PMHNP MOCK EXAM 3 LATEST
UPDATE 2026 /2027 WITH
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS graded A+
1. A 22-year-old patient recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder states, "I'm
not crazy," and is refusing to take his prescribed medication. Which type of
factor is contributing to this patient's nonadherence?
A. Client factors
B. Clinician factors
C. Structural factors
D. Environmental factors
Answer: A. Client factors
2. A patient recovering from a stroke has trouble with speech comprehension.
Which part of the brain has most likely been affected?
A. Broca's area
B. Basal ganglia
C. Limbic system
D. Wernicke's area
Answer: D. Wernicke's area
3. Which lobe of the brain is responsible for visual processing?
A. Gyrus
B. Frontal Lobe
C. Occipital Lobe
D. Parietal Lobe
Answer: C. Occipital Lobe
4. Which area of the brain is associated with fear?
A. Striatum
B. Amygdala
C. Limbic system
D. Basal ganglia
Answer: B. Amygdala
,5. An increase in which neurotransmitter can result in hallucinations and/or
psychosis?
A. Serotonin
B. Acetylcholine
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Answer: C. Dopamine
6. Which of the following mechanisms is associated with an antagonist drug
action?
A. A drug that binds postsynaptic receptors and mimics the effect of the
neurotransmitter.
B. A drug that binds and blocks normal auto-receptor function.
C. A drug that increases the enzymatic synthesis of neurotransmitters.
D. A drug that binds postsynaptic receptors and blocks the normal action of the
neurotransmitter.
Answer: D. A drug that binds postsynaptic receptors and blocks the normal
action of the neurotransmitter.
7. What is the name of the lobe that controls visual processing?
A. Gyrus
B. Frontal Lobe
C. Occipital Lobe
D. Parietal Lobe
Answer: C. Occipital Lobe
8. Obtaining consent from the guardian of a patient who has limited cognitive
capabilities represents which ethical principle?
A. Informed consent
B. Compliance
C. Off-label prescribing
D. Confidentiality
Answer: A. Informed consent
9. Lack of medication access and increasing costs are which type of factor
contributing to medication non-adherence?
A. Provider
B. Environmental
C. Structural
D. Client
,Answer: C. Structural
10. Which of the following definitions is correct?
A. Partial agonist: drug fully activates receptors
B. Antagonist: drug binds to receptor and activates a response
C. Inverse agonist: drug causes an opposite effect of the agonist
D. Agonist: drug binds to the receptor and does not activate a biological response
Answer: C. Inverse agonist: drug causes an opposite effect of the agonist
11. Which best defines a patient who is a poor metabolizer?
A. This patient has a lower concentration of the necessary enzyme to metabolize a
medication.
B. This patient will have lower blood concentrations of the medication.
C. This patient has a decreased risk of side effects and adverse reactions.
D. This patient should not be prescribed antidepressants.
Answer: A. This patient has a lower concentration of the necessary enzyme to
metabolize a medication.
12. Which of the following is considered the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter?
A. Serotonin
B. Histamine
C. Glutamate
D. GABA
Answer: D. GABA
13. A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety
when the PMHNP goes on vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is
that the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification.
Answer: B. has failed to master object constancy
14. A patient has been taking escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg daily for four
weeks. The patient's sleep, appetite, energy, and appearance have begun to
improve. Which statement applies to this patient?
A. The medication should be discontinued.
B. The medication should be increased.
C. The patient's risk for suicide is not a concern.
D. The patient's suicide potential is increased.
, Answer: D. The patient's suicide potential is increased.
15. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals
Answer: A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
16. Symptoms of anxiety and panic are associated with a low level of which
neurotransmitter?
A. Cortisol
B. Dopamine
C. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
D. Glutamate
Answer: C. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
17. A PMHNP is assessing a child with suspected autism. Which biomarker is
associated with autism and can be measured in whole blood?
A. Elevated serotonin levels
B. Elevated dopamine levels
C. Decreased GABA levels
D. Decreased glutamate levels
Answer: A. Elevated serotonin levels
18. What is the pathophysiologic connection between Wernicke and Korsakoff
syndromes in alcoholism?
A. Alcohol directly damages the hippocampus.
B. Alcohol disrupts the metabolism of thiamine, leading to a deficiency that damages
the brain.
C. Alcohol causes an overproduction of glutamate.
D. Alcohol leads to a deficiency of vitamin B12.
Answer: B. Alcohol disrupts the metabolism of thiamine, leading to a deficiency
that damages the brain.
19. According to current clinical guidelines for treating a patient with bipolar I
disorder mania with psychotic features, a PMHNP prescribes:
A. alprazolam (Xanax).
B. citalopram (Celexa).
C. lamotrigine (Lamictal).
D. quetiapine (Seroquel).
UPDATE 2026 /2027 WITH
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS graded A+
1. A 22-year-old patient recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder states, "I'm
not crazy," and is refusing to take his prescribed medication. Which type of
factor is contributing to this patient's nonadherence?
A. Client factors
B. Clinician factors
C. Structural factors
D. Environmental factors
Answer: A. Client factors
2. A patient recovering from a stroke has trouble with speech comprehension.
Which part of the brain has most likely been affected?
A. Broca's area
B. Basal ganglia
C. Limbic system
D. Wernicke's area
Answer: D. Wernicke's area
3. Which lobe of the brain is responsible for visual processing?
A. Gyrus
B. Frontal Lobe
C. Occipital Lobe
D. Parietal Lobe
Answer: C. Occipital Lobe
4. Which area of the brain is associated with fear?
A. Striatum
B. Amygdala
C. Limbic system
D. Basal ganglia
Answer: B. Amygdala
,5. An increase in which neurotransmitter can result in hallucinations and/or
psychosis?
A. Serotonin
B. Acetylcholine
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Answer: C. Dopamine
6. Which of the following mechanisms is associated with an antagonist drug
action?
A. A drug that binds postsynaptic receptors and mimics the effect of the
neurotransmitter.
B. A drug that binds and blocks normal auto-receptor function.
C. A drug that increases the enzymatic synthesis of neurotransmitters.
D. A drug that binds postsynaptic receptors and blocks the normal action of the
neurotransmitter.
Answer: D. A drug that binds postsynaptic receptors and blocks the normal
action of the neurotransmitter.
7. What is the name of the lobe that controls visual processing?
A. Gyrus
B. Frontal Lobe
C. Occipital Lobe
D. Parietal Lobe
Answer: C. Occipital Lobe
8. Obtaining consent from the guardian of a patient who has limited cognitive
capabilities represents which ethical principle?
A. Informed consent
B. Compliance
C. Off-label prescribing
D. Confidentiality
Answer: A. Informed consent
9. Lack of medication access and increasing costs are which type of factor
contributing to medication non-adherence?
A. Provider
B. Environmental
C. Structural
D. Client
,Answer: C. Structural
10. Which of the following definitions is correct?
A. Partial agonist: drug fully activates receptors
B. Antagonist: drug binds to receptor and activates a response
C. Inverse agonist: drug causes an opposite effect of the agonist
D. Agonist: drug binds to the receptor and does not activate a biological response
Answer: C. Inverse agonist: drug causes an opposite effect of the agonist
11. Which best defines a patient who is a poor metabolizer?
A. This patient has a lower concentration of the necessary enzyme to metabolize a
medication.
B. This patient will have lower blood concentrations of the medication.
C. This patient has a decreased risk of side effects and adverse reactions.
D. This patient should not be prescribed antidepressants.
Answer: A. This patient has a lower concentration of the necessary enzyme to
metabolize a medication.
12. Which of the following is considered the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter?
A. Serotonin
B. Histamine
C. Glutamate
D. GABA
Answer: D. GABA
13. A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety
when the PMHNP goes on vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is
that the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification.
Answer: B. has failed to master object constancy
14. A patient has been taking escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg daily for four
weeks. The patient's sleep, appetite, energy, and appearance have begun to
improve. Which statement applies to this patient?
A. The medication should be discontinued.
B. The medication should be increased.
C. The patient's risk for suicide is not a concern.
D. The patient's suicide potential is increased.
, Answer: D. The patient's suicide potential is increased.
15. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals
Answer: A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
16. Symptoms of anxiety and panic are associated with a low level of which
neurotransmitter?
A. Cortisol
B. Dopamine
C. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
D. Glutamate
Answer: C. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
17. A PMHNP is assessing a child with suspected autism. Which biomarker is
associated with autism and can be measured in whole blood?
A. Elevated serotonin levels
B. Elevated dopamine levels
C. Decreased GABA levels
D. Decreased glutamate levels
Answer: A. Elevated serotonin levels
18. What is the pathophysiologic connection between Wernicke and Korsakoff
syndromes in alcoholism?
A. Alcohol directly damages the hippocampus.
B. Alcohol disrupts the metabolism of thiamine, leading to a deficiency that damages
the brain.
C. Alcohol causes an overproduction of glutamate.
D. Alcohol leads to a deficiency of vitamin B12.
Answer: B. Alcohol disrupts the metabolism of thiamine, leading to a deficiency
that damages the brain.
19. According to current clinical guidelines for treating a patient with bipolar I
disorder mania with psychotic features, a PMHNP prescribes:
A. alprazolam (Xanax).
B. citalopram (Celexa).
C. lamotrigine (Lamictal).
D. quetiapine (Seroquel).
