PMHNP CERTIFICATION LATEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM
300 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+
CAGE - ANSWER: items responses are scored either 1 or 0. A score 2 or higher is
considered clinically significant
OCD - ANSWER: obsessive thoughts interfere with your daily life
-are you concern about things being contaminated, keeping things in perfect order
-do you feel driven to perform certain acts over and over again?
-have unwanted images or thought that you cant seem to get out of your head
layman's explanation of mental illness - ANSWER: Abnormal functioning of
neurotransmitters. Neuroanatomical differences have been found in some cases.
-can arise from multiple sources, not a single or consistent cause has been
established
biomedical psychiatry - ANSWER: mental illness is conceptualized as a disorder of the
brain circuit caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factor
state-dependent learning - ANSWER: when a memory is formed a new neural
pathway is created. If the memory was formed under specific chemical conditions
(on a drug, manic), then the pathway will be primed to work most effectively under
these circumstances.
-state-dependent learning in bipolar. Bipolar individuals in a depressed episode may
not be able to recall details of manic episodes. Corroboration is needed.
Assessment tools to screen for cognitive impairment - ANSWER: -folstein mini-
mental: perfect score is 30. <24 impairment. If only 9th grade education <17
Abnormal sodium levels - ANSWER: -increased: dehydration, methyldopa,
-decreased: SIADH, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic disease.
Abnormal Potassium levels - ANSWER: Increased: amiloride, spirolactone, lithium,
propranolol.
Decreased
alpha 1 antagonists - ANSWER: -vasodilator and used for hypertension
-raynauds
-PTSD and GAD
-benign prostatic hyperplasia (tamsulosin)
-agonism: vasoconstrictor
-trazadone and many antipsychotics
, ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate - ANSWER: high values indicate autoimmune,
malignancies, infections
absolute neurophil count calculations - ANSWER: total WBC x percentage of
neurophil in differential=ANC
Calcium - ANSWER: -increased: >10.8 caused by hyperparathyroidism from tumor of
renal disease, lithium
PET vs. fMRI - ANSWER: measures brain activity by associated changes in blood flow.
Relies on fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activity are coupled.
-In addition, PET has the advantage of being able to identify specific receptors
associated with neurotransmitter through its ability to image radioactive ligands
ELISA testing - ANSWER: -first screen with ELISA. ELISA tests for HIV antibodies. Vast
majority of HIV positive people have detectable antibodies by 3 months after
exposure.
Splitting - ANSWER: the individual segregates experiences in to all-good or all-bad,
with no room for ambiguity or ambivalence.
displacement - ANSWER: separation of emotion from it object of discontent and
redirected to a less threatening and intimidating
--example: displaced aggression- If expressing or dismay to the source of the anger
could lead to negative consequences, we may rather than express our angry to a
person or object that pose no threat.
introjecion - ANSWER: a process whereby an individual unconsciously incorporates
the qualities of another person into his or her ego structure
Gestalt Therapy - ANSWER: emphasizes personal responsibility. Cultivate a greater
self-awareness and mindfulness.
-greater self-awareness of mind and body
-chair technique: a role-playing exercise. The client is asked to adopt one role in one
chair, and another in the other chair (e.g. plays parent and then plays child)
Hyperprolactinemia and Risperidone - ANSWER: -prolactin levels peak the first 6 to 8
weeks
-returns to normal range in 3 t0 5 months
-hyperprolactinemia is dose-dependent
-osteopenia, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, gynecomastia
-get baseline, repeat in two months. ask about nipple discharge, menstruation,
sexual dysfunction. If the patient has elevated prolactin after 2 months but no
symptoms, repeat test in two months.
Antipsychotics that cause the most hypotension - ANSWER: olanzapine, risperidone,
quetiapine
300 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+
CAGE - ANSWER: items responses are scored either 1 or 0. A score 2 or higher is
considered clinically significant
OCD - ANSWER: obsessive thoughts interfere with your daily life
-are you concern about things being contaminated, keeping things in perfect order
-do you feel driven to perform certain acts over and over again?
-have unwanted images or thought that you cant seem to get out of your head
layman's explanation of mental illness - ANSWER: Abnormal functioning of
neurotransmitters. Neuroanatomical differences have been found in some cases.
-can arise from multiple sources, not a single or consistent cause has been
established
biomedical psychiatry - ANSWER: mental illness is conceptualized as a disorder of the
brain circuit caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factor
state-dependent learning - ANSWER: when a memory is formed a new neural
pathway is created. If the memory was formed under specific chemical conditions
(on a drug, manic), then the pathway will be primed to work most effectively under
these circumstances.
-state-dependent learning in bipolar. Bipolar individuals in a depressed episode may
not be able to recall details of manic episodes. Corroboration is needed.
Assessment tools to screen for cognitive impairment - ANSWER: -folstein mini-
mental: perfect score is 30. <24 impairment. If only 9th grade education <17
Abnormal sodium levels - ANSWER: -increased: dehydration, methyldopa,
-decreased: SIADH, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic disease.
Abnormal Potassium levels - ANSWER: Increased: amiloride, spirolactone, lithium,
propranolol.
Decreased
alpha 1 antagonists - ANSWER: -vasodilator and used for hypertension
-raynauds
-PTSD and GAD
-benign prostatic hyperplasia (tamsulosin)
-agonism: vasoconstrictor
-trazadone and many antipsychotics
, ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate - ANSWER: high values indicate autoimmune,
malignancies, infections
absolute neurophil count calculations - ANSWER: total WBC x percentage of
neurophil in differential=ANC
Calcium - ANSWER: -increased: >10.8 caused by hyperparathyroidism from tumor of
renal disease, lithium
PET vs. fMRI - ANSWER: measures brain activity by associated changes in blood flow.
Relies on fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activity are coupled.
-In addition, PET has the advantage of being able to identify specific receptors
associated with neurotransmitter through its ability to image radioactive ligands
ELISA testing - ANSWER: -first screen with ELISA. ELISA tests for HIV antibodies. Vast
majority of HIV positive people have detectable antibodies by 3 months after
exposure.
Splitting - ANSWER: the individual segregates experiences in to all-good or all-bad,
with no room for ambiguity or ambivalence.
displacement - ANSWER: separation of emotion from it object of discontent and
redirected to a less threatening and intimidating
--example: displaced aggression- If expressing or dismay to the source of the anger
could lead to negative consequences, we may rather than express our angry to a
person or object that pose no threat.
introjecion - ANSWER: a process whereby an individual unconsciously incorporates
the qualities of another person into his or her ego structure
Gestalt Therapy - ANSWER: emphasizes personal responsibility. Cultivate a greater
self-awareness and mindfulness.
-greater self-awareness of mind and body
-chair technique: a role-playing exercise. The client is asked to adopt one role in one
chair, and another in the other chair (e.g. plays parent and then plays child)
Hyperprolactinemia and Risperidone - ANSWER: -prolactin levels peak the first 6 to 8
weeks
-returns to normal range in 3 t0 5 months
-hyperprolactinemia is dose-dependent
-osteopenia, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, gynecomastia
-get baseline, repeat in two months. ask about nipple discharge, menstruation,
sexual dysfunction. If the patient has elevated prolactin after 2 months but no
symptoms, repeat test in two months.
Antipsychotics that cause the most hypotension - ANSWER: olanzapine, risperidone,
quetiapine
