NR547/ NR 547 PMHNP MIDTERM & FINAL EXAM 150
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
COVERING THE RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS RELIABLE
FOR A+ GRADE
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in depression?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. Glutamate
Rationale: Serotonin regulates mood, appetite, and sleep, and deficiency is linked to
depression.
2. First-line pharmacologic treatment for generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. SSRI
C. MAOI
D. TCA
Rationale: SSRIs provide long-term symptom control and are safer than benzodiazepines.
3. Which symptom is considered a positive symptom in schizophrenia?
A. Flat affect
B. Hallucinations
C. Social withdrawal
D. Anhedonia
Rationale: Positive symptoms represent an excess or distortion of normal function.
4. Preferred treatment for acute mania in bipolar disorder?
A. Lithium
B. SSRI
,C. TCA
D. Benzodiazepine
Rationale: Lithium stabilizes mood and reduces manic episodes.
5. Which assessment tool is used to screen for dementia?
A. PHQ-9
B. MMSE
C. GAD-7
D. CAGE
Rationale: MMSE assesses cognitive function and helps screen for dementia.
6. Most common side effect of SSRIs?
A. Weight loss
B. Nausea
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Rationale: SSRIs often cause GI upset, especially nausea during initial therapy.
7. First-line treatment for acute PTSD symptoms?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. SSRI
C. Antipsychotic
D. Lithium
Rationale: SSRIs reduce re-experiencing, hyperarousal, and avoidance symptoms.
8. Which lab value is critical to monitor in a patient taking lithium?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
,Rationale: Sodium affects lithium excretion; low sodium increases risk of toxicity.
9. Preferred therapy for opioid use disorder?
A. Methadone
B. Diazepam
C. Haloperidol
D. Bupropion
Rationale: Methadone reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms safely in opioid use
disorder.
10. Which therapy is most effective for borderline personality disorder?
A. Cognitive behavioral therapy
B. Dialectical behavior therapy
C. Psychoanalysis
D. Electroconvulsive therapy
Rationale: DBT targets emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
11. Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in schizophrenia?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Rationale: Dopamine overactivity in certain brain pathways contributes to positive
symptoms.
12. First-line pharmacologic treatment for OCD?
A. SSRI
B. MAOI
C. Benzodiazepine
D. Lithium
, Rationale: SSRIs reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
13. Which symptom is considered a negative symptom in schizophrenia?
A. Delusions
B. Hallucinations
C. Social withdrawal
D. Agitation
Rationale: Negative symptoms represent a decrease in normal function.
14. Most appropriate therapy for mild major depressive disorder?
A. Psychotherapy
B. Electroconvulsive therapy
C. Antipsychotic
D. Lithium
Rationale: Psychotherapy can be sufficient for mild depression, reserving pharmacotherapy
for moderate to severe cases.
15. Which lab is essential before starting clozapine?
A. CBC
B. CMP
C. TSH
D. Lipid panel
Rationale: CBC monitors for agranulocytosis, a serious side effect of clozapine.
16. First-line treatment for ADHD in adults?
A. Stimulants
B. SSRI
C. TCA
D. Benzodiazepine
Rationale: Stimulants improve attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
COVERING THE RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS RELIABLE
FOR A+ GRADE
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in depression?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. Glutamate
Rationale: Serotonin regulates mood, appetite, and sleep, and deficiency is linked to
depression.
2. First-line pharmacologic treatment for generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. SSRI
C. MAOI
D. TCA
Rationale: SSRIs provide long-term symptom control and are safer than benzodiazepines.
3. Which symptom is considered a positive symptom in schizophrenia?
A. Flat affect
B. Hallucinations
C. Social withdrawal
D. Anhedonia
Rationale: Positive symptoms represent an excess or distortion of normal function.
4. Preferred treatment for acute mania in bipolar disorder?
A. Lithium
B. SSRI
,C. TCA
D. Benzodiazepine
Rationale: Lithium stabilizes mood and reduces manic episodes.
5. Which assessment tool is used to screen for dementia?
A. PHQ-9
B. MMSE
C. GAD-7
D. CAGE
Rationale: MMSE assesses cognitive function and helps screen for dementia.
6. Most common side effect of SSRIs?
A. Weight loss
B. Nausea
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Rationale: SSRIs often cause GI upset, especially nausea during initial therapy.
7. First-line treatment for acute PTSD symptoms?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. SSRI
C. Antipsychotic
D. Lithium
Rationale: SSRIs reduce re-experiencing, hyperarousal, and avoidance symptoms.
8. Which lab value is critical to monitor in a patient taking lithium?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
,Rationale: Sodium affects lithium excretion; low sodium increases risk of toxicity.
9. Preferred therapy for opioid use disorder?
A. Methadone
B. Diazepam
C. Haloperidol
D. Bupropion
Rationale: Methadone reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms safely in opioid use
disorder.
10. Which therapy is most effective for borderline personality disorder?
A. Cognitive behavioral therapy
B. Dialectical behavior therapy
C. Psychoanalysis
D. Electroconvulsive therapy
Rationale: DBT targets emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
11. Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in schizophrenia?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Rationale: Dopamine overactivity in certain brain pathways contributes to positive
symptoms.
12. First-line pharmacologic treatment for OCD?
A. SSRI
B. MAOI
C. Benzodiazepine
D. Lithium
, Rationale: SSRIs reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
13. Which symptom is considered a negative symptom in schizophrenia?
A. Delusions
B. Hallucinations
C. Social withdrawal
D. Agitation
Rationale: Negative symptoms represent a decrease in normal function.
14. Most appropriate therapy for mild major depressive disorder?
A. Psychotherapy
B. Electroconvulsive therapy
C. Antipsychotic
D. Lithium
Rationale: Psychotherapy can be sufficient for mild depression, reserving pharmacotherapy
for moderate to severe cases.
15. Which lab is essential before starting clozapine?
A. CBC
B. CMP
C. TSH
D. Lipid panel
Rationale: CBC monitors for agranulocytosis, a serious side effect of clozapine.
16. First-line treatment for ADHD in adults?
A. Stimulants
B. SSRI
C. TCA
D. Benzodiazepine
Rationale: Stimulants improve attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity.
