NR547 / NR 547 Final Study Guide –
PMHNP EXAM (updated 2026) Questions &
Answers | Latest Already Graded A+ UPDATE
2026|2027
When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar
depression - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-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
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
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
Geriatric Depression Scale - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-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 difficult 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
Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-he GDS may be used with healthy,
medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired
older adults. It has been extensively used in community,
acute care, and long-term care settings.
,Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-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
, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for
Intervention - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-The presence of
depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment.
The GDS may be used to monitor depression over time in
all clinical settings.
Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should
prompt an in-depth psychological assessment and
evaluation for suicidality.
Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a
screening tool to assess severity of depression; widely
used by health care providers, in validity is well
established, particularly for identifying severe
depression.
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Widely used to screen for depression and to measure
behavioral manifestations and severity of depression.
PMHNP EXAM (updated 2026) Questions &
Answers | Latest Already Graded A+ UPDATE
2026|2027
When do you consider Unipolar versus Bipolar
depression - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-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
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
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
Geriatric Depression Scale - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-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 difficult 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
Geriatric Depression Scale: Targeted Population -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-he GDS may be used with healthy,
medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired
older adults. It has been extensively used in community,
acute care, and long-term care settings.
,Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Score - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-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
, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Indication for
Intervention - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-The presence of
depression warrants prompt intervention and treatment.
The GDS may be used to monitor depression over time in
all clinical settings.
Any positive score above 5 on the GDS Short Form should
prompt an in-depth psychological assessment and
evaluation for suicidality.
Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-A brief 9-item self-report questionnaire used as a
screening tool to assess severity of depression; widely
used by health care providers, in validity is well
established, particularly for identifying severe
depression.
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Widely used to screen for depression and to measure
behavioral manifestations and severity of depression.
