Final Exam: NR547 / NR 547 (Latest Update
) Differential Diagnosis in
Psychiatric-Mental Health across the
Lifespan Practicum | Questions & Answers |
100% Correct | Grade A – Chamberlain
This final exam for NR547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health across the
Lifespan Practicum (2025/2026) includes 100 verified questions aligned with DSM-5-TR,
focusing on differential diagnosis, lifespan considerations, cultural factors, and clinical
reasoning. with the correct answer in RED, and detailed rationales with clinical implications.
Question 1
A 25-year-old woman presents with 3 months of persistent sadness, fatigue, anhedonia, and
significant impairment in work and relationships. She denies manic symptoms and reports no
recent stressors. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR criteria for MDD require ≥5 symptoms (including depressed mood or
anhedonia) for ≥2 weeks with functional impairment. Duration >2 weeks and no hypomania
distinguish from adjustment disorder or bipolar II. Clinical Implication: Screen for suicidality;
initiate SSRI and therapy.
Question 2
A 10-year-old boy exhibits inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity across school and home,
with onset before age 7 and impairment in multiple settings. No social communication deficits.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR ADHD requires ≥6 symptoms in two settings, onset <12 years, and
impairment. Lacks ASD social deficits. Clinical Implication: Behavioral therapy + stimulant;
rule out learning disorders.
Question 3
A 45-year-old man reports excessive worry, restlessness, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance
for 8 months, with no specific triggers. Diagnosis?
,Answer: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR GAD = anxiety >6 months + ≥3 physical symptoms, no discrete attacks
or trauma. Clinical Implication: SSRI + CBT; screen for substance use.
Question 4
A 16-year-old girl has recurrent panic attacks with palpitations and fear of dying, lasting 10
minutes, with 1 month of worry about future attacks. Diagnosis?
Answer: Panic disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Unexpected attacks + persistent concern. Clinical Implication: SSRI;
rule out cardiac causes.
Question 5
A 30-year-old veteran has flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, and nightmares 6 months after
combat. Diagnosis?
Answer: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Trauma exposure + intrusion/avoidance ≥1 month. Clinical
Implication: Trauma-focused CBT; prazosin for nightmares.
Question 6
A 50-year-old man has obsessions with contamination and compulsions to wash hands 2 hours
daily, causing distress. Diagnosis?
Answer: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Obsessions/compulsions >1 hour/day, impairing function. Clinical
Implication: High-dose SSRI + ERP.
Question 7
A 65-year-old woman has depressed mood, low energy, and poor concentration for 3 years.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Persistent depressive disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Depressed mood >2 years + ≥2 symptoms. Clinical Implication: SSRI
+ psychotherapy; screen for hypothyroidism.
Question 8
A 20-year-old man has recurrent binge eating with guilt weekly for 3 months, no purging.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Binge eating disorder
, Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Binges without compensatory behaviors. Clinical Implication: CBT;
rule out bulimia.
Question 9
A 40-year-old woman has preoccupation with illness despite negative tests, causing anxiety.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Illness anxiety disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Preoccupation without prominent symptoms. Clinical Implication:
CBT; differentiate from somatic symptom disorder.
Question 10
A 55-year-old man has 6 months of depressed mood, sleep disturbance, guilt, and 4 other
symptoms. Diagnosis?
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: ≥5 symptoms ≥2 weeks. Clinical Implication: SSRI; screen for bipolar.
Question 11
An 8-year-old boy has hyperactivity, inattention, and fidgeting in school and home. Diagnosis?
Answer: ADHD
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: ≥6 symptoms in 2 settings, onset <12. Clinical Implication: Behavioral
therapy.
Question 11
An 8-year-old boy has hyperactivity, inattention, and fidgeting in school and home. Diagnosis?
Answer: ADHD
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: ≥6 symptoms in 2 settings, onset <12. Clinical Implication: Behavioral
therapy.
Question 12
A 35-year-old woman has obsessions with harm and compulsions to check locks 2 hours daily.
Diagnosis?
Answer: OCD
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Obsessions/compulsions >1 hour/day. Clinical Implication: SSRI +
ERP.
) Differential Diagnosis in
Psychiatric-Mental Health across the
Lifespan Practicum | Questions & Answers |
100% Correct | Grade A – Chamberlain
This final exam for NR547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health across the
Lifespan Practicum (2025/2026) includes 100 verified questions aligned with DSM-5-TR,
focusing on differential diagnosis, lifespan considerations, cultural factors, and clinical
reasoning. with the correct answer in RED, and detailed rationales with clinical implications.
Question 1
A 25-year-old woman presents with 3 months of persistent sadness, fatigue, anhedonia, and
significant impairment in work and relationships. She denies manic symptoms and reports no
recent stressors. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR criteria for MDD require ≥5 symptoms (including depressed mood or
anhedonia) for ≥2 weeks with functional impairment. Duration >2 weeks and no hypomania
distinguish from adjustment disorder or bipolar II. Clinical Implication: Screen for suicidality;
initiate SSRI and therapy.
Question 2
A 10-year-old boy exhibits inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity across school and home,
with onset before age 7 and impairment in multiple settings. No social communication deficits.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR ADHD requires ≥6 symptoms in two settings, onset <12 years, and
impairment. Lacks ASD social deficits. Clinical Implication: Behavioral therapy + stimulant;
rule out learning disorders.
Question 3
A 45-year-old man reports excessive worry, restlessness, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance
for 8 months, with no specific triggers. Diagnosis?
,Answer: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR GAD = anxiety >6 months + ≥3 physical symptoms, no discrete attacks
or trauma. Clinical Implication: SSRI + CBT; screen for substance use.
Question 4
A 16-year-old girl has recurrent panic attacks with palpitations and fear of dying, lasting 10
minutes, with 1 month of worry about future attacks. Diagnosis?
Answer: Panic disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Unexpected attacks + persistent concern. Clinical Implication: SSRI;
rule out cardiac causes.
Question 5
A 30-year-old veteran has flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, and nightmares 6 months after
combat. Diagnosis?
Answer: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Trauma exposure + intrusion/avoidance ≥1 month. Clinical
Implication: Trauma-focused CBT; prazosin for nightmares.
Question 6
A 50-year-old man has obsessions with contamination and compulsions to wash hands 2 hours
daily, causing distress. Diagnosis?
Answer: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Obsessions/compulsions >1 hour/day, impairing function. Clinical
Implication: High-dose SSRI + ERP.
Question 7
A 65-year-old woman has depressed mood, low energy, and poor concentration for 3 years.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Persistent depressive disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Depressed mood >2 years + ≥2 symptoms. Clinical Implication: SSRI
+ psychotherapy; screen for hypothyroidism.
Question 8
A 20-year-old man has recurrent binge eating with guilt weekly for 3 months, no purging.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Binge eating disorder
, Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Binges without compensatory behaviors. Clinical Implication: CBT;
rule out bulimia.
Question 9
A 40-year-old woman has preoccupation with illness despite negative tests, causing anxiety.
Diagnosis?
Answer: Illness anxiety disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Preoccupation without prominent symptoms. Clinical Implication:
CBT; differentiate from somatic symptom disorder.
Question 10
A 55-year-old man has 6 months of depressed mood, sleep disturbance, guilt, and 4 other
symptoms. Diagnosis?
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: ≥5 symptoms ≥2 weeks. Clinical Implication: SSRI; screen for bipolar.
Question 11
An 8-year-old boy has hyperactivity, inattention, and fidgeting in school and home. Diagnosis?
Answer: ADHD
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: ≥6 symptoms in 2 settings, onset <12. Clinical Implication: Behavioral
therapy.
Question 11
An 8-year-old boy has hyperactivity, inattention, and fidgeting in school and home. Diagnosis?
Answer: ADHD
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: ≥6 symptoms in 2 settings, onset <12. Clinical Implication: Behavioral
therapy.
Question 12
A 35-year-old woman has obsessions with harm and compulsions to check locks 2 hours daily.
Diagnosis?
Answer: OCD
Rationale: DSM-5-TR: Obsessions/compulsions >1 hour/day. Clinical Implication: SSRI +
ERP.
