PMHNP Study/practice questions
Which of the following statements does not reflect current understanding of neurotransmitter pathways
implicated in anxiery disorders?
A. Increase levels of CRF in amygdala, hippocampus and LC increase symptoms of anxiety.
B. Decreaseing GABA in the Mesolimbic cortex diminishes symptoms of anxiery.
C. Increasing serotoneric activity in the amygdala diminishes symptoms of anxiety.
D. Decreasing NE in the LC diminishes symptoms of anxiety. - ✔✔A, C & D are all correct so the answer
is B
As a PMHNP, you know anti-psychotic meds have side effects. Which side effects of antipsychotic meds
has an insidious delayed-onself of 1-2 after starting the medication? - ✔✔A. Dry Mouth
B. Tardive Dyskinesia
C. Wt gain
D. Sedation
We know that Dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, restlessness, wt gain, constipation & N/V are all SE but,
Tardive Dyskinesia does not start for 1-2 years.
My answer - B. *Tardive Dyskinesia (TD*)
** long standing blockage of DA2 in nigrostriatal pathway leads to TD
Which Serotonin receptor antagonism makes an antipsychotic "atypical"?
A. 5HT1A
B. 5HT3A
C. 5HT4A
D. 5HT2A - ✔✔Atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone,
sertindole, and ziprasidone are potent 5-HT2a receptor antagonists and relatively weaker dopamine D2
antagonists.
Commonly Prescribed Typical and Atypical Antipsychotic Medications
, Typical antipsychotics include:
Haldol (haloperidol); Loxitane (loxapine);
Mellaril (thioridazine); Geodon (ziprasidone)
Moban (molindone); Seroquel (quetiapine)
Navane (thiothixene); Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Prolixin (fluphenazine); Serentil (mesoridazine)
Stelazine (trifluoperazine); Trilafon (perphenazine)
Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
Atypical antipsychotics include:
Abilify (aripiprazole); Clozaril (clozapine)
Geodon (ziprasidone); Seroquel (quetiapine)
Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Which medication inhibits both dopamine and norepinephrine?
A. Venlafaxine (effexor)
B. Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
C. Buproprion (Wellbutrin)
D. Imipramine (Tofranil) - ✔✔C. Buproprion (Wellbutrin)
Bupropion inhibits the presynaptic reuptake of both dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA), leading to
increased levels of both of these neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft
Current understanding of Dopamine (DA) pathways & clinical symptoms in schizophrenia is reflected in
which statement?
A. Neg symptoms are related to DA deficit in meslimbic system and pos (+) symptoms are related to DA
excess in the (SN) substanita nigra & (VTA) ventral tegmental area.
Which of the following statements does not reflect current understanding of neurotransmitter pathways
implicated in anxiery disorders?
A. Increase levels of CRF in amygdala, hippocampus and LC increase symptoms of anxiety.
B. Decreaseing GABA in the Mesolimbic cortex diminishes symptoms of anxiery.
C. Increasing serotoneric activity in the amygdala diminishes symptoms of anxiety.
D. Decreasing NE in the LC diminishes symptoms of anxiety. - ✔✔A, C & D are all correct so the answer
is B
As a PMHNP, you know anti-psychotic meds have side effects. Which side effects of antipsychotic meds
has an insidious delayed-onself of 1-2 after starting the medication? - ✔✔A. Dry Mouth
B. Tardive Dyskinesia
C. Wt gain
D. Sedation
We know that Dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, restlessness, wt gain, constipation & N/V are all SE but,
Tardive Dyskinesia does not start for 1-2 years.
My answer - B. *Tardive Dyskinesia (TD*)
** long standing blockage of DA2 in nigrostriatal pathway leads to TD
Which Serotonin receptor antagonism makes an antipsychotic "atypical"?
A. 5HT1A
B. 5HT3A
C. 5HT4A
D. 5HT2A - ✔✔Atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone,
sertindole, and ziprasidone are potent 5-HT2a receptor antagonists and relatively weaker dopamine D2
antagonists.
Commonly Prescribed Typical and Atypical Antipsychotic Medications
, Typical antipsychotics include:
Haldol (haloperidol); Loxitane (loxapine);
Mellaril (thioridazine); Geodon (ziprasidone)
Moban (molindone); Seroquel (quetiapine)
Navane (thiothixene); Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Prolixin (fluphenazine); Serentil (mesoridazine)
Stelazine (trifluoperazine); Trilafon (perphenazine)
Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
Atypical antipsychotics include:
Abilify (aripiprazole); Clozaril (clozapine)
Geodon (ziprasidone); Seroquel (quetiapine)
Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Which medication inhibits both dopamine and norepinephrine?
A. Venlafaxine (effexor)
B. Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
C. Buproprion (Wellbutrin)
D. Imipramine (Tofranil) - ✔✔C. Buproprion (Wellbutrin)
Bupropion inhibits the presynaptic reuptake of both dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA), leading to
increased levels of both of these neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft
Current understanding of Dopamine (DA) pathways & clinical symptoms in schizophrenia is reflected in
which statement?
A. Neg symptoms are related to DA deficit in meslimbic system and pos (+) symptoms are related to DA
excess in the (SN) substanita nigra & (VTA) ventral tegmental area.
