Assessment and Screening Flashcards
7 cards from real PMH-C practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Assessment and Screening flashcards as text
Which of the following questions is part of a structured suicide risk assessment for perinatal patients?
Answer: Do you have access to means such as firearms or medications?
Means assessment — asking whether the patient has access to lethal means such as firearms or stockpiled medications — is a core component of suicide risk assessment.
A perinatal mental health specialist is conducting a comprehensive intake. Which domain is least likely to directly inform the mental health risk assessment?
Answer: Insurance type and coverage plan
While insurance information is important for care coordination, it does not directly inform clinical risk assessment in the way that trauma history, social determinants, and relationship safety do.
Which screening approach is recommended for identifying intimate partner violence (IPV) during the perinatal period?
Answer: Screen at each trimester and postpartum using a validated tool such as HITS or WAST
Best practice guidelines recommend repeated IPV screening throughout the perinatal period using validated tools like HITS (Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream) or WAST (Woman Abuse Screening Tool).
A patient with a previous perinatal psychiatric episode presents for a new pregnancy. How should the initial assessment differ from a first-time patient?
Answer: A comprehensive psychiatric history should be obtained and risk stratified early in pregnancy
A prior perinatal psychiatric episode significantly increases the risk of recurrence, making early and thorough psychiatric history-taking and risk stratification essential.
Which of the following correctly describes the difference between the EPDS and the PHQ-9 in perinatal settings?
Answer: The EPDS excludes somatic symptoms that overlap with normal pregnancy, reducing false positives
The EPDS was specifically developed for perinatal populations and excludes somatic items (e.g., fatigue, appetite change) that commonly overlap with normal pregnancy, thereby reducing false positives.
A patient who screens positive for anxiety on the GAD-7 also reports insomnia and hypervigilance. What additional clinical consideration is most important?
Answer: Consider trauma history and screen for PTSD given symptom overlap
Insomnia and hypervigilance are also hallmark symptoms of PTSD; when anxiety and trauma-related symptoms co-occur, clinicians should screen for PTSD to avoid missing a comorbid diagnosis.
Which of the following practices reflects a trauma-informed approach to perinatal mental health screening?
Answer: Explaining the purpose of screening, ensuring privacy, and inviting questions before administration
Trauma-informed screening involves explaining the purpose, ensuring a private and safe environment, and giving the patient agency — all before administering the tool.