NR 547/NR547 PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALLTH (LATEST 2026) EXAM WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
SWECORRECT ANSWERS Normal (no depression)
What does a score of 8-16 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) indicate?
- CORRECT ANSWERS Mild depression
What does a score of 17-23 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
indicate? - CORRECT ANSWERS Moderate depression
What does a score of 24 or higher on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
indicate? - CORRECT ANSWERS Severe depression
How are items on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scored? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Each item is scored 0-2 or 0-4, depending on severity.
What type of tool is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)? - CORRECT
ANSWERS A clinician administered tool used to assess the severity of depression
symptoms.
What aspects of depression does the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
evaluate? - CORRECT ANSWERS Psychological and physical aspects of depression.
HAM-D 17 Components - CORRECT ANSWERS Mood
Guilt Feelings
SI
Insomnia
Work and Activities
Psychomotor Agitation or retardation
Anxiety (psychological and somatic symptoms)
Somatic symptoms
Hypochondriasis
Loss of weight
Insight
Limitation of HAM-D rating scale - CORRECT ANSWERS More focused on somatic
symptoms which can over estimate depression in medically ill patients
Alternative to HAM-D Scale - CORRECT ANSWERS Montgomery-Ashberg Depression
Rating Scale (MADRS) which is better for tracking and treatment response
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - CORRECT ANSWERS Consists of yes/no
questions that assess emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms of depresion in
older adults. It avoids somatic symptoms that may overlap with medical conditions
Key Areas assessed in GDS - CORRECT ANSWERS Mood and Enjoyment
Energy Levels
Social Withdrawal
Feelings of Hopelessness
Memory Concerns
Anxiety and Worry
Suicidal Thoughts
1|Page
,Scoring GDS - CORRECT ANSWERS 1 point of each depressed response
Yes to negative statements and no to positive statements
Scoring Interpretation of GDS-30 - CORRECT ANSWERS 0-30
0-9 Normal (no depression)
10-19 Mild Depression
20-30 Moderate to Severe Depression
Scoring Interpretation GDS-15 - CORRECT ANSWERS 0-15
Shorter version
0-4: Normal (No depression)
5-8: Mild Depression
9-11: Moderate Depression
12-15: Severe Depression
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) - CORRECT ANSWERS self report tool for
screening, diagnosing, and monitoring depression. Based on the DSM-5 criteria for
MDD and evaluates symptom severity over the past two weeks
Components of the PHQ-9 - CORRECT ANSWERS Nine Symptom Domains
1. Anhedonia
2. Depressed Mood
3. Sleep Problems
4. Fatigue
5. Appetite Changes
6. Low Self Worth
7. Concentration Issues
8. Psychomotor Changes
9. Suicidal Thoughts
PHQ-9 Scoring Interpretation - CORRECT ANSWERS Each question is scored:
0=Not at all
1= Several Days
2= More than half the days
3= Nearly Every Day
Total Score: 0-27
PHQ-9 Depression Severity Levels - CORRECT ANSWERS 0-4: Minimal or No
depression
5-9: Mild Depression
10-14: Moderate Depression
15-19: Moderately Severe Depression
20-27: Severe Depression
Clinica Use of the PHQ-9 - CORRECT ANSWERS Score >= 10: Possible clinical
depression, further evaluation needed
Score >=15: Likely MDD, consider therapy and/or medication
2|Page
,Score >=20: Severe Depression, requires urgent intervention
Mood Disorder Questionnaire - CORRECT ANSWERS screening tool used for Bipolar
Disorder, and helps differentiate bipolar disorder from unipolar depression and other
mood disorders
Consists of three parts, assessing lifetime history of manic or hypomanic symptoms
Part one of MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS Symptom Checklist
13 yes/no questions
Increased Energy and Activity
Euphoric or irritable mood
Decreased need for sleep
Unusual talkativeness or pressured speech
Racing Thoughts
Easily Distracted
Increase in goal-directed activities
Involvement in Risky behaviors
Unusual Confidence or grandiosity
More outgoing/social than usual
episodes lasting several days or longer
other people noticing these changes
symptoms occurring together in the same time period
Part 2 MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS Symptom Clustering
1 yes/no question
"Have several of the above symptoms ever happened during the same period of time?"
Part 3 MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS Functional Impairment
1 questions, 3 point scale: No, Minor, or Serious problem
"How much did these problems cause difficulty in work, social, or family life?"
MDQ Scoring Interpretation - CORRECT ANSWERS 7 or more "yes" responses in Part
1
"Yes" in Part 2
Moderate or serious impairment in part 3 is a positive screen. This is possible bipolar
disorder, needs a clinical assessment
Negative Screen:
Fewer than 7 "yes" responses in Part 1 OR "No" in part 2 OR "No/Minor problems" in
Part 3= unlikely bipolar disorder
Limitations to MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS More sensitive to Bipolar I Disorder than
Bipolar II or Cyclothymia
May produce false positives in BPD
Anhedonia - CORRECT ANSWERS a diminished ability to experience pleasure
TSH - CORRECT ANSWERS 0.4-4
For patients on thyroid medications 0.5 -3 is often targeted
3|Page
, Elevated TSH - CORRECT ANSWERS Hypothyroidism
Low TSH - CORRECT ANSWERS hyperthyroidism
hemoglobin - CORRECT ANSWERS Men
13.8-17.2
Women
12.1-15.1
Pregnant women
11-14
Children
11-16
Lithium Level - CORRECT ANSWERS Therapeutic range
0.6-1.2
Toxicity Risk
>1.5
Severe toxicity
>2
lithium toxicity symptoms - CORRECT ANSWERS confusion
seizures
tremors
coma
when should lithium trough levels be drawn - CORRECT ANSWERS 12 hours after the
last dose
What other labs should be monitored when on lithium - CORRECT ANSWERS kid
function and thyroid levels
Depakote (Valproic Acid) Level - CORRECT ANSWERS Therapeutic range
50-125
Toxicity risk
>150
Severe Toxicity >200
Symptoms of Depakote Toxicity - CORRECT ANSWERS Liver tox
pancreatitis
CNS depression
When should trough levels be drawn for depakote level - CORRECT ANSWERS before
the next dose
what other labs should be monitored when on depakote - CORRECT ANSWERS liver
enzymes
platelets
ammonia level
What are specifiers for MDD - CORRECT ANSWERS describes its features, severity,
and course. can help guide treatment planning and prognosis
Severity specifiers for MDD - CORRECT ANSWERS Indicates how severe the episode
is.
Milk
Moderate
Severe
4|Page
HEALLTH (LATEST 2026) EXAM WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
SWECORRECT ANSWERS Normal (no depression)
What does a score of 8-16 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) indicate?
- CORRECT ANSWERS Mild depression
What does a score of 17-23 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
indicate? - CORRECT ANSWERS Moderate depression
What does a score of 24 or higher on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
indicate? - CORRECT ANSWERS Severe depression
How are items on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scored? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Each item is scored 0-2 or 0-4, depending on severity.
What type of tool is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)? - CORRECT
ANSWERS A clinician administered tool used to assess the severity of depression
symptoms.
What aspects of depression does the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
evaluate? - CORRECT ANSWERS Psychological and physical aspects of depression.
HAM-D 17 Components - CORRECT ANSWERS Mood
Guilt Feelings
SI
Insomnia
Work and Activities
Psychomotor Agitation or retardation
Anxiety (psychological and somatic symptoms)
Somatic symptoms
Hypochondriasis
Loss of weight
Insight
Limitation of HAM-D rating scale - CORRECT ANSWERS More focused on somatic
symptoms which can over estimate depression in medically ill patients
Alternative to HAM-D Scale - CORRECT ANSWERS Montgomery-Ashberg Depression
Rating Scale (MADRS) which is better for tracking and treatment response
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - CORRECT ANSWERS Consists of yes/no
questions that assess emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms of depresion in
older adults. It avoids somatic symptoms that may overlap with medical conditions
Key Areas assessed in GDS - CORRECT ANSWERS Mood and Enjoyment
Energy Levels
Social Withdrawal
Feelings of Hopelessness
Memory Concerns
Anxiety and Worry
Suicidal Thoughts
1|Page
,Scoring GDS - CORRECT ANSWERS 1 point of each depressed response
Yes to negative statements and no to positive statements
Scoring Interpretation of GDS-30 - CORRECT ANSWERS 0-30
0-9 Normal (no depression)
10-19 Mild Depression
20-30 Moderate to Severe Depression
Scoring Interpretation GDS-15 - CORRECT ANSWERS 0-15
Shorter version
0-4: Normal (No depression)
5-8: Mild Depression
9-11: Moderate Depression
12-15: Severe Depression
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) - CORRECT ANSWERS self report tool for
screening, diagnosing, and monitoring depression. Based on the DSM-5 criteria for
MDD and evaluates symptom severity over the past two weeks
Components of the PHQ-9 - CORRECT ANSWERS Nine Symptom Domains
1. Anhedonia
2. Depressed Mood
3. Sleep Problems
4. Fatigue
5. Appetite Changes
6. Low Self Worth
7. Concentration Issues
8. Psychomotor Changes
9. Suicidal Thoughts
PHQ-9 Scoring Interpretation - CORRECT ANSWERS Each question is scored:
0=Not at all
1= Several Days
2= More than half the days
3= Nearly Every Day
Total Score: 0-27
PHQ-9 Depression Severity Levels - CORRECT ANSWERS 0-4: Minimal or No
depression
5-9: Mild Depression
10-14: Moderate Depression
15-19: Moderately Severe Depression
20-27: Severe Depression
Clinica Use of the PHQ-9 - CORRECT ANSWERS Score >= 10: Possible clinical
depression, further evaluation needed
Score >=15: Likely MDD, consider therapy and/or medication
2|Page
,Score >=20: Severe Depression, requires urgent intervention
Mood Disorder Questionnaire - CORRECT ANSWERS screening tool used for Bipolar
Disorder, and helps differentiate bipolar disorder from unipolar depression and other
mood disorders
Consists of three parts, assessing lifetime history of manic or hypomanic symptoms
Part one of MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS Symptom Checklist
13 yes/no questions
Increased Energy and Activity
Euphoric or irritable mood
Decreased need for sleep
Unusual talkativeness or pressured speech
Racing Thoughts
Easily Distracted
Increase in goal-directed activities
Involvement in Risky behaviors
Unusual Confidence or grandiosity
More outgoing/social than usual
episodes lasting several days or longer
other people noticing these changes
symptoms occurring together in the same time period
Part 2 MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS Symptom Clustering
1 yes/no question
"Have several of the above symptoms ever happened during the same period of time?"
Part 3 MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS Functional Impairment
1 questions, 3 point scale: No, Minor, or Serious problem
"How much did these problems cause difficulty in work, social, or family life?"
MDQ Scoring Interpretation - CORRECT ANSWERS 7 or more "yes" responses in Part
1
"Yes" in Part 2
Moderate or serious impairment in part 3 is a positive screen. This is possible bipolar
disorder, needs a clinical assessment
Negative Screen:
Fewer than 7 "yes" responses in Part 1 OR "No" in part 2 OR "No/Minor problems" in
Part 3= unlikely bipolar disorder
Limitations to MDQ - CORRECT ANSWERS More sensitive to Bipolar I Disorder than
Bipolar II or Cyclothymia
May produce false positives in BPD
Anhedonia - CORRECT ANSWERS a diminished ability to experience pleasure
TSH - CORRECT ANSWERS 0.4-4
For patients on thyroid medications 0.5 -3 is often targeted
3|Page
, Elevated TSH - CORRECT ANSWERS Hypothyroidism
Low TSH - CORRECT ANSWERS hyperthyroidism
hemoglobin - CORRECT ANSWERS Men
13.8-17.2
Women
12.1-15.1
Pregnant women
11-14
Children
11-16
Lithium Level - CORRECT ANSWERS Therapeutic range
0.6-1.2
Toxicity Risk
>1.5
Severe toxicity
>2
lithium toxicity symptoms - CORRECT ANSWERS confusion
seizures
tremors
coma
when should lithium trough levels be drawn - CORRECT ANSWERS 12 hours after the
last dose
What other labs should be monitored when on lithium - CORRECT ANSWERS kid
function and thyroid levels
Depakote (Valproic Acid) Level - CORRECT ANSWERS Therapeutic range
50-125
Toxicity risk
>150
Severe Toxicity >200
Symptoms of Depakote Toxicity - CORRECT ANSWERS Liver tox
pancreatitis
CNS depression
When should trough levels be drawn for depakote level - CORRECT ANSWERS before
the next dose
what other labs should be monitored when on depakote - CORRECT ANSWERS liver
enzymes
platelets
ammonia level
What are specifiers for MDD - CORRECT ANSWERS describes its features, severity,
and course. can help guide treatment planning and prognosis
Severity specifiers for MDD - CORRECT ANSWERS Indicates how severe the episode
is.
Milk
Moderate
Severe
4|Page
