NU 664 Exam 2 (2025/2026) – 100 High-Yield
Questions on Anxiety, DSM-5, Schizophrenia,
GAD & Cultural Psychiatry(Pass100%)
Section I: Anxiety Disorders (Questions 1–30)
1. A 34-year-old reports recurrent, unexpected episodes of palpitations, sweating, trembling,
and fear of losing control. Between episodes, she worries constantly about having another
attack. Which DSM-5 diagnosis is most likely?
A) Generalized anxiety disorder
B) Panic disorder
C) Social anxiety disorder
D) Agoraphobia
Answer: B) Panic disorder
Rationale: Panic disorder requires recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus ≥1 month of
persistent concern about additional attacks or maladaptive behavior change.
2. In panic disorder, which medication is considered a first-line treatment?
A) Propranolol
B) Alprazolam as monotherapy
C) SSRI (e.g., sertraline)
D) Buspirone
Answer: C) SSRI (e.g., sertraline)
Rationale: SSRIs/SNRIs are first-line. Benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam) have high abuse
potential; buspirone is not effective for panic.
3. A 28-year-old avoids elevators, subways, and crowded theaters, fearing she cannot escape
if panic symptoms occur. She never has panic attacks at home. Diagnosis?
A) Panic disorder with agoraphobia
B) Agoraphobia without panic disorder
C) Specific phobia (claustrophobia)
D) Social anxiety disorder
,Answer: B) Agoraphobia without panic disorder
Rationale: DSM-5 allows agoraphobia without panic disorder if fear/avoidance of ≥2
situations (public transport, enclosed spaces, crowds) with no history of panic attacks.
4. Which symptom is not part of DSM-5 criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
A) Restlessness
B) Irritability
C) Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
D) Sleep disturbance
Answer: C) Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
Rationale: Panic attacks are not required for GAD; GAD involves excessive worry and ≥3 of 6
somatic/cognitive symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability,
muscle tension, sleep disturbance).
5. A 45-year-old fears speaking in meetings, eating in public, and writing in front of others,
fearing humiliation. Symptoms cause significant occupational impairment. Best first-line
pharmacotherapy?
A) Clonazepam
B) Sertraline
C) Phenelzine
D) Propranolol as needed
Answer: B) Sertraline
Rationale: SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) and SNRI venlafaxine are first-line for social anxiety
disorder. Propranolol may help performance-only but not generalized social anxiety.
6. Which is a key difference between GAD and social anxiety disorder?
A) GAD requires avoidance behaviors
B) Social anxiety disorder fear is limited to social/performance situations
C) GAD more often presents with panic attacks
D) Social anxiety disorder has no genetic component
Answer: B) Social anxiety disorder fear is limited to social/performance situations
Rationale: GAD worry is pervasive across domains (health, finances, work); social anxiety is
specifically about negative evaluation.
7. A child refuses to go to school, complains of stomachaches, and clings to mother.
Separation from mother causes nightmares about harm befalling her. Duration 6 weeks.
, Diagnosis?
A) School phobia
B) Separation anxiety disorder
C) Adjustment disorder
D) GAD
Answer: B) Separation anxiety disorder
Rationale: Developmentally inappropriate excessive fear of separation from attachment
figures, lasting ≥4 weeks in children/adolescents.
8. Which diagnosis requires onset before age 15?
A) Panic disorder
B) Selective mutism
C) Agoraphobia
D) Illness anxiety disorder
Answer: B) Selective mutism
Rationale: DSM-5 specifies onset in early childhood (usually age 2–4) but diagnosis can be
made at any age; however, failure to speak occurs in early development, often before age 5.
9. A 60-year-old worries excessively about having a brain tumor despite normal MRI and
neurologic exams. Repeated reassurance does not relieve anxiety. No somatic symptoms.
Diagnosis?
A) Somatic symptom disorder
B) Illness anxiety disorder
C) Panic disorder
D) Hypochondriasis (old term)
Answer: B) Illness anxiety disorder
Rationale: Illness anxiety disorder = high health anxiety with minimal/absent somatic
symptoms; somatic symptom disorder = distressing somatic symptoms.
10. Which is an FDA-approved medication for GAD?
A) Bupropion
B) Duloxetine
C) Lamotrigine
D) Quetiapine
Questions on Anxiety, DSM-5, Schizophrenia,
GAD & Cultural Psychiatry(Pass100%)
Section I: Anxiety Disorders (Questions 1–30)
1. A 34-year-old reports recurrent, unexpected episodes of palpitations, sweating, trembling,
and fear of losing control. Between episodes, she worries constantly about having another
attack. Which DSM-5 diagnosis is most likely?
A) Generalized anxiety disorder
B) Panic disorder
C) Social anxiety disorder
D) Agoraphobia
Answer: B) Panic disorder
Rationale: Panic disorder requires recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus ≥1 month of
persistent concern about additional attacks or maladaptive behavior change.
2. In panic disorder, which medication is considered a first-line treatment?
A) Propranolol
B) Alprazolam as monotherapy
C) SSRI (e.g., sertraline)
D) Buspirone
Answer: C) SSRI (e.g., sertraline)
Rationale: SSRIs/SNRIs are first-line. Benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam) have high abuse
potential; buspirone is not effective for panic.
3. A 28-year-old avoids elevators, subways, and crowded theaters, fearing she cannot escape
if panic symptoms occur. She never has panic attacks at home. Diagnosis?
A) Panic disorder with agoraphobia
B) Agoraphobia without panic disorder
C) Specific phobia (claustrophobia)
D) Social anxiety disorder
,Answer: B) Agoraphobia without panic disorder
Rationale: DSM-5 allows agoraphobia without panic disorder if fear/avoidance of ≥2
situations (public transport, enclosed spaces, crowds) with no history of panic attacks.
4. Which symptom is not part of DSM-5 criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
A) Restlessness
B) Irritability
C) Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
D) Sleep disturbance
Answer: C) Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
Rationale: Panic attacks are not required for GAD; GAD involves excessive worry and ≥3 of 6
somatic/cognitive symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability,
muscle tension, sleep disturbance).
5. A 45-year-old fears speaking in meetings, eating in public, and writing in front of others,
fearing humiliation. Symptoms cause significant occupational impairment. Best first-line
pharmacotherapy?
A) Clonazepam
B) Sertraline
C) Phenelzine
D) Propranolol as needed
Answer: B) Sertraline
Rationale: SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) and SNRI venlafaxine are first-line for social anxiety
disorder. Propranolol may help performance-only but not generalized social anxiety.
6. Which is a key difference between GAD and social anxiety disorder?
A) GAD requires avoidance behaviors
B) Social anxiety disorder fear is limited to social/performance situations
C) GAD more often presents with panic attacks
D) Social anxiety disorder has no genetic component
Answer: B) Social anxiety disorder fear is limited to social/performance situations
Rationale: GAD worry is pervasive across domains (health, finances, work); social anxiety is
specifically about negative evaluation.
7. A child refuses to go to school, complains of stomachaches, and clings to mother.
Separation from mother causes nightmares about harm befalling her. Duration 6 weeks.
, Diagnosis?
A) School phobia
B) Separation anxiety disorder
C) Adjustment disorder
D) GAD
Answer: B) Separation anxiety disorder
Rationale: Developmentally inappropriate excessive fear of separation from attachment
figures, lasting ≥4 weeks in children/adolescents.
8. Which diagnosis requires onset before age 15?
A) Panic disorder
B) Selective mutism
C) Agoraphobia
D) Illness anxiety disorder
Answer: B) Selective mutism
Rationale: DSM-5 specifies onset in early childhood (usually age 2–4) but diagnosis can be
made at any age; however, failure to speak occurs in early development, often before age 5.
9. A 60-year-old worries excessively about having a brain tumor despite normal MRI and
neurologic exams. Repeated reassurance does not relieve anxiety. No somatic symptoms.
Diagnosis?
A) Somatic symptom disorder
B) Illness anxiety disorder
C) Panic disorder
D) Hypochondriasis (old term)
Answer: B) Illness anxiety disorder
Rationale: Illness anxiety disorder = high health anxiety with minimal/absent somatic
symptoms; somatic symptom disorder = distressing somatic symptoms.
10. Which is an FDA-approved medication for GAD?
A) Bupropion
B) Duloxetine
C) Lamotrigine
D) Quetiapine
