NR547 Week 2 CEA Exam Due 18th January
2026 Complete Questions 1- 150 Actual Exam
Screenshots NR547 PMNHP Pre-Clinical
Diagnostic Online Exam Requires Respondus
Lockdown Browser + Webcam NR547
Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health (MSN) PMNH
Section 1: Differential Diagnosis Foundations (1–15)
Question 1
A mother refuses to acknowledge her teenage son's mental illness is perpetuated by
substance use, insisting his father's genes are to blame. Which defense mechanism
is this?
,,answer,,,,: Denial
Rationale: Denial involves refusing to accept reality or facts. The mother cannot
acknowledge the role of substance use despite clear evidence, protecting herself
from the uncomfortable truth.
Question 2
A 78-year-old man leans in with his right head side, asks for repetition, and is
irritable because he believes people are yelling. What should the PMHNP do
FIRST?
,,answer,,,,: Examine the patient's ear canals
Rationale: The presentation is classic for hearing loss. Irritability and social
isolation are common consequences of untreated hearing impairment. Ruling out
cerumen impaction or other causes of hearing loss is the least invasive first step.
,Question 3
A 35-year-old man with bipolar disorder felt a testicular lump and has not had a
physical exam in 10 years. Best action?
,,answer,,,,: Refer him to his primary care provider
Rationale: A new physical complaint in a patient with a psychiatric disorder
requires appropriate medical evaluation. The PMHNP should not dismiss or
perform an exam outside their scope; referral to PCP is the correct action.
Question 4
A 35-year-old presents with persistent sadness, anhedonia, fatigue for 3 weeks. No
mania history. Most likely primary diagnosis?
,,answer,,,,: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: Symptoms meet MDD criteria (≥5 symptoms for ≥2 weeks, including
depressed mood or anhedonia). The absence of mania or hypomania rules out
bipolar disorders.
Question 5
A patient reports re-experiencing a traumatic event, hypervigilance, and avoidance
for 4 months after a car accident. Diagnosis?
,,answer,,,,: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rationale: Symptoms persisting beyond 1 month after a traumatic event causing
clinically significant distress meet DSM-5-TR criteria for PTSD. The 4-month
duration excludes Acute Stress Disorder (<1 month).
Question 6
,A patient has intrusive thoughts about contamination and repetitive hand washing
that consume 2 hours daily. Diagnosis?
,,answer,,,,: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Rationale: OCD is characterized by obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts) and
compulsions (repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety). Time-consuming
(>1 hour/day) and distressing.
Question 7
What distinguishes bipolar I from bipolar II disorder?
,,answer,,,,: Presence of at least one manic episode
Rationale: Bipolar I requires at least one full manic episode (≥7 days or
hospitalization). Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic episode (≥4 days) and
one major depressive episode, but no full mania.
Question 8
A patient experiences sudden intense fear, palpitations, fear of dying, peaking
within 10 minutes. What is this?
,,answer,,,,: Panic attack
Rationale: Panic attacks are abrupt surges of intense fear peaking within minutes,
accompanied by physical symptoms (palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness
of breath, fear of dying). Can occur in panic disorder or other conditions.
Question 9
A 32-year-old presents with depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, poor
concentration for 3 weeks. First diagnostic step?
,,answer,,,,: Order a CBC and TSH
, Rationale: Rule out medical causes of depression (hypothyroidism, anemia,
vitamin deficiencies) before initiating psychiatric treatment. CBC and TSH are
first-line screening labs.
Question 10
Which structured diagnostic interview is gold standard for psychiatric assessment?
,,answer,,,,: SCID-5 (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5)
Rationale: The SCID-5 is a gold-standard semi-structured interview for diagnosing
major psychiatric disorders according to DSM-5 criteria, used in research and
clinical settings.
Question 11
What does "differential diagnosis" mean in psychiatric practice?
,,answer,,,,: The provider's initial hypothesis; a working list of potential problems
Rationale: Differential diagnosis is a working list of potential problems associated
with the chief complaint, prioritized from most likely to most dangerous, that
guides further assessment.
Question 12
What provides guidance for identifying psychiatric diagnoses?
,,answer,,,,: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR)
Rationale: The DSM-5-TR is the standard classification of mental disorders used
by mental health professionals in the United States for diagnostic criteria and
coding.
Question 13
2026 Complete Questions 1- 150 Actual Exam
Screenshots NR547 PMNHP Pre-Clinical
Diagnostic Online Exam Requires Respondus
Lockdown Browser + Webcam NR547
Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health (MSN) PMNH
Section 1: Differential Diagnosis Foundations (1–15)
Question 1
A mother refuses to acknowledge her teenage son's mental illness is perpetuated by
substance use, insisting his father's genes are to blame. Which defense mechanism
is this?
,,answer,,,,: Denial
Rationale: Denial involves refusing to accept reality or facts. The mother cannot
acknowledge the role of substance use despite clear evidence, protecting herself
from the uncomfortable truth.
Question 2
A 78-year-old man leans in with his right head side, asks for repetition, and is
irritable because he believes people are yelling. What should the PMHNP do
FIRST?
,,answer,,,,: Examine the patient's ear canals
Rationale: The presentation is classic for hearing loss. Irritability and social
isolation are common consequences of untreated hearing impairment. Ruling out
cerumen impaction or other causes of hearing loss is the least invasive first step.
,Question 3
A 35-year-old man with bipolar disorder felt a testicular lump and has not had a
physical exam in 10 years. Best action?
,,answer,,,,: Refer him to his primary care provider
Rationale: A new physical complaint in a patient with a psychiatric disorder
requires appropriate medical evaluation. The PMHNP should not dismiss or
perform an exam outside their scope; referral to PCP is the correct action.
Question 4
A 35-year-old presents with persistent sadness, anhedonia, fatigue for 3 weeks. No
mania history. Most likely primary diagnosis?
,,answer,,,,: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: Symptoms meet MDD criteria (≥5 symptoms for ≥2 weeks, including
depressed mood or anhedonia). The absence of mania or hypomania rules out
bipolar disorders.
Question 5
A patient reports re-experiencing a traumatic event, hypervigilance, and avoidance
for 4 months after a car accident. Diagnosis?
,,answer,,,,: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rationale: Symptoms persisting beyond 1 month after a traumatic event causing
clinically significant distress meet DSM-5-TR criteria for PTSD. The 4-month
duration excludes Acute Stress Disorder (<1 month).
Question 6
,A patient has intrusive thoughts about contamination and repetitive hand washing
that consume 2 hours daily. Diagnosis?
,,answer,,,,: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Rationale: OCD is characterized by obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts) and
compulsions (repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety). Time-consuming
(>1 hour/day) and distressing.
Question 7
What distinguishes bipolar I from bipolar II disorder?
,,answer,,,,: Presence of at least one manic episode
Rationale: Bipolar I requires at least one full manic episode (≥7 days or
hospitalization). Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic episode (≥4 days) and
one major depressive episode, but no full mania.
Question 8
A patient experiences sudden intense fear, palpitations, fear of dying, peaking
within 10 minutes. What is this?
,,answer,,,,: Panic attack
Rationale: Panic attacks are abrupt surges of intense fear peaking within minutes,
accompanied by physical symptoms (palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness
of breath, fear of dying). Can occur in panic disorder or other conditions.
Question 9
A 32-year-old presents with depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, poor
concentration for 3 weeks. First diagnostic step?
,,answer,,,,: Order a CBC and TSH
, Rationale: Rule out medical causes of depression (hypothyroidism, anemia,
vitamin deficiencies) before initiating psychiatric treatment. CBC and TSH are
first-line screening labs.
Question 10
Which structured diagnostic interview is gold standard for psychiatric assessment?
,,answer,,,,: SCID-5 (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5)
Rationale: The SCID-5 is a gold-standard semi-structured interview for diagnosing
major psychiatric disorders according to DSM-5 criteria, used in research and
clinical settings.
Question 11
What does "differential diagnosis" mean in psychiatric practice?
,,answer,,,,: The provider's initial hypothesis; a working list of potential problems
Rationale: Differential diagnosis is a working list of potential problems associated
with the chief complaint, prioritized from most likely to most dangerous, that
guides further assessment.
Question 12
What provides guidance for identifying psychiatric diagnoses?
,,answer,,,,: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR)
Rationale: The DSM-5-TR is the standard classification of mental disorders used
by mental health professionals in the United States for diagnostic criteria and
coding.
Question 13
