NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam
() – 100% Correct
Answers & Rationales, Original
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Question 1: Which serum assessment is critical when prescribing lithium for bipolar disorder in
psychosomatic patients?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Creatinine
D. Calcium
Answer: C. Creatinine
Rationale: Lithium is primarily excreted by the kidneys, and impaired renal func-
tion can lead to lithium toxicity. Monitoring creatinine levels is essential to assess
kidney function before and during lithium therapy to ensure safe prescribing in
psychosomatic patients. Sodium levels influence lithium excretion, but creatinine
is the primary marker for renal clearance.
Question 2: Which theorist developed the eight stages of psychosocial development, relevant to
understanding personality disorders?
A. Freud
B. Erickson
C. Piaget
D. Kohlberg
Answer: B. Erickson
Rationale: Erik Erikson developed the eight stages of psychosocial development,
which describe psychological conflicts across the lifespan. This framework is rele-
vant in psychiatry for understanding personality disorders, as unresolved conflicts
can contribute to maladaptive behaviors.
Question 3: What are two common causes of dissociative amnesia?
A. Physical trauma and substance abuse
B. Sexual abuse and partner betrayal
C. Genetic predisposition and stress
D. Chronic illness and medication side effects
Answer: B. Sexual abuse and partner betrayal
Rationale: Dissociative amnesia is often triggered by severe psychological trauma,
such as sexual abuse or partner betrayal, which overwhelm coping mechanisms,
leading to memory dissociation. These are well-documented psychosocial stressors
in mental health literature.
Question 4: Which scale is used to monitor extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) before and during
antipsychotic treatment?
A. MMSE
B. AIMS
C. HAM-D
D. GAD-7
Answer: B. AIMS
1
, Rationale: The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is specifically
designed to assess and monitor extrapyramidal symptoms, such as tardive dyski-
nesia, in patients receiving antipsychotic medications, making it essential for safe
psychopharmacologic management.
Question 5: Which two disorders are most commonly comorbid with pica?
A. Depression and anxiety
B. Autism and intellectual disability
C. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
D. OCD and PTSD
Answer: B. Autism and intellectual disability
Rationale: Pica, characterized by eating non-food substances, is most commonly
associated with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, particularly
in children and adolescents, due to sensory-seeking behaviors or cognitive impair-
ments.
Question 6: What is the prognosis range for untreated PTSD patients?
A. 50% recover, 30% mild symptoms, 20% severe symptoms
B. 20% recover, 10% mild symptoms, 40% moderate symptoms, 30% no change or
worse
C. 70% recover, 20% mild symptoms, 10% severe symptoms
D. 10% recover, 50% mild symptoms, 40% severe symptoms
Answer: B. 20% recover, 10% mild symptoms, 40% moderate symptoms,
30% no change or worse
Rationale: Research indicates that without treatment, approximately 20% of
PTSD patients recover spontaneously, 10% have mild symptoms, 40% experience
moderate symptoms, and 30% show no improvement or worsen, highlighting the
need for intervention.
Question 7: Which memory category is retained in transient global amnesia but absent in dis-
sociative amnesia?
A. Semantic memory
B. Procedural memory
C. Sequential events
D. Episodic memory
Answer: C. Sequential events
Rationale: Transient global amnesia preserves the ability to recall sequential
events (e.g., daily routines), while dissociative amnesia, often trauma-related, im-
pairs recall of specific autobiographical sequential events, distinguishing the two
conditions.
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT an endocrine change associated with anorexia ner-
vosa?
A. Decreased thyroid hormone levels
B. Elevated cortisol levels
C. Eating with friends but not family
D. Amenorrhea
Answer: C. Eating with friends but not family
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is associated with endocrine changes such as de-
creased thyroid hormone levels, elevated cortisol, and amenorrhea due to malnutri-
2
() – 100% Correct
Answers & Rationales, Original
Copy
Question 1: Which serum assessment is critical when prescribing lithium for bipolar disorder in
psychosomatic patients?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Creatinine
D. Calcium
Answer: C. Creatinine
Rationale: Lithium is primarily excreted by the kidneys, and impaired renal func-
tion can lead to lithium toxicity. Monitoring creatinine levels is essential to assess
kidney function before and during lithium therapy to ensure safe prescribing in
psychosomatic patients. Sodium levels influence lithium excretion, but creatinine
is the primary marker for renal clearance.
Question 2: Which theorist developed the eight stages of psychosocial development, relevant to
understanding personality disorders?
A. Freud
B. Erickson
C. Piaget
D. Kohlberg
Answer: B. Erickson
Rationale: Erik Erikson developed the eight stages of psychosocial development,
which describe psychological conflicts across the lifespan. This framework is rele-
vant in psychiatry for understanding personality disorders, as unresolved conflicts
can contribute to maladaptive behaviors.
Question 3: What are two common causes of dissociative amnesia?
A. Physical trauma and substance abuse
B. Sexual abuse and partner betrayal
C. Genetic predisposition and stress
D. Chronic illness and medication side effects
Answer: B. Sexual abuse and partner betrayal
Rationale: Dissociative amnesia is often triggered by severe psychological trauma,
such as sexual abuse or partner betrayal, which overwhelm coping mechanisms,
leading to memory dissociation. These are well-documented psychosocial stressors
in mental health literature.
Question 4: Which scale is used to monitor extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) before and during
antipsychotic treatment?
A. MMSE
B. AIMS
C. HAM-D
D. GAD-7
Answer: B. AIMS
1
, Rationale: The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is specifically
designed to assess and monitor extrapyramidal symptoms, such as tardive dyski-
nesia, in patients receiving antipsychotic medications, making it essential for safe
psychopharmacologic management.
Question 5: Which two disorders are most commonly comorbid with pica?
A. Depression and anxiety
B. Autism and intellectual disability
C. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
D. OCD and PTSD
Answer: B. Autism and intellectual disability
Rationale: Pica, characterized by eating non-food substances, is most commonly
associated with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, particularly
in children and adolescents, due to sensory-seeking behaviors or cognitive impair-
ments.
Question 6: What is the prognosis range for untreated PTSD patients?
A. 50% recover, 30% mild symptoms, 20% severe symptoms
B. 20% recover, 10% mild symptoms, 40% moderate symptoms, 30% no change or
worse
C. 70% recover, 20% mild symptoms, 10% severe symptoms
D. 10% recover, 50% mild symptoms, 40% severe symptoms
Answer: B. 20% recover, 10% mild symptoms, 40% moderate symptoms,
30% no change or worse
Rationale: Research indicates that without treatment, approximately 20% of
PTSD patients recover spontaneously, 10% have mild symptoms, 40% experience
moderate symptoms, and 30% show no improvement or worsen, highlighting the
need for intervention.
Question 7: Which memory category is retained in transient global amnesia but absent in dis-
sociative amnesia?
A. Semantic memory
B. Procedural memory
C. Sequential events
D. Episodic memory
Answer: C. Sequential events
Rationale: Transient global amnesia preserves the ability to recall sequential
events (e.g., daily routines), while dissociative amnesia, often trauma-related, im-
pairs recall of specific autobiographical sequential events, distinguishing the two
conditions.
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT an endocrine change associated with anorexia ner-
vosa?
A. Decreased thyroid hormone levels
B. Elevated cortisol levels
C. Eating with friends but not family
D. Amenorrhea
Answer: C. Eating with friends but not family
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is associated with endocrine changes such as de-
creased thyroid hormone levels, elevated cortisol, and amenorrhea due to malnutri-
2
