PDF EXAM
NRNP6635 / NRNP 6635 (Latest
2025/2026): Midterm Exam Study
Guide – Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning | Walden
Section 1: Foundational Concepts in Psychopathology
and Diagnostic Reasoning (Questions 1–10)
Question 1: Select the theorist who developed the eight stages of psychosocial life
cycle. A. Freud B. Piaget C. Erikson D. Kohlberg
Rationale: C. Erikson is correct because Erik Erikson proposed the eight -stage
theory of psychosocial development, emphasizing ego development across the
lifespan (e.g., trust vs. mistrust in infancy). A. Freud is incorrect as his theory
focuses on psychosexual stages. B. Piaget is wrong, as his work centers on
cognitive development stages. D. Kohlberg is incorrect, as he developed moral
development stages.
Question 2: Select the serum assessment that is required when prescribing drugs to
treat psychiatric disorders in psychosomatic patients. A. Complete blood count B.
Comprehensive metabolic panel C. Lipid panel D. Thyroid function tests
Rationale: B. Comprehensive metabolic panel is correct because it assesses liver
and kidney function, which are critical for monitoring drug metabolism and
toxicity in psychosomatic conditions. A. Complete blood count is incorrect, as it
primarily screens for infection or anemia, not drug-related organ function. C. Lipid
panel is wrong, as it monitors cardiovascular risk, not directly relevant to
psychiatric drug safety. D. Thyroid function tests are incorrect, though sometimes
useful, they are not routinely required for all psychosomatic prescriptions.
Question 3: Select the patient evaluation scale used to assess the severity of
oppositional defiant disorder. A. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale B.
Child Behavior Checklist C. Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale D.
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
Rationale: B. Child Behavior Checklist is correct because it is a broad screening
tool that includes subscales for oppositional defiant behaviors in children. A.
Vanderbilt is incorrect, as it is specific to ADHD. C. Yale-Brown is wrong, as it
assesses OCD severity. D. Hamilton is incorrect, as it evaluates anxiety in adults.
Question 4: Select the neurotransmitter most associated with the occurrence of
ADHD. A. Serotonin B. Dopamine C. GABA D. Acetylcholine
Rationale: B. Dopamine is correct because ADHD is linked to dysregulation in
dopaminergic pathways, affecting attention and executive function. A. Serotonin is
incorrect, as it is more associated with mood disorders. C. GABA is wrong, as it
relates to inhibitory control in anxiety. D. Acetylcholine is incorrect, as it is
implicated in Alzheimer's and memory.
Question 5: Select the cognitive function category in a mental status examination
that is represented by the question, “Starting at 3 A.M., count back the time 2 hours
at a time.” A. Orientation B. Memory C. Attention and concentration D. Abstract
reasoning
Rationale: C. Attention and concentration is correct because serial subtraction
tests sustained attention and working memory. A. Orientation assesses person,
place, time awareness. B. Memory evaluates recall. D. Abstract reasoning involves
proverb interpretation.
Question 6: Select the class of drugs most effective in treating pain disorder. A.
Antidepressants B. Anticonvulsants C. Opioids D. Benzodiazepines
Rationale: B. Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin) are correct for neuropathic pain
in somatic symptom disorders, modulating neural excitability. A. Antidepressants
(e.g., TCAs) are adjunctive but less primary. C. Opioids risk dependency and are
avoided. D. Benzodiazepines are incorrect for pain, used for anxiety.
Question 7: Select the most likely stressor to cause an adjustment disorder. A.
Death of a loved one B. Change in job C. Chronic illness D. Trauma
Rationale: B. Change in job is correct as adjustment disorders arise from
identifiable stressors like life transitions, lasting 3–6 months. A. Death may cause
prolonged grief or major depression. C. Chronic illness is ongoing, not acute. D.
Trauma leads to PTSD.
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
Question 8: Select the mental function that is most affected in mild cognitive
impairment. A. Long-term memory B. Recent memory C. Language D.
Visuospatial
Rationale: B. Recent memory is correct because MCI primarily impacts episodic
memory for recent events, distinguishing it from normal aging. A. Long-term is
preserved early. C. Language and D. Visuospatial are more affected in later
dementia stages.
Question 9: Select the drug that has been effective in treating social anxiety in
children. A. Fluoxetine B. Fluvoxamine C. Paroxetine D. Sertraline
Rationale: B. Fluvoxamine is correct based on FDA approval for pediatric social
anxiety via SSRIs targeting serotonin dysregulation. A. Fluoxetine is for
depression/OCD. C. Paroxetine has black-box warnings. D. Sertraline is for OCD
but less specific here.
Question 10: Select the most frequent cause of infant and childhood intellectual
disability attributed to a specific gene. A. Phenylketonuria B. Fragile X syndrome
C. Down syndrome D. Fetal alcohol syndrome
Rationale: B. Fragile X syndrome is correct as the most common inherited cause,
due to FMR1 gene mutation. A. Phenylketonuria is metabolic/environmental. C.
Down syndrome is chromosomal. D. Fetal alcohol is environmental.
Section 2: Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Questions
11–20)
Question 11: Select the diagnostic criterion for autism spectrum disorder that
involves deficits in social communication. A. Restricted interests B. Reciprocal
social interaction C. Repetitive behaviors D. Sensory sensitivities
Rationale: B. Reciprocal social interaction is correct per DSM-5-TR, a core
domain including nonverbal cues and relationships. A., C., and D. relate to the
second domain of restricted/repetitive patterns.
GRADED A+
NRNP6635 / NRNP 6635 (Latest
2025/2026): Midterm Exam Study
Guide – Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning | Walden
Section 1: Foundational Concepts in Psychopathology
and Diagnostic Reasoning (Questions 1–10)
Question 1: Select the theorist who developed the eight stages of psychosocial life
cycle. A. Freud B. Piaget C. Erikson D. Kohlberg
Rationale: C. Erikson is correct because Erik Erikson proposed the eight -stage
theory of psychosocial development, emphasizing ego development across the
lifespan (e.g., trust vs. mistrust in infancy). A. Freud is incorrect as his theory
focuses on psychosexual stages. B. Piaget is wrong, as his work centers on
cognitive development stages. D. Kohlberg is incorrect, as he developed moral
development stages.
Question 2: Select the serum assessment that is required when prescribing drugs to
treat psychiatric disorders in psychosomatic patients. A. Complete blood count B.
Comprehensive metabolic panel C. Lipid panel D. Thyroid function tests
Rationale: B. Comprehensive metabolic panel is correct because it assesses liver
and kidney function, which are critical for monitoring drug metabolism and
toxicity in psychosomatic conditions. A. Complete blood count is incorrect, as it
primarily screens for infection or anemia, not drug-related organ function. C. Lipid
panel is wrong, as it monitors cardiovascular risk, not directly relevant to
psychiatric drug safety. D. Thyroid function tests are incorrect, though sometimes
useful, they are not routinely required for all psychosomatic prescriptions.
Question 3: Select the patient evaluation scale used to assess the severity of
oppositional defiant disorder. A. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale B.
Child Behavior Checklist C. Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale D.
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
Rationale: B. Child Behavior Checklist is correct because it is a broad screening
tool that includes subscales for oppositional defiant behaviors in children. A.
Vanderbilt is incorrect, as it is specific to ADHD. C. Yale-Brown is wrong, as it
assesses OCD severity. D. Hamilton is incorrect, as it evaluates anxiety in adults.
Question 4: Select the neurotransmitter most associated with the occurrence of
ADHD. A. Serotonin B. Dopamine C. GABA D. Acetylcholine
Rationale: B. Dopamine is correct because ADHD is linked to dysregulation in
dopaminergic pathways, affecting attention and executive function. A. Serotonin is
incorrect, as it is more associated with mood disorders. C. GABA is wrong, as it
relates to inhibitory control in anxiety. D. Acetylcholine is incorrect, as it is
implicated in Alzheimer's and memory.
Question 5: Select the cognitive function category in a mental status examination
that is represented by the question, “Starting at 3 A.M., count back the time 2 hours
at a time.” A. Orientation B. Memory C. Attention and concentration D. Abstract
reasoning
Rationale: C. Attention and concentration is correct because serial subtraction
tests sustained attention and working memory. A. Orientation assesses person,
place, time awareness. B. Memory evaluates recall. D. Abstract reasoning involves
proverb interpretation.
Question 6: Select the class of drugs most effective in treating pain disorder. A.
Antidepressants B. Anticonvulsants C. Opioids D. Benzodiazepines
Rationale: B. Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin) are correct for neuropathic pain
in somatic symptom disorders, modulating neural excitability. A. Antidepressants
(e.g., TCAs) are adjunctive but less primary. C. Opioids risk dependency and are
avoided. D. Benzodiazepines are incorrect for pain, used for anxiety.
Question 7: Select the most likely stressor to cause an adjustment disorder. A.
Death of a loved one B. Change in job C. Chronic illness D. Trauma
Rationale: B. Change in job is correct as adjustment disorders arise from
identifiable stressors like life transitions, lasting 3–6 months. A. Death may cause
prolonged grief or major depression. C. Chronic illness is ongoing, not acute. D.
Trauma leads to PTSD.
GRADED A+
, PDF EXAM
Question 8: Select the mental function that is most affected in mild cognitive
impairment. A. Long-term memory B. Recent memory C. Language D.
Visuospatial
Rationale: B. Recent memory is correct because MCI primarily impacts episodic
memory for recent events, distinguishing it from normal aging. A. Long-term is
preserved early. C. Language and D. Visuospatial are more affected in later
dementia stages.
Question 9: Select the drug that has been effective in treating social anxiety in
children. A. Fluoxetine B. Fluvoxamine C. Paroxetine D. Sertraline
Rationale: B. Fluvoxamine is correct based on FDA approval for pediatric social
anxiety via SSRIs targeting serotonin dysregulation. A. Fluoxetine is for
depression/OCD. C. Paroxetine has black-box warnings. D. Sertraline is for OCD
but less specific here.
Question 10: Select the most frequent cause of infant and childhood intellectual
disability attributed to a specific gene. A. Phenylketonuria B. Fragile X syndrome
C. Down syndrome D. Fetal alcohol syndrome
Rationale: B. Fragile X syndrome is correct as the most common inherited cause,
due to FMR1 gene mutation. A. Phenylketonuria is metabolic/environmental. C.
Down syndrome is chromosomal. D. Fetal alcohol is environmental.
Section 2: Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Questions
11–20)
Question 11: Select the diagnostic criterion for autism spectrum disorder that
involves deficits in social communication. A. Restricted interests B. Reciprocal
social interaction C. Repetitive behaviors D. Sensory sensitivities
Rationale: B. Reciprocal social interaction is correct per DSM-5-TR, a core
domain including nonverbal cues and relationships. A., C., and D. relate to the
second domain of restricted/repetitive patterns.
GRADED A+
