PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
CERTIFICATION (PMH-C) EXAM NEWEST
UPDATE | 2025 VERSION COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CERTIFIED CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) | ALREADY GRADED
A+
Is autism and ADHD a risk regarding psychopharmacology during pregnancy?
- ANSWER: Not a true risk, there is no evidence that SSRIs are neurotoxic but
there is evidence that maternal depression CAN be neurotoxic
Is miscarriage a risk regarding psychopharmacology during pregnancy? -
ANSWER: Not a true risk, risk was increased for women who stopped SSRIs
prior to conception and for those who remained on SSRIs in the first trimester,
but this risk was due to underlying illness not medication
Is Neonatal Adaptation Syndrome (NAS) a risk regarding psychopharmacology
during pregnancy? - ANSWER: Yes, in 10-30% of pregnancies; symptoms are
transient 0-48 hours after delivery and last less than 2 weeks, resolving without
intervention
,Is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) a risk regarding
psychopharmacology during pregnancy? - ANSWER: Yes, but very low. There
are many other risk factors that exacerbate this.
Is prenatal massage helpful for pregnant women? - ANSWER: Yes! It helps
reduce cortisol levels, increases immunoglobulins, and improves sleep and
anxiety
Is prenatal yoga helpful for pregnant women? - ANSWER: Yes! When
integrated with mindfulness component, this can help women with anxiety and
mild depressive six, as well as help processing for women who experience grief
Is preterm birth/low birth weight a risk regarding psychopharmacology during
pregnancy? - ANSWER: Yes, slight increased risk, the average is 5-7 days early
- same magnitude as continuous untreated depression
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Anhedonia - ANSWER: PPD
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Difficulty initiating or sustaining
sleep - ANSWER: PPD (having to urinate or heartburn are normal six)
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Dysregulation of appetite -
ANSWER: PPD
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Fatigue and rest are not restoring
- ANSWER: PPD (fatigue may present in pregnancy but rest is restoring)
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Mood is gloomy, irritable,
agitated, or enraged - ANSWER: PPD
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Mood is labile - ANSWER:
Normal
,Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Self-esteem is low, feelings of guilt
- ANSWER: PPD, in normal pregnancy self-esteem is unchanged
Most side effects of psychotropic medications resolve within how many days? -
ANSWER: 3-7
Of the birthing persons diagnosed with a PMHD, what percentage receive
treatment? - ANSWER: 50%
Postpartum psychosis occurs for what percentage of women with known
bipolar disorder? - ANSWER: 20-30%
Postpartum women experiencing anxiety or depression were (more/less) likely
to stop breastfeeding before 6 months postpartum - ANSWER: more
Pregnant women are ___ likely than the general population to endorse suicidal
ideation - ANSWER: MORE
Should medications be tapered or discontinued before delivery? - ANSWER:
No, there is no shown benefit to this and it increases risk of relapse and
postpartum illness at the height of vulnerability
Some medications that increase milk supply may cause what PMHD? -
ANSWER: depression
Suicide is the ____ leading causes of maternal deaths - ANSWER: One of the
top 3
Suppression of oxytocin can also occur with what? (during the birth process) -
ANSWER:
- C Section
- Stressful or traumatic labor or birth
, - Epidurals and other birth interventions.
T/F: many women require a decreased dose of psychotropic medications as
pregnancy progresses - ANSWER: False, due to the hemodynamic changes of
2nd and 3rd trimesters, they may require an increased dose
Interventions should be maximized before starting medications - ANSWER:
Non-pharmacologic
Is essential "medicine" and the most important treatment - ANSWER: Sleep
Trauma is in the eye of the ___." - ANSWER: Beholder
(T/F): if you have postpartum psychosis, it means you will kill your child -
ANSWER: False
According to a 2003 study, how long should therapy be for helping manage
perinatal depression? - ANSWER:10-12 weeks, although treatment length
varies and depends on many factors
According to a 2013 AAP Survey, what percentage of pediatricians assess for
PPD? - ANSWER: Fewer than one-half (46%)
According to a 2016 study, what is the association between ACEs and pregnancy
outcomes? - ANSWER: Each additional ACE a mother experienced during
early childhood was associated with:
- decreased birth weight
- gestational age at birth
According to a study from 2006-2012, what is the prevalence of suicides are
within the 12-18 age group of pregnant women? - ANSWER:10%
CERTIFICATION (PMH-C) EXAM NEWEST
UPDATE | 2025 VERSION COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CERTIFIED CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) | ALREADY GRADED
A+
Is autism and ADHD a risk regarding psychopharmacology during pregnancy?
- ANSWER: Not a true risk, there is no evidence that SSRIs are neurotoxic but
there is evidence that maternal depression CAN be neurotoxic
Is miscarriage a risk regarding psychopharmacology during pregnancy? -
ANSWER: Not a true risk, risk was increased for women who stopped SSRIs
prior to conception and for those who remained on SSRIs in the first trimester,
but this risk was due to underlying illness not medication
Is Neonatal Adaptation Syndrome (NAS) a risk regarding psychopharmacology
during pregnancy? - ANSWER: Yes, in 10-30% of pregnancies; symptoms are
transient 0-48 hours after delivery and last less than 2 weeks, resolving without
intervention
,Is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) a risk regarding
psychopharmacology during pregnancy? - ANSWER: Yes, but very low. There
are many other risk factors that exacerbate this.
Is prenatal massage helpful for pregnant women? - ANSWER: Yes! It helps
reduce cortisol levels, increases immunoglobulins, and improves sleep and
anxiety
Is prenatal yoga helpful for pregnant women? - ANSWER: Yes! When
integrated with mindfulness component, this can help women with anxiety and
mild depressive six, as well as help processing for women who experience grief
Is preterm birth/low birth weight a risk regarding psychopharmacology during
pregnancy? - ANSWER: Yes, slight increased risk, the average is 5-7 days early
- same magnitude as continuous untreated depression
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Anhedonia - ANSWER: PPD
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Difficulty initiating or sustaining
sleep - ANSWER: PPD (having to urinate or heartburn are normal six)
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Dysregulation of appetite -
ANSWER: PPD
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Fatigue and rest are not restoring
- ANSWER: PPD (fatigue may present in pregnancy but rest is restoring)
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Mood is gloomy, irritable,
agitated, or enraged - ANSWER: PPD
Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Mood is labile - ANSWER:
Normal
,Is this normal pregnancy symptoms or PPD? Self-esteem is low, feelings of guilt
- ANSWER: PPD, in normal pregnancy self-esteem is unchanged
Most side effects of psychotropic medications resolve within how many days? -
ANSWER: 3-7
Of the birthing persons diagnosed with a PMHD, what percentage receive
treatment? - ANSWER: 50%
Postpartum psychosis occurs for what percentage of women with known
bipolar disorder? - ANSWER: 20-30%
Postpartum women experiencing anxiety or depression were (more/less) likely
to stop breastfeeding before 6 months postpartum - ANSWER: more
Pregnant women are ___ likely than the general population to endorse suicidal
ideation - ANSWER: MORE
Should medications be tapered or discontinued before delivery? - ANSWER:
No, there is no shown benefit to this and it increases risk of relapse and
postpartum illness at the height of vulnerability
Some medications that increase milk supply may cause what PMHD? -
ANSWER: depression
Suicide is the ____ leading causes of maternal deaths - ANSWER: One of the
top 3
Suppression of oxytocin can also occur with what? (during the birth process) -
ANSWER:
- C Section
- Stressful or traumatic labor or birth
, - Epidurals and other birth interventions.
T/F: many women require a decreased dose of psychotropic medications as
pregnancy progresses - ANSWER: False, due to the hemodynamic changes of
2nd and 3rd trimesters, they may require an increased dose
Interventions should be maximized before starting medications - ANSWER:
Non-pharmacologic
Is essential "medicine" and the most important treatment - ANSWER: Sleep
Trauma is in the eye of the ___." - ANSWER: Beholder
(T/F): if you have postpartum psychosis, it means you will kill your child -
ANSWER: False
According to a 2003 study, how long should therapy be for helping manage
perinatal depression? - ANSWER:10-12 weeks, although treatment length
varies and depends on many factors
According to a 2013 AAP Survey, what percentage of pediatricians assess for
PPD? - ANSWER: Fewer than one-half (46%)
According to a 2016 study, what is the association between ACEs and pregnancy
outcomes? - ANSWER: Each additional ACE a mother experienced during
early childhood was associated with:
- decreased birth weight
- gestational age at birth
According to a study from 2006-2012, what is the prevalence of suicides are
within the 12-18 age group of pregnant women? - ANSWER:10%
