NRNP 6635 | Week 6
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
Week 6 Midterm
Exam
NRNP 6635 | Complete Q&As + Rationales
100 100% 2026/2027
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS EDITION
TOPICS COVERED
Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria Anxiety & Trauma-Related Disorders
Psychopharmacology & Medication Management Ethical & Legal Issues in Psychiatry
Mood Disorders & Treatment Approaches
COVER PAGE - 1
, SECTION 1 | Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria | Q1-Q20 | NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 100
Q1. A 28-year-old woman presents to the clinic reporting a three-month history of persistent
sadness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating after a romantic breakup. She denies suicidal
ideation but describes feelings of hopelessness. The PMHNP is conducting a comprehensive
psychiatric assessment. Which component of the mental status examination focuses on the
patient's observable emotional expression during the interview?
A. Affect, which describes the objectively observed expression of emotion
B. Mood, which is the patient's subjective report of their emotional state
C. Thought process, which evaluates the logical flow of the patient's ideas
D. Insight, which assesses the patient's understanding of their illness
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Affect refers to the observable expression of emotion as assessed by the clinician during the interview, whereas
mood is the patient's subjective internal emotional state. Thought process evaluates logical flow of ideas, and
insight refers to awareness of illness, neither of which assesses observable emotional expression.
Q2 Question 2 of 100
Q2. A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by police after being found
disoriented and wandering in traffic. He is unable to state his name or provide coherent history.
The PMHNP must evaluate his decision-making capacity to refuse treatment. Which element is
most essential in determining treatment refusal capacity?
A. The patient demonstrates understanding of the proposed treatment and its consequences
B. The patient has a documented diagnosis of a mental illness
C. The patient agrees with the treatment team's recommendations
D. The patient has previously received similar treatment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Capacity requires the patient to understand relevant information, appreciate the situation and consequences,
reason about alternatives, and communicate a consistent choice. A mental illness diagnosis alone does not
negate capacity, agreement with the team is not required, and prior treatment history does not determine
capacity.
NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam -- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 53
,SECTION 1 | Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria | Q1-Q20 | NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam 2026/2027
Q3 Question 3 of 100
Q3. A 35-year-old woman reports a two-year history of excessive worry about her job performance,
family health, and finances, occurring more days than not. She describes muscle tension,
irritability, and sleep disturbance. The PMHNP suspects generalized anxiety disorder. According to
DSM-5, which duration criterion must be met for this diagnosis?
A. Excessive worry occurring more days than not for at least six months
B. Symptoms present for at least one continuous month
C. Symptoms present for at least two weeks
D. Symptoms present for at least one year
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
DSM-5 criteria for generalized anxiety disorder require excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not
for at least six months, about a number of events or activities. The other timeframes are incorrect for GAD and
would not meet diagnostic criteria.
Q4 Question 4 of 100
Q4. A 19-year-old college student is referred after his roommate reports he has been talking to
people who are not present and believes his professors are inserting thoughts into his mind.
Symptoms have been present for three weeks. The PMHNP considers the differential diagnosis.
According to DSM-5, which duration distinguishes brief psychotic disorder from schizophreniform
disorder?
A. Brief psychotic disorder lasts between one day and one month, while schizophreniform disorder lasts
one to six months
B. Brief psychotic disorder lasts one to three months, while schizophreniform lasts six months to one year
C. Both diagnoses require symptoms lasting at least six months
D. Brief psychotic disorder requires symptoms for at least three months
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Brief psychotic disorder involves psychotic symptoms lasting between one day and one month with full return to
premorbid functioning, whereas schizophreniform disorder requires symptoms lasting one to six months.
Schizophrenia requires six or more months of symptoms.
NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam -- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 53
, SECTION 1 | Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria | Q1-Q20 | NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam 2026/2027
Q5 Question 5 of 100
Q5. A 52-year-old man with chronic alcohol use disorder presents with confabulation, anterograde
amnesia, and ataxic gait. His family reports progressive cognitive decline over several months.
The PMHNP identifies features of Korsakoff syndrome. Which pathophysiological mechanism
underlies this condition?
A. Thiamine deficiency causing damage to the mammillary bodies and dorsomedial thalamus
B. Niacin deficiency causing degeneration of the cerebral cortex
C. Vitamin B12 deficiency causing subacute combined degeneration
D. Folate deficiency causing white matter lesions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Korsakoff syndrome results from chronic thiamine deficiency, typically due to alcohol use disorder, causing
bilateral damage to the mammillary bodies and dorsomedial thalamus. Niacin, B12, and folate deficiencies cause
different neurological syndromes with distinct clinical presentations.
Q6 Question 6 of 100
Q6. A 67-year-old woman is evaluated for progressive memory decline over the past year. Her
daughter reports she gets lost in familiar places and forgets recent conversations. Her Montreal
Cognitive Assessment score is 17/30. The PMHNP differentiates between mild and major
neurocognitive disorder. Which criterion distinguishes major from mild neurocognitive disorder?
A. Major neurocognitive disorder involves significant interference with independence in everyday activities
B. Major neurocognitive disorder requires symptoms present for at least two years
C. Major neurocognitive disorder requires a score below 15 on cognitive testing
D. Major neurocognitive disorder requires the presence of psychotic symptoms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Major neurocognitive disorder is defined by significant cognitive decline interfering with independence in everyday
activities, whereas mild neurocognitive disorder involves modest decline with preserved independence. Duration,
cognitive test scores, and psychotic symptoms do not define the distinction.
NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam -- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 53
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
Week 6 Midterm
Exam
NRNP 6635 | Complete Q&As + Rationales
100 100% 2026/2027
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS EDITION
TOPICS COVERED
Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria Anxiety & Trauma-Related Disorders
Psychopharmacology & Medication Management Ethical & Legal Issues in Psychiatry
Mood Disorders & Treatment Approaches
COVER PAGE - 1
, SECTION 1 | Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria | Q1-Q20 | NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 100
Q1. A 28-year-old woman presents to the clinic reporting a three-month history of persistent
sadness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating after a romantic breakup. She denies suicidal
ideation but describes feelings of hopelessness. The PMHNP is conducting a comprehensive
psychiatric assessment. Which component of the mental status examination focuses on the
patient's observable emotional expression during the interview?
A. Affect, which describes the objectively observed expression of emotion
B. Mood, which is the patient's subjective report of their emotional state
C. Thought process, which evaluates the logical flow of the patient's ideas
D. Insight, which assesses the patient's understanding of their illness
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Affect refers to the observable expression of emotion as assessed by the clinician during the interview, whereas
mood is the patient's subjective internal emotional state. Thought process evaluates logical flow of ideas, and
insight refers to awareness of illness, neither of which assesses observable emotional expression.
Q2 Question 2 of 100
Q2. A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by police after being found
disoriented and wandering in traffic. He is unable to state his name or provide coherent history.
The PMHNP must evaluate his decision-making capacity to refuse treatment. Which element is
most essential in determining treatment refusal capacity?
A. The patient demonstrates understanding of the proposed treatment and its consequences
B. The patient has a documented diagnosis of a mental illness
C. The patient agrees with the treatment team's recommendations
D. The patient has previously received similar treatment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Capacity requires the patient to understand relevant information, appreciate the situation and consequences,
reason about alternatives, and communicate a consistent choice. A mental illness diagnosis alone does not
negate capacity, agreement with the team is not required, and prior treatment history does not determine
capacity.
NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam -- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 53
,SECTION 1 | Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria | Q1-Q20 | NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam 2026/2027
Q3 Question 3 of 100
Q3. A 35-year-old woman reports a two-year history of excessive worry about her job performance,
family health, and finances, occurring more days than not. She describes muscle tension,
irritability, and sleep disturbance. The PMHNP suspects generalized anxiety disorder. According to
DSM-5, which duration criterion must be met for this diagnosis?
A. Excessive worry occurring more days than not for at least six months
B. Symptoms present for at least one continuous month
C. Symptoms present for at least two weeks
D. Symptoms present for at least one year
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
DSM-5 criteria for generalized anxiety disorder require excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not
for at least six months, about a number of events or activities. The other timeframes are incorrect for GAD and
would not meet diagnostic criteria.
Q4 Question 4 of 100
Q4. A 19-year-old college student is referred after his roommate reports he has been talking to
people who are not present and believes his professors are inserting thoughts into his mind.
Symptoms have been present for three weeks. The PMHNP considers the differential diagnosis.
According to DSM-5, which duration distinguishes brief psychotic disorder from schizophreniform
disorder?
A. Brief psychotic disorder lasts between one day and one month, while schizophreniform disorder lasts
one to six months
B. Brief psychotic disorder lasts one to three months, while schizophreniform lasts six months to one year
C. Both diagnoses require symptoms lasting at least six months
D. Brief psychotic disorder requires symptoms for at least three months
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Brief psychotic disorder involves psychotic symptoms lasting between one day and one month with full return to
premorbid functioning, whereas schizophreniform disorder requires symptoms lasting one to six months.
Schizophrenia requires six or more months of symptoms.
NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam -- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 53
, SECTION 1 | Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnostic Criteria | Q1-Q20 | NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam 2026/2027
Q5 Question 5 of 100
Q5. A 52-year-old man with chronic alcohol use disorder presents with confabulation, anterograde
amnesia, and ataxic gait. His family reports progressive cognitive decline over several months.
The PMHNP identifies features of Korsakoff syndrome. Which pathophysiological mechanism
underlies this condition?
A. Thiamine deficiency causing damage to the mammillary bodies and dorsomedial thalamus
B. Niacin deficiency causing degeneration of the cerebral cortex
C. Vitamin B12 deficiency causing subacute combined degeneration
D. Folate deficiency causing white matter lesions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Korsakoff syndrome results from chronic thiamine deficiency, typically due to alcohol use disorder, causing
bilateral damage to the mammillary bodies and dorsomedial thalamus. Niacin, B12, and folate deficiencies cause
different neurological syndromes with distinct clinical presentations.
Q6 Question 6 of 100
Q6. A 67-year-old woman is evaluated for progressive memory decline over the past year. Her
daughter reports she gets lost in familiar places and forgets recent conversations. Her Montreal
Cognitive Assessment score is 17/30. The PMHNP differentiates between mild and major
neurocognitive disorder. Which criterion distinguishes major from mild neurocognitive disorder?
A. Major neurocognitive disorder involves significant interference with independence in everyday activities
B. Major neurocognitive disorder requires symptoms present for at least two years
C. Major neurocognitive disorder requires a score below 15 on cognitive testing
D. Major neurocognitive disorder requires the presence of psychotic symptoms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Major neurocognitive disorder is defined by significant cognitive decline interfering with independence in everyday
activities, whereas mild neurocognitive disorder involves modest decline with preserved independence. Duration,
cognitive test scores, and psychotic symptoms do not define the distinction.
NRNP 6635 Week 6 Midterm Exam -- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 53
