Chapter 3: Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology

Question 1

Unique second-generation medication, sometimes referred to as “third-generation”

Answer 1

aripiprazole

Question 2

Which neurotransmitter imbalance occurs in a patient with schizophrenia?

Answer 2

a decrease in y-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Question 3

Which medical condition may exist when a patient exhibits mild symptoms of mania?

Answer 3

Graves’ disease

Question 4

Which anomaly on a PET scan supports the diagnosis of depression?

Answer 4

increase in black areas

Question 5

Which electrolyte must be monitored when administering Lithium?

Answer 5

sodium

Question 6

Which neuromodulator is involved in regulating mood and anxiety?

Answer 6

substance P

Question 7

Which preliminary finding is expected for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who is evaluated with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)?

Answer 7

decreased use of glucose in the frontal lobe

Question 8

Which neurotransmitters are responsible for the hallucinations, anxiety, and altered thought processes experienced by a patient having a schizophrenic psychotic episode?

Answer 8

dopamine, norepinephrine, and GABA

Question 9

Which neurotransmitter imbalance is associated with depression?

Answer 9

decreased serotonin, decreased dopamine, decreased norepinephrine and increased acetylcholine

Question 10

What symptoms are assessed when a patient experiences anticholinergic side effects?

Answer 10

blurred vision, dry mouth, and constipation

Question 11

What specific instruction would be given to prevent complications of diazepam owing to excessive central nervous system depression?

Answer 11

avoid consuming alcohol while on this drug

Question 12

Which effect would a drug that enhances GABA receptor activity have on a patient?

Answer 12

sedation

Question 13

Which neurotransmitter effect occurs with anxiolytic medication?

Answer 13

increases the effectiveness of GABA

Question 14

Which neurotransmitters do circadian rhythms secrete?

Answer 14

norepinephrine and serotonin

Question 15

What are the 3 physiological actions of neurons?

Answer 15

Responding to stimuli, conducting electrical impulses, and releasing neurotransmitters

Question 16

Which mental health issues arise from decreased Dopamine levels?

Answer 16

parkinson’s and depression

Question 17

Which neurotransmitters are affected in patients with depression?

Answer 17

decreased dopamine, decreased norepinephrine, and decreased serotonin

Question 18

What may be seen in a patient with increased levels of dopamine?

Answer 18

schizophrenia and mania

Question 19

Which disorder is seen when there is a decrease in norepinephrine?

Answer 19

depression

Question 20

Which mental health issues may arise with an increase in norepinephrine?

Answer 20

mania, anxiety states, schizophrenia

Question 21

What a decrease in serotonin lead to?

Answer 21

depression

Question 22

What can an increase in histamines lead to?

Answer 22

sedation and weight gain

Question 23

If a patient has low GABA levels, which mental health issues may this patient experience?

Answer 23

anxiety, schizophrenia, mania, huntington’s disease

Question 24

Increased GABA levels will _________ anxiety levels

Answer 24

reduce

Question 25

What can a decrease in ACh lead to?

Answer 25

Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's

Question 26

What can an increase in ACh be associated with?

Answer 26

depression

Question 27

What are the 4 main effects of dopamine?

Answer 27

Involved in fine motor movement Involved in integration of emotions and thoughts Involved in decision making Stimulates the hypothalamus to release hormones

Question 28

What are the 3 main functions of seratonin?

Answer 28

plays a role in sleep regulation, hunger, mood states, and pain perception Hormonal activity Plays a role in aggression and sexual behavior

Question 29

What are the 3 ways that norepinephrine functions in the body?

Answer 29

level in the brain affects mood Attention and arousal stimulates sympathetic branch of autonomic nervous system for fight or flight

Question 30

What are the 3 roles that histamine has in the body?

Answer 30

involved in alertness involved in inflammatory response stimulates gastric acid secretions

Question 31

4 main roles of GABA

Answer 31

plays a role in inhibition; reduces aggression, excitation, and anxiety May play a role in pain perception Has anticonvulsant and muscle-relaxing properties May impair cognition and psychomotor functioning

Question 32

What is the role of ACh in the body (3)?

Answer 32

Plays a role in learning and memory stimulates parasympathetic branch of autonomic nervous system for "resting and digesting" actions Affects sexual behavior and aggression

Question 33

What does a PET scan of an alzheimers disease patient look like?

Answer 33

a classic pattern of hypometabolism in the temporal and parietal regions of the brain

Question 34

Which brain scans can help confirm a schizophrenia diagnose?

Answer 34

CT, MRI, and PET scans

Question 35

If a PET scan shows Increased D2, D3 receptors in caudate nucleus and abnormalities in limbic system, what may the patient be presenting with?

Answer 35

schizophrenia

Question 36

What would be seen in an MRI of a patient with schizophrenia?

Answer 36

Enlarged ventricles Reduction in temporal lobe and prefrontal lobe

Question 37

What will a CT of a schizophrenic patient show?

Answer 37

Cortical atrophy Third ventricle enlargement

Question 38

Which receptor do benzodiazepines affect?

Answer 38

GABA

Question 39

How long does it take for antidepressants to have antianxiety effects?

Answer 39

4-8 weeks

Question 40

How do SSRIs work?

Answer 40

block the reuptake of serotonin thereby making more serotonin available in the synapse

Question 41

What are the 6 most common SSRIs?

Answer 41

fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), and fluvoxamine (Luvox)

Question 42

Which SSRI causes insomnia and nervousness?

Answer 42

fluvoxamine

Question 43

Which SSRI causes the most GI distress?

Answer 43

sertraline

Question 44

Which SSRI will prolong the QT interval in a dose-dependent fashion?

Answer 44

Citalopram

Question 45

Which drug is a NaSSA?

Answer 45

Mirtazapine

Question 46

How do NaSSA meds work?

Answer 46

It enhances norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmission by antagonizing both presynaptic α2 receptors and postsynaptic 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors

Question 47

Which medication is a NDRI?

Answer 47

Buproprion (Wellbutrin)

Question 48

3 serious side effects of clozapine

Answer 48

agranulocytosis, myocarditis, and altered glucose metabolism.