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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Psychology & Mental Health

Take the NCLEX Quiz: Mood Disorders and Suicide Assessment

Ready for bipolar disorder NCLEX questions and depression NCLEX questions? Challenge your RN mood disorder and suicide assessment skills now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of human profiles mood icons for bipolar disorder suicide assessment on golden yellow background

This NCLEX quiz on RN mood disorders and suicide assessment helps you practice spotting depression vs bipolar signs, assess suicide risk, and pick safe, priority nursing actions. Use it to find gaps before the exam. For related practice, try anxiety scenarios .

Which symptom is required to diagnose major depressive disorder according to DSM-5?
Depressed mood most of the day
Unexplained weight gain
Insomnia every night
Poor concentration
Major depressive disorder according to DSM-5 requires at least 5 symptoms during the same 2-week period, one of which must be either depressed mood or anhedonia. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, is a core symptom. Other options such as weight gain or insomnia can be features but are not required for diagnosis. .
Which of the following is a common side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?
Sexual dysfunction
Orthostatic hypotension
Agranulocytosis
Ototoxicity
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly cause sexual side effects such as decreased libido or anorgasmia due to increased serotonin activity. Orthostatic hypotension is more common with tricyclic antidepressants. Agranulocytosis and ototoxicity are not typical SSRI side effects. .
Which of the following symptoms most suggests a manic episode?
Decreased need for sleep
Slowed speech
Significant weight loss
Auditory hallucinations
A manic episode involves an abnormally elevated mood and decreased need for sleep. Patients often feel rested despite minimal sleep duration. Slowed speech and significant weight loss are more characteristic of depression, and hallucinations are not required for diagnosing mania. .
What is the most important initial nursing intervention for a patient expressing suicidal thoughts?
Assess for suicidal ideation and plan
Encourage verbalization of feelings
Provide diversionary activities
Administer a PRN anxiolytic
Assessing for suicidal ideation and plan is the priority nursing intervention to determine level of risk and guide care. Directly asking patients about suicidal thoughts does not increase risk and helps in creating a safety plan. Options such as providing diversion or medications are secondary to risk assessment. .
Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by symptoms that persist for at least how long in adults?
2 years
1 year
6 months
3 months
Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by chronic, fluctuating mood disturbances lasting at least 2 years in adults. Symptoms include numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet full episode criteria. The 1-year duration applies to children and adolescents, and shorter periods are insufficient. .
Which early sign indicates mild lithium toxicity?
Coarse tremor
Polyuria
Tinnitus
Bradycardia
Early lithium toxicity often presents with a coarse tremor, which is due to neuromuscular irritability from elevated serum lithium levels. Polyuria is a chronic side effect, while tinnitus and bradycardia are not typical manifestations. Recognizing tremors early allows for dosage adjustment and prevention of severe toxicity. .
Which factor is the strongest single predictor of future suicide risk?
History of a previous suicide attempt
Female gender
Being married
Religious affiliation
A prior suicide attempt is the strongest single risk factor for future suicide, as it indicates established capability and intent. While factors like gender and social support influence risk, they are less predictive than personal history of attempts. Recognizing history of attempts guides intervention and monitoring. .
Which communication technique is most appropriate for a patient experiencing major depression?
Reflecting the patient’s feelings
Challenging negative thoughts
Redirecting to positive activities
Confronting self-harm ideation
Reflecting feelings demonstrates empathy and encourages the patient to explore emotions without judgment. It validates the patient's experience and can foster therapeutic rapport. Challenging thoughts or confronting may increase defensiveness and disengagement. .
On the SAD PERSONS scale, a total score of 7 or higher indicates which level of suicide risk?
High risk requiring hospitalization
Moderate risk requiring close follow-up
Low risk manageable outpatient
Minimal risk no intervention needed
The SAD PERSONS scale assigns scores to risk factors; a total score ?7 indicates a high risk of suicide and need for hospitalization. Scores of 4 to 6 suggest moderate risk requiring close follow-up. Lower scores correspond to lower risk levels. .
Which of the following best defines the 'mixed features' specifier in bipolar disorder?
Concurrent symptoms of both mania and depression
Absence of sleep disturbance
Presence of psychomotor retardation only
Presence of psychosis without mood symptoms
Mixed features specifier in bipolar disorder describes the simultaneous presence of depressive and manic or hypomanic symptoms during a mood episode. This combination can increase agitation and risk of impulsive behaviors. Absence of sleep disturbance or psychosis alone is not sufficient for the mixed features specifier. .
Which condition is a relative contraindication to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
Increased intracranial pressure
Severe osteoporosis
Asthma
Diabetes mellitus
Increased intracranial pressure poses a risk during ECT due to potential for further pressure elevations when seizures are induced. Patients with controlled asthma, diabetes, or osteoporosis are generally managed safely with appropriate precautions. ECT candidates undergo thorough medical evaluation to identify contraindications and mitigate risks. .
Which finding suggests normal grief rather than major depressive disorder?
Preserved self-esteem
Overwhelming guilt
Pervasive anhedonia
Psychomotor retardation
Normal grief is characterized by preserved self-esteem and moments of positive emotion intermixed with sadness. Major depression often involves pervasive anhedonia and significant self-criticism or feelings of worthlessness. Suicidal ideation and psychomotor retardation are more typical of major depression than normal bereavement. .
Which neurobiological finding is most consistently associated with increased suicide risk?
Decreased CSF 5-HIAA levels
Increased dopamine turnover
Elevated glutamate levels
Decreased GABA activity
Research has shown that decreased levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a serotonin metabolite, in cerebrospinal fluid are associated with increased suicide risk. This finding supports the role of serotonin dysregulation in impulsive aggression and suicidal behavior. Other neurotransmitter changes are less specifically predictive of suicide. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Diagnostic Criteria for Mood Disorders -

    Recall and describe DSM-5 characteristics for major depressive and bipolar disorders to confidently tackle depression NCLEX questions and bipolar disorder NCLEX questions.

  2. Differentiate Between Depressive and Bipolar Conditions -

    Analyze and distinguish clinical presentations of unipolar depression versus bipolar disorder to improve accuracy on nclex bipolar disorder questions.

  3. Apply Suicide Risk Assessment Techniques -

    Use evidence-based tools and questioning strategies to identify suicide risk factors and warning signs in at-risk patients.

  4. Interpret NCLEX-Style Mood Disorder Scenarios -

    Break down case studies and sample questions to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills for the RN mood disorders and suicide assessment section.

  5. Evaluate Nursing Interventions for Mood Disorders -

    Assess and select appropriate therapeutic interventions, including pharmacologic and psychosocial approaches, for patients with depression and bipolar disorder.

  6. Review Key Suicide Prevention Strategies -

    Summarize best practices in suicide prevention and safe care planning to support patient safety and promote positive outcomes.

Cheat Sheet

  1. DSM-5 Criteria for Major Depressive Episode -

    Review the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing major depressive episodes, focusing on having at least five of nine SIG E CAPS symptoms for at least two weeks. Use the mnemonic SIG E CAPS (Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, Suicidal) to recall key symptoms (source: DSM-5, APA). Consistent assessment of duration and impact on functioning, as defined by APA guidelines, ensures an accurate RN mood disorder evaluation.

  2. Bipolar Disorder Mnemonic: DIG FAST -

    Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of mania or hypomania and depression. The DIG FAST mnemonic (Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, Talkativeness) helps you remember the seven diagnostic criteria outlined in DSM-5 (source: NIMH, APA). Recognizing these episodic changes is crucial for answering bipolar disorder NCLEX questions confidently.

  3. Suicide Risk Assessment with SAD PERSONS -

    The SAD PERSONS scale is a quick clinical tool that assesses suicide risk by scoring factors like Sex, Age, Depression, Previous attempt, Ethanol use, Rational thinking loss, Social supports lacking, Organized plan, No spouse, Sickness. A score of 7 or more indicates high risk and need for urgent intervention (source: University of Rochester Medical Center). Memorize key items to streamline RN suicide assessment and safety planning.

  4. Using the PHQ-9 for Depression Screening -

    The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) helps quantify depression severity with a self-report scale ranging from 0 - 27; scores ≥10 indicate moderate to severe depression requiring intervention (source: NIMH). Practice interpreting example scores: 5 - 9 mild, 10 - 14 moderate, and 15+ severe to answer depression NCLEX questions accurately. Utilizing PHQ-9 fosters evidence-based RN mood disorder and suicide assessment skills.

  5. Nursing Interventions and Safety Planning -

    Implementing evidence-based interventions such as creating a no-suicide contract, removing means of self-harm, and developing a safety plan empowers patient protection (source: SAMHSA Clinical Guidelines). Use the collaborative safety planning approach (Stanley & Brown, 2012) to engage patients in identifying coping strategies and emergency contacts. These skills boost clinical insight and exam readiness for RN mood disorders and suicide assessment scenarios.

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