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Mental Health & Psychiatric NP Flashcards

7 cards from real NP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Mental Health & Psychiatric NP flashcards as text

  1. According to the DSM-5, how many symptoms of major depressive disorder must be present for at least 2 weeks to meet diagnostic criteria?

    Answer: At least 5 symptoms, including depressed mood or anhedonia

    DSM-5 requires at least 5 of 9 symptoms for 2+ weeks, with depressed mood or anhedonia being required as one of the five.

  2. A 34-year-old patient presents with persistent worry, muscle tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating for 8 months. What is the first-line pharmacological treatment for generalized anxiety disorder?

    Answer: Buspirone or an SSRI/SNRI

    SSRIs and SNRIs (or buspirone) are first-line pharmacological treatments for GAD due to their efficacy and favorable safety profile.

  3. A patient on haloperidol develops sustained involuntary rhythmic movements of the tongue and lip-smacking after 2 years of treatment. What is this adverse effect?

    Answer: Tardive dyskinesia

    Tardive dyskinesia is a late-onset movement disorder from prolonged antipsychotic use, characterized by repetitive involuntary orofacial movements.

  4. Which mechanism best describes how SSRIs achieve their antidepressant effect?

    Answer: Selective inhibition of serotonin reuptake at the presynaptic terminal

    SSRIs work by selectively blocking the serotonin transporter (SERT) on the presynaptic neuron, increasing serotonin availability in the synapse.

  5. An NP uses the PHQ-9 to screen a patient for depression. A score of 15 on the PHQ-9 indicates which severity level?

    Answer: Moderately severe depression

    PHQ-9 scores of 15–19 correspond to moderately severe depression, while scores ≥20 indicate severe depression.

  6. A patient with bipolar I disorder is stabilized on lithium. Which laboratory value requires the closest monitoring to prevent toxicity?

    Answer: Serum sodium and renal function

    Lithium is renally cleared and its levels are affected by sodium balance; sodium depletion and renal impairment can cause lithium toxicity.

  7. Which symptom cluster represents the 'positive' symptoms of schizophrenia?

    Answer: Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech

    Positive symptoms are added or exaggerated behaviors including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, in contrast to negative symptoms which are deficits.