NR548 Exam 4 Actual Exam Style V2 | NR
548 Psychiatric Assessment for
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Chamberlain
1. When conducting a Mental Status Examination, which term specifically refers to the
patient’s internal emotional state as reported by the patient?
A. Mood
B. Affect
C. Cognition
D. Orientation
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Mood is the subjective emotional state that the patient reports during
the assessment. It is often captured in quotes to reflect the patient’s own description of
their feelings. Affect, by contrast, is the clinician’s objective observation of the patient’s
emotional expression.
2. A patient explains that they feel like the government is monitoring their thoughts through
the television. This is an example of which type of thought content?
A. Obsession
B. Phobia
C. Delusion
,D. Compulsion
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not grounded in reality or
shared by the individual’s culture. This specific type is often referred to as a persecutory or
somatic delusion depending on the context. Identifying thought content is a critical part of
the Mental Status Exam for diagnosing psychosis.
3. The PMHNP asks a patient to explain the meaning of the proverb ‘Don’t cry over spilled
milk.’ What is the clinician assessing?
A. Memory
B. Attention
C. Orientation
D. Abstract reasoning
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Abstract reasoning is the ability to interpret information beyond a
literal level. Asking a patient to interpret proverbs or identify similarities between objects
is a standard assessment method. A concrete response suggests a possible cognitive
impairment or a specific psychiatric disorder.
4. Which screening tool is most appropriate for assessing the severity of depression
symptoms in an adult patient?
A. GAD-7
, B. CAGE-AID
C. PHQ-9
D. MDQ
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated tool
specifically designed to measure depression severity. It aligns with DSM-5 criteria for
Major Depressive Disorder and helps guide treatment decisions. Scores range from 0 to 27,
with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.
5. A patient scores a 14 on the PHQ-9. How should the PMHNP interpret this score?
A. Moderate depression
B. Mild depression
C. Minimal depression
D. Severe depression
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: A PHQ-9 score between 10 and 14 indicates moderate depression
symptoms. Scores from 5-9 are considered mild, while scores 15-19 are moderately severe.
This score suggests that clinical intervention or closer monitoring is warranted for the
patient.
548 Psychiatric Assessment for
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Chamberlain
1. When conducting a Mental Status Examination, which term specifically refers to the
patient’s internal emotional state as reported by the patient?
A. Mood
B. Affect
C. Cognition
D. Orientation
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Mood is the subjective emotional state that the patient reports during
the assessment. It is often captured in quotes to reflect the patient’s own description of
their feelings. Affect, by contrast, is the clinician’s objective observation of the patient’s
emotional expression.
2. A patient explains that they feel like the government is monitoring their thoughts through
the television. This is an example of which type of thought content?
A. Obsession
B. Phobia
C. Delusion
,D. Compulsion
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not grounded in reality or
shared by the individual’s culture. This specific type is often referred to as a persecutory or
somatic delusion depending on the context. Identifying thought content is a critical part of
the Mental Status Exam for diagnosing psychosis.
3. The PMHNP asks a patient to explain the meaning of the proverb ‘Don’t cry over spilled
milk.’ What is the clinician assessing?
A. Memory
B. Attention
C. Orientation
D. Abstract reasoning
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Abstract reasoning is the ability to interpret information beyond a
literal level. Asking a patient to interpret proverbs or identify similarities between objects
is a standard assessment method. A concrete response suggests a possible cognitive
impairment or a specific psychiatric disorder.
4. Which screening tool is most appropriate for assessing the severity of depression
symptoms in an adult patient?
A. GAD-7
, B. CAGE-AID
C. PHQ-9
D. MDQ
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated tool
specifically designed to measure depression severity. It aligns with DSM-5 criteria for
Major Depressive Disorder and helps guide treatment decisions. Scores range from 0 to 27,
with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.
5. A patient scores a 14 on the PHQ-9. How should the PMHNP interpret this score?
A. Moderate depression
B. Mild depression
C. Minimal depression
D. Severe depression
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: A PHQ-9 score between 10 and 14 indicates moderate depression
symptoms. Scores from 5-9 are considered mild, while scores 15-19 are moderately severe.
This score suggests that clinical intervention or closer monitoring is warranted for the
patient.
