in psychiatric disorders.
, Page 4 of 33
10. The psychoanalytic theory was developed by:
A. Carl Rogers
B. Sigmund Freud
C. Erik Erikson
D. B.F. Skinner
Answer: B
Rationale: Freud developed psychoanalytic theory, emphasizing
unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.
11. Which developmental theory focuses on stages of psychosocial
development across the lifespan?
A. Freud's psychosexual stages
B. Erikson's psychosocial stages
C. Piaget's cognitive stages
D. Kohlberg's moral stages
Answer: B
Rationale: Erikson's theory outlines eight stages of psychosocial
development from infancy to old age.
12. The Humanistic theory emphasizes:
A. Unconscious drives
B. Free will and self-actualization
C. Observable behavior
D. Genetic determinism
Answer: B
Rationale: Humanistic theories, like those of Maslow and Rogers, focus
on free will, self-actualization, and personal growth.
13. Which neurotransmitter is associated with schizophrenia and the
mechanism of antipsychotic medications?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
D. Acetylcholine
