Psychopharmacology Flashcards
Question ID #14139: Which of the following is most likely to be useful for treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Select one:
A.
A drug that blocks the reuptake of serotonin
B.
A drug that increases cholinergic activity
C.
A drug that blocks the release of GABA
D.
A drug that increases the availability of cortisol
The correct answer is A.
SSRIs have been found to be effective in treating OCD. The SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin at nerve synapses.
Answers B, C, and D: Incorrect. See rationale for Answer A.
Question ID #14140: A 72-year-old man is prescribed lithium for Bipolar Disorder. In terms of side effects, the man can most likely expect which of the following?
Select one:
A.
Shuffling gait
B.
Visual disturbances
C.
Shortness of breath
D.
Fine hand tremor
The correct answer is D.
Fine hand tremor is a common side effect of lithium, especially for older adults. Other common side effects of lithium include gastrointestinal symptoms, shakiness, fatigue, restlessness, polyuria, and polydipsia.
Answers A, B, and C: None of these symptoms are included in the common side effects of lithium.
Question ID #14141: In comparison to the tricyclics, fluoxetine and other SSRIs:
Select one:
A.
Are more likely to cause cognitive impairment
B.
Are less cardiotoxic
C.
Have a slower onset of therapeutic effects
D.
Are more harmful in overdose.
The correct answer is B.
Overall, SSRIs are associated with fewer side effects than the tricyclics. An important advantage of the SSRIs is that they are less cardiotoxic than the tricyclics.
Answer A: The SSRIs are less likely to cause cognitive impairment compared to the tricyclics.
Answer C: The SSRIs have a slightly more rapid onset of therapeutic effects, although both SSRIs and tricyclics can produce an improvement within two to four weeks.
Answer D: The SSRIs are actually safer in overdose.
Question ID #14142: The atypical neuroleptic Clozapine (Clozaril):
Select one:
A.
Has a slower onset of therapeutic effects than traditional neuroleptics
B.
Is less effective than the traditional neuroleptics for negative symptoms
C.
Is more likely than the traditional neuroleptics to produce tardive dyskinesia
D.
Does not produce anticholinergic side effects
The correct answer is A.
For the exam, you should be familiar with the differences between traditional and atypical neuroleptic (antipsychotic) drugs. A disadvantage of Clozapine and other atypical antipsychotics is that they have a slower onset of effects than the traditional antipsychotics.
Answer B: An advantage of the atypical drugs is that they alleviate both the positive and negative symptoms of Schizophrenia.
Answer C: The atypical drugs are less likely to produce tardive dyskinesia.
Answer D: Anticholinergic side effects are common for atypical antipsychotics.
Question ID #14143: Drugs that block the activity of _______ produce dry mouth, blurred vision, postural hypotension, urinary retention, and tachycardia.
Select one:
A.
5-HT
B.
Glycine
C.
ACh
D.
Glutamate
The correct answer is C.
Acetylcholine (ACh) is one of the neurotransmitters classified as “cholinergic.” Drugs that block ACh activity produce anticholinergic effects, including the symptoms listed in the question.
Answers A, B, and D: Incorrect. See rationale for Answer C.
Question ID #14144: Therapeutic drug monitoring relies on measuring specific drugs to maintain a concentration in the patient’s bloodstream for what purpose?
Select one:
A.
Prevent individuals with substance use disorders from overdosing on illicit substances
B.
Optimize dosage regimens
C.
Reduce undesired side-effects of medications
D.
Identify chromosomal abnormalities that may be affected by specific drugs
The correct answer is B.
Therapeutic drug monitoring operates on the assumption that there is a connection between the concentration of a drug in a patient’s bloodstream and the therapeutic effects that patient experiences.
Answers A and C: These may occur as a result of therapeutic drug monitoring, but they are not the main goal, thus these are not the best answer choices.
Answer D: Identifying chromosomal abnormalities would occur through genetic testing, not therapeutic drug monitoring.
