BARKLEY DRT PMHNP Practicum 1 Pre-Test
Questions and Answers with rationales Top
Rated Latest
Q1: A 9-year-old with moderate ADHD presents with aggression and poor
emotional regulation. Barkley’s approach emphasizes which initial skill-building
target?
A. Immediate antipsychotic medication
B. Parent training in behavior management
C. Intensive group therapy for the child only
D. Long-term stimulant discontinuation
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Barkley emphasizes behavioral interventions and parent training to
modify contingencies, structure, and consistent responses before escalating to
medication for regulation and disruptive behaviors.
Q2: In the Barkley model, "self-regulation" primarily refers to:
A. The child’s ability to control autonomic functions
B. The capacity to inhibit impulses, sustain attention, and modulate affect
C. Parents’ regulation of household rules
D. Pharmacologic regulation of mood
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Self-regulation in Barkley’s framework involves executive functions:
inhibitory control, sustained attention, working memory, and emotional
modulation.
,Q3: During intake, the PMHNP should prioritize which assessment domain for a
child with disruptive behaviors?
A. Sleep only
B. Academic performance, family stressors, comorbid anxiety/depression,
substance exposure, and medical/neurodevelopmental evaluation
C. Dental history
D. Travel history
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Comprehensive assessment is needed to identify comorbidities,
environmental triggers, medical contributors, and risks that inform treatment
planning.
Q4: Which medication class is first-line for core ADHD symptoms that often co-
occur with disruptive regulation problems?
A. Anticonvulsants
B. Stimulants (methylphenidate or amphetamine preparations)
C. Benzodiazepines
D. Typical antipsychotics
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Stimulant medications have the strongest evidence for reducing ADHD
core symptoms and often improve impulse control and attention-related
contributors to disruptive behaviors.
,Q5: A common side effect to monitor when initiating stimulants in children is:
A. Hyperprolactinemia
B. Decreased appetite and weight loss
C. Renal failure
D. Visual hallucinations
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Stimulant side effects commonly include decreased appetite, weight
loss, sleep difficulties, and increased heart rate/blood pressure; monitoring
growth and vitals is necessary.
Q6: Parent management training (PMT) in Barkley DRT focuses primarily on
teaching parents to:
A. Use physical punishment for immediate results
B. Implement clear rules, consistent consequences, positive reinforcement, and
routines
C. Ignore all behaviors
D. Rely solely on medication
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: PMT teaches consistent contingencies, clear expectations, positive
reinforcement for prosocial behavior, and nonphysical discipline strategies.
, Q7: Which of the following is a red flag necessitating urgent psychiatric
referral/hospitalization?
A. Occasional defiance at school
B. Severe suicidality or imminent danger to self/others
C. Mild sleep disturbance
D. Noncompliance with homework
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Suicidal ideation with intent/plan or imminent risk to others requires
urgent safety-focused intervention, including possible hospitalization.
Short Answer
Q8: Name two evidence-based nonpharmacologic interventions for emotion
dysregulation in children and adolescents.
Answer: Parent management training (PMT), behavioral therapy (CBT-based skills
training), social skills training, emotion regulation skills training (e.g., DBT-
informed skills), school-based interventions.
Rationale: Behavioral and skills-based therapies target environmental
contingencies and teach coping/regulation skills.
Q9: When considering atypical antipsychotics for severe aggression associated
with disruptive behavior disorders, the PMHNP must monitor for:
A. Hypoglycemia only
B. Metabolic syndrome (weight gain, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia), extrapyramidal
symptoms, and sedation
C. Complete hair loss
Questions and Answers with rationales Top
Rated Latest
Q1: A 9-year-old with moderate ADHD presents with aggression and poor
emotional regulation. Barkley’s approach emphasizes which initial skill-building
target?
A. Immediate antipsychotic medication
B. Parent training in behavior management
C. Intensive group therapy for the child only
D. Long-term stimulant discontinuation
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Barkley emphasizes behavioral interventions and parent training to
modify contingencies, structure, and consistent responses before escalating to
medication for regulation and disruptive behaviors.
Q2: In the Barkley model, "self-regulation" primarily refers to:
A. The child’s ability to control autonomic functions
B. The capacity to inhibit impulses, sustain attention, and modulate affect
C. Parents’ regulation of household rules
D. Pharmacologic regulation of mood
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Self-regulation in Barkley’s framework involves executive functions:
inhibitory control, sustained attention, working memory, and emotional
modulation.
,Q3: During intake, the PMHNP should prioritize which assessment domain for a
child with disruptive behaviors?
A. Sleep only
B. Academic performance, family stressors, comorbid anxiety/depression,
substance exposure, and medical/neurodevelopmental evaluation
C. Dental history
D. Travel history
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Comprehensive assessment is needed to identify comorbidities,
environmental triggers, medical contributors, and risks that inform treatment
planning.
Q4: Which medication class is first-line for core ADHD symptoms that often co-
occur with disruptive regulation problems?
A. Anticonvulsants
B. Stimulants (methylphenidate or amphetamine preparations)
C. Benzodiazepines
D. Typical antipsychotics
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Stimulant medications have the strongest evidence for reducing ADHD
core symptoms and often improve impulse control and attention-related
contributors to disruptive behaviors.
,Q5: A common side effect to monitor when initiating stimulants in children is:
A. Hyperprolactinemia
B. Decreased appetite and weight loss
C. Renal failure
D. Visual hallucinations
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Stimulant side effects commonly include decreased appetite, weight
loss, sleep difficulties, and increased heart rate/blood pressure; monitoring
growth and vitals is necessary.
Q6: Parent management training (PMT) in Barkley DRT focuses primarily on
teaching parents to:
A. Use physical punishment for immediate results
B. Implement clear rules, consistent consequences, positive reinforcement, and
routines
C. Ignore all behaviors
D. Rely solely on medication
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: PMT teaches consistent contingencies, clear expectations, positive
reinforcement for prosocial behavior, and nonphysical discipline strategies.
, Q7: Which of the following is a red flag necessitating urgent psychiatric
referral/hospitalization?
A. Occasional defiance at school
B. Severe suicidality or imminent danger to self/others
C. Mild sleep disturbance
D. Noncompliance with homework
Correct answer>>B
Rationale: Suicidal ideation with intent/plan or imminent risk to others requires
urgent safety-focused intervention, including possible hospitalization.
Short Answer
Q8: Name two evidence-based nonpharmacologic interventions for emotion
dysregulation in children and adolescents.
Answer: Parent management training (PMT), behavioral therapy (CBT-based skills
training), social skills training, emotion regulation skills training (e.g., DBT-
informed skills), school-based interventions.
Rationale: Behavioral and skills-based therapies target environmental
contingencies and teach coping/regulation skills.
Q9: When considering atypical antipsychotics for severe aggression associated
with disruptive behavior disorders, the PMHNP must monitor for:
A. Hypoglycemia only
B. Metabolic syndrome (weight gain, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia), extrapyramidal
symptoms, and sedation
C. Complete hair loss
