PMHNP Exam Reported Questions and
Answers
Q: What are the SIGECAPS of depression?
A: Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor
retardation, Suicide
Q: What is the Beck Depression Inventory scoring?
A: 0-13 Minimal | 14-19 Mild | 20-28 Moderate | 29-63 Severe
Q: What is the PHQ-9 scoring?
A: 1-4 Minimal | 5-9 Mild | 10-14 Moderate | 15-19 Moderate Severe | 20-27
Severe
Q: What is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale?
A: 17-21 questions | 0-7 Normal | 14-18 Moderate | >20 Severe
Q: How long do antidepressants take to work?
A: 5 weeks
Q: What neurotransmitters are involved in mood disorders?
A: Serotonin and Norepinephrine
Q: What is pseudo-dementia?
A: Cognitive impairment secondary to depression that clears when treated in
the elderly. Dementia won't improve.
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Q: What is agoraphobia?
A: Fear of open spaces
Q: What are first-line medications for agoraphobia treatment?
A: Short-term: BZDs | Long-term: SSRIs (fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline),
SNRIs (venlafaxine), TCAs (imipramine)
Q: What medication is used for adult panic disorder?
A: Buspar
,Q: What is the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scoring?
A: 14-17 Mild | 18-24 Moderate | 25-30 Severe
Q: What is social anxiety disorder treatment?
A: Beta-Blockers (Propranolol)
Q: What does WATCHERS stand for in GAD (need 3+ for 6 months)?
A: Worry, Anxiety, Tension in muscles, Concentration, Hyperarousal, Energy
loss/fatigue, Restlessness, Sleep trouble
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Q: What is the neurotransmitter problem in schizophrenia?
A: Excess dopamine in mesolimbic pathway
Q: When do males typically present with schizophrenia?
A: 18-25 years old
Q: When do females typically present with schizophrenia?
A: 25-35 years old
Q: What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
A: Due to mesolimbic system (high dopamine)
Q: What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
A: Absence of appropriate behaviors (expressionless faces, rigid bodies) -
mesocortical pathway
Q: What labs do you monitor with HIV & Dementia?
A: CD4 <200, Viral Load is high
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Q: What is the first-line medication for OCD?
A: TCA - Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Q: What is the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scoring?
A: 0-7 Subclinical | 8-15 Mild | 16-23 Moderate | 24-31 Severe | 32-40 Extreme
, Q: What part of the brain is involved with OCD?
A: Basal Ganglia, Occipito-Frontal
Q: What is PANDAS?
A: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with
Streptococcal infections (causes OCD)
EATING DISORDERS
Q: What are the anorexia admission criteria for hospitalization?
A: Weight loss >30% over 6 months, severe hypothermia (<36°C/96.8°F), HR
<40 bpm, systolic BP <70 mmHg, hypokalemia (<3 mEq/L)
Q: What is anorexia nervosa definition?
A: BMI <18.5 - an eating disorder where irrational fear of weight gain leads
people to starve themselves
Q: What treatment is set up for anorexia?
A: Family therapy
Q: What complication occurs in anorexia binge/purge subtype?
A: Delayed gastric emptying (bloating) - rare complication from GI
abnormalities that can result in gastric necrosis, perforation, shock, and death
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
Q: What is the treatment for borderline personality disorder?
A: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Q: What does DBT involve?
A: Relaxation muscle prior to DBT
BIPOLAR & MANIA
Q: What does DIGFAST stand for in mania?
A: Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase,
Sleep deficit, Talking increase
Q: What co-morbidities are common with bipolar?
A: Anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse
Answers
Q: What are the SIGECAPS of depression?
A: Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor
retardation, Suicide
Q: What is the Beck Depression Inventory scoring?
A: 0-13 Minimal | 14-19 Mild | 20-28 Moderate | 29-63 Severe
Q: What is the PHQ-9 scoring?
A: 1-4 Minimal | 5-9 Mild | 10-14 Moderate | 15-19 Moderate Severe | 20-27
Severe
Q: What is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale?
A: 17-21 questions | 0-7 Normal | 14-18 Moderate | >20 Severe
Q: How long do antidepressants take to work?
A: 5 weeks
Q: What neurotransmitters are involved in mood disorders?
A: Serotonin and Norepinephrine
Q: What is pseudo-dementia?
A: Cognitive impairment secondary to depression that clears when treated in
the elderly. Dementia won't improve.
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Q: What is agoraphobia?
A: Fear of open spaces
Q: What are first-line medications for agoraphobia treatment?
A: Short-term: BZDs | Long-term: SSRIs (fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline),
SNRIs (venlafaxine), TCAs (imipramine)
Q: What medication is used for adult panic disorder?
A: Buspar
,Q: What is the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scoring?
A: 14-17 Mild | 18-24 Moderate | 25-30 Severe
Q: What is social anxiety disorder treatment?
A: Beta-Blockers (Propranolol)
Q: What does WATCHERS stand for in GAD (need 3+ for 6 months)?
A: Worry, Anxiety, Tension in muscles, Concentration, Hyperarousal, Energy
loss/fatigue, Restlessness, Sleep trouble
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Q: What is the neurotransmitter problem in schizophrenia?
A: Excess dopamine in mesolimbic pathway
Q: When do males typically present with schizophrenia?
A: 18-25 years old
Q: When do females typically present with schizophrenia?
A: 25-35 years old
Q: What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
A: Due to mesolimbic system (high dopamine)
Q: What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
A: Absence of appropriate behaviors (expressionless faces, rigid bodies) -
mesocortical pathway
Q: What labs do you monitor with HIV & Dementia?
A: CD4 <200, Viral Load is high
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Q: What is the first-line medication for OCD?
A: TCA - Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Q: What is the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scoring?
A: 0-7 Subclinical | 8-15 Mild | 16-23 Moderate | 24-31 Severe | 32-40 Extreme
, Q: What part of the brain is involved with OCD?
A: Basal Ganglia, Occipito-Frontal
Q: What is PANDAS?
A: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with
Streptococcal infections (causes OCD)
EATING DISORDERS
Q: What are the anorexia admission criteria for hospitalization?
A: Weight loss >30% over 6 months, severe hypothermia (<36°C/96.8°F), HR
<40 bpm, systolic BP <70 mmHg, hypokalemia (<3 mEq/L)
Q: What is anorexia nervosa definition?
A: BMI <18.5 - an eating disorder where irrational fear of weight gain leads
people to starve themselves
Q: What treatment is set up for anorexia?
A: Family therapy
Q: What complication occurs in anorexia binge/purge subtype?
A: Delayed gastric emptying (bloating) - rare complication from GI
abnormalities that can result in gastric necrosis, perforation, shock, and death
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
Q: What is the treatment for borderline personality disorder?
A: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Q: What does DBT involve?
A: Relaxation muscle prior to DBT
BIPOLAR & MANIA
Q: What does DIGFAST stand for in mania?
A: Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase,
Sleep deficit, Talking increase
Q: What co-morbidities are common with bipolar?
A: Anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse
