ANCC PMHNP Exam Reported Questions Test Bank All
Correctly Answered; Latest Updated Summer 2023
mesocortical pathway - ANSWER: executive function: attention, focus, depression
nigrostriatal pathway - ANSWER: from substantia nigra (brainstem) to striatum
(muscles): Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - ANSWER: projects to nucleus accumbens (part of limbic
system). Pleasure, reward, positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - ANSWER: regulation of prolactin (acts on pituitary).
Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - ANSWER: produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4 receptors most
important. Elevated in the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and
psychosis. Antispychotics block dopamine. travels through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic,
nigrostriatal, and tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - ANSWER: 5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses, dreams.
5HT2A receptors = atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - ANSWER: produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and vigilance
GABA - ANSWER: inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with benzodiazepines.
ACTH - ANSWER: motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams. Helps with
balance. Decrease in Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - ANSWER: CRH, ACTH, then cortisol.
Worsens with stress and depression
hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - ANSWER: TRH, TSH, T4. Hypothyroid causes
depression, weight gain, slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - ANSWER: GnRH, FSH, LH. Malfunctions
cause infertility problems.
gray matter - ANSWER: neurons are found
frontal lobe - ANSWER: executive function, voluntary movement, speech (Broca's
area)
Temporal lobe - ANSWER: memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic area)
parietal lobe - ANSWER: receive and process sensory input
, Wernicke's area - ANSWER: temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - ANSWER: fear response.
hippocampus - ANSWER: memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
HIPAA - ANSWER: 1. education about privacy protection, 2. access to own medical
records, 3. request amendment to health information to which they object, 4.
require permission for disclosure of medical issues
forensic nursing - ANSWER: based on crime committed and investigational aspects
correctional nursing - ANSWER: offender's current mental health and medical
condition
research utilization process - ANSWER: critique, synthesize, apply, measure
PICO question - ANSWER: patient, intervention, comparison, outcome
internal validity - ANSWER: when the independent variable (treatment) caused a
change in the dependent variable (outcome)
external validity - ANSWER: when the sample is representative of the population and
the results can be generalized
descriptive statistics - ANSWER: used to describe the basic features of the data in the
study
standard deviation - ANSWER: indication of the possible deviations from the mean
variance - ANSWER: how the values are dispersed around the mean - the larger the
variance, the larger the dispersion of scores
inferential statistics - ANSWER: numerical value that enable one to reach conclusions
that extend beyond immediate data alone - generated by quantitative research
designs
t-test - ANSWER: assess whether means of 2 groups are statistically different from
each other
ANOVA - ANSWER: analysis of variance - tests difference of 3 or more groups
Pearson's r-correlation - ANSWER: relationship between 2 variables
probability - ANSWER: 0-1: likelihood of an event occurring
Correctly Answered; Latest Updated Summer 2023
mesocortical pathway - ANSWER: executive function: attention, focus, depression
nigrostriatal pathway - ANSWER: from substantia nigra (brainstem) to striatum
(muscles): Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - ANSWER: projects to nucleus accumbens (part of limbic
system). Pleasure, reward, positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - ANSWER: regulation of prolactin (acts on pituitary).
Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - ANSWER: produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4 receptors most
important. Elevated in the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and
psychosis. Antispychotics block dopamine. travels through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic,
nigrostriatal, and tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - ANSWER: 5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses, dreams.
5HT2A receptors = atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - ANSWER: produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and vigilance
GABA - ANSWER: inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with benzodiazepines.
ACTH - ANSWER: motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams. Helps with
balance. Decrease in Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - ANSWER: CRH, ACTH, then cortisol.
Worsens with stress and depression
hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - ANSWER: TRH, TSH, T4. Hypothyroid causes
depression, weight gain, slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - ANSWER: GnRH, FSH, LH. Malfunctions
cause infertility problems.
gray matter - ANSWER: neurons are found
frontal lobe - ANSWER: executive function, voluntary movement, speech (Broca's
area)
Temporal lobe - ANSWER: memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic area)
parietal lobe - ANSWER: receive and process sensory input
, Wernicke's area - ANSWER: temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - ANSWER: fear response.
hippocampus - ANSWER: memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
HIPAA - ANSWER: 1. education about privacy protection, 2. access to own medical
records, 3. request amendment to health information to which they object, 4.
require permission for disclosure of medical issues
forensic nursing - ANSWER: based on crime committed and investigational aspects
correctional nursing - ANSWER: offender's current mental health and medical
condition
research utilization process - ANSWER: critique, synthesize, apply, measure
PICO question - ANSWER: patient, intervention, comparison, outcome
internal validity - ANSWER: when the independent variable (treatment) caused a
change in the dependent variable (outcome)
external validity - ANSWER: when the sample is representative of the population and
the results can be generalized
descriptive statistics - ANSWER: used to describe the basic features of the data in the
study
standard deviation - ANSWER: indication of the possible deviations from the mean
variance - ANSWER: how the values are dispersed around the mean - the larger the
variance, the larger the dispersion of scores
inferential statistics - ANSWER: numerical value that enable one to reach conclusions
that extend beyond immediate data alone - generated by quantitative research
designs
t-test - ANSWER: assess whether means of 2 groups are statistically different from
each other
ANOVA - ANSWER: analysis of variance - tests difference of 3 or more groups
Pearson's r-correlation - ANSWER: relationship between 2 variables
probability - ANSWER: 0-1: likelihood of an event occurring
