1
NRNP 6665-01 Week 6
Midterm Exam 2024
(October QTR)
Verified Answers
1. What is the primary ethical principle guiding informed consent in child psychiatry?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Correct Answer: B (Autonomy)
Rationale: Autonomy emphasizes respecting the patient’s right to make decisions about
their care. In child psychiatry, this involves obtaining assent from the child (when
developmentally appropriate) and consent from the legal guardian, balancing the child’s
developing capacity with parental authority. American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry (AACAP) Code of Ethics, 2014.
2. Which diagnostic tool is most appropriate for assessing ADHD in a 7-year-old?
A. Beck Depression Inventory
B. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale
C. Young Mania Rating Scale
D. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
Correct Answer: B (Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale)
Rationale: The Vanderbilt scale is a validated tool for assessing ADHD symptoms in
children, incorporating parent and teacher input to evaluate inattention and hyperactivity
across settings, aligning with DSM-5 criteria. DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association,
2013.
3. A 10-year-old with suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shows impaired
social interaction. What is the next step in diagnosis?
A. Administer a cognitive behavioral therapy session
B. Conduct a comprehensive developmental history
C. Prescribe an antipsychotic
D. Order an EEG
Correct Answer: B (Conduct a comprehensive developmental history)
Rationale: A developmental history, including milestones and social behaviors, is critical
, 2
for diagnosing ASD, as it helps identify patterns of impairment per DSM-5 criteria.
Hyman, S. L., et al., Pediatrics, 2020.
4. Which FDA-approved medication is first-line for ADHD in an 8-year-old?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Methylphenidate
C. Risperidone
D. Clonazepam
Correct Answer: B (Methylphenidate)
Rationale: Methylphenidate, a stimulant, is FDA-approved and first-line for ADHD in
children due to its efficacy in improving attention and reducing hyperactivity, with
extensive evidence supporting its use. AACAP Practice Parameter for ADHD, 2007.
5. What is a key ethical consideration when prescribing antipsychotics to a child?
A. Prescribing without parental consent
B. Monitoring for metabolic side effects
C. Avoiding psychological testing
D. Ignoring cultural preferences
Correct Answer: B (Monitoring for metabolic side effects)
Rationale: Antipsychotics pose risks like weight gain and diabetes in children. Ethical
practice requires regular monitoring to minimize harm (nonmaleficence) and ensure
patient safety. AACAP Practice Parameter for Antipsychotics, 2011.
6. Which therapeutic technique is most effective for a 12-year-old with generalized
anxiety disorder?
A. Play therapy
B. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
C. Electroconvulsive therapy
D. Hypnotherapy
Correct Answer: B (Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT))
Rationale: CBT is evidence-based for pediatric anxiety, teaching children to manage
anxious thoughts and behaviors through structured interventions, as supported by clinical
trials. Compton, S. N., et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2004.
7. A 9-year-old exhibits persistent sadness and social withdrawal. Which diagnosis
should be considered first?
A. Major depressive disorder
B. Conduct disorder
C. Oppositional defiant disorder
D. Schizophrenia
Correct Answer: A (Major depressive disorder)
Rationale: Persistent sadness and withdrawal in children suggest major depressive
disorder per DSM-5 criteria. Early identification is critical to initiate appropriate
interventions. DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
8. Which FDA-approved medication treats pediatric bipolar disorder?
A. Sertraline
B. Lithium
C. Bupropion
D. Clonidine
Correct Answer: B (Lithium)
NRNP 6665-01 Week 6
Midterm Exam 2024
(October QTR)
Verified Answers
1. What is the primary ethical principle guiding informed consent in child psychiatry?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Correct Answer: B (Autonomy)
Rationale: Autonomy emphasizes respecting the patient’s right to make decisions about
their care. In child psychiatry, this involves obtaining assent from the child (when
developmentally appropriate) and consent from the legal guardian, balancing the child’s
developing capacity with parental authority. American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry (AACAP) Code of Ethics, 2014.
2. Which diagnostic tool is most appropriate for assessing ADHD in a 7-year-old?
A. Beck Depression Inventory
B. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale
C. Young Mania Rating Scale
D. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
Correct Answer: B (Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale)
Rationale: The Vanderbilt scale is a validated tool for assessing ADHD symptoms in
children, incorporating parent and teacher input to evaluate inattention and hyperactivity
across settings, aligning with DSM-5 criteria. DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association,
2013.
3. A 10-year-old with suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shows impaired
social interaction. What is the next step in diagnosis?
A. Administer a cognitive behavioral therapy session
B. Conduct a comprehensive developmental history
C. Prescribe an antipsychotic
D. Order an EEG
Correct Answer: B (Conduct a comprehensive developmental history)
Rationale: A developmental history, including milestones and social behaviors, is critical
, 2
for diagnosing ASD, as it helps identify patterns of impairment per DSM-5 criteria.
Hyman, S. L., et al., Pediatrics, 2020.
4. Which FDA-approved medication is first-line for ADHD in an 8-year-old?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Methylphenidate
C. Risperidone
D. Clonazepam
Correct Answer: B (Methylphenidate)
Rationale: Methylphenidate, a stimulant, is FDA-approved and first-line for ADHD in
children due to its efficacy in improving attention and reducing hyperactivity, with
extensive evidence supporting its use. AACAP Practice Parameter for ADHD, 2007.
5. What is a key ethical consideration when prescribing antipsychotics to a child?
A. Prescribing without parental consent
B. Monitoring for metabolic side effects
C. Avoiding psychological testing
D. Ignoring cultural preferences
Correct Answer: B (Monitoring for metabolic side effects)
Rationale: Antipsychotics pose risks like weight gain and diabetes in children. Ethical
practice requires regular monitoring to minimize harm (nonmaleficence) and ensure
patient safety. AACAP Practice Parameter for Antipsychotics, 2011.
6. Which therapeutic technique is most effective for a 12-year-old with generalized
anxiety disorder?
A. Play therapy
B. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
C. Electroconvulsive therapy
D. Hypnotherapy
Correct Answer: B (Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT))
Rationale: CBT is evidence-based for pediatric anxiety, teaching children to manage
anxious thoughts and behaviors through structured interventions, as supported by clinical
trials. Compton, S. N., et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2004.
7. A 9-year-old exhibits persistent sadness and social withdrawal. Which diagnosis
should be considered first?
A. Major depressive disorder
B. Conduct disorder
C. Oppositional defiant disorder
D. Schizophrenia
Correct Answer: A (Major depressive disorder)
Rationale: Persistent sadness and withdrawal in children suggest major depressive
disorder per DSM-5 criteria. Early identification is critical to initiate appropriate
interventions. DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
8. Which FDA-approved medication treats pediatric bipolar disorder?
A. Sertraline
B. Lithium
C. Bupropion
D. Clonidine
Correct Answer: B (Lithium)
