PSI Perinatal Mental Health Certification
Exam Study Guide (2026) Question and
Answer 100% Verified A+ Trusted Pass
Resource
• Theories of etiology -✓✓biological sensitivities to hormone changes (sleep),
genetic vulnerability (prior diagnosis), psychological (identity),
social/environmental (poor social support/racism)
• Baby Blues -✓✓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 -✓✓severity, intensity, duration of
symptoms
• Prevalence of postpartum anxiety -✓✓8-20%
• Prevalence of prenatal anxiety -✓✓15%
• Prevalence of postpartum depression -✓✓21%
• Prevalence of postpartum panic disorder -✓✓11%
• Prevalence of postpartum OCD -✓✓11%
• Prevalence of postpartum PTSD -✓✓9%
• Percentage of bipolar symptoms that relapse w/o meds -✓✓70%
• Prevalence of postpartum psychosis -✓✓1-2 out of 1,000
• Prevalence of PPD in fathers -✓✓10%
, • Prevalence psychosis in women with known bipolar disorder -✓✓20-30%
• Traits of OCD -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓intrusive thoughts (flashbacks), avoidance, negative
cognitions and mood, arousal (sleep disturbance, poor concentration, aggression,
hyper vigilance)
• maternal mortality-all women -✓✓1,200 a year or 14.4 per 100,000
• maternal mortality-black women -✓✓43.5 per 100,000
• Bipolar 1 Disorder -✓✓a type of bipolar disorder marked by at least one lifetime
full manic and major depressive episodes
• Hypomania -✓✓A mild manic state in which the individual seems infectiously
merry, extremely talkative, charming, and tireless. up to 4 days in length
• mania -✓✓a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state-
function is impaired. can last 7 days
• prevalence of first diagnosis of bipolar disorder postpartum -✓✓50%
• Risk factors for postpartum psychosis -✓✓History of bipolar or psychotic
disorder, first pregnancy, family history, recent discontinuation of psychotropic
medication
• Postpartum psychosis symptoms -✓✓onset-2 weeks postpartum, poor
concentration, disorientation, agitation, aloof, lack of self care, elated/labile
Exam Study Guide (2026) Question and
Answer 100% Verified A+ Trusted Pass
Resource
• Theories of etiology -✓✓biological sensitivities to hormone changes (sleep),
genetic vulnerability (prior diagnosis), psychological (identity),
social/environmental (poor social support/racism)
• Baby Blues -✓✓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 -✓✓severity, intensity, duration of
symptoms
• Prevalence of postpartum anxiety -✓✓8-20%
• Prevalence of prenatal anxiety -✓✓15%
• Prevalence of postpartum depression -✓✓21%
• Prevalence of postpartum panic disorder -✓✓11%
• Prevalence of postpartum OCD -✓✓11%
• Prevalence of postpartum PTSD -✓✓9%
• Percentage of bipolar symptoms that relapse w/o meds -✓✓70%
• Prevalence of postpartum psychosis -✓✓1-2 out of 1,000
• Prevalence of PPD in fathers -✓✓10%
, • Prevalence psychosis in women with known bipolar disorder -✓✓20-30%
• Traits of OCD -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓intrusive thoughts (flashbacks), avoidance, negative
cognitions and mood, arousal (sleep disturbance, poor concentration, aggression,
hyper vigilance)
• maternal mortality-all women -✓✓1,200 a year or 14.4 per 100,000
• maternal mortality-black women -✓✓43.5 per 100,000
• Bipolar 1 Disorder -✓✓a type of bipolar disorder marked by at least one lifetime
full manic and major depressive episodes
• Hypomania -✓✓A mild manic state in which the individual seems infectiously
merry, extremely talkative, charming, and tireless. up to 4 days in length
• mania -✓✓a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state-
function is impaired. can last 7 days
• prevalence of first diagnosis of bipolar disorder postpartum -✓✓50%
• Risk factors for postpartum psychosis -✓✓History of bipolar or psychotic
disorder, first pregnancy, family history, recent discontinuation of psychotropic
medication
• Postpartum psychosis symptoms -✓✓onset-2 weeks postpartum, poor
concentration, disorientation, agitation, aloof, lack of self care, elated/labile
