[Jul 29, 2026] Pass PMHNP Review Guide, Reliable PMHNP Test Engine [Q802-Q826]

NEW QUESTION 802
A patient who has been smoking for the past 10 years expresses a desire to quit. According to the transtheoretical model of change, in which of the following stages is the patient?

Preparation

Contemplation

Precontemplation

Action

NEW QUESTION 803
A PMHNP is working with a patient who has a history of severe mental illness and is experiencing ongoing symptoms. Which of the following best describes the concept of recovery as it relates to the transformation of mental health care?

The goal of reducing the severity and impact of mental illness on the patient’s life

The goal of ensuring that patients have access to all available mental health services

The goal of eliminating all symptoms of mental illness in the patient

The goal of replacing traditional mental health treatment with alternative therapies

NEW QUESTION 804
Common structural tests aiding in the diagnostics of brain-based disorders include which of the following?

X-ray

Computed tomography

EMDR

Laboratory testing

NEW QUESTION 805
Which circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder subtype is characterized by falling asleep and waking progressively later than desired?

Jet lag

Advanced sleep phase type

Shift-work type

Non-24-hour sleep-wake type

NEW QUESTION 806
A 25-year-old patient is evaluated for new, rapid-onset disorganized and pressured speech and disorganized thoughts. He presents with a flat affect and auditory hallucinations of the command type. Which of the following conditions does not need to be ruled out as part of the differential diagnosis of schizophrenia?

Thyrotoxicosis encephalopathy

Substance-induced psychosis

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Dementia

NEW QUESTION 807
Which inferential statistic determines whether the means of two groups are statistically different from each other?

Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Pearson’s r correlation

t-test

p-value

NEW QUESTION 808
What patient population has the highest rate of antisocial personality disorder?

Adult men with cannabis use disorder in a substance abuse clinic

Adult men with alcohol use disorder in a forensic setting

Adult men with comorbid narcissistic personality disorder in an inpatient psychiatric unit

Adult men with a stimulant use disorder in a mental health clinic

NEW QUESTION 809
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is an enduring pattern of angry or irritable mood and argumentative, defiant, or vindictive behavior that lasts at least six months. Which of the following is not believed to be an etiology of ODD?

Having parents who are detached and passive

PTSD

Temperament

Unresolved childhood bullying

NEW QUESTION 810
Which of the following questions is an example of clarification?

“What do you mean when you say…?”

“What surprised you today?”

“What would your life be like if you woke up tomorrow and the problem was gone?”

“Why do you think that you do…?”

NEW QUESTION 811
Which of the following is an effective strategy for reducing homelessness among individuals with mental illness?

Providing temporary housing without support services

Requiring individuals to find and maintain employment before accessing housing

Offering financial incentives for individuals to leave urban areas

Implementing permanent supportive housing with mental health services

NEW QUESTION 812
Which of the following meets the criteria for involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital?

Presence of at least one mental disorder

Medication noncompliance

Permission from the patient’s guardian

Inability to care for self

NEW QUESTION 813
A psychiatric nurse practitioner is working with a patient who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which of the following health promotion and maintenance strategies would be most appropriate for this patient?

Referring the patient to a therapist for cognitive-behavioral therapy

Advising the patient to increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids

Encouraging the patient to start a regular exercise program

Prescribing a new medication for the patient

NEW QUESTION 814
A PMHNP is assigned an initial admission intake for a 17-year-old female with symptoms of disordered eating. She admits to recurrent episodes of binge eating over the past six months accompanied by feelings of distress, self-loathing, and distorted body perception. The PMHNP understands that the etiology of eating disorders is multi-factorial with biological, social, and psychological factors all playing a role.
In addition to social and psychological contributors, which of the following neurobiological factors should be ruled out to pinpoint causation?

Substance abuse

Crohn’s disease

Hyperthyroidism

Decreased serotonin

NEW QUESTION 815
From a systems perspective, the goal is to optimize rather than maximize what?

The number of processes

The number of intended positive outcomes

The relative number of errors

The performance of its components

NEW QUESTION 816
Melatonin is known to interact with which substance?

Warfarin

Turmeric

Aspirin

Tylenol

NEW QUESTION 817
A 25-year-old woman has been seeing mental health specialists for a few years with no discernible improvement in her mental condition. The providers she has seen have not been able to determine what her problem is. She is now coming to you for help. Her history reveals that she was sexually abused by her cousin from the age of 6 – 10 years. She reports that this trauma is with her every day of her life. Her roommates refer to things she has done or things she has told them that she does not remember. She tells you that sometimes she feels she has lost time and also has had “out of body” experiences. After much examination, testing, and assessments you realize that she is suffering from which of the following?

PTSD

acute crisis

dissociative identity disorder

body dysmorphic disorder

The correct diagnosis for the 25-year-old woman described in the scenario is **dissociative identity disorder (DID)**. This decision is based on several key symptoms and historical factors she presents, which align closely with the characteristics of DID.
Dissociative identity disorder is a severe form of dissociation, a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memory, and sense of identity. DID is formerly known as multiple personality disorder. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) characterizes DID by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or an experience of possession, and changes in affected individuals’ identity. This condition is associated with overwhelming experiences, traumatic events, and/or abuse occurring in childhood.
The symptoms of DID result from a complex psychological mechanism used as a coping strategy by individuals to dissociate themselves from a traumatic experience. The dissociative aspect is essentially a way to protect the individual from the full impact of the trauma. Common symptoms include memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events, and people; mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or attempts; a sense of being detached from oneself; and the experience of multiple distinct identities.
In the case of the woman described, her history of sexual abuse from ages 6 to 10 is a significant traumatic event that correlates strongly with the development of DID. Her reports of having “lost time” and “out of body” experiences are indicative of dissociative episodes. Additionally, her roommates’ observations of her doing things or saying things that she does not remember could suggest the presence of alternate identities or states taking control without her conscious awareness.
Testing and assessments by mental health professionals would focus on her history, symptoms, and possibly include structured interviews and diagnostic tools specifically designed to assess dissociative symptoms and disorders. Treatment for DID typically involves psychotherapy, with an emphasis on developing coping mechanisms to deal with the dissociative symptoms and integrating the separate identities into one primary identity.
Given this woman’s symptoms and history, other diagnoses such as PTSD could be considered due to the presence of trauma; however, the specific dissociative symptoms like amnesia, identity confusion, and “out of body” experiences, alongside her traumatic history, fit more decisively with dissociative identity disorder. Other mental health disorders, such as acute crisis, body dysmorphic disorder, or other anxiety disorders, do not encompass the breadth of symptoms and historical factors presented in this case.

NEW QUESTION 818
Which term best describes treatments used in place of traditional medical practices?

Mind-body interactions

Complementary therapies

Alternative therapies

Biological-based therapies

NEW QUESTION 819
A PMHNP is evaluating a patient for symptoms of Tourette’s disorder. Which of the following is a key diagnostic criterion for Tourette’s disorder?

Presence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms

Presence of vocal tics

Presence of both motor and vocal tics

Presence of motor tics

NEW QUESTION 820
Which personality disorder is most likely to involve fantasies of success?

Dependent

Paranoid

Narcissistic

Obsessive-compulsive

NEW QUESTION 821
A PMHNP is working in a psychiatric hospital and is considering the use of chemical restraints to manage a patient’s aggressive behavior. What is the most important factor to consider when deciding whether to use chemical restraints?

The patient’s willingness to comply

The patient’s diagnosis

The patient’s medical history

The availability of alternative interventions

NEW QUESTION 822
The PMNHP is considering the best psychotropic treatment for a patient. Which of the following best describes the role of serotonin in depression and anxiety?

Serotonin has no relationship with depression and anxiety

Serotonin is a hormone that increases in individuals with depression and anxiety

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that increases in levels in individuals with depression and anxiety

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that decreases in levels in individuals with depression and anxiety

NEW QUESTION 823
A gravely disabled patient is an individual that?

Has 2 mental disorders.

Is in danger of serious physical harm due to their mental illness.

Can function properly in society.

Uses untested medical drugs.

The term “gravely disabled” refers to a specific classification used in the medical and legal fields to describe an individual who, due to a mental illness, is unable to meet their basic needs for survival. This classification is utilized across many regions in the United States, though it is not universally applied in every state.
The correct understanding of a “gravely disabled” patient is an individual who is in danger of serious physical harm primarily because their mental illness prevents them from performing essential self-care tasks. These tasks include, but are not limited to, feeding themselves, clothing themselves, obtaining shelter, securing necessary medical care, and ensuring their personal safety. The inability to perform these self-care tasks places them at significant risk of harm, not necessarily due to external factors, but because of their incapacity to protect and sustain themselves.
It is important to clarify that being gravely disabled is distinct from having multiple mental disorders. An individual can have more than one mental illness and still be able to function adequately. Hence, having multiple mental disorders does not automatically imply that a person is gravely disabled. The key factor for this classification is the severe impairment in self-care caused by the mental condition.
Similarly, the notion of being gravely disabled should not be confused with societal functionality or the use of untested medical drugs. A person may be able to interact or appear functional in social settings but still be considered gravely disabled if they cannot care for their basic needs independently. Additionally, the use of untested medical drugs is unrelated to the definition of being gravely disabled, which strictly revolves around the risk of physical harm due to an inability to perform essential self-care tasks due to mental illness.
Therefore, the classification of a gravely disabled individual is primarily focused on the safety and basic living needs of the person affected by mental illness. Understanding this term is crucial for proper medical, legal, and social intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of those who are most vulnerable due to severe mental health issues.

NEW QUESTION 824
What term describes the interactions among individual professionals who bring their unique educational backgrounds, experiences, values, roles, and identities to a process?

Healthcare team

Interdependent practice

Health alliance

Interprofessional collaboration

NEW QUESTION 825
Which of the following signs would indicate delirium in a patient rather than dementia?

Psychomotor speed is normal.

Level of consciousness is altered, cloudy, and fluctuating.

Onset is gradual.

Course is irreversible.

Delirium and dementia are both medical conditions that affect cognitive functions, but they present differently and have distinct characteristics. To understand which signs indicate delirium rather than dementia, it’s critical to recognize specific symptoms and their onset patterns.
One of the main symptoms that would indicate delirium in a patient rather than dementia is the alteration in the level of consciousness. In delirium, the patient’s level of consciousness is typically altered, cloudy, and fluctuates throughout the day. This means that the patient may appear relatively clear at certain times and very confused or disoriented at other times. These changes can occur over a short period and can vary in intensity.
In contrast, patients with dementia generally maintain a stable level of consciousness. They do not experience the rapid fluctuations in awareness seen in delirium. While they may suffer from confusion and disorientation, their alertness or consciousness does not tend to wax and wane throughout the day as it does in delirium.
Another distinguishing feature is the onset of symptoms. Delirium characteristically has a sudden onset, often developing over hours to a few days. This acute change in cognitive function is one of the hallmarks of delirium and is typically triggered by an external factor such as a medical illness, medication, infection, or even an abrupt change in the environment.
On the other hand, dementia presents with a gradual onset. The cognitive decline in dementia occurs slowly, often over months to years, and is progressive. Unlike delirium, the course of dementia is generally irreversible and steadily worsens over time.
In summary, a patient exhibiting an altered, cloudy, and fluctuating level of consciousness likely suggests delirium, especially when these symptoms appear suddenly and in response to identifiable triggers. This is in contrast to dementia, where changes in cognitive function progress slowly and do not typically involve fluctuations in the level of consciousness. Recognizing these signs is crucial for timely and appropriate treatment, as delirium can often be resolved with proper management of the underlying causes.

NEW QUESTION 826
According to systems thinking, a system is perfectly designed to do what?

To produce errors

To produce inequalities

To produce positive outcomes

To produce what it produces

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