PMH-C multiple-choice practice questions

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PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH CERTIFICATION (PMH-C) EXAM NEWEST 2026 VERSION
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+

Does the PSI Helpline offer phone or text support? - CORRECT ANSWER Both! At
1-800-944-4773. Remember it is not a crisis hotline.



QUESTION : What is the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline? - CORRECT
ANSWER A national hotline for the perinatal population that offers support 24hr/365d.
1-833-TLC-MAMA



QUESTION : What is the definition of "perinatal"? - CORRECT ANSWER Anytime
during pregnancy through the first year postpartum


QUESTION : What percentage of new mothers experience the "baby blues" in the first few
weeks after the baby arrives? - CORRECT ANSWER 80%



QUESTION : When do the baby blues typically peak? - CORRECT ANSWER Day 3-5
after delivery



QUESTION : How long do the baby blues typically last? - CORRECT ANSWER 2
days to 2 weeks after delivery



QUESTION : What are the symptoms of baby blues? - CORRECT ANSWER -
tearfulness
- lability
- reactivity
- exhaustion
- unrelated to stress or prior psychiatric hx




2026 2027 GRADED A+

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QUESTION : When making a determination between baby blues and PPD, what should be
considered? - CORRECT ANSWER severity, onset, and duration



QUESTION : What is the DSM code for PPD? - CORRECT ANSWER Major Unipolar
Depression (with peripartum onset)



QUESTION : What is the DSM criteria for MDD? - CORRECT ANSWER SIGECAPS

Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same two-week
period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is
either
0. Depressed mood
1. Sleep issues
2. Interest decreased
3. Guilt/worthlessness/hopelessness
4. Energy decreased
5. Concentration decreased
6. Appetite issues
7. Psychomotor agitation or retardation
8. Suicidality or thoughts of death


QUESTION : What is the prevalence of serious depression or anxiety developed during the
perinatal period (beyond just "baby blues")? - CORRECT ANSWER At least 1 in 7
mothers



QUESTION : What is the prevalence of postpartum psychosis? - CORRECT ANSWER
1-2 in 1,000 mothers



QUESTION : What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in fathers? -
CORRECT ANSWER 10% of new fathers



2026 2027 GRADED A+

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QUESTION : What is the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers? -
CORRECT ANSWER 21% of new mothers, 19.3% of whom also experienced suicidal
thoughts



QUESTION : Suicide is the ____ leading causes of maternal deaths - CORRECT
ANSWER One of the top 3



QUESTION : What are some obstacles to care for the perinatal population? - CORRECT
ANSWER - shame and fear

- provider misinformation
- cultural taboos
- provider accessibility



QUESTION : What is the PSI motto? - CORRECT ANSWER You are not alone, you
are not to blame, and with help you will be well.


QUESTION : What is the term for mental health disorders that develop during pregnancy or
postpartum? - CORRECT ANSWER Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs)



QUESTION : According to the formal definition of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs),
when can their onset begin? - CORRECT ANSWER Anytime during or after
pregnancy, up to 1 year postpartum, including losses.



QUESTION : Do PMHDs have onset during the "baby blues?" - CORRECT ANSWER
They can, or they can arise later.



QUESTION : What are some triggers for later onset of PMHDs? - CORRECT ANSWER
- hormonal triggers



2026 2027 GRADED A+

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- rapid weaning from breastfeeding
- hormonal birth control
- return to work
- illness or hospitalization
- loss and grief



QUESTION : What are risk factors for PMHDs? - CORRECT ANSWER - financial
stress or poverty
- lack of social support
- marital stress
- IPV/history of abuse
- substance dependency in family
- poor relationship with own family
- history of depression, anxiety, OCD
- thyroid imbalance, diabetes, endocrine disorders
- PMS or PMDD
- pregnancy or delivery complications
- infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss
- mothers whose baby is in the NICU
- recent major life stressor/event
- rapid weaning of breastfeeding
- unwanted or unplanned pregnancy
- ambivalence about parental role
- mothers of multiples



QUESTION : What is the physical factors that affect the etiology of PMHDs? - CORRECT
ANSWER - genetic predisposition



2026 2027 GRADED A+