NRNP 6635 Psychopathology Midterm Exam 2026/2027 | Q&A | DSM-5-TR Criteria, Mood Disorders, Psychosis, Personality Disorders & Differential Diagnosis | Verified Answers with Rationales | Grade A+ | NGN-Aligned

INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD—This comprehensive study guide is specifically designed for Walden University PMHNP students preparing for the NRNP 6635 Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning Midterm Exam for the 2026/2027 academic year. Based on verified exam materials from top-selling student resources, this resource contains expertly verified practice questions and 100% correct answers with detailed rationales to help you master core psychopathology concepts and achieve a top score (Grade A+). This comprehensive guide covers all major topics tested on the NRNP 6635 Midterm Exam : Mood Disorders : Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) requires at least 5 symptoms including depressed mood or anhedonia for ≥2 weeks ; Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia) – chronic symptoms for ≥2 years . Bipolar I (at least one manic episode lasting ≥7 days or requiring hospitalization) ; Bipolar II (hypomanic episodes + major depressive episodes) . Manic episode symptoms: elevated/irritable mood, grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, flight of ideas, distractibility, increased goal-directed activity, excessive pleasure-seeking with high-risk potential . Hypomania (≥4 days, not severe enough to cause marked impairment) . Anxiety Disorders : Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – excessive anxiety/worry for ≥6 months with ≥3 symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance) . Panic Disorder – recurrent unexpected panic attacks with ≥1 month of worry about future attacks or maladaptive behavior change . Social Anxiety Disorder – marked fear/anxiety about social situations where individual may be scrutinized . Agoraphobia – fear of situations where escape might be difficult . Separation Anxiety Disorder – developmentally inappropriate fear of separation from attachment figures . Selective Mutism – consistent failure to speak in social situations where speaking expected . Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders : OCD requires presence of obsessions (recurrent intrusive thoughts, urges, images) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) ; time-consuming (1 hour/day) or cause significant distress/impairment . Body Dysmorphic Disorder – preoccupation with perceived defect in appearance ; Hoarding Disorder – persistent difficulty discarding possessions regardless of value ; Trichotillomania – recurrent pulling out of one's hair ; Excoriation – recurrent skin picking . Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders : PTSD – exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence; intrusive symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition/mood, alterations in arousal/reactivity for 1 month . Acute Stress Disorder – similar symptoms lasting 3 days to 1 month . Adjustment Disorder – emotional/behavioral symptoms within 3 months of identifiable stressor . Psychotic Disorders : Schizophrenia requires ≥2 symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized/catatonic behavior, negative symptoms) for ≥1 month; continuous signs of disturbance for ≥6 months . Delusional Disorder – one or more delusions for ≥1 month without other psychotic symptoms . Schizoaffective Disorder – mood episode concurrent with schizophrenia symptoms; delusions/hallucinations for ≥2 weeks without major mood episode . Brief Psychotic Disorder – symptoms for 1 day to 1 month . Schizophreniform Disorder – 1-6 months . Personality Disorders (Clusters) : Cluster A (odd/eccentric) – paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal . Cluster B (dramatic/erratic) – antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic . Cluster C (anxious/fearful) – avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive . Borderline PD – instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affect, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, splitting, self-harm/suicidal behavior . Antisocial PD – disregard for rights of others, lack of remorse, onset before age 15 (conduct disorder) . Narcissistic PD – grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy . Neurocognitive Disorders : Delirium – acute disturbance in attention and awareness, develops over short period (hours to days), fluctuating course . Major Neurocognitive Disorder (dementia) – significant cognitive decline from previous level interfering with independence . Mild Neurocognitive Disorder – modest decline not interfering with independence . Alzheimer's Disease – most common type (60-80%), insidious onset, progressive impairment . Vascular Dementia – stepwise deterioration, focal neurological signs . Lewy Body Dementia – fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, REM sleep behavior disorder . Frontotemporal Dementia – behavioral/personality changes or language impairment . Substance-Related & Addictive Disorders : Alcohol Use Disorder – ≥2 symptoms within 12-month period (tolerance, withdrawal, larger amounts/longer than intended, persistent desire/unsuccessful attempts to cut down, time spent obtaining/using/recovering, craving, failure to fulfill major role obligations, continued use despite social/interpersonal problems, giving up activities, use in hazardous situations, continued use despite physical/psychological problems) . Opioid Use Disorder, Stimulant Use Disorder, Cannabis Use Disorder . Eating Disorders : Anorexia Nervosa – restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, disturbance in self-perceived weight/shape . Bulimia Nervosa – recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (purging, fasting, excessive exercise) at least once weekly for 3 months . Binge-Eating Disorder – recurrent binge eating without compensatory behaviors . Pediatric Mental Health : ADHD – persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity interfering with functioning/development; symptoms present before age 12; present in ≥2 settings . Autism Spectrum Disorder – persistent deficits in social communication/interaction across multiple contexts, restricted/repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities . Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) – pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness for ≥6 months . Conduct Disorder – repetitive/persistent pattern of behavior violating basic rights of others or age-appropriate societal norms . Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders : Somatic Symptom Disorder – one or more somatic symptoms distressing/disrupting daily life, excessive thoughts/feelings/behaviors related to symptoms for ≥6 months . Illness Anxiety Disorder – preoccupation with having or acquiring serious illness, high health anxiety, minimal somatic symptoms . Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder) – altered voluntary motor/sensory function, incompatible with known neurological/medical conditions . Factitious Disorder – falsification of physical/psychological signs/symptoms, deception, no external rewards . Dissociative Disorders : Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – disruption of identity characterized by ≥2 distinct personality states, gaps in recall of everyday events, not part of cultural/religious practice . Dissociative Amnesia – inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually traumatic/stressful . Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder – persistent/recurrent experiences of detachment from one's own mental processes/body (depersonalization) or from surroundings (derealization) . Sample Questions Include : "A 30-year-old patient presents with persistent sadness, anhedonia, and insomnia for 6 weeks. Which diagnosis is most likely?" → Major Depressive Disorder (persistent sadness, anhedonia, and insomnia for over 2 weeks meet DSM-5-TR criteria) "Which neurotransmitter is most implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia?" → Dopamine (dopamine hypothesis suggests excessive dopamine activity in mesolimbic pathways) "Select the mental function that is most affected in mild cognitive impairment." → Recent memory (most significant early deficit) "Select the drug of choice to treat psychosis in delirious patients." → Haloperidol (first-line for psychosis in delirium) "Which personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity and lack of empathy?" → Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Cluster B) "What is the minimum duration required for a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder?" → 6 months (excessive anxiety/worry for at least 6 months) "What is the key distinguishing feature between Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder?" → Presence of manic episodes (Bipolar I requires full manic episodes; Bipolar II involves hypomanic episodes only) "Which assessment tool is commonly used to screen for depression in primary care settings?" → PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) "What is the therapeutic lithium level for acute mania?" → 0.8-1.2 mEq/L (maintenance: 0.6-0.8) "What are the 11 therapeutic factors in group therapy according to Yalom?" → Instillation of hope, universality, imparting information, altruism, corrective recapitulation, development of socializing techniques, imitative behavior, interpersonal learning, group cohesiveness, catharsis, existential factors All questions include complete rationales based on current DSM-5-TR criteria, evidence-based practice, and Walden University curriculum requirements. DOCUMENT ACCESS: This study guide is available as an instant digital download (PDF) immediately upon purchase. Fully text-searchable, printable, and accessible anytime through your user account. 100% satisfaction guarantee. Trusted by thousands of Walden PMHNP students for NRNP 6635 midterm exam preparation and mastering psychopathology competencies.