NR547 Final Exam Questions & Detailed Answers 2025–2026 | Chamberlain
University PMHNP Review | HAM-D, PHQ-9, MDQ, MDD, Bipolar & Psych
Assessment Newest Version UP-TO-DATE EXAM
SECTION 1: HAMILTON DEPRESSION RATING SCALE
(HAM-D)
Questions 1–15
Question 1
What is the HAM-D and how is it administered?
A) A self-report screening tool for depression that takes 5 minutes to
complete
B) A clinician-administered depression severity rating scale (17 or 21 items)
that takes 20–30 minutes
C) A computerized adaptive test for mood disorders
D) A brief screening tool for bipolar disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) is a clinician-
administered depression severity rating scale that typically includes 17 or 21
items and takes 20–30 minutes to administer. Unlike self-report tools such as
the PHQ-9, the HAM-D requires a trained clinician to rate both psychological
and somatic symptoms. It is not a screening tool; it is primarily used to
monitor treatment response over time.
,Question 2
What are the core components assessed by the HAM-D (17-item version)?
A) Anxiety, sleep, appetite, and energy only
B) Depressed mood, guilt, suicide, insomnia, work/activities, psychomotor
retardation/agitation, anxiety, GI symptoms, general somatic symptoms,
hypochondriasis, weight loss, and insight
C) Only mood and sleep disturbance
D) Cognitive symptoms and social functioning only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HAM-D assesses a comprehensive range of symptoms
including: depressed mood, guilt, suicide, insomnia (early/middle/late),
work/activities, psychomotor retardation/agitation, anxiety
(psychic/somatic), gastrointestinal symptoms, general somatic symptoms,
hypochondriasis, weight loss, and insight. The HAM-D uniquely weights
insomnia items and includes somatic symptoms that are often overlooked in
self-report scales.
Question 3
A patient scores 6 on the HAM-D. What is the severity level?
A) Mild depression
B) Moderate depression
C) No depression
D) Severe depression
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A score of 0–7 on the HAM-D indicates no depression. Scores
below 8 are considered within normal range. Treatment is not indicated for
depression based on this score alone unless other clinical factors are
present.
,Question 4
A patient scores 20 on the HAM-D. What is the severity level?
A) Mild depression
B) Moderate to severe depression
C) No depression
D) Severe depression only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A score of 17–23 on the HAM-D indicates moderate depression,
while scores of 24 or higher indicate severe depression. A score of 20
indicates clinically significant depression that typically requires
pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy.
Question 5
What is the primary clinical use of the HAM-D?
A) Screening for depression in primary care
B) Monitoring treatment response over time in patients already diagnosed
with MDD
C) Diagnosing bipolar disorder
D) Assessing suicide risk exclusively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary clinical use of the HAM-D is monitoring treatment
response over time in patients already diagnosed with Major Depressive
Disorder. The HAM-D is sensitive to change, making it ideal for tracking
improvement or worsening with antidepressants or psychotherapy.
Question 6
Which HAM-D item requires immediate safety assessment regardless of total
score?
A) Depressed mood
B) Insomnia
, C) Suicidal ideation (Item 3)
D) Anxiety
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Suicidal ideation (Item 3) requires immediate safety assessment
regardless of the total score. Any score greater than 0 on the suicide item
requires further risk assessment. Even passive thoughts must be evaluated.
Question 7
How does the HAM-D differ from the PHQ-9?
A) The HAM-D is self-rated; the PHQ-9 is clinician-rated
B) The HAM-D is clinician-rated (20–30 min); the PHQ-9 is self-rated (2–3 min)
C) The HAM-D is used only for bipolar disorder
D) There is no difference between the two scales
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HAM-D is clinician-rated and takes 20–30 minutes to
administer, while the PHQ-9 is self-rated and takes only 2–3 minutes. The
HAM-D is more comprehensive but less efficient for routine screening. The
PHQ-9 is more practical for regular screening in clinical settings.
Question 8
A patient scores 10 on the HAM-D. What is the severity level?
A) No depression
B) Mild depression
C) Moderate depression
D) Severe depression
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A score of 8–16 on the HAM-D indicates mild depression. This level
of depression may benefit from psychotherapy, lifestyle modifications, and
careful monitoring.
University PMHNP Review | HAM-D, PHQ-9, MDQ, MDD, Bipolar & Psych
Assessment Newest Version UP-TO-DATE EXAM
SECTION 1: HAMILTON DEPRESSION RATING SCALE
(HAM-D)
Questions 1–15
Question 1
What is the HAM-D and how is it administered?
A) A self-report screening tool for depression that takes 5 minutes to
complete
B) A clinician-administered depression severity rating scale (17 or 21 items)
that takes 20–30 minutes
C) A computerized adaptive test for mood disorders
D) A brief screening tool for bipolar disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) is a clinician-
administered depression severity rating scale that typically includes 17 or 21
items and takes 20–30 minutes to administer. Unlike self-report tools such as
the PHQ-9, the HAM-D requires a trained clinician to rate both psychological
and somatic symptoms. It is not a screening tool; it is primarily used to
monitor treatment response over time.
,Question 2
What are the core components assessed by the HAM-D (17-item version)?
A) Anxiety, sleep, appetite, and energy only
B) Depressed mood, guilt, suicide, insomnia, work/activities, psychomotor
retardation/agitation, anxiety, GI symptoms, general somatic symptoms,
hypochondriasis, weight loss, and insight
C) Only mood and sleep disturbance
D) Cognitive symptoms and social functioning only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HAM-D assesses a comprehensive range of symptoms
including: depressed mood, guilt, suicide, insomnia (early/middle/late),
work/activities, psychomotor retardation/agitation, anxiety
(psychic/somatic), gastrointestinal symptoms, general somatic symptoms,
hypochondriasis, weight loss, and insight. The HAM-D uniquely weights
insomnia items and includes somatic symptoms that are often overlooked in
self-report scales.
Question 3
A patient scores 6 on the HAM-D. What is the severity level?
A) Mild depression
B) Moderate depression
C) No depression
D) Severe depression
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A score of 0–7 on the HAM-D indicates no depression. Scores
below 8 are considered within normal range. Treatment is not indicated for
depression based on this score alone unless other clinical factors are
present.
,Question 4
A patient scores 20 on the HAM-D. What is the severity level?
A) Mild depression
B) Moderate to severe depression
C) No depression
D) Severe depression only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A score of 17–23 on the HAM-D indicates moderate depression,
while scores of 24 or higher indicate severe depression. A score of 20
indicates clinically significant depression that typically requires
pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy.
Question 5
What is the primary clinical use of the HAM-D?
A) Screening for depression in primary care
B) Monitoring treatment response over time in patients already diagnosed
with MDD
C) Diagnosing bipolar disorder
D) Assessing suicide risk exclusively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary clinical use of the HAM-D is monitoring treatment
response over time in patients already diagnosed with Major Depressive
Disorder. The HAM-D is sensitive to change, making it ideal for tracking
improvement or worsening with antidepressants or psychotherapy.
Question 6
Which HAM-D item requires immediate safety assessment regardless of total
score?
A) Depressed mood
B) Insomnia
, C) Suicidal ideation (Item 3)
D) Anxiety
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Suicidal ideation (Item 3) requires immediate safety assessment
regardless of the total score. Any score greater than 0 on the suicide item
requires further risk assessment. Even passive thoughts must be evaluated.
Question 7
How does the HAM-D differ from the PHQ-9?
A) The HAM-D is self-rated; the PHQ-9 is clinician-rated
B) The HAM-D is clinician-rated (20–30 min); the PHQ-9 is self-rated (2–3 min)
C) The HAM-D is used only for bipolar disorder
D) There is no difference between the two scales
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HAM-D is clinician-rated and takes 20–30 minutes to
administer, while the PHQ-9 is self-rated and takes only 2–3 minutes. The
HAM-D is more comprehensive but less efficient for routine screening. The
PHQ-9 is more practical for regular screening in clinical settings.
Question 8
A patient scores 10 on the HAM-D. What is the severity level?
A) No depression
B) Mild depression
C) Moderate depression
D) Severe depression
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A score of 8–16 on the HAM-D indicates mild depression. This level
of depression may benefit from psychotherapy, lifestyle modifications, and
careful monitoring.
