ANCC PMHNP Board Exam Practice Test | Updated 2025
Study Guide
Pain and bloating after eating is caused by... - correct answerdelayed gastric emptying
Medications that cause delayed gastric emptying? - correct answerPPIs; ranitidine,
famotidine, omeprazole
What instructions should you give your patient if they are prescribed antacids/PPIs and
psychotropics? - correct answerGive medications at least 2 hours apart b/c
antacids/PPIs decrease absorption of psychotropics
Normal BMI range - correct answer18.5-25
Criteria for admission for ED bx: - correct answerBMI <15; 25% total body weight loss in
3 months; severe dehydration, infection, bradycardia, hypothermia, hematemesis,
hypokalemia
What neurotransmitters are implicated in ADHD? - correct answerDA, NE, 5HT - DNS
What brain structures are involved in ADHD? - correct answerReticular activating
system, basal ganglia, frontal cortex - RBF
Abnormalities in this part of the brain cause inattentive ADHD: - correct
answerPrefrontal cortex
Amphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - correct
answer3
Methamphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - correct
answer6
Alpha agonists clonidine and guanfacine are FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients
ages ___ - correct answer6-17
Strattera is FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients ages ___ - correct answer6 and up
(including adults)
Adults diagnosed with both ADHD and depression would benefit from being prescribed:
- correct answerWellbutrin
Conduct disorder can be diagnosed in: - correct answerBoth children and adults
,Conduct disorder diagnostic criteria: - correct answerViolating rights of others or societal
norms; aggression towards people/animals; destruction of property; no remorse
Treatment for conduct disorder: - correct answerTargets aggression and mood; SGA,
mood stabilizer, SSRI, alpha agonists
ODD diagnostic criteria: - correct answerArgumentative, defiant for at least 6 months
and with 4 sx
Treatment of ODD: - correct answerFocused on family therapy, child management
skills, teaching parents reinforcement/boundaries/problem solving
DMDD diagnostic criteria: - correct answerChildhood depressive d/o between ages 6-
17; chronic dysregulated mood, frequent tantrums, severe irritability; typically DMDD
rather than bipolar d/o in children
Neurotransmitters implicated in ASD: - correct answerGlutamate, GABA, 5HT - GGS
Echolalia - correct answerMeaningless repetition of words; often seen in ASD
Broken mirror theory - correct answerDysfunction of the mirror neuron system results in
poor social interaction and cognition in ASD patients
Parallel play is developmentally appropriate at which ages? - correct answer1-3 years
old
Parallel play continuing beyond the age of 3 years old may be indicative of... - correct
answerASD dx d/t social deficits
M-CHAT - correct answerModified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers; ASD scale
ADOS-G - correct answerAutism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Generic; ASD
scale
ASQ - correct answerAges and Stages Questionnaire; development and
social/emotional screening
Pharmacological treatment of ASD: - correct answerStimulants (increase DA to help
with impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention; Antipsychotics (target aggressive bx,
tantrums, self-injury, stereotyped bx)
Nightmares in children can be the result of: - correct answerGenetic factors; assess
family patterns of nightmares
Features of children diagnosed with Fragile X - correct answerLARGE features: large
head, elongated face, hyperextensible joints, abnormally large testes, short stature
,Features of children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome - correct answersmall
features: small head, small eye opening, low nasal bridge, flat midface, smooth
philtrum, thin upper lip
Clock drawing test assesses function of which brain lobe? - correct answerParietal
What does the clock drawing test assess for? - correct answerExecutive/cognitive fx,
impairments associated w/ damage to right parietal lobe, constructional apraxia (inability
to draw or assemble objects)
Important labs to draw for patients presenting with dementia? - correct answerB12, folic
acid
Dementia presents with mental decline that is ___ - correct answerChronic; if acute sx,
consider other dx
Symptoms of subcortical dementia: - correct answerMotor sx, lack of coordination,
tremors, depression, irritability, apathy
Example of subcortical dementia diagnosis - correct answerHuntington's disease
Symptoms of cortical dementia: - correct answerLanguage and memory impairments
(aphasia and amnesia)
Example of cortical dementia diagnosis: - correct answerAlzheimer's
Presentation of dementia d/t HIV disease - correct answerSubcortical effects; motor
abnormalities, bx abnormalities, cognitive decline
Presentation of dementia with Lewy bodies - correct answerVisual hallucinations,
Parkinsonian sx
Presentation of frontal lobe dementia (e.g. Pick's disease) - correct
answerPersonality/bx changes, language changes, inappropriate social bx, aggression
Presentation of Huntington's disease - correct answerSubcortical dementia; motor
abnormalities, psychomotor slowing; high incidence of depression, psychosis; begins
ages 30-45; affects males and females equally
What is the most effective test to determine if someone will develop Huntington's
disease? - correct answerDirect genetic test (no risk)
What is the likelihood a child of a parent with Huntington's will develop it? - correct
answer50% chance
, Dementia etiology - correct answerCerebral atrophy, enlarged ventricles; decreased
Ach and NE; genetic loading
What neurotransmitters are implicated in dementia, and how? - correct
answerDecreased Ach and NE
What is the first line treatment for psychosis and agitation in dementia? - correct
answerSGAs - but try nonpharmacological therapies first
What is delirium? - correct answerACUTE disturbance of LOC, cognition, attention
What pharmacological treatment do you use for delirium-induced agitation or
psychosis? - correct answerLow dose haldol
What pharmacological treatment do you use for alcohol-induced delirium? - correct
answerBNZ
Anytime a patient presents with delirium, what labs should you order? - correct
answerUA with culture and specificity d/t infx being a potential cause for delirium, esp in
older adults
What is pseudodementia? - correct answerCognitive sx r/t depression in older adults
Dementia vs. pseudodementia - correct answerDementia: premorbid hx of slowly
declining cognition
Pseudodementia: acute onset of significant cognitive changes
How would someone with dementia vs. pseudodementia answer a question? - correct
answerDementia: confabulates, lacks answer
Pseudodementia: "I don't know"
How can depression present in older adults? - correct answerCognitive deficits -
irritability, agitation, hallucinations, delusions
What neurotransmitters are implicated in mood disorders? - correct answerDA, NE, 5HT
(DNS), GABA, glutamate
What neurotransmitters are implicated in depression? - correct answerDA, NE, 5HT -
DNS
How does depression present in children/adolescents? - correct answerIrritability/anger
What cerebral changes are noted in depression? - correct answerIncreased amygdala,
decreased hippocampus/thalamus
First line pharmacological tx of depression - correct answerSSRIs
Study Guide
Pain and bloating after eating is caused by... - correct answerdelayed gastric emptying
Medications that cause delayed gastric emptying? - correct answerPPIs; ranitidine,
famotidine, omeprazole
What instructions should you give your patient if they are prescribed antacids/PPIs and
psychotropics? - correct answerGive medications at least 2 hours apart b/c
antacids/PPIs decrease absorption of psychotropics
Normal BMI range - correct answer18.5-25
Criteria for admission for ED bx: - correct answerBMI <15; 25% total body weight loss in
3 months; severe dehydration, infection, bradycardia, hypothermia, hematemesis,
hypokalemia
What neurotransmitters are implicated in ADHD? - correct answerDA, NE, 5HT - DNS
What brain structures are involved in ADHD? - correct answerReticular activating
system, basal ganglia, frontal cortex - RBF
Abnormalities in this part of the brain cause inattentive ADHD: - correct
answerPrefrontal cortex
Amphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - correct
answer3
Methamphetamines are FDA approved for children beginning at _ years old - correct
answer6
Alpha agonists clonidine and guanfacine are FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients
ages ___ - correct answer6-17
Strattera is FDA approved to treat ADHD in patients ages ___ - correct answer6 and up
(including adults)
Adults diagnosed with both ADHD and depression would benefit from being prescribed:
- correct answerWellbutrin
Conduct disorder can be diagnosed in: - correct answerBoth children and adults
,Conduct disorder diagnostic criteria: - correct answerViolating rights of others or societal
norms; aggression towards people/animals; destruction of property; no remorse
Treatment for conduct disorder: - correct answerTargets aggression and mood; SGA,
mood stabilizer, SSRI, alpha agonists
ODD diagnostic criteria: - correct answerArgumentative, defiant for at least 6 months
and with 4 sx
Treatment of ODD: - correct answerFocused on family therapy, child management
skills, teaching parents reinforcement/boundaries/problem solving
DMDD diagnostic criteria: - correct answerChildhood depressive d/o between ages 6-
17; chronic dysregulated mood, frequent tantrums, severe irritability; typically DMDD
rather than bipolar d/o in children
Neurotransmitters implicated in ASD: - correct answerGlutamate, GABA, 5HT - GGS
Echolalia - correct answerMeaningless repetition of words; often seen in ASD
Broken mirror theory - correct answerDysfunction of the mirror neuron system results in
poor social interaction and cognition in ASD patients
Parallel play is developmentally appropriate at which ages? - correct answer1-3 years
old
Parallel play continuing beyond the age of 3 years old may be indicative of... - correct
answerASD dx d/t social deficits
M-CHAT - correct answerModified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers; ASD scale
ADOS-G - correct answerAutism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Generic; ASD
scale
ASQ - correct answerAges and Stages Questionnaire; development and
social/emotional screening
Pharmacological treatment of ASD: - correct answerStimulants (increase DA to help
with impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention; Antipsychotics (target aggressive bx,
tantrums, self-injury, stereotyped bx)
Nightmares in children can be the result of: - correct answerGenetic factors; assess
family patterns of nightmares
Features of children diagnosed with Fragile X - correct answerLARGE features: large
head, elongated face, hyperextensible joints, abnormally large testes, short stature
,Features of children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome - correct answersmall
features: small head, small eye opening, low nasal bridge, flat midface, smooth
philtrum, thin upper lip
Clock drawing test assesses function of which brain lobe? - correct answerParietal
What does the clock drawing test assess for? - correct answerExecutive/cognitive fx,
impairments associated w/ damage to right parietal lobe, constructional apraxia (inability
to draw or assemble objects)
Important labs to draw for patients presenting with dementia? - correct answerB12, folic
acid
Dementia presents with mental decline that is ___ - correct answerChronic; if acute sx,
consider other dx
Symptoms of subcortical dementia: - correct answerMotor sx, lack of coordination,
tremors, depression, irritability, apathy
Example of subcortical dementia diagnosis - correct answerHuntington's disease
Symptoms of cortical dementia: - correct answerLanguage and memory impairments
(aphasia and amnesia)
Example of cortical dementia diagnosis: - correct answerAlzheimer's
Presentation of dementia d/t HIV disease - correct answerSubcortical effects; motor
abnormalities, bx abnormalities, cognitive decline
Presentation of dementia with Lewy bodies - correct answerVisual hallucinations,
Parkinsonian sx
Presentation of frontal lobe dementia (e.g. Pick's disease) - correct
answerPersonality/bx changes, language changes, inappropriate social bx, aggression
Presentation of Huntington's disease - correct answerSubcortical dementia; motor
abnormalities, psychomotor slowing; high incidence of depression, psychosis; begins
ages 30-45; affects males and females equally
What is the most effective test to determine if someone will develop Huntington's
disease? - correct answerDirect genetic test (no risk)
What is the likelihood a child of a parent with Huntington's will develop it? - correct
answer50% chance
, Dementia etiology - correct answerCerebral atrophy, enlarged ventricles; decreased
Ach and NE; genetic loading
What neurotransmitters are implicated in dementia, and how? - correct
answerDecreased Ach and NE
What is the first line treatment for psychosis and agitation in dementia? - correct
answerSGAs - but try nonpharmacological therapies first
What is delirium? - correct answerACUTE disturbance of LOC, cognition, attention
What pharmacological treatment do you use for delirium-induced agitation or
psychosis? - correct answerLow dose haldol
What pharmacological treatment do you use for alcohol-induced delirium? - correct
answerBNZ
Anytime a patient presents with delirium, what labs should you order? - correct
answerUA with culture and specificity d/t infx being a potential cause for delirium, esp in
older adults
What is pseudodementia? - correct answerCognitive sx r/t depression in older adults
Dementia vs. pseudodementia - correct answerDementia: premorbid hx of slowly
declining cognition
Pseudodementia: acute onset of significant cognitive changes
How would someone with dementia vs. pseudodementia answer a question? - correct
answerDementia: confabulates, lacks answer
Pseudodementia: "I don't know"
How can depression present in older adults? - correct answerCognitive deficits -
irritability, agitation, hallucinations, delusions
What neurotransmitters are implicated in mood disorders? - correct answerDA, NE, 5HT
(DNS), GABA, glutamate
What neurotransmitters are implicated in depression? - correct answerDA, NE, 5HT -
DNS
How does depression present in children/adolescents? - correct answerIrritability/anger
What cerebral changes are noted in depression? - correct answerIncreased amygdala,
decreased hippocampus/thalamus
First line pharmacological tx of depression - correct answerSSRIs
