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ANCC Certification PMHNP Exam
Questions with Correct Verified
Answers Latest Update (2024/2025)
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1. Name 4 risk factors for MDD - ANS ✔Family history (esp. first
degree relative); prior episode, female gender, postpartum period,
medical comorbidity; single marital status; significant environmental
stressors, esp. multiple losses
2. Four to six weeks: - ANS ✔Length of time for therapeutic effect of
antidepressants
3. Appearance, speech, affect, mood, thought process, thought
content (including suicidal thoughts/behaviors); cognition,
orientation, memory, concentration, abstraction, judgment - ANS
✔Mental Status Exam
4. Endocrine Disorders implicated in MDD - ANS ✔Hypothyroidism,
DM, hyperaldosteronism, and Cushing's/Addison's Disease
5. Infectious and inflammatory states implicated in MDD - ANS
✔Mono, AIDS, viral and bacterial pneumonia; systemic lupus
erythematosus, temporal arteritis, tuberculosis
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6. Nutritional disorders implicated in MDD - ANS ✔Pernicious
anemia and pellagra
7. Psychiatric disorders commonly associated with MDD - ANS
✔Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, Bipolar disorder, substance
abuse/dependence disorders
8. One should continue use of antidepressants for a minimum of -
ANS ✔8-12 months
9. If patient has prior episodes of depression, than consider using
antidepressants - ANS ✔For longer than 8-12 months
10. Medication and counselling - ANS ✔Research demonstrates
that the most effective intervention is a combination of these two
treatment modalities
11. Action primarily to increase serotonin levels in CNS by
inhibiting their reuptake: - ANS ✔Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors (SSRIs)
12. Elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels primarily by
inhibiting their reuptake - ANS ✔Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
13. Elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels primarily by
inhibiting MAO, the enzyme that destroys neurotransmitters -
ANS ✔Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
14. Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) -
ANS ✔Inhibit dual reuptake; action very selective on
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neurotransmitters; elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels by
inhibiting their reuptake.
15. Norepinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs) -
ANS ✔Inhibit dual reuptake; action very selective on
neurotransmitters; elevate dopamine and norepinephrine levels by
inhibiting their reuptake.
16. Serotonin Agonist and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs) - ANS
✔Dual action; agonist of serotonin 5HT-2 receptors; action very
selective on neurotransmitters; elevates serotonin levels by
inhibiting serotonin reuptake
17. SSRIs side effects - ANS ✔Most common side effects of this
class: gi upset, sexual dysfunction, nervousness, headache and dry
mouth
18. Name the six SSRIs - ANS ✔Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Luvox,
Paxil (Pexeva), Zoloft.
19. Which is safer in overdose, Paxil or Nortriptyline? - ANS
✔Paxil. SSRIs are safer in overdose than TCAs.
20. SSRI's are also effective for treatment of panic disorder,
OCD, bulimia, GAD social phobia and - ANS ✔PTSD and
premenstrual dysphoric disorder
21. Which SSRI has long half-life? - ANS ✔Prozac
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