1. Which characteristic is most indicative of narcissistic personality
disorder?
a. Avoidance of social interactions
b. Fear of abandonment
c. Ongoing need for admiration✔️
d. Dramatic emotional expression
People with narcissistic personality disorder have an inflated sense of self-importance
and seek excessive admiration.
Tip: “Narcissists need applause.”
2. A 25-year-old client presents with mood swings: feeling "down" last
month and now having insomnia, high energy, and irritability. What’s the
most consistent diagnosis?
a. Major depressive disorder
b. Bipolar I disorder
c. Cyclothymia✔️
d. Borderline personality disorder
Cyclothymia involves periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms without
meeting full criteria for either.
Tip: Think “cycling moods,” like a low-intensity rollercoaster.
3. Initial medication choice for a 75-year-old newly diagnosed with major
depressive disorder?
a. Amitriptyline 25 mg
b. Escitalopram 10 mg daily✔️
c. Fluoxetine 40 mg
d. Bupropion XL 300 mg
Escitalopram is safer for the elderly with fewer anticholinergic effects.
Tip: "E for elderly = Escitalopram."
,4. CIWA-AR score of 12: What’s the most appropriate NP action?
a. No treatment needed
b. Prescribe STAT dose of oral lorazepam and reassess hourly✔️
c. Start haloperidol
d. Provide fluids and observe
Score ≥10 requires benzodiazepine administration to prevent complications like
seizures.
Tip: CIWA >10? Think "Lorazepam = Life saver."
5. A recently divorced client fears living alone, relies on others, and is
already dating again. What’s the likely diagnosis?
a. Histrionic personality disorder
b. Dependent personality disorder✔️
c. Borderline personality disorder
d. Narcissistic personality disorder
Dependent PD is marked by fear of abandonment and an inability to make decisions
without reassurance.
Tip: “Dependent = decision difficulty.”
6. Which are characteristics of borderline personality disorder?
a. Grandiosity and need for admiration
b. Detachment from social relationships
c. Tumultuous interpersonal relationships and short-lived psychotic
episodes✔️
d. Rigid perfectionism
Borderline PD includes unstable relationships, mood instability, and impulsivity.
Tip: BPD = "Borderline Push and Draw" — hot and cold behavior.
7. What does “What did you have for dinner last night?” assess in cognitive
testing?
a. Immediate memory
b. Recent memory✔️
, c. Remote memory
d. Abstract thinking
Asking about yesterday assesses recent memory, a component of short-term recall.
Tip: Yesterday = recent. Long ago = remote.
8. A client used marijuana 3 days ago and is worried about passing a urine
test. Most appropriate NP response?
a. You’ll test negative for sure
b. THC is only detectable in blood
c. Marijuana can be detected in the urine for up to 7 days✔️
d. You’ll need a blood test instead
Occasional users may test positive for up to 7 days, heavy users longer.
Tip: THC = “Takes a Hella while to Clear.”
9. Which symptoms are linked to the DSM specifier “anxious distress” in
MDD?
a. Delusions and hallucinations
b. Feeling restless, excessive worry✔️
c. Flight of ideas
d. Rapid cycling
Anxious distress includes tension, worry, and restlessness added to depressive
symptoms.
Tip: Add anxiety = anxious distress.
10. Best therapy add-ons for mild major depressive disorder?
a. Electroconvulsive therapy
b. Antipsychotic augmentation
c. CBT and exercise three times per week✔️
d. Hospitalization
CBT and regular aerobic exercise have proven benefits in mild MDD.
Tip: "Mind + Move = Mood Boost!"
11. A client with a history of heavy alcohol use presents with ataxia, memory
loss, and nystagmus. What is the most likely diagnosis?
disorder?
a. Avoidance of social interactions
b. Fear of abandonment
c. Ongoing need for admiration✔️
d. Dramatic emotional expression
People with narcissistic personality disorder have an inflated sense of self-importance
and seek excessive admiration.
Tip: “Narcissists need applause.”
2. A 25-year-old client presents with mood swings: feeling "down" last
month and now having insomnia, high energy, and irritability. What’s the
most consistent diagnosis?
a. Major depressive disorder
b. Bipolar I disorder
c. Cyclothymia✔️
d. Borderline personality disorder
Cyclothymia involves periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms without
meeting full criteria for either.
Tip: Think “cycling moods,” like a low-intensity rollercoaster.
3. Initial medication choice for a 75-year-old newly diagnosed with major
depressive disorder?
a. Amitriptyline 25 mg
b. Escitalopram 10 mg daily✔️
c. Fluoxetine 40 mg
d. Bupropion XL 300 mg
Escitalopram is safer for the elderly with fewer anticholinergic effects.
Tip: "E for elderly = Escitalopram."
,4. CIWA-AR score of 12: What’s the most appropriate NP action?
a. No treatment needed
b. Prescribe STAT dose of oral lorazepam and reassess hourly✔️
c. Start haloperidol
d. Provide fluids and observe
Score ≥10 requires benzodiazepine administration to prevent complications like
seizures.
Tip: CIWA >10? Think "Lorazepam = Life saver."
5. A recently divorced client fears living alone, relies on others, and is
already dating again. What’s the likely diagnosis?
a. Histrionic personality disorder
b. Dependent personality disorder✔️
c. Borderline personality disorder
d. Narcissistic personality disorder
Dependent PD is marked by fear of abandonment and an inability to make decisions
without reassurance.
Tip: “Dependent = decision difficulty.”
6. Which are characteristics of borderline personality disorder?
a. Grandiosity and need for admiration
b. Detachment from social relationships
c. Tumultuous interpersonal relationships and short-lived psychotic
episodes✔️
d. Rigid perfectionism
Borderline PD includes unstable relationships, mood instability, and impulsivity.
Tip: BPD = "Borderline Push and Draw" — hot and cold behavior.
7. What does “What did you have for dinner last night?” assess in cognitive
testing?
a. Immediate memory
b. Recent memory✔️
, c. Remote memory
d. Abstract thinking
Asking about yesterday assesses recent memory, a component of short-term recall.
Tip: Yesterday = recent. Long ago = remote.
8. A client used marijuana 3 days ago and is worried about passing a urine
test. Most appropriate NP response?
a. You’ll test negative for sure
b. THC is only detectable in blood
c. Marijuana can be detected in the urine for up to 7 days✔️
d. You’ll need a blood test instead
Occasional users may test positive for up to 7 days, heavy users longer.
Tip: THC = “Takes a Hella while to Clear.”
9. Which symptoms are linked to the DSM specifier “anxious distress” in
MDD?
a. Delusions and hallucinations
b. Feeling restless, excessive worry✔️
c. Flight of ideas
d. Rapid cycling
Anxious distress includes tension, worry, and restlessness added to depressive
symptoms.
Tip: Add anxiety = anxious distress.
10. Best therapy add-ons for mild major depressive disorder?
a. Electroconvulsive therapy
b. Antipsychotic augmentation
c. CBT and exercise three times per week✔️
d. Hospitalization
CBT and regular aerobic exercise have proven benefits in mild MDD.
Tip: "Mind + Move = Mood Boost!"
11. A client with a history of heavy alcohol use presents with ataxia, memory
loss, and nystagmus. What is the most likely diagnosis?
