ATI MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◍ What are the standardized screen tools for psychotic disorders.
Answer: -Global assessment of functioning scale -scale for assessment of
negative symptoms-Brief psychiatric rating scale-abnormal involuntary
movement scale (AIMS)
◍ What antidepressants are prescribed for psychotic disorders.
Answer: Paxil-monitor for SI-Notify for deepened depression-Do not stop
abruptly
◍ What are the anxiolytics/ bento's used for psychotic disorders?.
Answer: -Ativan-Klonopin-sedative effects-need to get blood tests for
ANC-use caution in older adults
◍ temporarily blocking memories and perceptions from consciousness Ex: an
adolescent witnesses a shooting and is unable to recall any details of the
vent.
Answer: dissociation
◍ Blaming others for unacceptable thoughts and feelingsEx: a young adult
planes his substance use disorder on his parents refusal to buy him a new
car.
Answer: projection
◍ what short acting anesthetic is used for ECT.
Answer: brevital IV bolus
◍ complications of TMS.
, Answer: -mild discomfort-tingling sensation at the site of the
electromagnet-lightheadness -seizures are rare but a potential
◍ What is the first line of treatment for anxiety disorders?.
Answer: -SSRI such as zoloftThen they can also benefit from
antidepressants, sedative hypnotic anxiolytics such as valium, non
barbiturate anxiolytics such as buspar, beta blockers, antihistamines.
◍ What SSRI's are used for depression?.
Answer: -celexa-prozac-zoloft
◍ What TCA's are used for depression?.
Answer: -Elavil
◍ What MAOI's are used for depression.
Answer: -Nardil
◍ What Atypical antidepressants are used for depression?.
Answer: -Wellbutrin
◍ The client is responsive and able to fully respond by opening their eyes and
attending to a normal tone of voice and speech. What is the level of
consciousness?.
Answer: Alert
◍ The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and falls
asleep readily. What is the level of consciousness?.
Answer: Lethargic
◍ The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or rubbing
the sternum) to elicit a brief response. They might not be able to respond
verbally. What is the level of consciousness?.
Answer: Stuporous
◍ What SNRI's are used for depression?.
Answer: -Effexor-Cymbalta
◍ What medications are given for patients that have bipolar disorder?.
Answer: -Mood stabilizers: Lithium-Anticonvulsants that act as mood
, stabilizers: Depakote, Klonopin, Lamictal, nuerontin, Topaz-Benzo's:
Ativan, for sleep-Antidepressants such as Prozac to manage depression
◍ What atypical antipsychotics would be prescribed for patients with
psychotic disorders?.
Answer: -risperdal-zyprexa-seroquel-Geodon-Abilify-ClozarilThese treat
both negative and positive symptomswatch diet Report agitation, dizziness,
sedation, and sleep disruption may occur.
◍ What are the conventional antipsychotics for psychotic disorders.
Answer: -Haldol-Loxitane-Thorazine-ProlixinMinimize anticholinergic
effects get up slowly
◍ The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli. What is
the level of consciousness?.
Answer: Comatose
◍ How to test a client's immediate memory.
Answer: Ask the client to repeat a series of numbers or a list of objects
◍ How to test a client's recent memory.
Answer: Ask the client to recall recent events, such as visitors from the
current day, or the purpose of the current mental health appointment or
admission
◍ How to test a client's remote memory.
Answer: Ask the client to state a fact from his past that is verifiable, such as
his birth date or his mother's maiden name
◍ How to assess a client's ability to calculate.
Answer: Ask the client to count backward from 100 in sevens
◍ What are the medications for anxiety disorder (Benzo).
Answer: -xanax-Valium-Ativan-Librium-Tranxene-Serax-Kolonopin
◍ How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly.
Answer: Ask the client to interpret something complex such as, "A bird in
the hand is worth two in the bush."
, ◍ Glasgow coma scale.
Answer: Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a client's level of
consciousness; highest score is 15 and indicates that the client is awake and
responding appropriately; a score of 7 or less indicates that the client is in a
coma
◍ What are the atypical anxiolytic.
Answer: buspar
◍ SSRI.
Answer: PaxilZoloftLexaproProzacLuvox
◍ Serious mental illness.
Answer: Includes disorders classified as severe and persistent mental
illnesses; clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can be chronic or
recurrent
◍ A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by
sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a
sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of
objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify
our most recent presidents.".
Answer: A. Counting backward by sevens is an appropriate technique to
assess a client's cognitive ability.B. Observing a client's facial expression is
appropriate when assessing affect.C. Writing a sentence is an indication of
language ability.Remote language is tested by asking the client to state a fact
from his past that his verifiable (date of birth). Abstract thinking is tested by
asking the client to interpret something.
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◍ What are the standardized screen tools for psychotic disorders.
Answer: -Global assessment of functioning scale -scale for assessment of
negative symptoms-Brief psychiatric rating scale-abnormal involuntary
movement scale (AIMS)
◍ What antidepressants are prescribed for psychotic disorders.
Answer: Paxil-monitor for SI-Notify for deepened depression-Do not stop
abruptly
◍ What are the anxiolytics/ bento's used for psychotic disorders?.
Answer: -Ativan-Klonopin-sedative effects-need to get blood tests for
ANC-use caution in older adults
◍ temporarily blocking memories and perceptions from consciousness Ex: an
adolescent witnesses a shooting and is unable to recall any details of the
vent.
Answer: dissociation
◍ Blaming others for unacceptable thoughts and feelingsEx: a young adult
planes his substance use disorder on his parents refusal to buy him a new
car.
Answer: projection
◍ what short acting anesthetic is used for ECT.
Answer: brevital IV bolus
◍ complications of TMS.
, Answer: -mild discomfort-tingling sensation at the site of the
electromagnet-lightheadness -seizures are rare but a potential
◍ What is the first line of treatment for anxiety disorders?.
Answer: -SSRI such as zoloftThen they can also benefit from
antidepressants, sedative hypnotic anxiolytics such as valium, non
barbiturate anxiolytics such as buspar, beta blockers, antihistamines.
◍ What SSRI's are used for depression?.
Answer: -celexa-prozac-zoloft
◍ What TCA's are used for depression?.
Answer: -Elavil
◍ What MAOI's are used for depression.
Answer: -Nardil
◍ What Atypical antidepressants are used for depression?.
Answer: -Wellbutrin
◍ The client is responsive and able to fully respond by opening their eyes and
attending to a normal tone of voice and speech. What is the level of
consciousness?.
Answer: Alert
◍ The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and falls
asleep readily. What is the level of consciousness?.
Answer: Lethargic
◍ The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or rubbing
the sternum) to elicit a brief response. They might not be able to respond
verbally. What is the level of consciousness?.
Answer: Stuporous
◍ What SNRI's are used for depression?.
Answer: -Effexor-Cymbalta
◍ What medications are given for patients that have bipolar disorder?.
Answer: -Mood stabilizers: Lithium-Anticonvulsants that act as mood
, stabilizers: Depakote, Klonopin, Lamictal, nuerontin, Topaz-Benzo's:
Ativan, for sleep-Antidepressants such as Prozac to manage depression
◍ What atypical antipsychotics would be prescribed for patients with
psychotic disorders?.
Answer: -risperdal-zyprexa-seroquel-Geodon-Abilify-ClozarilThese treat
both negative and positive symptomswatch diet Report agitation, dizziness,
sedation, and sleep disruption may occur.
◍ What are the conventional antipsychotics for psychotic disorders.
Answer: -Haldol-Loxitane-Thorazine-ProlixinMinimize anticholinergic
effects get up slowly
◍ The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli. What is
the level of consciousness?.
Answer: Comatose
◍ How to test a client's immediate memory.
Answer: Ask the client to repeat a series of numbers or a list of objects
◍ How to test a client's recent memory.
Answer: Ask the client to recall recent events, such as visitors from the
current day, or the purpose of the current mental health appointment or
admission
◍ How to test a client's remote memory.
Answer: Ask the client to state a fact from his past that is verifiable, such as
his birth date or his mother's maiden name
◍ How to assess a client's ability to calculate.
Answer: Ask the client to count backward from 100 in sevens
◍ What are the medications for anxiety disorder (Benzo).
Answer: -xanax-Valium-Ativan-Librium-Tranxene-Serax-Kolonopin
◍ How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly.
Answer: Ask the client to interpret something complex such as, "A bird in
the hand is worth two in the bush."
, ◍ Glasgow coma scale.
Answer: Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a client's level of
consciousness; highest score is 15 and indicates that the client is awake and
responding appropriately; a score of 7 or less indicates that the client is in a
coma
◍ What are the atypical anxiolytic.
Answer: buspar
◍ SSRI.
Answer: PaxilZoloftLexaproProzacLuvox
◍ Serious mental illness.
Answer: Includes disorders classified as severe and persistent mental
illnesses; clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can be chronic or
recurrent
◍ A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by
sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a
sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of
objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify
our most recent presidents.".
Answer: A. Counting backward by sevens is an appropriate technique to
assess a client's cognitive ability.B. Observing a client's facial expression is
appropriate when assessing affect.C. Writing a sentence is an indication of
language ability.Remote language is tested by asking the client to state a fact
from his past that his verifiable (date of birth). Abstract thinking is tested by
asking the client to interpret something.
