APEA Exam Review Questions and

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APEA Exam Review Questions and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified

Which symptom is most characteristic of major depressive disorder?

• Elevated mood
• Grandiosity

✔✔C. Persistent sadness or low mood

• Hallucinations

What is the first-line medication class for treating generalized anxiety disorder?

• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Benzodiazepines

✔✔C. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Antipsychotics

A patient reports hearing voices that others do not hear. This is an example of:

• Delusion

✔✔B. Auditory hallucination 1 / 3

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• Obsession
• Compulsion

Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia?

• Serotonin

B. GABA

✔✔C. Dopamine

• Acetylcholine

What is the typical age of onset for bipolar disorder?

• Childhood (before 10 years)
• Late adulthood (after 60 years)

✔✔C. Late adolescence to early adulthood (15-30 years)

• Middle age (40-50 years)

Which psychotherapy is considered first-line for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

• Electroconvulsive therapy
• Psychodynamic therapy 2 / 3

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✔✔C. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical behavior therapy

What is the main side effect concern with first-generation antipsychotics?

• Weight gain

✔✔B. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)

• Sedation
• Hypertension

Which of the following is a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

• Apathy
• Social withdrawal

✔✔C. Delusions

• Flattened affect

What symptom differentiates bipolar I disorder from major depressive disorder?

• Depressed mood
• Anxiety
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