NU 671 Midterm Exam Questions with Answers|
Updated| Pass Guaranteed| Purdue University Global
1.
A PMHNP is conducting an initial psychiatric evaluation. Which component is most important
for establishing an accurate psychiatric diagnosis?
A. Current medication list only
B. Comprehensive history and mental status examination
C. Family's preferred diagnosis
D. Patient's previous psychiatric medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A comprehensive psychiatric history combined with the mental status examination
provides the foundation for differential diagnosis. Medication history and collateral information
are useful but do not replace the complete assessment.
2.
Which finding is part of the patient's thought process rather than thought content?
A. Delusion
B. Obsession
C. Flight of ideas
D. Suicidal ideation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Thought process describes how thoughts are organized and expressed. Flight of ideas
involves rapid movement between topics with understandable but accelerated associations.
3.
A patient reports hearing voices when no external stimulus is present. This is best described as:
A. Illusion
B. Hallucination
C. Delusion
D. Derealization
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A hallucination is a perception occurring without an external sensory stimulus. An
illusion is a misinterpretation of an actual stimulus.
4.
Which question best assesses suicidal ideation?
A. "You aren't thinking about suicide, are you?"
B. "Do you ever feel sad?"
C. "Have you had thoughts of killing yourself?"
D. "Your family would miss you, correct?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct, nonjudgmental questioning is appropriate when assessing suicide risk. Asking
directly about suicide does not cause suicidal behavior and allows the clinician to assess intent
and planning.
5.
Which assessment finding represents affect?
A. "I feel hopeless."
B. Patient reports anxiety
C. Facial expression appears tearful and constricted
D. Patient describes poor sleep
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Affect is the observable emotional expression. Mood is the patient's subjective
description of their emotional state.
6.
A patient says, "I know everyone in the office is plotting against me because they are sending
secret signals." Which symptom is most likely present?
A. Delusion
B. Obsession
,C. Confabulation
D. Flight of ideas
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A fixed false belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary is a delusion. The
content may be persecutory or referential.
7.
Which finding is most suggestive of mania?
A. Decreased energy and hypersomnia
B. Elevated or irritable mood with decreased need for sleep
C. Social withdrawal and anhedonia
D. Psychomotor retardation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mania commonly involves elevated, expansive, or irritable mood accompanied by
increased energy, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, impulsivity, and increased goal-
directed activity.
8.
Which symptom is characteristic of major depressive disorder?
A. Anhedonia
B. Grandiosity
C. Flight of ideas
D. Increased goal-directed activity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Anhedonia—the loss of interest or pleasure—is a core depressive symptom.
9.
A patient experiences recurrent unexpected panic attacks and worries persistently about having
another attack. Which diagnosis should be considered?
, A. Panic disorder
B. Specific phobia
C. Adjustment disorder
D. Social anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks accompanied by
persistent concern or behavioral changes related to additional attacks.
10.
Which symptom is particularly associated with generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Persistent excessive worry across multiple areas of life
B. Recurrent intrusive images followed by compulsions only
C. Fear exclusively related to public speaking
D. Flashbacks following trauma
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and difficult-to-control worry about
multiple domains of life.
11.
A patient has intrusive contamination thoughts and repeatedly washes their hands for hours.
Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. OCD
B. GAD
C. PTSD
D. Illness anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: OCD is characterized by obsessions, compulsions, or both. Compulsions are
repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce distress associated with obsessions.
12.
Updated| Pass Guaranteed| Purdue University Global
1.
A PMHNP is conducting an initial psychiatric evaluation. Which component is most important
for establishing an accurate psychiatric diagnosis?
A. Current medication list only
B. Comprehensive history and mental status examination
C. Family's preferred diagnosis
D. Patient's previous psychiatric medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A comprehensive psychiatric history combined with the mental status examination
provides the foundation for differential diagnosis. Medication history and collateral information
are useful but do not replace the complete assessment.
2.
Which finding is part of the patient's thought process rather than thought content?
A. Delusion
B. Obsession
C. Flight of ideas
D. Suicidal ideation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Thought process describes how thoughts are organized and expressed. Flight of ideas
involves rapid movement between topics with understandable but accelerated associations.
3.
A patient reports hearing voices when no external stimulus is present. This is best described as:
A. Illusion
B. Hallucination
C. Delusion
D. Derealization
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A hallucination is a perception occurring without an external sensory stimulus. An
illusion is a misinterpretation of an actual stimulus.
4.
Which question best assesses suicidal ideation?
A. "You aren't thinking about suicide, are you?"
B. "Do you ever feel sad?"
C. "Have you had thoughts of killing yourself?"
D. "Your family would miss you, correct?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct, nonjudgmental questioning is appropriate when assessing suicide risk. Asking
directly about suicide does not cause suicidal behavior and allows the clinician to assess intent
and planning.
5.
Which assessment finding represents affect?
A. "I feel hopeless."
B. Patient reports anxiety
C. Facial expression appears tearful and constricted
D. Patient describes poor sleep
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Affect is the observable emotional expression. Mood is the patient's subjective
description of their emotional state.
6.
A patient says, "I know everyone in the office is plotting against me because they are sending
secret signals." Which symptom is most likely present?
A. Delusion
B. Obsession
,C. Confabulation
D. Flight of ideas
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A fixed false belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary is a delusion. The
content may be persecutory or referential.
7.
Which finding is most suggestive of mania?
A. Decreased energy and hypersomnia
B. Elevated or irritable mood with decreased need for sleep
C. Social withdrawal and anhedonia
D. Psychomotor retardation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mania commonly involves elevated, expansive, or irritable mood accompanied by
increased energy, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, impulsivity, and increased goal-
directed activity.
8.
Which symptom is characteristic of major depressive disorder?
A. Anhedonia
B. Grandiosity
C. Flight of ideas
D. Increased goal-directed activity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Anhedonia—the loss of interest or pleasure—is a core depressive symptom.
9.
A patient experiences recurrent unexpected panic attacks and worries persistently about having
another attack. Which diagnosis should be considered?
, A. Panic disorder
B. Specific phobia
C. Adjustment disorder
D. Social anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks accompanied by
persistent concern or behavioral changes related to additional attacks.
10.
Which symptom is particularly associated with generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Persistent excessive worry across multiple areas of life
B. Recurrent intrusive images followed by compulsions only
C. Fear exclusively related to public speaking
D. Flashbacks following trauma
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and difficult-to-control worry about
multiple domains of life.
11.
A patient has intrusive contamination thoughts and repeatedly washes their hands for hours.
Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. OCD
B. GAD
C. PTSD
D. Illness anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: OCD is characterized by obsessions, compulsions, or both. Compulsions are
repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce distress associated with obsessions.
12.
