PMHNP Certification Exam: A Comprehensive
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
Tarasoff Principle - ANS1976 - duty to warn victims of potential harm from client
Deontological Theory - ANSEthical theory that states an action is judged as good or bad
based on the act itself regardless of the consequences
Teleological Theory - ANSEthical theory that states an action is judged as good or bad based
on the consequence or outcome
Virtue ethics - ANSethical theory that states actions are chosen based on the moral virtues
(eg. honesty, courage, compassion, wisdom, gratitude, self-respect) or the character of the
person making the decision
Erikson's developmental stage infancy age range - ANSbirth-1 year
Erikson's developmental stage infancy developmental tasks - ANStrust vs. mistrust
Erikson's developmental stage infancy indications of developmental mastery - ANSAbility to
form meaningful relationships, hope about the future trust in others
Erikson's developmental stage infancy indication of developmental failure - ANSpoor
relationships, lack of future hope, suspicious of others
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood age - ANS1-3 yo
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood developmental task - ANSautonomy vs.
shame and doubt
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSself-control, self-esteem, willpower
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood indications of developmental failure -
ANSpoor self-control, low self esteem, self-doubt, lack of independence
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood age - ANS3-6yo
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood developmental task - ANSinitiative vs guilt
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSself-directed behavior, goal formation, sense of purpose
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood indications of developmental failure - ANSlack
of self-initiated behavior, lack of goal orientation
Erikson's developmental stage school-age ages - ANS6-12yo
Erikson's developmental stage school-age developmental task - ANSindustry vs. inferiority
Erikson's developmental stage school-age indications of developmental mastery - ANSability
to work; sense of competency and achievement
Erikson's developmental stage school-age indications of developmental failure - ANSsense of
inferiority, difficulty with working, learning
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence ages - ANS12-20yo
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence developmental task - ANSidentity vs role
confusion
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence indications of developmental mastery -
ANSpersonal sense of identity
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence indications of developmental failure -
ANSidentity confusion, poor self-identification in group settings
,PMHNP Certification Exam: A Comprehensive
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood ages - ANS20-35 years
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood developmental task - ANSintimacy vs
isolation
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood indications of developmental mastery -
ANScommitted relationships, capacity to love
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood indications of developmental failure -
ANSemotional isolation, egocentrism
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood ages - ANS35-65 yo
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood developmental task - ANSgenerativity vs.
self-absorption or stagnation
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSability to give time and talents to others, ability to care for others
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood indications of developmental failure -
ANSself-absorption, inability to row and change as a person, inability to care for others
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood age - ANS>65yo
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood developmental task - ANSintegrity vs despair
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSfulfilment and comfort with life, willingness to face death, insight and balanced
perspective on life's events
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood indications of developmental failure -
ANSbitterness, sense of dissatisfaction with life, despair over impending death
Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) Theory - ANS-Sigmund Freud
-all bx is purposeful and meaningful
-principle of psychic determinism
-most mental activity is unconscious
-conscious behaviors and choices are affected by unconscious mental content
-childhood experiences shape adult personality
-instincts, urges, or fantasies function as drives that motivate thoughts, feelings, and bx
-Id, Ego, Superego
-conflict is experienced consciously as anxiety
Principle of psychic determinism - ANSEven apparently meaningless, random, or accidental
behavior is actually motivated by underlying unconscious mental content
Intellectual disability typical age onset - ANSinfancy- usually evident at birth
ADHD typical age onset - ANSearly childhood (per DSM by age 12)
Schizophrenia typical age onset - ANS18-25 for men
25-35 for women
Major Depression typical age onset - ANSlate adolescence to young adulthood
dementia typical age onset - ANSmost common after age 85
Freud's Id - ANS-contains primary drives or instincts
-drives are largely unconscious
,PMHNP Certification Exam: A Comprehensive
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
-operates on the pleasure principle
-"I want"
pleasure principle - ANSthe id seeks immediate satisfaction
freud's ego - ANS-rational mind, logical and abstract thinking
-"I think, I evaluate"
Freud's superego - ANS-sense of conscience or right vs wrong
-develops around age 6
-"I should or ought"
Freud's psychosexual stage of development oral stage age - ANS0-18 months
Freud's psychosexual stage of development oral stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSsucking, chewing, feeding, crying
Freud's psychosexual stage of development oral stage psych disorder linked to failure of stage
- ANSschizophrenia, substance abuse, paranoia
Freud's psychosexual stage of development anal stage age - ANS18 months-3 years
Freud's psychosexual stage of development anal stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSsphincter control, activities of expulsion and retention
Freud's psychosexual stage of development anal stage psych disorder linked to failure of
stage - ANSdepressive disorder
Freud's psychosexual stage of development phallic stage age - ANS3-6 years
Freud's psychosexual stage of development phallic stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSexhibitionism, masturbation with focus on Oedipal conflict,
castration anxiety, and female fear of lost maternal love
Freud's psychosexual stage of development phallic stage psychiatric disorder linked to failure
of stage - ANSsexual identity disorders
Freud's psychosexual stage of development latency stage age - ANS6years-puberty
Freud's psychosexual stage of development latency stage primary means of discharging
drives and achieving gratification - ANSpeer relationships, learning, motor-skills
development, socialization
Freud's psychosexual stage of development latency stage psych disorder linked to failure of
stage - ANSinability to form social relationships
Freud's psychosexual stage of development genital stage age - ANSpuberty forward
Freud's psychosexual stage of development genital stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSintegration and synthesis of behaviors from early stages,
primary genital-based sexuality
Freud's psychosexual stage of development genital stage psych disorder linked to failure of
sage - ANSsexual perversion disorders
Cognitive Theory - ANS-Piaget
- four stages of development
Piaget developmental stage sensorimotor age - ANSbirth-2 years
, PMHNP Certification Exam: A Comprehensive
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
Piaget developmental stage sensorimotor - ANSthe critical achievement of this stage is object
permanence
Piaget developmental stage preoperational age - ANS2-7 years
Piaget developmental stage preoperational - ANSmore extensive use of language and
symbolism
magical thinking
Piaget developmental stage concrete operations age - ANS7-12 years
Piaget developmental stage concrete operations - ANSchild begins to use logic
develops concepts of reversibility and conservation
Piaget developmental stage formal operations age - ANS12 years-adult
Piaget developmental stage formal operations - ANSability to think abstractly
thinking operates in a formal, logical manner
interpersonal theory - ANS-Harry Stack Sullivan
-self-system
-when the person's need for satisfaction and security is interfered with by the self system,
mental illness occurs
-humans experience anxiety and bx is directed toward relieving the anxiety, which then
results in interpersonal security
self system - ANSinterpersonal theory
total components of personality traits
two drives for behavior in interpersonal theory - ANS-the drive for satisfaction
-the drive for security
Freud's defense mechanisms - ANS-denial
-projection
-regression
-repression
-reaction formation
-rationalization
-undoing
-intellectualization
-suppression
-sublimation
-altruism
Hierarchy of needs - ANS-Maslow
-survival
-safety and security needs
-love and belonging
-self-esteem
-self-actualizaiton
Sullivan's stage of interpersonal development infancy age - ANSbirth-18 months
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
Tarasoff Principle - ANS1976 - duty to warn victims of potential harm from client
Deontological Theory - ANSEthical theory that states an action is judged as good or bad
based on the act itself regardless of the consequences
Teleological Theory - ANSEthical theory that states an action is judged as good or bad based
on the consequence or outcome
Virtue ethics - ANSethical theory that states actions are chosen based on the moral virtues
(eg. honesty, courage, compassion, wisdom, gratitude, self-respect) or the character of the
person making the decision
Erikson's developmental stage infancy age range - ANSbirth-1 year
Erikson's developmental stage infancy developmental tasks - ANStrust vs. mistrust
Erikson's developmental stage infancy indications of developmental mastery - ANSAbility to
form meaningful relationships, hope about the future trust in others
Erikson's developmental stage infancy indication of developmental failure - ANSpoor
relationships, lack of future hope, suspicious of others
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood age - ANS1-3 yo
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood developmental task - ANSautonomy vs.
shame and doubt
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSself-control, self-esteem, willpower
Erikson's developmental stage early childhood indications of developmental failure -
ANSpoor self-control, low self esteem, self-doubt, lack of independence
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood age - ANS3-6yo
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood developmental task - ANSinitiative vs guilt
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSself-directed behavior, goal formation, sense of purpose
Erikson's developmental stage late childhood indications of developmental failure - ANSlack
of self-initiated behavior, lack of goal orientation
Erikson's developmental stage school-age ages - ANS6-12yo
Erikson's developmental stage school-age developmental task - ANSindustry vs. inferiority
Erikson's developmental stage school-age indications of developmental mastery - ANSability
to work; sense of competency and achievement
Erikson's developmental stage school-age indications of developmental failure - ANSsense of
inferiority, difficulty with working, learning
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence ages - ANS12-20yo
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence developmental task - ANSidentity vs role
confusion
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence indications of developmental mastery -
ANSpersonal sense of identity
Erikson's developmental stage adolescence indications of developmental failure -
ANSidentity confusion, poor self-identification in group settings
,PMHNP Certification Exam: A Comprehensive
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood ages - ANS20-35 years
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood developmental task - ANSintimacy vs
isolation
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood indications of developmental mastery -
ANScommitted relationships, capacity to love
Erikson's developmental stage early adulthood indications of developmental failure -
ANSemotional isolation, egocentrism
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood ages - ANS35-65 yo
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood developmental task - ANSgenerativity vs.
self-absorption or stagnation
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSability to give time and talents to others, ability to care for others
Erikson's developmental stage middle adulthood indications of developmental failure -
ANSself-absorption, inability to row and change as a person, inability to care for others
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood age - ANS>65yo
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood developmental task - ANSintegrity vs despair
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood indications of developmental mastery -
ANSfulfilment and comfort with life, willingness to face death, insight and balanced
perspective on life's events
Erikson's developmental stage late adulthood indications of developmental failure -
ANSbitterness, sense of dissatisfaction with life, despair over impending death
Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) Theory - ANS-Sigmund Freud
-all bx is purposeful and meaningful
-principle of psychic determinism
-most mental activity is unconscious
-conscious behaviors and choices are affected by unconscious mental content
-childhood experiences shape adult personality
-instincts, urges, or fantasies function as drives that motivate thoughts, feelings, and bx
-Id, Ego, Superego
-conflict is experienced consciously as anxiety
Principle of psychic determinism - ANSEven apparently meaningless, random, or accidental
behavior is actually motivated by underlying unconscious mental content
Intellectual disability typical age onset - ANSinfancy- usually evident at birth
ADHD typical age onset - ANSearly childhood (per DSM by age 12)
Schizophrenia typical age onset - ANS18-25 for men
25-35 for women
Major Depression typical age onset - ANSlate adolescence to young adulthood
dementia typical age onset - ANSmost common after age 85
Freud's Id - ANS-contains primary drives or instincts
-drives are largely unconscious
,PMHNP Certification Exam: A Comprehensive
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
-operates on the pleasure principle
-"I want"
pleasure principle - ANSthe id seeks immediate satisfaction
freud's ego - ANS-rational mind, logical and abstract thinking
-"I think, I evaluate"
Freud's superego - ANS-sense of conscience or right vs wrong
-develops around age 6
-"I should or ought"
Freud's psychosexual stage of development oral stage age - ANS0-18 months
Freud's psychosexual stage of development oral stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSsucking, chewing, feeding, crying
Freud's psychosexual stage of development oral stage psych disorder linked to failure of stage
- ANSschizophrenia, substance abuse, paranoia
Freud's psychosexual stage of development anal stage age - ANS18 months-3 years
Freud's psychosexual stage of development anal stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSsphincter control, activities of expulsion and retention
Freud's psychosexual stage of development anal stage psych disorder linked to failure of
stage - ANSdepressive disorder
Freud's psychosexual stage of development phallic stage age - ANS3-6 years
Freud's psychosexual stage of development phallic stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSexhibitionism, masturbation with focus on Oedipal conflict,
castration anxiety, and female fear of lost maternal love
Freud's psychosexual stage of development phallic stage psychiatric disorder linked to failure
of stage - ANSsexual identity disorders
Freud's psychosexual stage of development latency stage age - ANS6years-puberty
Freud's psychosexual stage of development latency stage primary means of discharging
drives and achieving gratification - ANSpeer relationships, learning, motor-skills
development, socialization
Freud's psychosexual stage of development latency stage psych disorder linked to failure of
stage - ANSinability to form social relationships
Freud's psychosexual stage of development genital stage age - ANSpuberty forward
Freud's psychosexual stage of development genital stage primary means of discharging drives
and achieving gratification - ANSintegration and synthesis of behaviors from early stages,
primary genital-based sexuality
Freud's psychosexual stage of development genital stage psych disorder linked to failure of
sage - ANSsexual perversion disorders
Cognitive Theory - ANS-Piaget
- four stages of development
Piaget developmental stage sensorimotor age - ANSbirth-2 years
, PMHNP Certification Exam: A Comprehensive
Guide to knowledge and skills in psychiatric and
mental health care, ensuring they are competent to
provide treatment to individuals with a range of
psychiatric disorders.Latest Updated Exam Study
Guide 2025/2026
Piaget developmental stage sensorimotor - ANSthe critical achievement of this stage is object
permanence
Piaget developmental stage preoperational age - ANS2-7 years
Piaget developmental stage preoperational - ANSmore extensive use of language and
symbolism
magical thinking
Piaget developmental stage concrete operations age - ANS7-12 years
Piaget developmental stage concrete operations - ANSchild begins to use logic
develops concepts of reversibility and conservation
Piaget developmental stage formal operations age - ANS12 years-adult
Piaget developmental stage formal operations - ANSability to think abstractly
thinking operates in a formal, logical manner
interpersonal theory - ANS-Harry Stack Sullivan
-self-system
-when the person's need for satisfaction and security is interfered with by the self system,
mental illness occurs
-humans experience anxiety and bx is directed toward relieving the anxiety, which then
results in interpersonal security
self system - ANSinterpersonal theory
total components of personality traits
two drives for behavior in interpersonal theory - ANS-the drive for satisfaction
-the drive for security
Freud's defense mechanisms - ANS-denial
-projection
-regression
-repression
-reaction formation
-rationalization
-undoing
-intellectualization
-suppression
-sublimation
-altruism
Hierarchy of needs - ANS-Maslow
-survival
-safety and security needs
-love and belonging
-self-esteem
-self-actualizaiton
Sullivan's stage of interpersonal development infancy age - ANSbirth-18 months
