Barkley Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Review
PRACTICE QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |DETAILED
RATIONALES |HINTED COMPLETE
EXAM PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Major Depressive Disorder
A 34-year-old patient reports depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue,
insomnia, guilt, and impaired concentration for 3 weeks. Which
diagnosis is most likely?
A. Adjustment disorder
B. Persistent depressive disorder
C. Major depressive disorder
D. Cyclothymic disorder
Rationale: Major depressive disorder requires at least 2 weeks of
depressive symptoms with functional impairment, including
depressed mood or anhedonia.
2. Mania
Which finding most strongly supports a diagnosis of a manic
episode?
,A. Increased sleep and social withdrawal
B. Decreased need for sleep with increased goal-directed activity
C. Fatigue and psychomotor slowing
D. Recurrent intrusive thoughts
Rationale: Mania commonly involves decreased need for sleep,
elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, pressured speech, and
increased goal-directed activity.
3. Bipolar I Disorder
What is required for a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder?
A. At least one hypomanic episode
B. At least one major depressive episode
C. At least one manic episode
D. Rapid cycling for 2 years
Rationale: Bipolar I disorder is defined by the occurrence of at least
one manic episode; depressive episodes are common but are not
required for the diagnosis.
4. Bipolar II Disorder
Which combination characterizes Bipolar II disorder?
A. Mania and psychosis
B. Hypomania and major depressive episodes
C. Mania and persistent depression
D. Cyclothymia and psychosis
Rationale: Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic episode and at
least one major depressive episode without a history of mania.
5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
,A patient has excessive anxiety and worry about multiple areas of life
nearly every day for 8 months. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Panic disorder
B. Social anxiety disorder
C. Generalized anxiety disorder
D. Specific phobia
Rationale: GAD involves excessive anxiety and worry about multiple
domains occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.
6. Panic Disorder
Which feature is most characteristic of panic disorder?
A. Anxiety only in social situations
B. Recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent
concern or behavioral change
C. Fear restricted to one object
D. Obsessions without anxiety
Rationale: Panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks
and subsequent concern about additional attacks or maladaptive
behavioral changes.
7. Social Anxiety Disorder
A patient experiences intense fear of being judged when speaking in
public and avoids presentations. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Agoraphobia
B. Panic disorder
C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
, Rationale: Social anxiety disorder involves marked fear of social or
performance situations because of possible scrutiny or negative
evaluation.
8. PTSD
Which symptom is characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder?
A. Elevated mood
B. Trauma-related intrusive memories or nightmares
C. Persistent compulsive counting
D. Flight of ideas
Rationale: PTSD includes intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative
alterations in cognition/mood, and alterations in arousal/reactivity
following qualifying trauma.
9. Acute Stress Disorder
Acute stress disorder occurs within what period following trauma?
A. Only before 24 hours
B. 3 days to 1 month
C. 2–6 months
D. More than 1 year
Rationale: Acute stress disorder occurs from 3 days to 1 month after
trauma; symptoms persisting beyond 1 month may meet criteria for
PTSD.
10. OCD
Which symptom best represents an obsession?
Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Review
PRACTICE QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |DETAILED
RATIONALES |HINTED COMPLETE
EXAM PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Major Depressive Disorder
A 34-year-old patient reports depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue,
insomnia, guilt, and impaired concentration for 3 weeks. Which
diagnosis is most likely?
A. Adjustment disorder
B. Persistent depressive disorder
C. Major depressive disorder
D. Cyclothymic disorder
Rationale: Major depressive disorder requires at least 2 weeks of
depressive symptoms with functional impairment, including
depressed mood or anhedonia.
2. Mania
Which finding most strongly supports a diagnosis of a manic
episode?
,A. Increased sleep and social withdrawal
B. Decreased need for sleep with increased goal-directed activity
C. Fatigue and psychomotor slowing
D. Recurrent intrusive thoughts
Rationale: Mania commonly involves decreased need for sleep,
elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, pressured speech, and
increased goal-directed activity.
3. Bipolar I Disorder
What is required for a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder?
A. At least one hypomanic episode
B. At least one major depressive episode
C. At least one manic episode
D. Rapid cycling for 2 years
Rationale: Bipolar I disorder is defined by the occurrence of at least
one manic episode; depressive episodes are common but are not
required for the diagnosis.
4. Bipolar II Disorder
Which combination characterizes Bipolar II disorder?
A. Mania and psychosis
B. Hypomania and major depressive episodes
C. Mania and persistent depression
D. Cyclothymia and psychosis
Rationale: Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic episode and at
least one major depressive episode without a history of mania.
5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
,A patient has excessive anxiety and worry about multiple areas of life
nearly every day for 8 months. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Panic disorder
B. Social anxiety disorder
C. Generalized anxiety disorder
D. Specific phobia
Rationale: GAD involves excessive anxiety and worry about multiple
domains occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.
6. Panic Disorder
Which feature is most characteristic of panic disorder?
A. Anxiety only in social situations
B. Recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent
concern or behavioral change
C. Fear restricted to one object
D. Obsessions without anxiety
Rationale: Panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks
and subsequent concern about additional attacks or maladaptive
behavioral changes.
7. Social Anxiety Disorder
A patient experiences intense fear of being judged when speaking in
public and avoids presentations. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Agoraphobia
B. Panic disorder
C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
, Rationale: Social anxiety disorder involves marked fear of social or
performance situations because of possible scrutiny or negative
evaluation.
8. PTSD
Which symptom is characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder?
A. Elevated mood
B. Trauma-related intrusive memories or nightmares
C. Persistent compulsive counting
D. Flight of ideas
Rationale: PTSD includes intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative
alterations in cognition/mood, and alterations in arousal/reactivity
following qualifying trauma.
9. Acute Stress Disorder
Acute stress disorder occurs within what period following trauma?
A. Only before 24 hours
B. 3 days to 1 month
C. 2–6 months
D. More than 1 year
Rationale: Acute stress disorder occurs from 3 days to 1 month after
trauma; symptoms persisting beyond 1 month may meet criteria for
PTSD.
10. OCD
Which symptom best represents an obsession?
