D344 NURS 6437
Assessment & Diagnostic Process
OA READINESS EXAM
Q&S
©2024/2025
,1. Which of the following assessment tools is most
appropriate for evaluating depression in adolescent
patients?
A) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
B) Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D)
C) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
D) Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Correct Answer: D) Patient Health Questionnaire-9
(PHQ-9)
Rationale: The PHQ-9 is a widely-used self-reported
questionnaire that is effective for screening, diagnosing,
monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression,
including in adolescents.
2. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most commonly
associated with anxiety disorders?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Acetylcholine
D) Glutamate
Correct Answer: B) Serotonin
Rationale: An imbalance in serotonin levels is often
linked to anxiety disorders, as it is a neurotransmitter that
regulates mood, anxiety, and happiness.
3. In the context of a psychiatric assessment, which of the
following should be assessed first during an initial
interview?
A) Cognitive functions
B) General appearance
C) Rapport building
©2024/2025
, D) Chief complaint
Correct Answer: D) Chief complaint
Rationale: Identifying the chief complaint allows the
practitioner to understand the primary reason for the
patient's visit and to structure the assessment accordingly.
4. The use of which of the following is the best practice in
ensuring reliability and validity during psychiatric diagnostic
assessment?
A) Unstructured interviews
B) Laboratory tests
C) Structured diagnostic tools
D) Patient self-reports
Correct Answer: C) Structured diagnostic tools
Rationale: Structured diagnostic tools are essential for
enhancing the reliability and validity of psychiatric
assessments because they provide standardization in the
diagnostic process.
5. What is the primary goal of a mental status examination
(MSE)?
A) To diagnose psychiatric disorders
B) To evaluate cognitive decline
C) To assess current mental functioning
D) To establish a treatment plan
Correct Answer: C) To assess current mental
functioning
Rationale: The mental status examination is a systematic
way to assess a patient’s current mental function, including
appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
©2024/2025
Assessment & Diagnostic Process
OA READINESS EXAM
Q&S
©2024/2025
,1. Which of the following assessment tools is most
appropriate for evaluating depression in adolescent
patients?
A) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
B) Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D)
C) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
D) Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Correct Answer: D) Patient Health Questionnaire-9
(PHQ-9)
Rationale: The PHQ-9 is a widely-used self-reported
questionnaire that is effective for screening, diagnosing,
monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression,
including in adolescents.
2. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most commonly
associated with anxiety disorders?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Acetylcholine
D) Glutamate
Correct Answer: B) Serotonin
Rationale: An imbalance in serotonin levels is often
linked to anxiety disorders, as it is a neurotransmitter that
regulates mood, anxiety, and happiness.
3. In the context of a psychiatric assessment, which of the
following should be assessed first during an initial
interview?
A) Cognitive functions
B) General appearance
C) Rapport building
©2024/2025
, D) Chief complaint
Correct Answer: D) Chief complaint
Rationale: Identifying the chief complaint allows the
practitioner to understand the primary reason for the
patient's visit and to structure the assessment accordingly.
4. The use of which of the following is the best practice in
ensuring reliability and validity during psychiatric diagnostic
assessment?
A) Unstructured interviews
B) Laboratory tests
C) Structured diagnostic tools
D) Patient self-reports
Correct Answer: C) Structured diagnostic tools
Rationale: Structured diagnostic tools are essential for
enhancing the reliability and validity of psychiatric
assessments because they provide standardization in the
diagnostic process.
5. What is the primary goal of a mental status examination
(MSE)?
A) To diagnose psychiatric disorders
B) To evaluate cognitive decline
C) To assess current mental functioning
D) To establish a treatment plan
Correct Answer: C) To assess current mental
functioning
Rationale: The mental status examination is a systematic
way to assess a patient’s current mental function, including
appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
©2024/2025
