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Qatar DHP Mental Health Nursing Practice Questions
Mental health questions test therapeutic communication, safety and medication side effects across common psychiatric conditions. Below are 5 free sample questions for the Qatar DHP (QCHP) nursing qualifying exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Therapeutic vs non-therapeutic communication
- Suicide risk and safety
- Depression and bipolar disorder (lithium)
- Schizophrenia and antipsychotic side effects
- Alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens
- De-escalation and restraint principles
The full bank has 70 mental health nursing questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free Qatar DHP mental health nursing questions
1. Which behaviour is characteristic of an acute manic episode?
- A. Decreased need for sleep, grandiosity and pressured speech
- B. Psychomotor slowing and excessive sleep
- C. Avoidance of reminders of a traumatic event
- D. Repeated hand washing to relieve anxiety
Show answer and rationale
Mania involves elevated or irritable mood, reduced need for sleep, grandiosity, pressured speech and flight of ideas. Psychomotor slowing and hypersomnia are features of depression.
Reference: Varcarolis Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – bipolar disorder
2. Besides serum lithium levels, which tests should be monitored regularly in a patient on long-term lithium?
- A. Thyroid and renal function
- B. Liver enzymes and amylase
- C. Troponin and creatine kinase
- D. Blood cultures and CRP
Show answer and rationale
Long-term lithium can cause hypothyroidism and impair kidney function, so thyroid and renal function are checked before starting and regularly during treatment.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – lithium monitoring
3. Which patient has the highest risk of suicide?
- A. A 30-year-old married woman with mild anxiety and a supportive family
- B. A 72-year-old widowed man who lives alone, drinks alcohol daily and was recently diagnosed with cancer
- C. A 45-year-old woman who is active in her community and lives with her children
- D. A 20-year-old student with exam stress who has several close friends
Show answer and rationale
Older age, male sex, living alone, recent loss, alcohol use and serious physical illness are all recognised suicide risk factors. The other patients have protective factors such as social support.
Reference: Townsend Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – suicide risk factors
4. A patient says, "I don't know whether I should leave my husband." Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
- A. "What thoughts have you had about your options?"
- B. "I think you should leave him if he makes you unhappy."
- C. "Every marriage has problems, so try to work it out."
- D. "Why haven't you made a decision about this yet?"
Show answer and rationale
An open-ended question helps the patient explore her own thoughts and reach her own decision. Giving advice or opinions takes the decision away from the patient, and "why" questions can feel accusing.
Reference: Varcarolis Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – therapeutic communication
5. When should a blood sample be taken to measure a patient's serum lithium level?
- A. 2 hours after the morning dose
- B. About 12 hours after the last dose
- C. At any time of day, as timing does not matter
- D. 24 hours after stopping the medication
Show answer and rationale
Lithium levels are measured about 12 hours after the last dose so that results are comparable and reflect the steady-state trough level. Samples taken soon after a dose give falsely high readings.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – lithium monitoring
Study tip
In communication questions, choose the answer that acknowledges feelings and invites the patient to talk, not the one that reassures or gives advice.
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