NRNP 6635 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND
DIAGNOSTIC REASONING - WEEK 4
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
VERIFIED BY EXPERTS. 2026/2027
1. A 28-year-old patient presents with excessive worry about multiple life domains (finances,
health, and work) for the past 7 months. Which of the following is required for a diagnosis of
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
A. The patient must experience at least one full panic attack.
B. The worry occurs more days than not and is difficult to control.
C. The worry must be focused solely on social evaluation.
D. The symptoms must have started before the age of 18.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: DSM-5 criteria for GAD require excessive anxiety and worry
occurring more days than not for at least 6 months about a number of events or activities,
and the individual finds it difficult to control the worry.
2. In the neurobiology of anxiety, which brain structure is primarily responsible for the ‘fear
circuit’ and processing emotional salience?
A. Nucleus Accumbens
,B. Pons
C. Prefrontal Cortex
D. Amygdala
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The amygdala is the core structure involved in the acquisition
and expression of fear conditioning and the processing of emotional significance of stimuli.
3. A patient reports recurrent, unexpected surges of intense fear that reach a peak within
minutes. To meet DSM-5 criteria for Panic Disorder, these attacks must be followed by at
least one month of which of the following?
A. Daily use of benzodiazepines to prevent further attacks.
B. Persistent concern about additional attacks or a maladaptive change in behavior.
C. A major depressive episode triggered by the fear.
D. Complete avoidance of all public transportation.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Panic Disorder requires at least one attack followed by 1 month
or more of persistent concern about additional panic attacks or their consequences, and/or
a significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks.
, 4. Which of the following is a key differentiator between Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and
Agoraphobia?
A. SAD requires the presence of panic attacks, while agoraphobia does not.
B. SAD only occurs in children, whereas agoraphobia only occurs in adults.
C. Agoraphobia is focused on the fear of being trapped, while SAD is focused on negative
evaluation by others.
D. There is no difference; they are synonymous in the DSM-5.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The core fear in Social Anxiety Disorder is scrutiny or negative
evaluation by others. In Agoraphobia, the fear is centered on situations where escape might
be difficult or help might not be available in the event of panic-like symptoms.
5. A 10-year-old child consistently fails to speak in specific social situations (e.g., school)
despite speaking in other situations (e.g., home). This behavior has lasted for 2 months. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
B. Selective Mutism
C. Social Anxiety Disorder
D. Specific Phobia
Answer: B
DIAGNOSTIC REASONING - WEEK 4
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
VERIFIED BY EXPERTS. 2026/2027
1. A 28-year-old patient presents with excessive worry about multiple life domains (finances,
health, and work) for the past 7 months. Which of the following is required for a diagnosis of
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
A. The patient must experience at least one full panic attack.
B. The worry occurs more days than not and is difficult to control.
C. The worry must be focused solely on social evaluation.
D. The symptoms must have started before the age of 18.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: DSM-5 criteria for GAD require excessive anxiety and worry
occurring more days than not for at least 6 months about a number of events or activities,
and the individual finds it difficult to control the worry.
2. In the neurobiology of anxiety, which brain structure is primarily responsible for the ‘fear
circuit’ and processing emotional salience?
A. Nucleus Accumbens
,B. Pons
C. Prefrontal Cortex
D. Amygdala
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The amygdala is the core structure involved in the acquisition
and expression of fear conditioning and the processing of emotional significance of stimuli.
3. A patient reports recurrent, unexpected surges of intense fear that reach a peak within
minutes. To meet DSM-5 criteria for Panic Disorder, these attacks must be followed by at
least one month of which of the following?
A. Daily use of benzodiazepines to prevent further attacks.
B. Persistent concern about additional attacks or a maladaptive change in behavior.
C. A major depressive episode triggered by the fear.
D. Complete avoidance of all public transportation.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Panic Disorder requires at least one attack followed by 1 month
or more of persistent concern about additional panic attacks or their consequences, and/or
a significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks.
, 4. Which of the following is a key differentiator between Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and
Agoraphobia?
A. SAD requires the presence of panic attacks, while agoraphobia does not.
B. SAD only occurs in children, whereas agoraphobia only occurs in adults.
C. Agoraphobia is focused on the fear of being trapped, while SAD is focused on negative
evaluation by others.
D. There is no difference; they are synonymous in the DSM-5.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The core fear in Social Anxiety Disorder is scrutiny or negative
evaluation by others. In Agoraphobia, the fear is centered on situations where escape might
be difficult or help might not be available in the event of panic-like symptoms.
5. A 10-year-old child consistently fails to speak in specific social situations (e.g., school)
despite speaking in other situations (e.g., home). This behavior has lasted for 2 months. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Autism Spectrum Disorder
B. Selective Mutism
C. Social Anxiety Disorder
D. Specific Phobia
Answer: B
