PSI PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH CERTIFICATION
EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE 135 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
◉ Baby Blues. Answer: Affects 60-80% new mothers. Due to hormone
changes and sleep deprivation. lasts 2 days to 2 weeks. Tearful, labile
affect, reactivity, exhaustion BUT predominately happy, self-esteem
remains unchanged. Resolves without intervention. Recommend self
care strategies.
◉ How to determine is it blues or depression. Answer: severity,
intensity, duration of symptoms
◉ Prevalence of postpartum anxiety. Answer: 8-20%
◉ Prevalence of prenatal anxiety. Answer: 15%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum depression. Answer: 21%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum panic disorder. Answer: 11%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum OCD. Answer: 11%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum PTSD. Answer: 9%
,◉ Percentage of those with Bipolar whose symptoms relapse w/o meds.
Answer: 70%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum psychosis. Answer: 1-2 out of 1,000
◉ Prevalence of PPD in fathers. Answer: 10%
◉ Prevalence psychosis in women with known bipolar disorder. Answer:
20-30%
◉ Traits of OCD. Answer: recognizes that thoughts are unhealthy,
extreme anxiety related to thoughts/images, concerned about "snapping".
parent does not want to harm the baby, thoughts are frightening.
◉ Traits of psychosis. Answer: does not recognize actions/thoughts are
unhealthy, may seem to have less anxiety when indulging in
thoughts/behaviors, no insight about distortion of thoughts, parent has
delusional beliefs about the baby, thoughts of harming the baby are ego-
syntonic
◉ Traits of PTSD. Answer: intrusive thoughts (flashbacks), avoidance,
negative cognitions and mood, arousal (sleep disturbance, poor
concentration, aggression, hyper vigilance)
, ◉ maternal mortality-all women. Answer: 1,200 a year or 14.4 per
100,000
◉ maternal mortality-black women. Answer: 43.5 per 100,000
◉ Bipolar 1 Disorder. Answer: a type of bipolar disorder marked by at
least one lifetime full manic and major depressive episodes
◉ Hypomania. Answer: A mild manic state in which the individual
seems infectiously merry, extremely talkative, charming, and tireless. up
to 4 days in length
◉ mania. Answer: a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly
optimistic state-function is impaired. can last 7 days
◉ What percentage of postpartum people receive their first diagnosis of
bipolar disorder?. Answer: 50%
◉ Risk factors for postpartum psychosis. Answer: Family or Personal
history of bipolar or psychotic disorder, first pregnancy, recent
discontinuation of psychotropic medication
◉ Postpartum psychosis symptoms. Answer: onset-2 weeks postpartum,
poor concentration, disorientation, agitation, aloof, lack of self care,
EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE 135 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
◉ Baby Blues. Answer: Affects 60-80% new mothers. Due to hormone
changes and sleep deprivation. lasts 2 days to 2 weeks. Tearful, labile
affect, reactivity, exhaustion BUT predominately happy, self-esteem
remains unchanged. Resolves without intervention. Recommend self
care strategies.
◉ How to determine is it blues or depression. Answer: severity,
intensity, duration of symptoms
◉ Prevalence of postpartum anxiety. Answer: 8-20%
◉ Prevalence of prenatal anxiety. Answer: 15%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum depression. Answer: 21%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum panic disorder. Answer: 11%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum OCD. Answer: 11%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum PTSD. Answer: 9%
,◉ Percentage of those with Bipolar whose symptoms relapse w/o meds.
Answer: 70%
◉ Prevalence of postpartum psychosis. Answer: 1-2 out of 1,000
◉ Prevalence of PPD in fathers. Answer: 10%
◉ Prevalence psychosis in women with known bipolar disorder. Answer:
20-30%
◉ Traits of OCD. Answer: recognizes that thoughts are unhealthy,
extreme anxiety related to thoughts/images, concerned about "snapping".
parent does not want to harm the baby, thoughts are frightening.
◉ Traits of psychosis. Answer: does not recognize actions/thoughts are
unhealthy, may seem to have less anxiety when indulging in
thoughts/behaviors, no insight about distortion of thoughts, parent has
delusional beliefs about the baby, thoughts of harming the baby are ego-
syntonic
◉ Traits of PTSD. Answer: intrusive thoughts (flashbacks), avoidance,
negative cognitions and mood, arousal (sleep disturbance, poor
concentration, aggression, hyper vigilance)
, ◉ maternal mortality-all women. Answer: 1,200 a year or 14.4 per
100,000
◉ maternal mortality-black women. Answer: 43.5 per 100,000
◉ Bipolar 1 Disorder. Answer: a type of bipolar disorder marked by at
least one lifetime full manic and major depressive episodes
◉ Hypomania. Answer: A mild manic state in which the individual
seems infectiously merry, extremely talkative, charming, and tireless. up
to 4 days in length
◉ mania. Answer: a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly
optimistic state-function is impaired. can last 7 days
◉ What percentage of postpartum people receive their first diagnosis of
bipolar disorder?. Answer: 50%
◉ Risk factors for postpartum psychosis. Answer: Family or Personal
history of bipolar or psychotic disorder, first pregnancy, recent
discontinuation of psychotropic medication
◉ Postpartum psychosis symptoms. Answer: onset-2 weeks postpartum,
poor concentration, disorientation, agitation, aloof, lack of self care,
