PMH-C Perinatal Mental Health Disorders & Assessment 2

Question 1

A postpartum patient reports intrusive thoughts of accidentally dropping her baby. She is distressed by these thoughts and goes to great lengths to avoid holding the infant. Which condition is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Postpartum OCD

Answer

Postpartum OCD is characterized by ego-dystonic intrusive thoughts (often harm-themed) that cause significant distress and avoidance behaviors, distinguishing it from psychosis.

Question 2

Which screening tool is specifically validated for use across the perinatal period, including both pregnancy and the postpartum period?

Accepted Answer

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Answer

The EPDS was specifically developed and validated for screening depression in perinatal women during both pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Question 3

A clinician notes that a patient's EPDS score dropped from 16 to 9 between her 6-week and 12-week postpartum visits. How should this change be interpreted?

Accepted Answer

Clinical improvement has occurred but continued follow-up is warranted

Answer

A score decrease suggests clinical improvement, but scores can fluctuate and ongoing monitoring is needed before concluding recovery is complete.

Question 4

Which of the following is a hallmark distinguishing feature of postpartum psychosis compared to severe postpartum depression?

Accepted Answer

Presence of delusions or hallucinations

Answer

Postpartum psychosis is characterized by psychotic features such as delusions, hallucinations, and rapid mood shifts, which are not present in postpartum depression.

Question 5

During pregnancy, which anxiety disorder is most commonly reported and often goes undetected?

Accepted Answer

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Answer

GAD is the most prevalent anxiety disorder during pregnancy and is frequently missed because its symptoms (worry, fatigue, sleep problems) overlap with normal pregnancy experiences.

(PMH-C) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Practice Test

(PMH-C) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Practice Test

PMH-C Perinatal Mental Health Disorders & Assessment 2