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NRNP 6635 FINAL EXAM (PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND
DIAGNOSTIC REASONING) LATEST VERSION 2026-
2027 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS ALL
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES JUST RELEASED THIS
YEAR
NRNP 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning
300 Randomized Final Exam Practice Questions
With Answers and Italicized Rationales
Question 1
A 32-year-old woman reports persistently low mood, anhedonia, insomnia, poor appetite, and
feelings of worthlessness for the past three weeks. Symptoms began two weeks after giving
birth to a healthy child. She has no prior psychiatric history. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder, single episode
B) Postpartum blues
C) Postpartum depression
D) Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
Answer: C
Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of delivery and includes major depressive
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episode symptoms. Postpartum blues is milder and lasts less than two weeks. She meets full
criteria for a major depressive episode, timing points to postpartum depression.
Question 2
A 45-year-old man presents with recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by one month of
persistent worry about having another attack and avoidance of exercise because it causes
palpitations. What diagnosis best fits?
A) Panic disorder
B) Generalized anxiety disorder
C) Specific phobia
D) Illness anxiety disorder
Answer: A
Panic disorder requires recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus ≥1 month of concern about
additional attacks or maladaptive behavior change. His worry and avoidance of exercise (due to
similar somatic sensations) are typical.
Question 3
A 20-year-old college student reports feeling “down,” but also describes periods of increased
energy, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and reckless spending lasting four days, followed
by two weeks of normal mood. These cycles have occurred three times in the past year. What is
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the most likely diagnosis?
A) Bipolar I disorder
B) Cyclothymic disorder
C) Bipolar II disorder
D) Major depressive disorder
Answer: C
Bipolar II disorder requires at least one hypomanic episode (≥4 days) and one major depressive
episode. The four-day duration meets hypomania criteria. Bipolar I requires full mania (≥7 days
or hospitalization).
Question 4
A 60-year-old man with a 30-year history of alcohol use disorder presents with confusion,
ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. His family reports he has been eating poorly. What is the most
likely diagnosis?
A) Alcoholic hallucinosis
B) Wernicke encephalopathy
C) Korsakoff syndrome
D) Hepatic encephalopathy
Answer: B
Wernicke encephalopathy presents with the classic triad of confusion, ataxia, and
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ophthalmoplegia due to thiamine deficiency, often in chronic alcohol use. Korsakoff syndrome is
more chronic with memory deficits.
Question 5
A 28-year-old woman reports recurrent episodes of binge eating (consuming large amounts of
food in two hours with loss of control) occurring twice weekly for four months. She does not
engage in compensatory behaviors. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Bulimia nervosa
B) Binge-eating disorder
C) Anorexia nervosa, binge-eating type
D) Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Answer: B
Binge-eating disorder requires recurrent binge eating without regular compensatory behaviors,
at least once weekly for three months. Bulimia nervosa requires compensatory behaviors.
Question 6
A 55-year-old woman with no psychiatric history begins hearing a voice commenting that she is
“a bad person.” She has become withdrawn and stopped bathing. She denies hallucinations in
other modalities. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder with psychotic features
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SUCCESS!
NRNP 6635 FINAL EXAM (PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND
DIAGNOSTIC REASONING) LATEST VERSION 2026-
2027 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS ALL
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES JUST RELEASED THIS
YEAR
NRNP 6635 – Psychopathology and Diagnostic Reasoning
300 Randomized Final Exam Practice Questions
With Answers and Italicized Rationales
Question 1
A 32-year-old woman reports persistently low mood, anhedonia, insomnia, poor appetite, and
feelings of worthlessness for the past three weeks. Symptoms began two weeks after giving
birth to a healthy child. She has no prior psychiatric history. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder, single episode
B) Postpartum blues
C) Postpartum depression
D) Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
Answer: C
Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of delivery and includes major depressive
1
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episode symptoms. Postpartum blues is milder and lasts less than two weeks. She meets full
criteria for a major depressive episode, timing points to postpartum depression.
Question 2
A 45-year-old man presents with recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by one month of
persistent worry about having another attack and avoidance of exercise because it causes
palpitations. What diagnosis best fits?
A) Panic disorder
B) Generalized anxiety disorder
C) Specific phobia
D) Illness anxiety disorder
Answer: A
Panic disorder requires recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus ≥1 month of concern about
additional attacks or maladaptive behavior change. His worry and avoidance of exercise (due to
similar somatic sensations) are typical.
Question 3
A 20-year-old college student reports feeling “down,” but also describes periods of increased
energy, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and reckless spending lasting four days, followed
by two weeks of normal mood. These cycles have occurred three times in the past year. What is
2
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the most likely diagnosis?
A) Bipolar I disorder
B) Cyclothymic disorder
C) Bipolar II disorder
D) Major depressive disorder
Answer: C
Bipolar II disorder requires at least one hypomanic episode (≥4 days) and one major depressive
episode. The four-day duration meets hypomania criteria. Bipolar I requires full mania (≥7 days
or hospitalization).
Question 4
A 60-year-old man with a 30-year history of alcohol use disorder presents with confusion,
ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. His family reports he has been eating poorly. What is the most
likely diagnosis?
A) Alcoholic hallucinosis
B) Wernicke encephalopathy
C) Korsakoff syndrome
D) Hepatic encephalopathy
Answer: B
Wernicke encephalopathy presents with the classic triad of confusion, ataxia, and
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ophthalmoplegia due to thiamine deficiency, often in chronic alcohol use. Korsakoff syndrome is
more chronic with memory deficits.
Question 5
A 28-year-old woman reports recurrent episodes of binge eating (consuming large amounts of
food in two hours with loss of control) occurring twice weekly for four months. She does not
engage in compensatory behaviors. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Bulimia nervosa
B) Binge-eating disorder
C) Anorexia nervosa, binge-eating type
D) Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Answer: B
Binge-eating disorder requires recurrent binge eating without regular compensatory behaviors,
at least once weekly for three months. Bulimia nervosa requires compensatory behaviors.
Question 6
A 55-year-old woman with no psychiatric history begins hearing a voice commenting that she is
“a bad person.” She has become withdrawn and stopped bathing. She denies hallucinations in
other modalities. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder with psychotic features
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