NR 547 Midterm Study Guide: Differential Diagnosis Overview
Questions with Verified Answers (Correct Update)
Question 1: Differential Diagnosis Ans-Critical step in care to discern accurate diagnosis based
on
Answer: symptoms.
Question 2: Importance of Differential Diagnosis Ans-Critical for safe care, helps narrow
potential
Answer: diagnoses based on symptoms.
Question 3: Presenting Symptoms Analysis Ans-Identify symptoms, duration, stressors, factors
affecting
Answer: symptoms.
Question 4: Clinical Data Analysis Ans-Assess physical signs, differentiate mental disorders from
Answer: medical conditions.
Question 5: Laboratory Analysis Importance Ans-Vital for accurate diagnosis, identifying
comorbidities,
Answer: and cost-effective care.
Question 6: Medical History Significance Ans-Reveals potential causes, comorbidities, and
influences
Answer: treatment decisions.
Question 7: Medication Review Ans-Assess current psych meds, compliance, side effects, and
Answer: interactions.
Question 8: Evidence-Based Screening Tools Ans-Standardize info collection, aid in treatment
planning
Answer: and monitoring.
Question 9: Scoring in Screening Tools Ans-Provides a standardized evaluation of symptoms and
Answer: treatment response.
Page 1
, Question 10: Advantages of Rating Scales Ans-Establish baseline, monitor progression, aid in
treatment
Answer: evaluation.
Question 11: WHODAS 2.0 Ans-Self-administered disability assessment measuring impairments
in
Answer: various areas.
Question 12: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID) Ans-Gold standard interview for
diagnosing
Answer: psychiatric disorders.
Question 13: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) Ans-Short scale measuring severity of
psychiatric
Answer: symptoms, used in schizophrenia treatment studies.
Question 14: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Ans-Used to assess positive and
negative
Answer: symptoms of schizophrenia; requires a clinician, has high reliability and validity, and is a
standard tool for clinical outcome assessment.
Question 15: Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) Ans-Assesses hallucinations,
Answer: delusions, bizarre behavior, and thought disorder in schizophrenia.
Question 16: Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) Ans-Assesses affective
flattening,
Answer: poverty of speech, apathy, anhedonia, and inattentiveness in schizophrenia.
Question 17: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) Ans-Monitors severity of major
depression
Answer: focusing on somatic symptoms; consists of 17 items and has good reliability and validity.
Question 18: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Ans-Rates depression severity focusing on
behavioral and
Answer: cognitive dimensions; can be completed in 5-10 minutes and is used as an outcome measure in
major depression trials.
Page 2
Questions with Verified Answers (Correct Update)
Question 1: Differential Diagnosis Ans-Critical step in care to discern accurate diagnosis based
on
Answer: symptoms.
Question 2: Importance of Differential Diagnosis Ans-Critical for safe care, helps narrow
potential
Answer: diagnoses based on symptoms.
Question 3: Presenting Symptoms Analysis Ans-Identify symptoms, duration, stressors, factors
affecting
Answer: symptoms.
Question 4: Clinical Data Analysis Ans-Assess physical signs, differentiate mental disorders from
Answer: medical conditions.
Question 5: Laboratory Analysis Importance Ans-Vital for accurate diagnosis, identifying
comorbidities,
Answer: and cost-effective care.
Question 6: Medical History Significance Ans-Reveals potential causes, comorbidities, and
influences
Answer: treatment decisions.
Question 7: Medication Review Ans-Assess current psych meds, compliance, side effects, and
Answer: interactions.
Question 8: Evidence-Based Screening Tools Ans-Standardize info collection, aid in treatment
planning
Answer: and monitoring.
Question 9: Scoring in Screening Tools Ans-Provides a standardized evaluation of symptoms and
Answer: treatment response.
Page 1
, Question 10: Advantages of Rating Scales Ans-Establish baseline, monitor progression, aid in
treatment
Answer: evaluation.
Question 11: WHODAS 2.0 Ans-Self-administered disability assessment measuring impairments
in
Answer: various areas.
Question 12: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID) Ans-Gold standard interview for
diagnosing
Answer: psychiatric disorders.
Question 13: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) Ans-Short scale measuring severity of
psychiatric
Answer: symptoms, used in schizophrenia treatment studies.
Question 14: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Ans-Used to assess positive and
negative
Answer: symptoms of schizophrenia; requires a clinician, has high reliability and validity, and is a
standard tool for clinical outcome assessment.
Question 15: Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) Ans-Assesses hallucinations,
Answer: delusions, bizarre behavior, and thought disorder in schizophrenia.
Question 16: Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) Ans-Assesses affective
flattening,
Answer: poverty of speech, apathy, anhedonia, and inattentiveness in schizophrenia.
Question 17: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) Ans-Monitors severity of major
depression
Answer: focusing on somatic symptoms; consists of 17 items and has good reliability and validity.
Question 18: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Ans-Rates depression severity focusing on
behavioral and
Answer: cognitive dimensions; can be completed in 5-10 minutes and is used as an outcome measure in
major depression trials.
Page 2
