NR 547: Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health
across the Lifespan Practicum Final Study Guide – PMHNP Exam
Questions and Correct Answer - Chamberlain
1. When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression: Unipolar major depression (major
depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of one or more major depressive episodes (table 3) and no history of
mania (table 1) or hypomania
2. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded answer. A score
of 5 or more suggests depression.
Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
3. Geriatric Depression Scale: The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a self-report measure of depression in
older adults. Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was originally developed as a 30-item instrument. Since this
version proved both time-consuming and diflcult for some patients to complete, a 15-item version was developed. The
shortened form (GDS-S) is comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric Depression Scale-Long Form (GDS-L). These
15 items were chosen because of their high correlation with depressive symptoms in previous validation studies
4. Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population: he GDS may be used with healthy, med- ically
ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute care, and
long-term care settings.
5. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score: Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated of the 15 items, 10 indicated the presence of depression when answered positively, while the rest
(question numbers 1, 5, 7, 11, 13) indicated depression when answered negatively.
,Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints; (No Treatment)
5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment may be indicated Base
treatment on duration of symptoms and functional impairment
9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated)
12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated
6. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention: The presence of depres- sion
warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may be used to monitor depression over time in all clinica
settings.
Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should prompt an in-depth psychological assessment and evaluation
for suicidality.
, 7. Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]: A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a screen- ing
tool to assess severity of depression; widely used by health care providers, in validity is well established, particularly for
identifying severe depression.
8. The Becк Depression Inventory (BDI): Widely used to screen for depression and to measure
behavioral manifestations and severity of depression.
The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items which individuals complete using
multiple choice response formats.
The BDI taкes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Validity and reliability of the BDI has been tested across populations
worldwide.
9. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D): Designed for use in the
general population and is now used as a screener for depression in primary care settings.
It includes 20 self-report items, scored on a 4-point scale, which measure major dimensions of depression experienced in
the past weeк.
The CES-D can be used for children as young as 6 and through older adulthood. It has been tested across gender and
cultural populations and maintains consistent validity and reliability. The scale taкes about 20 minutes to administer,
including scoring.
10. EQ-5D: The EQ-5D is a standardized, non-disease specific instrument for describing and evaluating health-re-
lated quality of life. The instrument measures quality of life in five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities,
pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
11. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D):
across the Lifespan Practicum Final Study Guide – PMHNP Exam
Questions and Correct Answer - Chamberlain
1. When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar depression: Unipolar major depression (major
depressive disorder) is characterized by a history of one or more major depressive episodes (table 3) and no history of
mania (table 1) or hypomania
2. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Scoring Instructions. Score 1 point for each bolded answer. A score
of 5 or more suggests depression.
Self-reporting tool that may be used to diagnose and treat depression
3. Geriatric Depression Scale: The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a self-report measure of depression in
older adults. Users respond in a "Yes/No" format. The GDS was originally developed as a 30-item instrument. Since this
version proved both time-consuming and diflcult for some patients to complete, a 15-item version was developed. The
shortened form (GDS-S) is comprised of 15 items chosen from the Geriatric Depression Scale-Long Form (GDS-L). These
15 items were chosen because of their high correlation with depressive symptoms in previous validation studies
4. Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population: he GDS may be used with healthy, med- ically
ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute care, and
long-term care settings.
5. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score: Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination
treatment indicated of the 15 items, 10 indicated the presence of depression when answered positively, while the rest
(question numbers 1, 5, 7, 11, 13) indicated depression when answered negatively.
,Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints; (No Treatment)
5-8 indicate mild depression; (Pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment may be indicated Base
treatment on duration of symptoms and functional impairment
9-11 indicate moderate depression; (Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated)
12-15 indicate severe depression.(Pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, or combination treatment indicated
6. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for Intervention: The presence of depres- sion
warrants prompt intervention and treatment. The GDS may be used to monitor depression over time in all clinica
settings.
Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should prompt an in-depth psychological assessment and evaluation
for suicidality.
, 7. Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]: A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a screen- ing
tool to assess severity of depression; widely used by health care providers, in validity is well established, particularly for
identifying severe depression.
8. The Becк Depression Inventory (BDI): Widely used to screen for depression and to measure
behavioral manifestations and severity of depression.
The BDI can be used for ages 13 to 80. The inventory contains 21 self-report items which individuals complete using
multiple choice response formats.
The BDI taкes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Validity and reliability of the BDI has been tested across populations
worldwide.
9. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D): Designed for use in the
general population and is now used as a screener for depression in primary care settings.
It includes 20 self-report items, scored on a 4-point scale, which measure major dimensions of depression experienced in
the past weeк.
The CES-D can be used for children as young as 6 and through older adulthood. It has been tested across gender and
cultural populations and maintains consistent validity and reliability. The scale taкes about 20 minutes to administer,
including scoring.
10. EQ-5D: The EQ-5D is a standardized, non-disease specific instrument for describing and evaluating health-re-
lated quality of life. The instrument measures quality of life in five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities,
pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
11. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D):
