INTERPRETING FINDINGS AND FORMULATING
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES FINAL STUDY GUIDE
2026 TESTED ITEMS SOLVED
◉ ___________________ screens for Anxiety Answer: GAD- 7
◉ questions to ask for depression or suicidal ideations: Answer:
Depression:
Over the past two weeks, have you fell down, depressed or hopeless?
Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in
doing things?
Suicidal:
Have you ever felt so blue you thought of hurting yourself?
Do you have a plan to hurt yourself?
How would you do it?
***Must not ignore any talk of suicide***
◉ When is a full mental status exam necessary? Answer: * Patients
whose initial screening suggests an anxiety disorder or depression
* Behavioral changes: such as memory loss, inappropriate social
interaction
* Brain lesions: trauma, tumor, cerebrovascular accident or stroke
,* Aphasia: impairment of language ability secondary to brain
damage
* Symptoms- of psychiatric mental illness especially with acute onset
◉ ________________ Screens for Alcoholism. Answer: CAGE: Score 2 or
greater highly significant
* Have you ever felt you should CUT down on your drinking?
* Have people ANNOYED you by criticizing your drinking?
* Have you ever felt bad or GUILTY about your drinking?
* Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your
nerves or get rid of a hangover? (EYE OPENER)
◉ Things to Consider When Assessing Older Adults mental status
include: Answer: Ask about chronic illness and how they are
managing?
Sensory impairments?
Polypharmacy (med list again!)
Social isolation
Physiological issue
- Delirium vs. Dementia
- UTI
- Sundowners
,◉ Delirium VS Dementia VS Depression:
Onset
course
duration
consciousness
attention
psychomotor changes
reversibility Answer: Delirium ** Dementia ** Depression:
==========================================
O: Acute insidious Acute or insidious
C: Fluctuating Progressive May be chronic
D: Hrs to wks Mos to yrs Mos to yrs
C: Altered Usually clear clear
A: Impaired Normal unless May be decreased
severe dementia
P: increased often normal may be slowed in decreased severe cases
R: usually irreversible usually
◉ Delirium Causes: Answer: D- Dementia
E- Electrolyte disorders
L - Lung, liver, heart, kidney, brain dysfunction
, I- Infection
R- Rx Drugs
I- Injury, pain, stress
U- Unfamiliar environment
M- Metabolic
◉ Adolescent: heeadsss psychosocial interview: Answer: - Home
- Education & Employment
- Eating
- Activities
- Drugs
- Sexuality
- Suicide & Depression
- Safety (injury/violence)
◉ When assessing children for mental heath disorders, things to
consider: Answer: Does the child seem sad, tired, restless?
Does the child spend a lot of time alone?
Frequent outbursts of shouting, complaining, or crying?
Lost interest in hobbies like music/sports?
Talks about death or suicide?
Sleep too much or not enough?
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES FINAL STUDY GUIDE
2026 TESTED ITEMS SOLVED
◉ ___________________ screens for Anxiety Answer: GAD- 7
◉ questions to ask for depression or suicidal ideations: Answer:
Depression:
Over the past two weeks, have you fell down, depressed or hopeless?
Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in
doing things?
Suicidal:
Have you ever felt so blue you thought of hurting yourself?
Do you have a plan to hurt yourself?
How would you do it?
***Must not ignore any talk of suicide***
◉ When is a full mental status exam necessary? Answer: * Patients
whose initial screening suggests an anxiety disorder or depression
* Behavioral changes: such as memory loss, inappropriate social
interaction
* Brain lesions: trauma, tumor, cerebrovascular accident or stroke
,* Aphasia: impairment of language ability secondary to brain
damage
* Symptoms- of psychiatric mental illness especially with acute onset
◉ ________________ Screens for Alcoholism. Answer: CAGE: Score 2 or
greater highly significant
* Have you ever felt you should CUT down on your drinking?
* Have people ANNOYED you by criticizing your drinking?
* Have you ever felt bad or GUILTY about your drinking?
* Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your
nerves or get rid of a hangover? (EYE OPENER)
◉ Things to Consider When Assessing Older Adults mental status
include: Answer: Ask about chronic illness and how they are
managing?
Sensory impairments?
Polypharmacy (med list again!)
Social isolation
Physiological issue
- Delirium vs. Dementia
- UTI
- Sundowners
,◉ Delirium VS Dementia VS Depression:
Onset
course
duration
consciousness
attention
psychomotor changes
reversibility Answer: Delirium ** Dementia ** Depression:
==========================================
O: Acute insidious Acute or insidious
C: Fluctuating Progressive May be chronic
D: Hrs to wks Mos to yrs Mos to yrs
C: Altered Usually clear clear
A: Impaired Normal unless May be decreased
severe dementia
P: increased often normal may be slowed in decreased severe cases
R: usually irreversible usually
◉ Delirium Causes: Answer: D- Dementia
E- Electrolyte disorders
L - Lung, liver, heart, kidney, brain dysfunction
, I- Infection
R- Rx Drugs
I- Injury, pain, stress
U- Unfamiliar environment
M- Metabolic
◉ Adolescent: heeadsss psychosocial interview: Answer: - Home
- Education & Employment
- Eating
- Activities
- Drugs
- Sexuality
- Suicide & Depression
- Safety (injury/violence)
◉ When assessing children for mental heath disorders, things to
consider: Answer: Does the child seem sad, tired, restless?
Does the child spend a lot of time alone?
Frequent outbursts of shouting, complaining, or crying?
Lost interest in hobbies like music/sports?
Talks about death or suicide?
Sleep too much or not enough?
