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Midterm Exams (3 Versions): NRNP 6635
/ NRNP6635 Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning | Walden | Latest
2025/2026
Question 1: Select the mental function that is most affected in
mild cognitive impairment. A. Long-term memory B. Executive
function C. Recent memory D. Language
Answer: C. Recent memory Explanation: In mild cognitive
impairment (MCI), recent memory is primarily impacted, as per
DSM-5 criteria for neurocognitive disorders, where individuals
show subtle declines in episodic memory but maintain
independence in daily activities. This distinguishes MCI from
dementia, where multiple domains are more severely affected.
Question 2: Select the most frequent cause of infant and
childhood intellectual disability that is attributed to a specific
gene. A. Down syndrome B. Fragile X syndrome C.
Phenylketonuria D. Fetal alcohol syndrome
Answer: B. Fragile X syndrome Explanation: Fragile X
syndrome, caused by a mutation in the FMR1 gene on the X
chromosome, is the most common inherited cause of intellectual
disability, affecting about 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 8,000
females, according to genetic studies and DSM-5
neurodevelopmental disorder classifications.
Question 3: Select the rating scale used to assess medication-
induced movement disorders. A. PANSS B. MMSE C. AIMS D.
HAM-D
Answer: C. AIMS Explanation: The Abnormal Involuntary
Movement Scale (AIMS) is specifically designed to evaluate
, 2
extrapyramidal symptoms like tardive dyskinesia from
antipsychotics, providing a standardized 12-item assessment for
clinical monitoring in psychiatric practice.
Question 4: What substance is known to decrease blood
concentrations of antipsychotics, yet improve cognitive
impairments and parkinsonism in schizophrenia? A. Caffeine B.
Alcohol C. Nicotine D. Cannabis
Answer: C. Nicotine Explanation: Nicotine induces CYP1A2
enzymes, reducing antipsychotic levels (e.g., clozapine), but it
enhances cognition and reduces parkinsonian side effects via
nicotinic receptor agonism, as evidenced in schizophrenia
pharmacotherapy studies.
Question 5: Select the psychiatric emergency indicated by
mothers who express inadequate distress over their children’s
medical symptoms. A. Munchausen syndrome B. Factitious
disorder imposed on self C. Factitious disorder imposed on
another D. Somatic symptom disorder
Answer: C. Factitious disorder imposed on another
Explanation: This aligns with DSM-5 criteria for factitious
disorder imposed on another (formerly Munchausen by proxy),
where a caregiver falsifies illness in another (e.g., child) for
attention, often presenting as a medical emergency requiring
immediate child protection intervention.
Question 6: Select the neurotransmitter involved in obsessive-
compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents based
on the common comorbidity of tic disorders. A. Dopamine B.
GABA C. Serotonin D. Glutamate
Answer: C. Serotonin Explanation: Serotonin dysregulation is
central to OCD, with SSRIs as first-line treatment; the tic
, 3
comorbidity (e.g., Tourette's) links to serotonergic pathways in
the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit, per DSM-5 and
pediatric psychiatry guidelines.
Question 7: Select the scientist who is most associated with the
development of learning theory. A. Sigmund Freud B. B.F.
Skinner C. Carl Rogers D. Abraham Maslow
Answer: B. B.F. Skinner Explanation: B.F. Skinner developed
operant conditioning, a cornerstone of behavioral learning
theory, emphasizing reinforcement and punishment, widely
applied in psychiatric behavioral therapies like token economies
for disorders such as schizophrenia.
Question 8: Select the exposure to violence that is excluded as a
DSM-5 diagnostic criterion for PTSD in children and
adolescents. A. Witnessing violence B. Learning about violence
to a family member C. Experiencing sexual assault D. Virtual
exposure via media
Answer: D. Virtual exposure via media Explanation: DSM-5
Criterion A for PTSD requires direct or witnessed trauma;
indirect exposure like media (unless repeated and extreme) does
not qualify, to differentiate from desensitization effects in
children exposed to fictional violence.
Question 9: Select the medical condition that must be excluded
as a cause of somatic symptom disorder or hypochondriasis. A.
Hypothyroidism B. Diabetes mellitus C. Cancer D. All of the
above
Answer: D. All of the above Explanation: DSM-5 requires
ruling out medical explanations for symptoms before diagnosing
somatic symptom disorder (formerly hypochondriasis), ensuring
Midterm Exams (3 Versions): NRNP 6635
/ NRNP6635 Psychopathology and
Diagnostic Reasoning | Walden | Latest
2025/2026
Question 1: Select the mental function that is most affected in
mild cognitive impairment. A. Long-term memory B. Executive
function C. Recent memory D. Language
Answer: C. Recent memory Explanation: In mild cognitive
impairment (MCI), recent memory is primarily impacted, as per
DSM-5 criteria for neurocognitive disorders, where individuals
show subtle declines in episodic memory but maintain
independence in daily activities. This distinguishes MCI from
dementia, where multiple domains are more severely affected.
Question 2: Select the most frequent cause of infant and
childhood intellectual disability that is attributed to a specific
gene. A. Down syndrome B. Fragile X syndrome C.
Phenylketonuria D. Fetal alcohol syndrome
Answer: B. Fragile X syndrome Explanation: Fragile X
syndrome, caused by a mutation in the FMR1 gene on the X
chromosome, is the most common inherited cause of intellectual
disability, affecting about 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 8,000
females, according to genetic studies and DSM-5
neurodevelopmental disorder classifications.
Question 3: Select the rating scale used to assess medication-
induced movement disorders. A. PANSS B. MMSE C. AIMS D.
HAM-D
Answer: C. AIMS Explanation: The Abnormal Involuntary
Movement Scale (AIMS) is specifically designed to evaluate
, 2
extrapyramidal symptoms like tardive dyskinesia from
antipsychotics, providing a standardized 12-item assessment for
clinical monitoring in psychiatric practice.
Question 4: What substance is known to decrease blood
concentrations of antipsychotics, yet improve cognitive
impairments and parkinsonism in schizophrenia? A. Caffeine B.
Alcohol C. Nicotine D. Cannabis
Answer: C. Nicotine Explanation: Nicotine induces CYP1A2
enzymes, reducing antipsychotic levels (e.g., clozapine), but it
enhances cognition and reduces parkinsonian side effects via
nicotinic receptor agonism, as evidenced in schizophrenia
pharmacotherapy studies.
Question 5: Select the psychiatric emergency indicated by
mothers who express inadequate distress over their children’s
medical symptoms. A. Munchausen syndrome B. Factitious
disorder imposed on self C. Factitious disorder imposed on
another D. Somatic symptom disorder
Answer: C. Factitious disorder imposed on another
Explanation: This aligns with DSM-5 criteria for factitious
disorder imposed on another (formerly Munchausen by proxy),
where a caregiver falsifies illness in another (e.g., child) for
attention, often presenting as a medical emergency requiring
immediate child protection intervention.
Question 6: Select the neurotransmitter involved in obsessive-
compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents based
on the common comorbidity of tic disorders. A. Dopamine B.
GABA C. Serotonin D. Glutamate
Answer: C. Serotonin Explanation: Serotonin dysregulation is
central to OCD, with SSRIs as first-line treatment; the tic
, 3
comorbidity (e.g., Tourette's) links to serotonergic pathways in
the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit, per DSM-5 and
pediatric psychiatry guidelines.
Question 7: Select the scientist who is most associated with the
development of learning theory. A. Sigmund Freud B. B.F.
Skinner C. Carl Rogers D. Abraham Maslow
Answer: B. B.F. Skinner Explanation: B.F. Skinner developed
operant conditioning, a cornerstone of behavioral learning
theory, emphasizing reinforcement and punishment, widely
applied in psychiatric behavioral therapies like token economies
for disorders such as schizophrenia.
Question 8: Select the exposure to violence that is excluded as a
DSM-5 diagnostic criterion for PTSD in children and
adolescents. A. Witnessing violence B. Learning about violence
to a family member C. Experiencing sexual assault D. Virtual
exposure via media
Answer: D. Virtual exposure via media Explanation: DSM-5
Criterion A for PTSD requires direct or witnessed trauma;
indirect exposure like media (unless repeated and extreme) does
not qualify, to differentiate from desensitization effects in
children exposed to fictional violence.
Question 9: Select the medical condition that must be excluded
as a cause of somatic symptom disorder or hypochondriasis. A.
Hypothyroidism B. Diabetes mellitus C. Cancer D. All of the
above
Answer: D. All of the above Explanation: DSM-5 requires
ruling out medical explanations for symptoms before diagnosing
somatic symptom disorder (formerly hypochondriasis), ensuring
