Mental Health Nursing: DSM-5 Disorders,
Medications & Crisis Interventions
Comprehensive Exam Guide - Questions with Answers
Updated: September 2025
Section 1: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria and Classifications
(Questions 1-50)
1. What is the primary change in the DSM-5 regarding the multiaxial system? Answer:
The DSM-5 eliminated the multiaxial system used in DSM-IV-TR, moving to a dimensional
approach that integrates general medical conditions and psychosocial problems into the
diagnostic formulation.
2. Which disorder was removed from the anxiety disorders category in DSM-5? Answer:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was moved to its own category called "Obsessive-
Compulsive and Related Disorders."
3. What is the minimum duration required for a Major Depressive Episode diagnosis?
Answer: Symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks, occurring nearly every day.
4. In DSM-5, what replaced the term "Mental Retardation"? Answer: "Intellectual
Disability (Intellectual Developmental Disorder)" replaced the term Mental Retardation.
5. What is the key difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders? Answer: Bipolar
I requires at least one full manic episode, while Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic
episode and one major depressive episode, with no history of full mania.
,6. What are the two main symptom clusters required for PTSD diagnosis in DSM-5?
Answer: Intrusion symptoms (re-experiencing) and avoidance symptoms, along with negative
alterations in cognition/mood and alterations in arousal/reactivity.
7. What is the minimum age for diagnosing Conduct Disorder? Answer: There is no
minimum age specified, but symptoms typically emerge in childhood or adolescence, and the
diagnosis is not given to individuals 18 years or older who meet criteria for Antisocial
Personality Disorder.
8. What distinguishes Persistent Depressive Disorder from Major Depressive Disorder?
Answer: Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) involves chronic depression lasting at
least 2 years in adults (1 year in children/adolescents) with less severe but more persistent
symptoms.
9. Which specifier was added to Major Depressive Disorder in DSM-5? Answer: "With
Mixed Features" specifier was added to indicate the presence of manic/hypomanic symptoms
during a depressive episode.
10. What is the diagnostic criteria timeframe for Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Answer:
Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.
11. What is Agoraphobia's relationship to Panic Disorder in DSM-5? Answer:
Agoraphobia is now a separate diagnosis and can occur with or without panic disorder, unlike
in DSM-IV where it was considered a specifier of Panic Disorder.
12. What are the core symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Answer: Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, with symptoms present in two or more
settings and impairing functioning.
, 13. What is the minimum number of symptoms required for ADHD diagnosis in adults?
Answer: At least 5 symptoms from either the inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive criteria
(compared to 6 for children).
14. What distinguishes Schizophreniform Disorder from Schizophrenia? Answer:
Duration - Schizophreniform Disorder lasts 1-6 months, while Schizophrenia requires
symptoms for at least 6 months.
15. What are the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia? Answer: Delusions, hallucinations,
disorganized thinking/speech, and grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior.
16. What are the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia? Answer: Diminished emotional
expression, avolition (lack of motivation), alogia (reduced speech), anhedonia, and asociality.
17. What is the key feature of Brief Psychotic Disorder? Answer: Sudden onset of psychotic
symptoms lasting at least 1 day but less than 1 month, with eventual return to normal
functioning.
18. What distinguishes Delusional Disorder from other psychotic disorders? Answer: The
presence of one or more delusions for 1 month or longer, with relatively intact functioning
outside the delusional beliefs.
19. What is the primary feature of Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder? Answer:
Psychotic symptoms that are the direct physiological consequence of intoxication or
withdrawal from a substance.
20. What are the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder in DSM-5? Answer: Persistent
deficits in social communication and interaction, plus restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior,
interests, or activities, present from early development.
Medications & Crisis Interventions
Comprehensive Exam Guide - Questions with Answers
Updated: September 2025
Section 1: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria and Classifications
(Questions 1-50)
1. What is the primary change in the DSM-5 regarding the multiaxial system? Answer:
The DSM-5 eliminated the multiaxial system used in DSM-IV-TR, moving to a dimensional
approach that integrates general medical conditions and psychosocial problems into the
diagnostic formulation.
2. Which disorder was removed from the anxiety disorders category in DSM-5? Answer:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was moved to its own category called "Obsessive-
Compulsive and Related Disorders."
3. What is the minimum duration required for a Major Depressive Episode diagnosis?
Answer: Symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks, occurring nearly every day.
4. In DSM-5, what replaced the term "Mental Retardation"? Answer: "Intellectual
Disability (Intellectual Developmental Disorder)" replaced the term Mental Retardation.
5. What is the key difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders? Answer: Bipolar
I requires at least one full manic episode, while Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic
episode and one major depressive episode, with no history of full mania.
,6. What are the two main symptom clusters required for PTSD diagnosis in DSM-5?
Answer: Intrusion symptoms (re-experiencing) and avoidance symptoms, along with negative
alterations in cognition/mood and alterations in arousal/reactivity.
7. What is the minimum age for diagnosing Conduct Disorder? Answer: There is no
minimum age specified, but symptoms typically emerge in childhood or adolescence, and the
diagnosis is not given to individuals 18 years or older who meet criteria for Antisocial
Personality Disorder.
8. What distinguishes Persistent Depressive Disorder from Major Depressive Disorder?
Answer: Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) involves chronic depression lasting at
least 2 years in adults (1 year in children/adolescents) with less severe but more persistent
symptoms.
9. Which specifier was added to Major Depressive Disorder in DSM-5? Answer: "With
Mixed Features" specifier was added to indicate the presence of manic/hypomanic symptoms
during a depressive episode.
10. What is the diagnostic criteria timeframe for Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Answer:
Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.
11. What is Agoraphobia's relationship to Panic Disorder in DSM-5? Answer:
Agoraphobia is now a separate diagnosis and can occur with or without panic disorder, unlike
in DSM-IV where it was considered a specifier of Panic Disorder.
12. What are the core symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Answer: Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, with symptoms present in two or more
settings and impairing functioning.
, 13. What is the minimum number of symptoms required for ADHD diagnosis in adults?
Answer: At least 5 symptoms from either the inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive criteria
(compared to 6 for children).
14. What distinguishes Schizophreniform Disorder from Schizophrenia? Answer:
Duration - Schizophreniform Disorder lasts 1-6 months, while Schizophrenia requires
symptoms for at least 6 months.
15. What are the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia? Answer: Delusions, hallucinations,
disorganized thinking/speech, and grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior.
16. What are the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia? Answer: Diminished emotional
expression, avolition (lack of motivation), alogia (reduced speech), anhedonia, and asociality.
17. What is the key feature of Brief Psychotic Disorder? Answer: Sudden onset of psychotic
symptoms lasting at least 1 day but less than 1 month, with eventual return to normal
functioning.
18. What distinguishes Delusional Disorder from other psychotic disorders? Answer: The
presence of one or more delusions for 1 month or longer, with relatively intact functioning
outside the delusional beliefs.
19. What is the primary feature of Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder? Answer:
Psychotic symptoms that are the direct physiological consequence of intoxication or
withdrawal from a substance.
20. What are the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder in DSM-5? Answer: Persistent
deficits in social communication and interaction, plus restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior,
interests, or activities, present from early development.
