,PMHNP Certification Exam Study Guide 2025/2026:
Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry,
Psychopharmacology, Therapy Approaches, and
Clinical Practice.
CAGE
items responses are scored either 1 or 0. A score 2 or higher is considered clinically significant
OCD
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
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
mental illness is conceptualized as a disorder of the brain circuit caused by a complex interplay
of genetic and environmental factor
state-dependent learning
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
-folstein mini-mental: perfect score is 30. <24 impairment. If only 9th grade education <17
Abnormal sodium levels
, -increased: dehydration, methyldopa,
-decreased: SIADH, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic disease.
Abnormal Potassium levels
Increased: amiloride, spirolactone, lithium, propranolol.
Decreased
alpha 1 antagonists
-vasodilator and used for hypertension
-raynauds
-PTSD and GAD
-benign prostatic hyperplasia (tamsulosin)
-agonism: vasoconstrictor
-trazadone and many antipsychotics
ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate
high values indicate autoimmune, malignancies, infections
absolute neurophil count calculations
total WBC x percentage of neurophil in differential=ANC
Calcium
-increased: >10.8 caused by hyperparathyroidism from tumor of renal disease, lithium
PET vs. fMRI
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
-first screen with ELISA. ELISA tests for HIV antibodies. Vast majority of HIV positive people have
detectable antibodies by 3 months after exposure.
Splitting
the individual segregates experiences in to all-good or all-bad, with no room for ambiguity or
ambivalence.
displacement
Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry,
Psychopharmacology, Therapy Approaches, and
Clinical Practice.
CAGE
items responses are scored either 1 or 0. A score 2 or higher is considered clinically significant
OCD
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
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
mental illness is conceptualized as a disorder of the brain circuit caused by a complex interplay
of genetic and environmental factor
state-dependent learning
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
-folstein mini-mental: perfect score is 30. <24 impairment. If only 9th grade education <17
Abnormal sodium levels
, -increased: dehydration, methyldopa,
-decreased: SIADH, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic disease.
Abnormal Potassium levels
Increased: amiloride, spirolactone, lithium, propranolol.
Decreased
alpha 1 antagonists
-vasodilator and used for hypertension
-raynauds
-PTSD and GAD
-benign prostatic hyperplasia (tamsulosin)
-agonism: vasoconstrictor
-trazadone and many antipsychotics
ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate
high values indicate autoimmune, malignancies, infections
absolute neurophil count calculations
total WBC x percentage of neurophil in differential=ANC
Calcium
-increased: >10.8 caused by hyperparathyroidism from tumor of renal disease, lithium
PET vs. fMRI
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
-first screen with ELISA. ELISA tests for HIV antibodies. Vast majority of HIV positive people have
detectable antibodies by 3 months after exposure.
Splitting
the individual segregates experiences in to all-good or all-bad, with no room for ambiguity or
ambivalence.
displacement
