NRNP 6635 MIDTERM 2022/2023 Latest
Questions and Answers All Correct Study
Guide, Download to Score A+ WALDEN
UNIVERSITY
This exam compiles 150 key questions and answers for Walden University’s NRNP 6635
midterm (2022/2023), covering Weeks 1-6: foundations, neurodevelopmental, schizophrenia
spectrum/psychotic, and mood disorders. Questions are drawn from DSM-5-TR, Kaplan &
Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, and course modules. It includes multiple-choice and select-all-
that-apply formats with answers in red and expert rationales. Aim for 80%+ (120/150) to score
A+.
Section 1: Foundations & Diagnostic Reasoning (45
Questions)
1. What is the first step in creating a differential diagnosis for psychiatric symptoms?
Rule out malingering or factitious disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR prioritizes assessing intentional symptom production before other
etiologies. (Week 1: Kaplan & Sadock Ch. 1).
2. What defines a substance/medication-induced psychiatric disorder?
Symptoms resolve within 1 month of substance cessation
Rationale: Persistence beyond 1 month suggests independent disorder. (Week 1: DSM-5-TR p.
21).
3. What is required to attribute psychiatric symptoms to a medical condition?
Temporal relationship; symptoms improve with medical treatment
Rationale: E.g., hypothyroidism causing depression; TSH testing confirms. (Week 1).
4. Which factors are considered social determinants of health (SDOH)?
Economic stability, education, healthcare access, environment
Rationale: SDOH impact mental health outcomes; PMHNPs address barriers. (Week 1: Healthy
People 2030).
,5. What is a key HPI question in a psychiatric interview?
How long have you been feeling this way?
Rationale: Establishes onset and duration for diagnostic timeline. (Week 1).
6. What components are included in a psychiatric history?
Past hospitalizations, counseling, family psychiatric history
Rationale: Informs risk and treatment history. (Week 1).
7. What is the purpose of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)?
Assess schizophrenia symptom severity
Rationale: 18-item scale for positive/negative symptoms. (Week 1).
8. What does the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) measure?
Depression in schizophrenia
Rationale: Distinguishes from negative symptoms; 9 items. (Week 1).
9. What are key ethical principles for PMHNPs?
Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice
Rationale: Guides consent, confidentiality, and duty to warn. (Week 1).
10. What labs rule out medical causes of psychiatric symptoms?
TSH, B12, folate, CBC, urine toxicology
Rationale: Rule out hypothyroidism, deficiencies, or drugs. (Week 1).
11. What is the goal of the Mental Status Exam (MSE)?
Assess appearance, mood, thought process, cognition, insight
Rationale: Snapshot for differential diagnosis. (Week 1).
, 12. What differentiates adjustment disorder from unspecified disorder?
Adjustment: <6 months, stressor-related; Unspecified: unclear etiology
Rationale: Adjustment resolves post-stressor. (Week 1).
13. What is a key therapeutic communication technique?
Open-ended questions, active listening
Rationale: Builds rapport, elicits detailed HPI. (Week 1).
14. What is assessed in the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI)?
Cultural identity, illness explanations, coping, support
Rationale: DSM-5-TR tool for culturally sensitive diagnosis. (Week 1).
15. What question screens for suicide risk?
Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or others?
Rationale: Direct inquiry; C-SSRS tool supports. (Week 1).
16. When is a mental disorder not diagnosed?
No distress or functional impairment
Rationale: DSM-5-TR requires clinical significance. (Week 1).
17. What is the role of SDOH in PMHNP practice?
Address barriers like housing, care access
Rationale: Improves adherence, outcomes. (Week 1).
18. What is diagnostic overshadowing?
Attributing physical symptoms to psychiatric causes
Rationale: Risks missing medical issues; systematic rule-out needed. (Week 1).
19. What is a key telepsychiatry consideration?
Privacy, consent, emergency plan
Rationale: HIPAA compliance; addresses disparities. (Week 1).
Questions and Answers All Correct Study
Guide, Download to Score A+ WALDEN
UNIVERSITY
This exam compiles 150 key questions and answers for Walden University’s NRNP 6635
midterm (2022/2023), covering Weeks 1-6: foundations, neurodevelopmental, schizophrenia
spectrum/psychotic, and mood disorders. Questions are drawn from DSM-5-TR, Kaplan &
Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, and course modules. It includes multiple-choice and select-all-
that-apply formats with answers in red and expert rationales. Aim for 80%+ (120/150) to score
A+.
Section 1: Foundations & Diagnostic Reasoning (45
Questions)
1. What is the first step in creating a differential diagnosis for psychiatric symptoms?
Rule out malingering or factitious disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR prioritizes assessing intentional symptom production before other
etiologies. (Week 1: Kaplan & Sadock Ch. 1).
2. What defines a substance/medication-induced psychiatric disorder?
Symptoms resolve within 1 month of substance cessation
Rationale: Persistence beyond 1 month suggests independent disorder. (Week 1: DSM-5-TR p.
21).
3. What is required to attribute psychiatric symptoms to a medical condition?
Temporal relationship; symptoms improve with medical treatment
Rationale: E.g., hypothyroidism causing depression; TSH testing confirms. (Week 1).
4. Which factors are considered social determinants of health (SDOH)?
Economic stability, education, healthcare access, environment
Rationale: SDOH impact mental health outcomes; PMHNPs address barriers. (Week 1: Healthy
People 2030).
,5. What is a key HPI question in a psychiatric interview?
How long have you been feeling this way?
Rationale: Establishes onset and duration for diagnostic timeline. (Week 1).
6. What components are included in a psychiatric history?
Past hospitalizations, counseling, family psychiatric history
Rationale: Informs risk and treatment history. (Week 1).
7. What is the purpose of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)?
Assess schizophrenia symptom severity
Rationale: 18-item scale for positive/negative symptoms. (Week 1).
8. What does the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) measure?
Depression in schizophrenia
Rationale: Distinguishes from negative symptoms; 9 items. (Week 1).
9. What are key ethical principles for PMHNPs?
Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice
Rationale: Guides consent, confidentiality, and duty to warn. (Week 1).
10. What labs rule out medical causes of psychiatric symptoms?
TSH, B12, folate, CBC, urine toxicology
Rationale: Rule out hypothyroidism, deficiencies, or drugs. (Week 1).
11. What is the goal of the Mental Status Exam (MSE)?
Assess appearance, mood, thought process, cognition, insight
Rationale: Snapshot for differential diagnosis. (Week 1).
, 12. What differentiates adjustment disorder from unspecified disorder?
Adjustment: <6 months, stressor-related; Unspecified: unclear etiology
Rationale: Adjustment resolves post-stressor. (Week 1).
13. What is a key therapeutic communication technique?
Open-ended questions, active listening
Rationale: Builds rapport, elicits detailed HPI. (Week 1).
14. What is assessed in the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI)?
Cultural identity, illness explanations, coping, support
Rationale: DSM-5-TR tool for culturally sensitive diagnosis. (Week 1).
15. What question screens for suicide risk?
Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or others?
Rationale: Direct inquiry; C-SSRS tool supports. (Week 1).
16. When is a mental disorder not diagnosed?
No distress or functional impairment
Rationale: DSM-5-TR requires clinical significance. (Week 1).
17. What is the role of SDOH in PMHNP practice?
Address barriers like housing, care access
Rationale: Improves adherence, outcomes. (Week 1).
18. What is diagnostic overshadowing?
Attributing physical symptoms to psychiatric causes
Rationale: Risks missing medical issues; systematic rule-out needed. (Week 1).
19. What is a key telepsychiatry consideration?
Privacy, consent, emergency plan
Rationale: HIPAA compliance; addresses disparities. (Week 1).
