PSYCHRIATIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
PRACTITIONER {PMHNP} Scientific
Foundation and Advance Practice
SkillsACTUAL EXAM 220 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026 LATEST ALREADY
GRADED A+
Which of the following is a contraindication to benzodiazepines?
a. Acute alcohol intoxication
b. Acute narrow angle glaucoma
c. Psychosis
d. All the above - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Acute alcohol intoxication
In the pharmacological treatment of psychosis, when antipsychotics are administered, which block
dopamine, a secondary effect is blocking in another tract, which causes potential prolactin problems,
such as gynecomastia in males. This tract is the:
a. mesolimbic
b. tuberoinfundibular
c. nigrostrial dopamine tract
d. mesocortical - CORRECT ANSWER-b. tuberoinfundibular
A six-year-old patient with autism spectrum disorder has not responded to six months of
psychosocial interventions and continues to demonstrate aggressive tendencies toward a younger
sibling. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner prescribes:
1. carbamazepine (Tegretol) 200 mg once a day.
2. haloperidol (Haldol) 2 mg once a day.
3. risperidone (Risperdal) 0.25 mg once a day.
4. venlafaxine ER (Effexor XR) 37.5 mg once a day. - CORRECT ANSWER-3. risperidone (Risperdal)
0.25 mg once a day.
Which drug is likely to produce liver failure and hepatitis?
1. Lamotrigine
,2. Gabapentin
3. Carbamazepine
4. Topiramate - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Carbamazepine
EPS arises from:
a. D2 blockade in the nigrostriatial tract
b. D2 blockade in the tuberoinfundibular tract
c. D2 blockade in the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor blockade
d. D2 blockade in the HPA axis - CORRECT ANSWER-a. D2 blockade in the nigrostriatial tract
Which drug carries a higher risk of metabolic effects than the other second generation
antipsychotics: weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia ?
a. Clozaril
b. Zyprexa
c. Risperdal
d. Geodon - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Zyprexa
A patient has not had any relief of symptoms with Fluoxetine, and is going to be started on an MAOI.
How long before starting the MAOI should the Fluoxetine be withdrawn?
a. 2 weeks
b. 3 weeks
c. 4 weeks
d. 5 weeks - CORRECT ANSWER-a. 2 weeks
Which drug can produce serious side effect of rash in some Asians, and the FDA has mandated
genetic testing before the administration of this drug?
a. Dilantin
b. Lamictal
c. Depakote
d. Tegretol - CORRECT ANSWER-d. Tegretol
Which is considered the most sedating SSRI?
,a. Paroxetine
b. Sertraline
c. Fluoxetine
d. Escitalopram Oxalate - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Paroxetine (Paxil is EVIL)
Brain structure responsible for mediating mood, fear, emotion, and aggression; also responsible for
connecting sensory smell information with emotions - CORRECT ANSWER-amygdala
Regulates memory and converts short-term memory into long-term memory - CORRECT ANSWER-
Plays key roles in various regulatory functions such as appetite, sensations of hunger and thirst,
water balance, circadian rhythms, body temperature, libido, and hormonal regulation - CORRECT
ANSWER-
Patient on lithium and cipro Cipro _____________ lithium level - CORRECT ANSWER-
Patient on psych meds and dexamethasone will complain of what? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Patient w/ schizophrenia, structural changes of the brain on CT - CORRECT ANSWER-
Which lab is checked with clozaril? - CORRECT ANSWER-ANC
Lobes of the Brain - Fred Tore his Pants Off - CORRECT ANSWER-Frontal - executive fx, logical
thinking
Temporal (tempo) sound
Occipital (optic) vision
Parietal (pat) touch
You ask a patient to clench her teeth, which cranial nerve are you testing? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Cranial nerve 5 - TRIGEMINAL
What does the frontal lobe affect? (LIMP) - CORRECT ANSWER-Executive functions:
, Language
Intelligence (cognitive functoning)
Motor Function
Personality
What does temporal lobe affect? (LAME) - CORRECT ANSWER-Language
Affective Component of speech
Memory
Emotion
In which lobe of the brain does the limbic system reside? - CORRECT ANSWER-The temporal lobe
What is Wernicke's area responsible for and where does it reside in the brain? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Wernicke's area is responsible for receptive speech and it resides in the temporal lobe.
What is the first line drug for OCD? - CORRECT ANSWER-SSRIs
What is the drug of choice for ADHD for 8 y.o and above? - CORRECT ANSWER-Stimulants
(specifically ritalin - methyphenidate)
If child develops tics, what do you prescribe? - CORRECT ANSWER-Guanfacine
What does parietal lobe affect? (VAST) - CORRECT ANSWER-Visual spatial processing
Association cortex
Symbolic recognition
Topographic sense
what is sterognosis? how do you test it? - CORRECT ANSWER-Place objects in hand with closed
eyes. Ability to differentiate items comes from parietal lobe
What does the occipital lobe affect? (VIP) - CORRECT ANSWER-Visual integration
PRACTITIONER {PMHNP} Scientific
Foundation and Advance Practice
SkillsACTUAL EXAM 220 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026 LATEST ALREADY
GRADED A+
Which of the following is a contraindication to benzodiazepines?
a. Acute alcohol intoxication
b. Acute narrow angle glaucoma
c. Psychosis
d. All the above - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Acute alcohol intoxication
In the pharmacological treatment of psychosis, when antipsychotics are administered, which block
dopamine, a secondary effect is blocking in another tract, which causes potential prolactin problems,
such as gynecomastia in males. This tract is the:
a. mesolimbic
b. tuberoinfundibular
c. nigrostrial dopamine tract
d. mesocortical - CORRECT ANSWER-b. tuberoinfundibular
A six-year-old patient with autism spectrum disorder has not responded to six months of
psychosocial interventions and continues to demonstrate aggressive tendencies toward a younger
sibling. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner prescribes:
1. carbamazepine (Tegretol) 200 mg once a day.
2. haloperidol (Haldol) 2 mg once a day.
3. risperidone (Risperdal) 0.25 mg once a day.
4. venlafaxine ER (Effexor XR) 37.5 mg once a day. - CORRECT ANSWER-3. risperidone (Risperdal)
0.25 mg once a day.
Which drug is likely to produce liver failure and hepatitis?
1. Lamotrigine
,2. Gabapentin
3. Carbamazepine
4. Topiramate - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Carbamazepine
EPS arises from:
a. D2 blockade in the nigrostriatial tract
b. D2 blockade in the tuberoinfundibular tract
c. D2 blockade in the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor blockade
d. D2 blockade in the HPA axis - CORRECT ANSWER-a. D2 blockade in the nigrostriatial tract
Which drug carries a higher risk of metabolic effects than the other second generation
antipsychotics: weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia ?
a. Clozaril
b. Zyprexa
c. Risperdal
d. Geodon - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Zyprexa
A patient has not had any relief of symptoms with Fluoxetine, and is going to be started on an MAOI.
How long before starting the MAOI should the Fluoxetine be withdrawn?
a. 2 weeks
b. 3 weeks
c. 4 weeks
d. 5 weeks - CORRECT ANSWER-a. 2 weeks
Which drug can produce serious side effect of rash in some Asians, and the FDA has mandated
genetic testing before the administration of this drug?
a. Dilantin
b. Lamictal
c. Depakote
d. Tegretol - CORRECT ANSWER-d. Tegretol
Which is considered the most sedating SSRI?
,a. Paroxetine
b. Sertraline
c. Fluoxetine
d. Escitalopram Oxalate - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Paroxetine (Paxil is EVIL)
Brain structure responsible for mediating mood, fear, emotion, and aggression; also responsible for
connecting sensory smell information with emotions - CORRECT ANSWER-amygdala
Regulates memory and converts short-term memory into long-term memory - CORRECT ANSWER-
Plays key roles in various regulatory functions such as appetite, sensations of hunger and thirst,
water balance, circadian rhythms, body temperature, libido, and hormonal regulation - CORRECT
ANSWER-
Patient on lithium and cipro Cipro _____________ lithium level - CORRECT ANSWER-
Patient on psych meds and dexamethasone will complain of what? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Patient w/ schizophrenia, structural changes of the brain on CT - CORRECT ANSWER-
Which lab is checked with clozaril? - CORRECT ANSWER-ANC
Lobes of the Brain - Fred Tore his Pants Off - CORRECT ANSWER-Frontal - executive fx, logical
thinking
Temporal (tempo) sound
Occipital (optic) vision
Parietal (pat) touch
You ask a patient to clench her teeth, which cranial nerve are you testing? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Cranial nerve 5 - TRIGEMINAL
What does the frontal lobe affect? (LIMP) - CORRECT ANSWER-Executive functions:
, Language
Intelligence (cognitive functoning)
Motor Function
Personality
What does temporal lobe affect? (LAME) - CORRECT ANSWER-Language
Affective Component of speech
Memory
Emotion
In which lobe of the brain does the limbic system reside? - CORRECT ANSWER-The temporal lobe
What is Wernicke's area responsible for and where does it reside in the brain? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Wernicke's area is responsible for receptive speech and it resides in the temporal lobe.
What is the first line drug for OCD? - CORRECT ANSWER-SSRIs
What is the drug of choice for ADHD for 8 y.o and above? - CORRECT ANSWER-Stimulants
(specifically ritalin - methyphenidate)
If child develops tics, what do you prescribe? - CORRECT ANSWER-Guanfacine
What does parietal lobe affect? (VAST) - CORRECT ANSWER-Visual spatial processing
Association cortex
Symbolic recognition
Topographic sense
what is sterognosis? how do you test it? - CORRECT ANSWER-Place objects in hand with closed
eyes. Ability to differentiate items comes from parietal lobe
What does the occipital lobe affect? (VIP) - CORRECT ANSWER-Visual integration
