NURS 6630 WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT SHORT ANSWER
ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 | Complete Solutions |
Verified Answers | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Part I: Introduction to Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Process (8 questions)
Q1: A 24-year-old graduate student presents for an initial psychiatric evaluation.
During the interview, she states, "I feel empty all the time, like nothing matters,"
while maintaining steady eye contact and a neutral facial expression. Which MSE
pairing correctly identifies the clinical observation?
A. Mood: neutral; Affect: congruent
B. Mood: dysphoric; Affect: flat
C. Mood: depressed; Affect: restricted [CORRECT]
D. Mood: anxious; Affect: labile
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient describes a depressed internal state (mood = depressed) but
shows minimal external emotional expression (affect = restricted). A misses the
dysphoric subjective report. B — flat affect implies near-absent emotional expression,
which is more severe than restricted. D misidentifies both mood and affect.
Q2: During a mental status examination, a patient describes hearing a voice
commenting on his actions throughout the day. He is fully oriented and denies visual
phenomena. Which MSE domain is being assessed?
A. Cognition, specifically executive function and attention
B. Thought content, specifically delusional ideation
C. Perception, specifically auditory hallucinations [CORRECT]
D. Insight, specifically awareness of illness
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hearing voices is a perceptual disturbance classified as auditory
hallucinations in the perception domain of the MSE. A assesses cognitive abilities, not
sensory experiences. B — thought content refers to ideas and beliefs (delusions), not
sensory phenomena. D assesses the patient's recognition of their condition.
Q3: A patient presents with depressed mood, anhedonia, insomnia, fatigue, and poor
concentration. The patient also reports a 15-pound weight loss over six weeks and
passive suicidal ideation without plan or intent. Which assessment step must come
before assigning a DSM-5-TR diagnosis of major depressive disorder?
A. Administer the PHQ-9 to quantify symptom severity
B. Rule out medical conditions and substance use that could explain the symptoms
(thyroid dysfunction, anemia, medication side effects, alcohol use) [CORRECT]
C. Immediately initiate an SSRI, as the symptom count meets criteria for MDD
D. Refer for neuropsychological testing to rule out dementia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DSM-5-TR requires ruling out medical conditions and substance-induced
causes before assigning a primary psychiatric diagnosis. A is useful but secondary to
medical rule-out. C prematurely treats without a confirmed diagnosis. D is
unnecessary given the acute symptom presentation without cognitive decline.
Q4: A patient reports, "The FBI has been monitoring my phone calls because I know
the truth about the government's alien experiments." The patient is convinced this is
real and cannot be dissuaded. Which term best describes this phenomenon?
A. An idea of reference — believing neutral events have personal significance
B. A delusion — a fixed false belief maintained despite contradictory evidence
[CORRECT]
C. A hallucination — a sensory experience without external stimulus
D. A loose association — a disruption in the logical flow of thoughts
ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 | Complete Solutions |
Verified Answers | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Part I: Introduction to Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Process (8 questions)
Q1: A 24-year-old graduate student presents for an initial psychiatric evaluation.
During the interview, she states, "I feel empty all the time, like nothing matters,"
while maintaining steady eye contact and a neutral facial expression. Which MSE
pairing correctly identifies the clinical observation?
A. Mood: neutral; Affect: congruent
B. Mood: dysphoric; Affect: flat
C. Mood: depressed; Affect: restricted [CORRECT]
D. Mood: anxious; Affect: labile
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient describes a depressed internal state (mood = depressed) but
shows minimal external emotional expression (affect = restricted). A misses the
dysphoric subjective report. B — flat affect implies near-absent emotional expression,
which is more severe than restricted. D misidentifies both mood and affect.
Q2: During a mental status examination, a patient describes hearing a voice
commenting on his actions throughout the day. He is fully oriented and denies visual
phenomena. Which MSE domain is being assessed?
A. Cognition, specifically executive function and attention
B. Thought content, specifically delusional ideation
C. Perception, specifically auditory hallucinations [CORRECT]
D. Insight, specifically awareness of illness
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hearing voices is a perceptual disturbance classified as auditory
hallucinations in the perception domain of the MSE. A assesses cognitive abilities, not
sensory experiences. B — thought content refers to ideas and beliefs (delusions), not
sensory phenomena. D assesses the patient's recognition of their condition.
Q3: A patient presents with depressed mood, anhedonia, insomnia, fatigue, and poor
concentration. The patient also reports a 15-pound weight loss over six weeks and
passive suicidal ideation without plan or intent. Which assessment step must come
before assigning a DSM-5-TR diagnosis of major depressive disorder?
A. Administer the PHQ-9 to quantify symptom severity
B. Rule out medical conditions and substance use that could explain the symptoms
(thyroid dysfunction, anemia, medication side effects, alcohol use) [CORRECT]
C. Immediately initiate an SSRI, as the symptom count meets criteria for MDD
D. Refer for neuropsychological testing to rule out dementia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DSM-5-TR requires ruling out medical conditions and substance-induced
causes before assigning a primary psychiatric diagnosis. A is useful but secondary to
medical rule-out. C prematurely treats without a confirmed diagnosis. D is
unnecessary given the acute symptom presentation without cognitive decline.
Q4: A patient reports, "The FBI has been monitoring my phone calls because I know
the truth about the government's alien experiments." The patient is convinced this is
real and cannot be dissuaded. Which term best describes this phenomenon?
A. An idea of reference — believing neutral events have personal significance
B. A delusion — a fixed false belief maintained despite contradictory evidence
[CORRECT]
C. A hallucination — a sensory experience without external stimulus
D. A loose association — a disruption in the logical flow of thoughts
