PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
CERTIFICATION PRACTICE EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ What are the 6 suicide protective factors? Answer: 1. Has young
children and/or close family
2. Fear of dying
3. Belief that suicide is immoral
4. Strong religious beliefs, especially with afterlife
5. Can identify compelling reasons to live
6. Engaged in social groups where patient feels like they belong and
are valued
◉ What are the 5 strategies to prevent behavioral escalation and
violence? Answer: 1. Always use a trauma-informed approach
2. When interacting with the patient, always maintain congruence in
words and actions
3. Always explain why you are doing something and ask permission
to proceed
4. Review past history for violence/violent tendencies
5. Monitor the patient's body language/ behaviors for signs of
impending violence
,◉ Name the 5 stages of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior
Change Answer: 1. Precontemplation
2. Contemplation
3. Preparation
4. Action
5. Maintenance
◉ According to the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, how
long must a behavior be maintained to be in the maintenance phase?
Answer: Greater than 6 months
◉ What are the 5 types of crisis? Answer: 1. Situational
2. Maturational
3. Adventitious
4. Medical
5. Psychiatric
◉ Which type of Crisis is referred to as a global or social crisis; a
major unexpected event that disrupts life in significant, often
permanent ways Answer: Adventitious Crisis
,◉ According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, what must be
addressed prior to moving into nursing process(es)? Answer: Life-
threatening situation
Person/People's safety is in danger
◉ Name the levels of crisis prevention Answer: Primary (universal
prevention)
Secondary (selective protection)
Tertiary (indicated prevention)
◉ What level of crisis prevention is meant to prevent additional,
avoidable sequelae in those already experiencing problems?
Answer: Tertiary (indicated prevention)
◉ What are the 4 mandates for all psychiatric hospitals to receive
payment from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)?
Answer: 1. Conduct tobacco screening on every patient on admission
2. Offer tobacco cessation options during hospitalization
3. Offer tobacco cessation options again at hospital discharge
4. Arrange for follow-up evaluation
◉ What are the 5 A's for tobacco assessment and intervention?
Answer: 1. Ask about use and exposure
2. Advise quitting and explain dangers
, 3. Assess willingness to quit
4. Assist with quitting through education and encouragement
5. Arrange for follow-up evaluation
◉ What term refers to a disturbance in higher level cognitive
functioning: an impaired ability to recognize familiar objects and
faces? Answer: Agnosia
◉ This term refers to a disturbance in higher level cognitive
functioning that manifests as poverty of speech Answer: Alogia
◉ What is the term for a disturbance in higher-level cognitive
functioning, specifically in movement Answer: Apraxia
◉ This is a pattern of speech that is characterized by an excessive
and unnecessary amount of detail in an attempt to explain
themselves or answer a question Answer: Circumstantial speech
◉ What is the term for words chosen based on rhyming, not purpose
or meaning? Answer: Clang association
◉ This is a term to describe a false belief Answer: Delusion
CERTIFICATION PRACTICE EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ What are the 6 suicide protective factors? Answer: 1. Has young
children and/or close family
2. Fear of dying
3. Belief that suicide is immoral
4. Strong religious beliefs, especially with afterlife
5. Can identify compelling reasons to live
6. Engaged in social groups where patient feels like they belong and
are valued
◉ What are the 5 strategies to prevent behavioral escalation and
violence? Answer: 1. Always use a trauma-informed approach
2. When interacting with the patient, always maintain congruence in
words and actions
3. Always explain why you are doing something and ask permission
to proceed
4. Review past history for violence/violent tendencies
5. Monitor the patient's body language/ behaviors for signs of
impending violence
,◉ Name the 5 stages of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior
Change Answer: 1. Precontemplation
2. Contemplation
3. Preparation
4. Action
5. Maintenance
◉ According to the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, how
long must a behavior be maintained to be in the maintenance phase?
Answer: Greater than 6 months
◉ What are the 5 types of crisis? Answer: 1. Situational
2. Maturational
3. Adventitious
4. Medical
5. Psychiatric
◉ Which type of Crisis is referred to as a global or social crisis; a
major unexpected event that disrupts life in significant, often
permanent ways Answer: Adventitious Crisis
,◉ According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, what must be
addressed prior to moving into nursing process(es)? Answer: Life-
threatening situation
Person/People's safety is in danger
◉ Name the levels of crisis prevention Answer: Primary (universal
prevention)
Secondary (selective protection)
Tertiary (indicated prevention)
◉ What level of crisis prevention is meant to prevent additional,
avoidable sequelae in those already experiencing problems?
Answer: Tertiary (indicated prevention)
◉ What are the 4 mandates for all psychiatric hospitals to receive
payment from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)?
Answer: 1. Conduct tobacco screening on every patient on admission
2. Offer tobacco cessation options during hospitalization
3. Offer tobacco cessation options again at hospital discharge
4. Arrange for follow-up evaluation
◉ What are the 5 A's for tobacco assessment and intervention?
Answer: 1. Ask about use and exposure
2. Advise quitting and explain dangers
, 3. Assess willingness to quit
4. Assist with quitting through education and encouragement
5. Arrange for follow-up evaluation
◉ What term refers to a disturbance in higher level cognitive
functioning: an impaired ability to recognize familiar objects and
faces? Answer: Agnosia
◉ This term refers to a disturbance in higher level cognitive
functioning that manifests as poverty of speech Answer: Alogia
◉ What is the term for a disturbance in higher-level cognitive
functioning, specifically in movement Answer: Apraxia
◉ This is a pattern of speech that is characterized by an excessive
and unnecessary amount of detail in an attempt to explain
themselves or answer a question Answer: Circumstantial speech
◉ What is the term for words chosen based on rhyming, not purpose
or meaning? Answer: Clang association
◉ This is a term to describe a false belief Answer: Delusion
